I write this post having two different cases, but similar in some aspects, in mind:
1. The recent trial of Italian seismologists that "failed" to predict Aquila's earthquake in 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/27/laquila-earthquake-battle-science-politics
Is seismology an exact science? Aren't seismologists working in the realm of statistical models? I have the idea that statistics are not a modern form of oracle or fortune-telling... but I suppose Law Lords believe it differently...
2.The intimidation of a Portuguese researcher from University of Minho by a powerful telecom company - Portugal Telecom - after the discussion of his thesis reporting lack of transparency in the process of implementation of DTT in Portugal
http://www.telecompaper.com/news/portugal-telecom-denies-accusations-of-corruption--905549
The central point for me here is: do we want a scientific understanding of the world with the goods and bads that come with it? Or are we going back to the Dark Ages and trial our modern Galileo Galilei?
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