Italian scientists protest against jail sentence over 2009 earthquake

 Italian scientists protest against jail sentence over 2009 earthquake

ROME, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Italian scientific community on Tuesday contested a court verdict over the deadly 2009 quake in the central city of L'Aquila, saying it set a damaging precedent¹ as "there is no way, at present, to predict earthquakes".

Physicist² Luciano Maiani resigned as president of national natural-disaster risk-assessment commission in protest against the verdict that handed six years jail sentence to seven government-appointed experts accused of manslaughter for giving a reassuring⁴ statement before the powerful shake.

Maiani said he had decided⁵ to step down along with some other officials of the commission due to the "impossibility for us of being able to work with serenity⁶ and provide the state with a high level of scientific consultancy".

The president of National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INVG) Stefano Gresta called himself "shocked" by Monday's ruling which "can significantly affect the relationship between scientists and decision-makers".

He said the decision could jeopardize⁷ the rights and duty of scientists to participate in the public dialogue by communicating their research results outside the scientific premises⁸, for fear of legal retribution.

"In the entire world, it is impossible to predict earhquakes in a definitive⁹ way. Scientists are able to determine the so-called precursor¹⁰ phenomena¹¹ only after a quake occurred," Gresta told Xinhua.

"Which scientists would like to express their opinion knowing they could go to jail?" he asked, adding that "condemning¹³ science means leaving the field open to preachers who brag¹⁴ about knowing how to forecast earthquakes, while giving up the contribution of distinguished¹⁵ scientists."

The president of the National Council of Geologists¹⁶, Gianvito Graziano, was of the same opinion.

The grounds for the verdict have not been announced yet. If they are about the missed prediction of the L'Aquila disaster, "it means to condemn¹² the entire scientific community which, at present, has no means to forecast earthquakes both in Italy and in the rest of the world," he said.

What Italian scientists are most concerned about is the possible consequences of this ruling, noted¹⁷ Paolo Messinathe, director of the National Research Council's (CNR) Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering.

"I do not want this decision to send a message that earthquakes are predictable, because in fact it is impossible," he stressed. "Then, should we evacuate¹⁸ the entire population at each shock?"

The reality, the expert said, is that in Italy there are so many seismic¹⁹ movements all the time, and in different geographical²⁰ locations.

"Should we take evacuation measures every time for the populations concerned, this would create a huge upheaval²¹, both from the social and economic point of view. An absurd situation," he added.

The decision to prosecute²² some of Italy's respected seismologists and geological experts drew condemnation²³ from around the world, with over 5,000 international scientists signing a letter to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano supporting those convicted.

However, Italian seismologist Giampaolo Giuliani, who said he had "predicted" weeks before the L'Aquila tragedy that a major earthquake would strike the region, was of a different opinion.

In 2009 the scientist, who had based his forecast on concentrations of radon gas around seismically²⁴ active areas, reported to police for "spreading alarm," while the risk-assessment commission concluded it was "unlikely" there would be a major quake, though saying the possibility could not be ruled out.

Hundreds of smaller tremors²⁵ had hit the area in the months before the 6.3-magnitude quake struck on April 6, killing²⁶ 308 people and leaving over 1,500 others injured, besides destroying tens of thousands of ancient buildings and causing an estimated economic loss of more than 10 billion euros (about 13 billion U.S. dollars).

"Granted that Monday's ruling was not about the scientific expertise²⁷ of the defendants²⁸, I am convinced that all physics phenomena in the universe, including earthquakes, have precise causes that produce them, thus studying such causes allows us to make predictions," Giuliani told Xinhua.

"But my experimental research has been boycotted²⁹ by the Italian academic world, which prefers to use funding for different purposes," he pointed³ out, adding several international scientists are investing in this type of research including experts from Russia and the United States he is collaborating³⁰ with.

Giuliani also stressed the case was not about the power of prediction, but about what was interpreted to be an inadequate³¹ characterization of the risk. "How could the government-appointed experts claim it was unlikely there would be a strong quake? They ruled out the possibility of predicting it?"Giuliani added, obviously agreeing with the verdict.

But his forecast "was proven not to have any scientific evidence by a team of experts who met and studied Giuliani's work a few months after the shake occurred," Gresta said.

"Scientists are not even able to make exact predictions on meteorological phenomena, how can be able to predict movements happening tens of kilometers below the earth's crust?" he said.

In his view, earthquake forecast is "only a dream" that risks to distract attention from the major and true problem of Italy, which lacks of prevention in building earthquake-resistant construction.

1 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

2 physicist   

n.物理学家，研究物理学的人

参考例句：

• He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。
• The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。

3 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

4 reassuring   

a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的

参考例句：

• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。
• With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 serenity   

n.宁静，沉着，晴朗

参考例句：

• Her face,though sad,still evoked a feeling of serenity.她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。
• She escaped to the comparative serenity of the kitchen.她逃到相对安静的厨房里。

7 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

8 premises   

n.建筑物，房屋

参考例句：

• According to the rules,no alcohol can be consumed on the premises.按照规定，场内不准饮酒。
• All repairs are done on the premises and not put out.全部修缮都在家里进行，不用送到外面去做。

9 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

10 precursor   

n.先驱者；前辈；前任；预兆；先兆

参考例句：

• Error is often the precursor of what is correct.错误常常是正确的先导。
• He said that the deal should not be seen as a precursor to a merger.他说该笔交易不应该被看作是合并的前兆。

11 phenomena   

n.现象

参考例句：

• Ade couldn't relate the phenomena with any theory he knew.艾德无法用他所知道的任何理论来解释这种现象。
• The object of these experiments was to find the connection,if any,between the two phenomena.这些实验的目的就是探索这两种现象之间的联系，如果存在着任何联系的话。

12 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

13 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

14 brag   

v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的

参考例句：

• He made brag of his skill.他夸耀自己技术高明。
• His wealth is his brag.他夸张他的财富。

15 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

16 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。

17 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

18 evacuate   

v.遣送；搬空；抽出；排泄；大(小)便

参考例句：

• We must evacuate those soldiers at once!我们必须立即撤出这些士兵！
• They were planning to evacuate the seventy American officials still in the country.他们正计划转移仍滞留在该国的70名美国官员。

19 seismic   

a.地震的，地震强度的

参考例句：

• Earthquakes produce two types of seismic waves.地震产生两种地震波。
• The latest seismic activity was also felt in northern Kenya.肯尼亚北部也感觉到了最近的地震活动。

20 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

21 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

22 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

23 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

24 seismically   

地震

参考例句：

• The crust and mantle are separated by a seismically determined boundary known as the Moho-discontinuity. 改译为：地壳与地幔的交接处系根据地波走失而确定的一个界面，通称为莫霍界面。 来自互联网
• China's code is now on par with similar codes in seismically active areas of the world. 中国现在施行的标准与世界其他地震活跃地区施行的标准基本一致。 来自互联网

25 tremors   

震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动

参考例句：

• The story was so terrible that It'sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。
• The story was so terrible that it sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。

26 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

27 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

28 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

29 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

30 collaborating   

合作( collaborate的现在分词 )； 勾结叛国

参考例句：

• Joe is collaborating on the work with a friend. 乔正与一位朋友合作做那件工作。
• He was not only learning from but also collaborating with Joseph Thomson. 他不仅是在跟约瑟福？汤姆逊学习，而且也是在和他合作。

31 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。