What was the Marshall Plan, mentioned by Eduardo Leite when talking about the reconstruction of RS after rains

The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite (PSDB) made reference to the Marshall Plan on two occasions, since the beginning of the catastrophe that is plaguing the state. Leite also stated that the scene there is “war” at the moment.

On the second occasion, in the presence of President Lula and a delegation from the federal executive, in Porto Alegre, this Sunday (5), the comparison did not seem to have pleased everyone present. Then, Leite stated: “We will find the our plan nameo, but for people to have a reference to what will be needed [cito este].”

But what was the Marshall Plan?

According to university professor and PhD student in History at the University of Évora (Portugal), Avery Veríssimo, the Marshall plan was developed by the United States, in Europe, between 1946 and 1951, in the post-Second World War period.

The intention of the proposal was to recover countries destroyed in the conflict, mainly France, England and Germany, but also Central European countries, through long-term loans from the Americans.

Veríssimo explains that the Marshall Plan was based on the idea that it was necessary to fight an external enemy, “which, in this case, were the communists.” For this reason, countries that belonged to the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe did not receive assistance.

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Climate disaster recovery plans

Veríssimo states that initiatives from countries like China and Japan would be more appropriate comparisons, as these nations have recovery plans exemplary and very developed.

“China solved its problems with a form called 3L”, he explains. According to him, the proposal involves recovering destroyed sites with local material, local labor and local energy.

Regarding Japan, the professor recalls that, after an earthquake that killed 18,500 people, the country was rebuilt in less than a year. The five elements that the Japanese process involves are removing rubble, helping refugees, building housing and rebuilding the local economy, in addition to a significant budget.

The secret of these nations? “Diligence, efficient work and a permanent disaster response scheme, in addition to a permanent budget scheme that allows action in this type of occurrence”, he states.

Controversial comparison

According to Veríssimo, the Marshall Plan, by not supporting part of the countries destroyed in World War II, stimulated the “broth of ethnic and warlike discussion that Europe developed.” This, he claims, culminated in events such as Kosovo separatism, the war in Serbia and other similar events. In the case of reconstructed countries, they now have United States military bases.

Another point that may have contributed to the fact that the comparison did not resonate with other people who were at this Sunday’s press conference is the comparison of a climate catastrophe with a war. “There were no external enemies, there was no attack on Rio Grande do Sul. What happened was a lack of planning and a climate catastrophe. It is necessary to recognize that the lack of planning contributed to what happened.”