Is capitalism killing culture? Cutbacks have taken a heavy toll: a piece of humanity's memory went up in flames.

The entire world population has lost a piece of its memory. The oldest and largest historical museum in Brazil went up in flames. According to many, the fire in the National Museum of Brazil is caused by significant savings of the public sector.

Most of the 20 million pieces have been destroyed. Fossils, the bones of dinosaurs and the oldest skeleton found in America, it's all gone. More importantly, the museum included the largest collection of indigenous art from South America. It still gives me the shivers...

The fire broke out on Sunday night. The exact cause is still unknown. On Monday people came on the streets to shout in rage about the loss. The police had to use tear gas to drive them away.

The anger focused on President Temer's government, which came to power in 2016 after a right-wing coup. His government butchered budget expenditure in the cultural sector. Temer even tried to eliminate the Ministry of Culture all together. The museum saw public funds drop by 30 percent. This year the museum received only $26,603, writes Telesur. In June, the museum celebrated its 200th anniversary. No Minister showed up.

Luiz Duarte, vice director of the museum, also points the finger at the politicians:

For many years, we fought with different governments to get adequate resources to preserve what is now completely destroyed. My feeling is of total dismay and immense anger.

Another striking example of the lamentable state of public services in Brazil: when the fire brigade rushed to the museum to extinguish the fire, they noticed that the first two wells to which they attached their fire hoses were empty.

People did not shy away from big words to describe this loss. A member of the opposition is talking about lobotomy. A well-known Brazilian columnist talked about a national suicide.

Mércio Gomes of the Fundação Nacional do Índio (FUNAI) (the National Indian Foundation) compared the disaster with the fire that destroyed the famous library of Alexandria in 48 BC.

Cutbacks - a worldwide phenomenon during the ten years since the financial crisis - have taken a terrible toll. Or as you could read on a banner at the protests: 'Capitalism kills culture'.

Essentially, from in front, from behind, capitalism is not only a production method, but also a regime that creates destruction. Capitalism - private or state - is a regime that is incompatible with culture. The core of culture is: care for people, the environment and the earth. Capitalism is diametrically opposed to this.