Lula only Brazilian on the Time 100 list. More Latinos made the cut

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the sole Brazilian on Time magazine’s 2023 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Lula is among 16 leaders, activists, and scientists recognized for their pioneering work on climate change. 

Lula’s profile was written by former U.S. President Al Gore, who emphasized the importance of Lula’s election for climate action. Mr. Gore’s profile highlights Lula’s leadership in tackling forest loss and accelerating Brazil’s clean-energy transition and underscores his importance in a decade that he sees as “decisive” for climate action.

While the list includes six Latino personalities and one American of Latino descent, no Latin Americans are represented in the fields of technology or science. The number of honorees from the region is still modest compared to previous years, such as the 2019 list, which featured ten Latin Americans. 

Colombian President Gustavo Petro was similarly recognized for his actions and public policies aimed at combating climate change. Mexican activist María Herrera Magdaleno, meanwhile, was selected for her search for her four children, who went missing amid endemic drug cartel violence.

Several actors were also included in the list: 

• American actress of Latin origin Zoe Saldaña, known for her roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar, was selected for “breaking down barriers and advocating for greater diversity and representation;”
• Mexican actress and producer Salma Hayek Pinault, also nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Frida, was chosen as “one of the first Latina actresses in Hollywood;”
• Chilean actor Pedro Pascal, known for his roles in Narcos and The Last of Us, was highlighted for his outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry in 2023. He is widely regarded as one of the most beloved actors of the year.

Argentinian football player Lionel Messi is also included for his contributions to the sports world, including his role in Argentina’s victory at the 2022 World Cup.

Since its inception, the list has featured 15 Brazilians, including former President Dilma Rousseff, who was recognized in 2011, as well as indigenous leader and activist Sônia Guajajara, who is currently serving as Indigenous Peoples Minister in Lula’s government. The list of 12 Women of the Year in March 2023 included the current Minister for Racial Equality, Anielle Franco.

Brazilian researcher Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation in South Africa, is involved in Covid epidemiological surveillance efforts in the African country. He was included in the 2022 Time list for his participation in the research group that was involved in the sequencing leading to the detection of the Omicron variant in South Africa in November 2021.

Another Brazilian scientist who has been on the list is Celina Turchi, a specialist who led a group of scientists from all over the world that included epidemiologists, pediatricians, neurologists, and specialists in reproduction and infectious diseases.

In 2020, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro appeared on the Time 100 list but for unexpected reasons. He was referred to as the “poster boy for toxic masculinity, an ultraconservative homophobe intent on waging a culture war and perhaps reversing Brazil’s progress on tackling climate change.” 

His profile also mentioned his mishandling of the Covid pandemic, as well as the number of deaths accumulated up to that point in the country.

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