RIS report December

Celebrating theWinter Season!

RIS report

Rome International School

Issue 18, December 2012 - www.romeinternationalschool.it

We take a look at Winter Festivities around the world

Grade 11ʼs eventful GCSE history trip to London

A grade 12 student gets ready to usher in the new year

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The future starts in the early years

The   aim   of   educators   should   be   to   help  children  be  who  they  want   to  be,  without  forcing  them  to  adopt  one  way  of  life  over  another.   This   is   the   conclusion   we   can  reach   from   a   very   interes:ng   ar:cle   by  James   J.  Heckman,  a   Nobel   laureate   and  Professor   of   Economics   at   the   University  of   Chicago,   published   in   the   Boston  Review   (September/October   2012).  Success   in   life  depends  both  on  cogni:ve  skills   and   non-­‐cogni:ve   characteris:cs  (including  mo:va:on,  self-­‐confidence  and  other   socio-­‐emo:onal   quali:es),   as  Heckman  states  in  his  paper   on   “Schools,  skills   and   synapses”.   There   is   strong  evidence   that   the   development   of   both  cogni:ve   and   socio-­‐emo:onal   skills   is   at  its  highest  in  early  childhood  and  that   the  main   growing   factor   is   the   family  environment,   with   its   s:muli,   care,  nurture,  and  dedica:on   to  spending  :me  together,  which   interact   with   the  gene:c  a spec t s   o f   human   deve lopment  (according  to  the  most  recent  acquisi:ons  in   epigene:cs   which   studies   how  environmental   factors   affect   gene  expression   in   ways   that   are   inheritable).  And  here  we  get   to  the  point.  Heckman’s  research   shows   that   there   is   a  strict   link  between   the   parents’   level   of   educa:on  and   their   chi ldren’s   l i fe   chances  (something   that   also   common   sense  s u g g e s t s ) .   T h e   m o s t   r e l e v a n t  environmental   factors  for  children  are  the  family  and  the  school,  which  cooperate  in  their   educa:on.   So,   again,   we   find   that  educa:on   is   a   key  factor   in   building   and  modeling   the   future,   for   individuals   as  well   for  society.  What  we  can  now  add   to  our   awareness   is  the  relevance  of   age:   if  early   childhood   is   crucial   for   the   best  development   of   cogni:ve   and   socio-­‐emo:onal   skills,   the   beginning   of   the  schooling   process   and   the   choice   of  school   are   crucial   too.   We   are   lucky  enough   to  be  able  to   offer,  in  our  school,  the   possibility   of   a   very   early   start   (we  accept   children  as  young  as  two!)  offering  a   first   class   educa:onal   programme,   to  maximise  the  beneficial  effects  as  a  result  of   the   family’s   environment.   Thus,   we  help  in  building,  as  soon  as  it   can  be  built,  the   basis   for   each   individual   child’s  personal  life  project.

Ivano  BoragineHead  of  School  

n the 20th of November 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted

the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Thirty years later, on the same day in 1989, almost all UN

member states ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Thus, the

convention is a legally binding treaty and children have rights that have to be respected worldwide.

This convention has inspired each country to create laws to promote

children’s well-being as well as international treaties to protect them in situations of conflict, a milestone for

ensuring the best-interest of future generations.

This year on the 20th of November 2012, the mainstream media’s attention has been on the economic downturn of

the Euro-zone, accompanied by a lot of speculation on the future policies of

the re-elected US President Obama. The celebrations for the International Day for Chi ldren has not been

covered by most of the major media outlets. Thankfully, whilst we are all

concerned about the present and its inevitable problems, there are some organisations which concentrate on

the fundamental rights of future generations. Our school has worked to

raise the awareness of such rights, for e x a m p l e c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h

organisations involved in children’s welfare like Fondazione Francesca

Rava’s project in Haiti to re-build schools destroyed during the 2011 earthquake in Port-au-Prince.

This year the school will begin to collaborate with SOS Villaggi dei

Bambini: an international charity committed to creating a ‘loving home for every child’. This is a practical

answer to the fundamental need of belonging  to a family and to feeling

loved, supported and secure in a safe and loving home.

It’s natural to think that this subject is

related to ‘far away lands’, however it’s surprising to learn that SOS Villaggi

d e i B a m b i n i i s v e r y a c t i v e i n deve loped count r ie s . Growing numbers of poor and broken families

a re inc reas ing the number o f abandoned and abused children. This

organisation, in addition to looking after children from broken homes, is also trying to prevent more families

from becoming separated.

D a y s l i k e N o v e m b e r 2 0 t h a n d

organisations such as SOS Villaggi dei Bambini serve to remind us of the importance of taking an active role

and participating in every way we can in defending children’s rights.

(1) http://childrensrightsportal.org/childrens-day/

A special day for children

In 1954, the United Nations (UN) recommended that “Every country should introduce a Children’s Day which will be devoted to fraternity and to comprehension among children of the world, and which will stand out by activities encouraging Children’s well-being throughout the world.”(1)

OBY  ENRICO  DAL  CIN

GRADE  13

Grade 11 head to London!

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s part of Year 11 students’ History GCSE they headed to London on Tuesday the 9th of October  to carry out research for their

c o u r s e w o r k a s s i g n m e n t . T h e i r investigations centered on the Tower of London. Ms Rough and Dr Orbison accompanied the Grade 11s as they wrapped up warm and headed to London’s famous landmark to take part in a tower workshop. Students played the part of history detectives as they photographed and examined the castle and its history, gathering crucial information for their assignments which count towards 25% of their final grade.

They got to explore the Tower and investigate its changing functions and features over its incredible 1,000 year history.

It wasn’t all work though, and with the information gathered ready for the write up back in Italy, it was time to explore the city. Ms Rough and Dr Orbison took the students to the East End to explore the area of London’s  famous unsolved crime…the Jack the

Ripper murders. With our experienced ‘ripperologist’ guide we trawled the East End at night as we tried to trace the steps of the infamous Jack. We then headed to an East End restaurant for dinner!

Students also went to the Imperial War Museum where pupils and teachers visited the moving Holocaust exhibition i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r G r a d e 1 1 ’ s examination topic on Nazi Germany. We visited the National Gallery and looked at some of the art depicting the Tower of London. Students also had time to shop on Oxford Street and at Spitalfields Market and walk though the historic city taking in the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Trafalgar Square. It was an enjoyable trip and the students worked hard in preparation for their coursework which they will begin writing up in the next few weeks.

Learning by looking

During   our   recent   teacher   inset   in   October,  one   topic   discussed   was   the   importance   of  having  good  display  work  around   the   school.  We   were   encouraged   to   really   think   about  what   we   put   up  on  our   classroom   walls,   to  make   sure   it   was   relevant,   s:mula:ng,  connected   to   the   curriculum   and   of   course  interes:ng  for  students.The   best   displays   make   us   stop   and   look,  because  our  a[en:on  has  been  arrested,  our  minds  cap:vated.  Maybe   it   is   something  we  recognise   and   sympathise   with   or   perhaps  even   something   we   strongly   dislike   or  disagree   with.   But   that   is   the   power   of   the  visual   image.   It   focuses   our   a[en:on   for   a  very   important   moment   before   we   have   an  opportunity  to  ‘reject’.  We   are   all  influenced  by   visual   images.   Adver:sing   companies  would  obviously  not   spend  millions  of   euros  each  year  on  poster  and  magazine   campaigns  if  this  was  not  the   case.  This  influence   is  not  just   true   for   those   with   visual   spa:al  intelligence.  Visual  media   can  communicate  a  message   or   make   an   appeal   to   a   mass  audience.This   is   a   very   powerful   tool   which   some  schools  do  not  fully  exploit.  Many  educa:onal  experts  believe   that   a   significant   amount   of  learning   is   done   subconsciously.   ‘When   key  informa:on   is   displayed   around   the   room,  the   brain  will   absorb   it   without   the   student  even  realising....Any   change   in  the  classroom  –  the   layout,  the  orienta:on,  the  wall  displays  –   will   be   s:mula:ng   and   bring   about   a  posi:ve   reac:on   in   students’(1).   Around   our  school  we   now  have   various   images   such   as  pain:ngs,   essays,   posters   from   campaigns,  fact   sheets  and  pieces  from   magazines.   The  quality   and   diversity   is  growing   all   the   :me.  One  recent  visitor  to  the   school  commended  us   for   the   sense   of   ‘interac:on’   created  by  our  displays.  So  next  term  we  will  con:nue  to  encourage  staff  and  students  to  use  our  walls  and   display   areas   as   an   ac:ve   part   of   the  learning   environment.   By   doing   so   we   help  create,   ‘...feelings   of   ownership   and  i n vo l vement ,   l e ad ing   to   improved  mo:va:on’(2)   in   a l l   sec:ons   of   the  community,  a  highly  suitable   target  for  us  to  con:nue  to  pursue.

(1)   Mike   Hughes,   Strategies  for   Closing   the   Learning  Gap,  Network  Educa@onal  Press,  p.93

(2)   The   Impact   of   School   Environments:   A   literature  Review,   The   Centre   for   Learning   and   Teaching,  University  of  Newcastle,  2005

hQp://www.ncl.ac.uk/cflat/news/DCReport.pdf

William  IrelandPrincipal,  Middle  and  High  School

A

BY CHARLOTTE ROUGHHISTORY TEACHER

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IV  or   Human   Immunodeficiency  Virus  is  one  of  the  most   deadly  diseases   in  human  history.  It   a[acks  the  immune  system   resul:ng   in   the   progressive  

destruc:on   of   the   body’s   defence   cells.   This  process  ul:mately   causes   a  disease   known   as  Acquired   Immunodeficiency   Syndrome,   which  we  commonly  recognise  as  AIDS.  Thousands  of  young   adults   worldwide,   especially   between  the  ages  of  15  to  28,  are  infected  with  the  HIV  virus  each   year.  It   can  be   transmi[ed   from  an  infected   person   through   what   doctors   call  "high-­‐risk   behaviours”   including   blood  transfusions,   sharing   needles   or   syringes   for  drug   injec:ons,   steroids   or   ta[ooing   and  unprotected  sexual  intercourse.    

AIDS  is  at  first  a  very  dormant   disease  and   for  some  the  symptoms  do  not  appear  for  10  years  following  the  ini:al   infec:on.  Worryingly  there  is   s:ll   no   cure   for   HIV   and   AIDS   today,  therefore   preven:on   is   cri:cal.   It   is   also  essen:al   that   we   con:nue   to   educate   the  world’s  popula:on   against  AIDS  in  order   to  try  to   eradicate   it   from  society.  It   must   not   all   be  “doom   and   gloom”,   in   fact   we   must   remain  posi:ve   and   this   must   be   done   through  educa:on  and  publicity.

In   the   year   2000,   all   the   UN   member   states,  signed   up   to   the   Millennium   Declara:on,  commifng   themselves   to   achieving   eight  ambi:ous   goals   by   2015.   The   Millennium  Development   Goals   (MDGs)   focus   on   social  issues  which  affect  billions  of  people.  The  sixth  MDG  aims  to  have  halted  and  begun  to  reverse  the   spread   of   HIV/AIDS.   There   are   goals   and  targets   set   by   the   UN   to   further   raise   the  awareness  of  AIDS  in  all   corners  of   the  world.  Sta:s:cs   confirm  that   the  number   of   new  HIV  infec:ons   fell   steadily   from   a   peak   of   3.5  million   in   1996   to   2.7   million   in   2008   and  deaths  dropped  from  2.2  million  to  2  million  in  a  :me  span  of  two  years.  The  epidemic  appears  to  have  stabilized  in  most  regions.*

Since  1988,  World  AIDS  day   is   observed   every  year   on   the   1st   of   December.   It   is   a   day  dedicated   to  raising  the  awareness  of   the  AIDS  disease   caused   by   the   spread   of   the   HIV  infec:on.   This   day   gives   the   opportunity   to  deepen   knowledge   about   the   facts   and  preven:ons.  There  are  many  campaigns  which  fight   against   this   disease   however   it   is  important   that   we  as  a  global   community  take  ac:on   and  do  our   very  best  to   par:cipate  and  support  campaigns  such  as  the  Italian  ANLAIDS  

(Associazione   Nazionale   per   la   Lo[a   contro  AIDS).    

According  to  UNAids’  annual  report:  “gefng  to  zero  new  HIV  infec:ons  will  require  substan:al  reduc:ons   each   year   i n   sexua l   H IV  transmission,   which   accounts   for   the  overwhelming  majority  of   the  people  who   are  newly  infected.”  

Mitchell   Warren,   director   of   AVAC,   Global  Advocacy   for   HIV   Preven:on,   said:   "If   we're  serious   about   ending   Aids   we   must   move  faster.   If   ending   Aids  were   a  marathon,   we'd  already  be  behind  pace  at  the  first  mile  marker.  In   2013,   we   must   aggressively   expand   HIV  preven:on   to   stay   on   track   to   bring   new  infec:ons  to  zero”.  

If   we   can   achieve   our   goal   of   sharing   the  message   of   the   dangers   of   drugs   and  promiscuity  then  we  can  win  the  ba[le  against  AIDS.    In  the  mean:me  medicine  must  con:nue  to  advance  in  order  to  discover  a  cure  for  those  who  been  infected  in  order   for  them  to  live  life  to  the  full  without  prejudice  or  fear.  

*http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-­‐development/2012/nov/20/risky-­‐sexual-­‐behaviour-­‐aids-­‐un

H

“Ignorance and prejudice are fuelling the spread of a preventable disease” which must be suppressed and tackled at once.

BY CLAUDIA ZACCARIGRADE 12

The Silent Killer

he  European  Maths  Challenge   took  place  on   the  6th   and  the  7th   of   November   2012.   Mathle:cs   is   a   website   that   lets  students   prac:ce   Maths   online.   It   is   a   really   spectacular  

website   that   inspires   students   from   all   over   the   world   to   prac:ce  Maths.   Every   year   Mathle:cs   has   an   interna:onal   compe::on  online.   At   Rome   Interna:onal   School   students   from  Grades  1   to   9  par:cipated   and   worked   extremely   hard   for   two   days   in   the  European   Maths   Challenge.   Everyone   did   their   best   and   Rome  Interna:onal  has  a  champion:  Ki  Ha  K!  He   is  our   fabulous  champion  because   he   was   one   of   the   top   students   in   Europe.  CONGRATULATIONS   to   this   outstanding   ‘mathlete’.   All   mathletes  should   con:nue   working   hard   so   that   YOU   can   be   the   next  champion!

T

Mental + Athletics = Mathletics!BY  ELENA  VITTORI

GRADE  7B

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This  week  a  rather   bossy  Red  Robin  took  up  residence   in  my  pa:o  area,  cha[ering  angrily     and     menacingly   puffing  up   his  red   chest   at   the   sight   of   his   own  reflec:on   in   the   mirror.  Red   berries   are  appearing   on   my   Holly   bushes   and   the  bright   orange  fruit   on   the  bare  branches  of   the   Persimmon   tree   look   l ike  deliberately  placed  decora:ons.  The  logs  in  the  fireplace  give  off  a  warm  glow  and  there’s   no   denying   it,  winter   is   arriving!  Along  with   lights  and  candles,   these   are  the  sights  and  colours  which  will  brighten  up  my  long  and  damp  winter  in  the  Tiber  Valley,   where   sleeping   clouds   oren  forget   to   rise   unless   blown   away  by   icy  winds.   It   couldn’t   be   a   further   cry   from  my  previous   Decembers   in   Queensland,  Australia  where   I   would   be   strolling   the  beach,   sipping   cool   drinks   at   beachside  cafés   and   joining   friends   and   family   for  picnics  and  barbecues.  

These  thoughts  brought   to  mind  another  expatriate  who  suffers  the  winter  cold.  

I  would   like   to   share  the  following  poem  by   Valerie   Bloom,   performance   poet,  born   in   Jamaica   and   now   living   in  England.  Her   inspira:on   came   from   the  clever  poem  “No”  by  Thomas  Hood.

De

De  snow,  de  sleet,  de  lack  o’  heat,De  wishy-­‐washy  sunlight,De  lip  turn  blue,  de  cold,  “ACHOO!”De  runny  nose,  de  frostbite,De  creakin’  knee,  de  misery,De  joint  dem  all  rheuma:c,De  icy  bed,  (de  blanket  deadDe  burs’  pipe  in  de  afc.De  window  a-­‐shake,  de  glass  near  break,De  wind  dat  cut  like  razor,De  wonderin’  why  you  never  buyDe  window  from  dat  double-­‐glazer.De  thick  new  coat,  zip  to  the  throat,De  nose  an’  ears  all  pinky,De  weepin’  sky,  de  clothes  can’t  dry,De  days  dem  long  an’  inky.De  icy  road,  de  heavy  loadDe  las’  minute  Christus  shoppin’De  cuss  an’  fret  ‘cause  you  fegetDe  ribbon  an’  de  wrappin’.De  mud,  de  grime,  de  slush,  de  slime,De  place  gloomy  since  November,De  sinkin’  heart,  is  jus’  de  start,  o’De  winter:me,December.

Patricia  MarEn-­‐SmithPrincipal,  Early  Years  &  Elementary

December

HanukahOne   winter   fes:val   is  called  Hanukah.   In   the  Hebrew   calendar   it   is  the  25th   day  of   Kisley  ,  but   for   us   it   falls  between   the   end   of  November   and  December.  It   lasts  for  eight   days;  every  day  they  light  a  candle  in   a  candle   holder   called   chanukiah   but   everybody  calls   it  menorah.  When   they  light   the   candle   they  receive   a   gir.   They   also   have   one   extra   special  candle.  For  Hanukah  they  make  a  special  dish  made  of   pancakes   and   potato   with   a   sauce   called  chanukah;  the   dish   is  called   latkes.  Another   special  food   made   of   jelly   doughnuts   with   chanukah   is  called   savganiot.   They   have   a   tradi:onal   game  called  sevivon  where  you   have  a  top   that   you  spin  and   if   you   win   some:mes  you’ll   receive  money  or  nuts.

Novruz BayramSome   students   in   my  class   celebrate   a   winter  fes:val   called   Novruz  Bayram.   It   starts   on   the  s ixth   of   March   and  finishes  on  the  sixteenth,  so   it   lasts   for   ten   days.  The   reason   for   th is  

fes:val   is   that   a   long   :me  ago  people  decided   to  have  a  fes:val   of   peace  and  of   wishes,   where   all   the   money   that   they   got   by  selling   things  went   to   poor   people.  They  also   give  them   food.   They  eat   tradi:onal   biscuits   which   are  diamond-­‐shaped  because  that  is  the  shape  of  a  star.  They   also   eat   sun   and   moon   shaped   biscuits   and  have  special  grass  which  brings  good  luck.  They  also  have   tradi:onal   games;  one   of   them   is   connected  with  wishes  because  you  go  to  a  friend’s  house  with  a  hat,  you  leave  the  hat  on  the  floor  then  you  make  a  wish  and  knock  at  the  door  and  hide.  Your  friend  will   put   some   candies   in   the   hat.  When  he   or   she  has  gone  you  listen   to   what   they  are   saying  and  if  it’s  a  good  thing  your  wish  will  come  true,  and  if  not,  it   doesn’t.   The   other   one   is   really   funny.   In   the  arernoon   you   paint   an   egg   and   at   twelve   o’clock  you  play  a  match  with  a  partner   to  see  who  has  the  strongest   egg  by  tapping  it   with  a  spoon!  Whoever  wins   gets   a   candy.   Some   countries   celebrate   this  fes:val   in   a   different   way.   In   Kazakhstan   they  put  water   out   in  the  snow  and  the  next   day  it  becomes  

pink  or   red.  They  also  have  fireworks  in   honour   of  the  na:onal  flag.      

S n o w a n d I c e FestivalsIn   Japan   there   is   one   of  the   most   famous   snow  fes:vals   in   the   world   at  Sapporo.   Every   year   two  million   people   come   to  see   the   spectacular   ice  sculptures.   It   lasts   for   all  the   month   of   February.   The  reason   for   this   fes:val   is   that   in   1950   some   high  school   students   made   six   wonderful   ice   sculptures  in  Odori  Park.  People  voted  and  decided  to  have  this  fes:val   and   now  four   hundred   people   make   these  wonderful  sculptures  in  Odori   Park.  There  are  other  snow   and   ice   fes:vals   in   the   world.   Other   well-­‐known  fes:vals  are  in  Alaska  and  China.

DiwaliDiwali   is   the   fes:val  of  lights.   It’s   the   most  important   fes:val   for  the   people   of   India.  E v e r y t h i n g   i s   l i t  because   then   all   the  spiritual   darkness   will  go   away.  It   lasts  for   five  

days   i n   Oc tobe r   and  November.   In   all   of   India   there   many   reasons   for  celebra:ng  this  fes:val  that  are  based  on  the  Hindu  religion.  For   the  five  days   they  do   different   things  like:   the  first   day  they  clean   the  house;  the  second  day  they  decorate   the   house  with   lamps;   and   the  third  day  is   the  most   important   one  because   they  celebrate  Diwali  with  their   families.  The  fourth  day  is  the  first   day  of  the  new  year   and  on  the  last  day,  the  brothers  go  to  see   their  married   sisters  (if  they  have  them)  and  the  sisters  offer  them  lunch.

Whichever   fes:val   you   celebrate   this   winter,   we  wish  you  a  happy  one!

Photo  sources:Novruz  Bayram:  h[p://azerbaijan24.com/Snow  and  ice  fes:vals:  h[p://www.gojapango.com/travel/sapporo_snow_fes:val.htm  

Have you ever wondered, when some of us are celebrating Christmas, what other winter festivals people have? Well, in our school there are lots of different ones. I interviewed some students to find out about their celebrations and also researched others.

Winter festivities around the world

BY  OLIMPIA  JOSI  TODINI  GRADE  5P

APP REVIEWNAME: insTuner

PRICE ON APP STORE: Free

APP TYPE: Utility (Guitar Tuner)

DEVICES: iPhone, iPod and iPad

CONNECT TO GAME CENTER: No

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2013 here we come!

How time flies! Itʼs the end of the year and itʼs the perfect time to reflect on all thatʼs happened this year and see what to improve on in the coming year.

BY VIRGINIA CABELLAGRADE 12

This app is made for guitar players who need to have a tuner always ready to make sure their instrument is perfectly tuned. It has a simple interface that even a new user can understand and start using the app without problems.

It has two types of tuning: Chromatic Tuning and Tone Generator. The first allows you to play one of the strings of your guitar. It will then tell you if you need to tighten or loosen the string. To have a perfectly tuned guitar you have to repeat this step for each string.

The Tone Generator, instead, allows you to pick a note and click play. Once you have done that it will play the sound of that note and allow you to tighten or loosen the string until its sound matches that of the sound provided by the app.

I use this app regularly and would suggest this app to any guitar player who often needs to tune their guitar.

BY LIVIA ALEGIGRADE 8

o many things happened in 2012, it’s sometimes easy to forget how significant the year actually was.

It was a year where we stepped back from the brink of disaster and chaos in some areas, and made genuine progress in others. Think about the elections held on the 6th of November in the U.S. where, after a very close battle between the two candidates, President Obama achieved a victory that many had said could not happen and showed how many people still had faith in him.

Several other noteworthy events took place. The Olympic games were held in London from 27 July to 12 August. People from all over the world came to see world class gymnasts, footballers, wrestlers, a n d c y c l i s t s t o m e n t i o n a f e w sports! Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, winning his twenty-second medal. Saudi Arabia(1) , Qatar(2) and Brunei(3) entered female athletes for the first time, meaning that every currently eligible country has sent a female competitor to at least one of the Olympic Games. In addition,

women's boxing was also included making the 2012 Olympics the first at w h i c h e v e r y s p o r t h a d f e m a l e competitors!(4)

Unfortunately, with the good comes the bad. In late October, Hurricane Sandy devastated portions of the Caribbean and Northeastern United States, with lesser impacts in the Southeastern and Midwestern states and Eastern Canada. This makes it the second costliest Atlantic hurricane behind hurricane Katrina. At least 209 people were killed along the path of the storm in seven countries and it was estimated in early calculations to have caused damage of at least $20 billion(5). This event was useful for us to open our eyes to the immense privileges we enjoy, and to understand how fortunate we have been. Many times people appreciate things only when they lose them, let’s not make the same mistake!

Personally my main progress was moving from grade 11 to grade 12, where I experienced a complete change in my academic environment. I am currently in

the f i rst year of the IB Diploma Programme. Things have started to get difficult, more determination and strength is needed and I’m finally accepting the fact that time is moving incredibly fast and I have to keep up! Choices for the future have to be made, and for me and my classmates its very stressful because we’re noticing that we’re growing up quickly!

This year has been like a roller-coaster. On the whole, I am satisfied with my year because I managed to cope with all sorts of situations. My objectives for next year are simple. To improve my work at school; my listening skills; to concentrate more, not only in school but in different o c c a s i o n s ; a n d t o g a i n m o r e determination, which I think is the main ingredient to succeed in life. Without sacrifice and perseverance you will never obtain what you’re aiming for!

(1) wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia_at_the_Olympics (2) wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_at_the_Olympics(3) wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei_at_the_Olympics(4) wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Summer_Olympics(5) www.csunas.org/studentgovernment/50-in-3-donation-drive/

S

he   earthquake   of   6   April   2009   was   a  tragedy   in   Italy.   Three   hundred   and  nine   people   were   killed   at   the   :me,  and  nearly  twenty  thousand  were   ler  

homeless.  However,  the  story  has   con:nued   to  develop  since  then,  from  the  famous  “sciacalli”,  those   who   went   around   the   ruins   of   the   city  stealing  anything  that   had  not   been   destroyed,  to   the   G8   summit   that   was   held   in   the   city  to  a[ract   interna:onal   a[en:on   to   the   disaster.  The   history   of   this   earthquake   reached   a   new  turning  point   on   22   October   2012  when   seven  men  were  sentenced  to  six  years  in  prison.  What  is  the  crime,  associated  to  the  ‘quake,  that  could  result  in  a  prison  sentence?  The  answer  is  sloppy  seismology.

On   31   March   2009,   one   week   before   the  earthquake,  three  seismologists,  two  engineers,  a   volcanologist   and   a   public   official   had   taken  part   in   a  mee:ng  of   the   “Na:onal   Commission  for  the  Forecast  and  Preven:on  of  Major  Risks”.  The   aim   of   the   mee:ng   was   to   assess   the  dangers   that   the   city   was   facing,   as   small  tremors  had   been   felt  over   the  last  month.  The  outcome  of   this   mee:ng  was  a   reassurance   to  the  city’s  residents  that  the  frequent  ac:vity  was  nothing  of  concern,  and  the  small  tremors  were  

actually  reducing  the  pressure  between   the  two  plates   thus   minimizing   the   risk   of   a   major  earthquake.   The   minor   tremors   were   seen   as  something   “normal”  as  Fabio   Picu:,  one  of   the  prosecutors,   underlined.  However,   it   was   later  found   that   all   of   the   evidence   pointed   in   the  other   direc:on.   The   increase   in   the   frequency  and  intensity  of  the  tremors  is  normally  the  sign  of   a   bigger   earthquake   in   the   future.   The  prosecutor   also   accused   the   seven   men   of  having   made   contradictory   and   misleading  statements.  (1)

Most   of   these   statements   were   made   by   the  public  official   involved  in  the  story,  Bernardo  De  Bernardinis,  who   told   residents  to   relax  with   a  good   glass   of   Montepulciano   wine.(2)   Other  reassuring   statements   were   made   during   the  conference   itself   by  De   Bernardinis,   and   all   of  this  became  evidence  against  them.

In   fact,   it   was   partly   due   to   these   statements  that   the   city’s  residents   didn’t   leave   the  city  or  sleep   outside.   This   unfortunately   resulted   in  hundreds   of   deaths,   which   could   have   been  prevented.   This   is   the   reason   why   the   judge  sentence  the  men  to  prison.  

The  analogy  that  has  been  made  with  this  case  is  the   one   of   a   doctor   who   ignores   standard  prac:ces   and   causes   the   death   of   the   pa:ent.  The   men   are   not   being   sentenced   for   not  predic:ng   the   earthquake,   as   it   is   common  knowledge   that   it   is   difficult   to   predict  earthquakes,  but   they  were  sentenced  because  of  not  being  able  to   interpret   simple  clues,  such  as  the  tremors,  which  are  normally  regarded  as  a  sign   that   an   earthquake   in   the   near   future   is  possible.  

That   said,  there  is  no  standard  prac:ce  in  these  cases;   these   men   did   not   have   guidelines   to  follow,   like  a   doctor  would.  This   sentence  may  result   in   future   predic:ons   to  be   too  much   on  the  side  of  cau:on  for  fear  of  prosecu:on.  Could  the   last   casualty   of   this   earthquake   be   free  speech?  

(1)  h[p://www.thedailybeast.com/ar:cles/2012/10/22/scien:sts-­‐found-­‐guilty-­‐in-­‐l-­‐aquila-­‐earthquake-­‐trial.html(2)  h[p://www.cosmosmagazine.com/features/print/5233/shaky-­‐ground

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Sloppy seismology

BY ALESSANDRO RUSSO PROFILIGRADE 12

OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION OPINION

TJason Reed/Getty Images

What do Montepulciano wine and the 2009 earthquake in Aquila have in common?

In October we paid a visit to the FAO headquarters in Rome. I found the trip very interesting because I got to know the importance of FAO’s work. FAO stands for Food and Agr icu l ture Organization and it is a specialised agency of the United Nations.

We were guided through the FAO office by two officers who explained to us that the organisation’s efforts are primarily to ensure that people worldwide have proper access to food and health care.

In addition to Rome, FAO is present in over 130 countries, and approximately 55% of the FAO staff members are based in Rome. There are seven departments

at FAO covering agriculture, fisheries, f o r e s t r y , e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l deve lopment , natu ra l re sou rces m a n a g e m e n t a n d e n v i ro n m e n t , technical cooperation, and human resources and corporate services.

Our two guides told us that with the current world population at seven billion, one billion people are starving and another one billion are malnourished. FAO is is trying to provide assistance to countries that that need help improving agriculture and other sectors in order to ensure a better standard or life.

I was interested to hear about the organisation’s work in India. One of the

projects is related to rural poverty, as roughly more than 300 million people live in poverty in India. We were told that the country has been successful in reducing the proportion of poor people from 55% to about 27%. A major cause of poverty in India is lack of health care and limited access to social services, and financial resources.

Our visit to FAO was a useful reminder of the importance of food and agriculture t o t h e e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l development of a country and its inhabitants.

BY SADIA JARAHGRADE 12

Discovering the importance of food security

oth Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have spent vast sums of money in the race to the White House. Many will suggest that

both Obama and Romney have spent their money carelessly at a time of economic crisis to advertise and promote themselves anywhere they can, without regard.

Obama’s party, the Democrats, have spent over 540 mi l l ion dol la r s in advertising and campaign spending over the 2012 elections.(1) Most of those advertisements have been screened in Florida, Ohio and Colorado, as they were the states which had been undecided and had the largest impact on the o u t c o m e o f t h i s y e a r s U . S e l e c t i o n .  R o m n e y ’ s p a r t y , t h e Republicans, have spent a great deal l e s s o n c a m p a i g n i n g a n d advertisements. The Republicans spent o v e r 3 3 6 m i l l i o n d o l l a r s i n t o advertisements.(2) Although spending less, l i ke the Democrats most of that campaign spending was focused in Florida, Ohio and Colorado, the key deciding states.

Many people might also ask where the money has come from for the parties’ spending is quite a large sum. All of the money has come from donations from their most loyal supporters. Different amounts were made by various parties/candidates. Obama raised over 632

million dollars of which almost all was spent on advertising. Whereas Romney raised a bit more than half of what Obama raised, just over 390 million dollars.(3)

It might seem that both parties had some cash to spare but in fact both parties are quite significantly in debt. However, this m a s s s p e n d i n g b y p a r t i e s f o r advertisements and campaigning gives the advertising industry a significant boost, often bringing in up to 900 million dollars in profit.(4)

Although much money is spent and made in the process of making these advertisements, they are not always successful in convincing the undecided. Therefore, campaigning by giving speeches and conventions are often the most effective methods used.

Not everyone may be happy with the result of this year’s election. It has put much financial strain on both the Democrats and the Republicans. It has, however, given many sectors of the economy a significant boost.

But is it money well spent?

(1) http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/05/f-us-election-campaign-final-day.html(2) IBIID(3) http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/campaign-finance(4) http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/12/07/166734266/most-expensive-presidential-campaign-ended-in-sprint-to-spend

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RIS report is a monthly publication by Rome International School.

RIS report

BRegistrationRegistrazione n. 476 del 31/12/10

Direttore ResponsabileMaria Corbi

Editor-in-ChiefTania [email protected]

Graphic designTania Gobena

PhotographySteve OrbisonTania Gobena Darren McDonald

Rome International SchoolVia Panama 2500198, Rome+39 06 84482650/[email protected]

Presidency at any cost?

BY ARIS SCHULER-SHAHGRADE 8

孔子学院 On   Wednesday   28   November   the   High   School  Chinese   class   visited   the   Confucius   Ins:tute   in  Rome,   one   of   the   300   around   the   world.   It   is  located   in   Via   Principe   Amedeo,   inside   "La  Sapienza"   University   and   has   been   open   since  2006.  

At   the   Ins:tute,  you  can   learn  Chinese   language  and   culture   with   na:ve   teachers.   The   Ins:tute  has  a  library  where  you  can  find  a  range  of  books  in  all  Middle  East  and  Far  East  languages!

We   were   warmly  welcomed   by  the   Director   of  the  Ins:tute,  Dr.  Wén  Zhēng  (文铮),  an  old  friend  

of  our  teacher  Ms.  Parnanzone.

BY GIANLUCA PARADISOGRADE 10