The 19th “Ciencia y Espíritu” congress took place in Balaguer (Lleida) over the weekend, organized by well-known alternative medicine advocate Josep Pàmies. All 600 tickets for the event were sold out, despite the €50 price and the controversial reputation of some of the participants.
Controversy over neo-Nazi invitation
Initially, one of the announced speakers was Pedro Varela, the former owner of a neo-Nazi bookshop and a convicted hate speech offender. However, his name disappeared from the program two days before the congress began. The organizers explained this decision was made under pressure from the public and the media, who fiercely criticized Varela’s participation.
Congress draws well-known conspiracy theorists
Instead of Varela, other speakers with controversial views took the stage. Among them were Jaime Garrido, who claims that aliens live among humans, and Nauzet Morgade, known for spreading theories about the dangers of mobile antennas and natural disasters. The audience was a mix of supporters of all kinds of ideas: from flat-earthers to fans of reptilian and UFO theories.
Authorities and public respond
The Balaguer municipality declined to intervene, citing that the event was held in a private venue and was not officially approved by the city authorities. Meanwhile, the CGT union publicly condemned the congress, accusing the organizers of promoting dangerous ideas and attempting to whitewash Nazism. Particular outrage was sparked by the involvement of some participants linked to the anti-vaccination movement and the promotion of unproven treatment methods.
Organizer Under Regulatory Scrutiny
Josep Pàmies is no stranger to controversy. He has previously been fined for promoting banned substances such as MMS (Miracle Mineral Supplement), claiming they had miraculous properties. Despite repeated warnings and sanctions, Pàmies continues to attract an audience willing to pay to attend such events.
