Scientists on trial for not warning strongly enough
Ignorami vincet or Panem et circenses
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 by DrJBHL | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
From Italy:
"Six Italian scientists and one government official are set to go to trial today in Italy (Sept. 20) on charges of manslaughter for not warning the public aggressively enough of an impending earthquake that killed more than 300 people in 2009."
- http://www.livescience.com/16132-italian-earthquake-prediction-manslaughter-trial.html
It seems that scientists can now predict where, when and how strong earthquakes will be.
In fact, warnings were issued:
"Enzo Boschi, the then-president of Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology and now a defendant in the case, seemed to allude to this uncertainty in a March 31, 2009, meeting in L'Aquila, a medieval city in Abruzzo. Comparing the situation to a large quake that struck L'Aquila in 1703, Boschi said, "It is unlikely that an earthquake like the one in 1703 could occur in the short term, but the possibility cannot be totally excluded.
In a press conference after the meeting, however, Department of Civil Protection official Bernardo De Bernardinis, also a defendant in the case, struck a more soothing tone, saying that the situation posed "no danger" and urging residents to relax.
Less than a week later, on April 6, a 6.3-magnitude quake struck in Abruzzo. L'Aquila's medieval buildings crumbled, killing 309 people and injuring more than 1,500." - http://www.livescience.com/16132-italian-earthquake-prediction-manslaughter-trial.html
Seems ridiculous to me, in this day and age that finger pointers should be able to put scientists on trial for not having crystal balls. I can see the civil official perhaps being lax in in telling everyone there "to relax" if that is indeed true and not just another instance of people hearing what they wanted and then being angry when it didn't turn out that way.
When will people understand that some things are still beyond science and stop believing the "special effects" are real?
"Panem et circenses".
When will people stop the finger pointing and blame game and just grow up?
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Reply #3 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 11:19 AM
Yeah, like if they got on the roof tops the rest of the folks would have taken the time to listen. 
Reply #5 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 11:33 AM
Wait.... what?!
Not in 'merica?!?!?
Reply #6 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 11:47 AM
That's it. I'm suing Nostradamus.......... and the Mayans!!! They both failed to warn me about present and future situations.
Predictions aren't what they used to be.
Side note: Not all scientists have crystal balls. Tesla had huge balls but they were made of brass.
Reply #8 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 1:18 PM
That it probably the stupidest thing I have ever heard! You cannot put people on trial over something they have no control over! How asinine!
Reply #9 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 1:26 PM
Its the blame game folks. Whenever something god awful happens there's got to be some one to blame for it. Maybe it was the Russian earthquake machine in the hands of greedy American CEO who wanted to know..."Hmmm...wonder what this button does?"
Reply #10 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 6:06 PM
What's next, history teachers on trial for failing to teach that the area has been plagued by tremors through out history? 
Talk about naive...when you live in the only country in Europe that has active volcanoes, you should expect shit to happen any time.
Reply #12 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 6:49 PM
Iceland is an island and technically not part of Europe. They only say it is for ease of familiarity. Italy is an archipelago and is attached to Europe. Problem is Italy is always kickin' Sicily with its boot. I wonder why that is. Between Etna roaring to life and Vesuvius grumbling not to mention Tambora waking up...hmph. Somebody's gonna get a hot foot or two.
Reply #13 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 6:56 PM
Oops...I had a brain fart. Not sure how I forgot about Hekla.
Thanks Snowman...I stand corrected. 
Reply #16 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 8:07 PM
Isn't their economy going the way of Greece's?
Like they're gonna get any money out of them....
Let's be real....if it weren't for Sophia Loren Italy would be a waste of space anyway.....
I mean....what'd the Romans ever do for us?
Reply #17 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 9:01 PM
Aren't these the people that wanted to toss Galileo off the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Reply #19 Wednesday, September 21, 2011 6:23 AM
For mine, they/we/everyone should put bankers on trial for not warning us more strongly that they're ripping us off
And while we're at it, let's put all the politicians on trial for being full of shit, lying and breaking promises at every turn
Bugger it, why stop there? Let's prosecute real estate sales people for artificially inflating house prices and making housing [including rental properties] largely unaffordable to the majority.
Then, when we're done with that lot, prosecute the dipshits who came up with global warming, for having mislead the masses with bogus research. Some of the above will also be in this category, and those who are should be triple prosecuted for having released so much hot air into the atmosphere.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 10:56 AM
Sadly, I don't believe it's going to happen within our lifetime, Doc. But we can always hope.