Italian Scientists Convicted of Manslaughter for NOT predicting an Earthquake

Message boards : Politics : Italian Scientists Convicted of Manslaughter for NOT predicting an Earthquake

Author	Message
skildude Send message Joined: 4 Oct 00 Posts: 8942 Credit: 36,566,561 RAC: 58,885	Message 1297972 - Posted: 22 Oct 2012, 20:59:12 UTC
	Italian experts convicted of manslaughter over deadly 2009 quake L'AQUILA, Italy -- Defying assertions that earthquakes cannot be predicted, an Italian court convicted seven scientists and experts of manslaughter Monday for failing to adequately warn residents before a temblor struck central Italy in 2009 and killed more than 300 people. The court in L'Aquila also sentenced the defendants to six years each in prison. All are members of the national Great Risks Commission, and several are prominent scientists or geological and disaster experts. One has to wonder why the Judiciary in Italy thinks that scientists are magicians or palm readers. Perhaps we should convict meteorologists for missing the exact temperature each day as well.[/url] ____________ Proud member of TSWB. End terrorism by building a school
	ID: 1297972 ·

Gary Charpentier Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 10316 Credit: 5,080,006 RAC: 5,990	Message 1297976 - Posted: 22 Oct 2012, 21:12:50 UTC - in response to Message 1297972.
	Perhaps we should convict meteorologists for missing the exact temperature each day as well. Add the global warming catastrophe crew to the list and it sounds like a plan. ____________
	ID: 1297976 ·

betreger Send message Joined: 29 Jun 99 Posts: 1061 Credit: 2,002,710 RAC: 2,515	Message 1297977 - Posted: 22 Oct 2012, 21:13:47 UTC - in response to Message 1297972.
	The Italians have a long tradition of persecuting scientists, probably predating Galileo. ____________
	ID: 1297977 ·

skildude Send message Joined: 4 Oct 00 Posts: 8942 Credit: 36,566,561 RAC: 58,885	Message 1297981 - Posted: 22 Oct 2012, 21:32:41 UTC
	So... living in Italy and in a known earthquake zone would cause one to think, "hmmm... with all this modern technology maybe I should somehow earthquake proof my home....Naahhhh why bother Earthquakes only happen once in a while and only last a few seconds." Much like the story of fixing a leaky roof that only leaks on rainy days. It's not a problem until its a problem. ____________ Proud member of TSWB. End terrorism by building a school
	ID: 1297981 ·

Sirius B Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 6685 Credit: 1,281,955 RAC: 672	Message 1298003 - Posted: 22 Oct 2012, 23:02:16 UTC
	I think they should now prosecute & jail Berlusconi ____________
	ID: 1298003 ·

Ex Volunteer moderator Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 12 Mar 12 Posts: 2883 Credit: 1,158,295 RAC: 845	Message 1298047 - Posted: 23 Oct 2012, 1:22:45 UTC
	I would of thought such a thing could only happen in the US... ...just sayin' ____________ -Dave #2 3.2.0-33
	ID: 1298047 ·

Sarge Send message Joined: 25 Aug 99 Posts: 8871 Credit: 1,226,517 RAC: 1,593	Message 1298093 - Posted: 23 Oct 2012, 4:04:17 UTC - in response to Message 1298047.
	I would of thought such a thing could only happen in the US... ...just sayin' I say we vote to banish the phrase "just sayin'" from these fora. Also, henceforth, "my bad" shall return to "my faux pas" so we can sound classy again,
	ID: 1298093 ·

skildude Send message Joined: 4 Oct 00 Posts: 8942 Credit: 36,566,561 RAC: 58,885	Message 1298256 - Posted: 23 Oct 2012, 23:16:35 UTC
	still why would anyone want to have a position that attempts to negate damage and prevent harm to others be tried and even convicted on a flimsy premise. I'll ask again. Isn't the persons responsibility to make ones own home safe. To make it as earthquake proof as possible. What happened to personal responsibility ____________ Proud member of TSWB. End terrorism by building a school
	ID: 1298256 ·

BarryAZ Send message Joined: 1 Apr 01 Posts: 2480 Credit: 7,434,600 RAC: 13,668	Message 1298257 - Posted: 23 Oct 2012, 23:20:27 UTC - in response to Message 1298047.
	No Dave, in the US they would not have been convicted for not predicting an earthquake, they'd have been convicted for being scientists. The time has come for us to elect more Luddites. I would of thought such a thing could only happen in the US... ...just sayin'
	ID: 1298257 ·

Sarge Send message Joined: 25 Aug 99 Posts: 8871 Credit: 1,226,517 RAC: 1,593	Message 1298292 - Posted: 24 Oct 2012, 1:18:04 UTC - in response to Message 1298256.
	still why would anyone want to have a position that attempts to negate damage and prevent harm to others be tried and even convicted on a flimsy premise. I'll ask again. Isn't the persons responsibility to make ones own home safe. To make it as earthquake proof as possible. What happened to personal responsibility I think we have a case of reverse-Romneyism?
	ID: 1298292 ·

WinterKnight Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 18 May 99 Posts: 6801 Credit: 17,094,229 RAC: 28,069	Message 1298367 - Posted: 24 Oct 2012, 7:42:10 UTC
	Italy disaster head Luciano Maiani quits over L'Aquila The head of Italy's disaster body, Luciano Maiani, has resigned in protest at prison sentences passed on seven colleagues over the 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila.
	ID: 1298367 ·

Sirius B Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 6685 Credit: 1,281,955 RAC: 672	Message 1298388 - Posted: 24 Oct 2012, 10:48:24 UTC - in response to Message 1298367. Last modified: 24 Oct 2012, 10:48:56 UTC
	"While the seven men involved are appealing against their convictions - and remain free while they do so - all are facing the prospect of being barred from ever holding public office again." So if they lose their appeals & end up serving their sentence, it'll set a precedent for which civil servants & politicians should be very wary of! ____________
	ID: 1298388 ·

ML1 Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 25 Nov 01 Posts: 7116 Credit: 3,683,633 RAC: 954	Message 1298426 - Posted: 24 Oct 2012, 22:36:17 UTC
	Unbelievable scapegoating... Is there some corruption behind such a crazy conviction?... Then again, certain parts of various industries and politics deliberately ignore science when inconvenient for their short term profits... Meanwhile, the rest of the world be damned... All on our only world, Martin ____________ Mandriva Linux A user friendly OS! See new freedom Mageia2 The Future is what We make IT (GPLv3)
	ID: 1298426 ·

betreger Send message Joined: 29 Jun 99 Posts: 1061 Credit: 2,002,710 RAC: 2,515	Message 1298432 - Posted: 24 Oct 2012, 22:51:52 UTC - in response to Message 1298426.
	Unbelievable scapegoating... Is there some corruption behind such a crazy conviction?... Then again, certain parts of various industries and politics deliberately ignore science when inconvenient for their short term profits... Meanwhile, the rest of the world be damned... All on our only world, Martin The Italian legal system seems to be corrupt, look at the Amanda Knox murder case. ____________
	ID: 1298432 ·

skildude Send message Joined: 4 Oct 00 Posts: 8942 Credit: 36,566,561 RAC: 58,885	Message 1298982 - Posted: 26 Oct 2012, 16:33:20 UTC - in response to Message 1298432.
	I dont recall a seismologist ever saying that they can predict, with any precision, an earthquake. They do know how frequent certain faults move and can say with a certain about of accuracy(within years or decades) a quake may occur. On this same line of thought. What about the Indonesian quake that took out 250k people? ____________ Proud member of TSWB. End terrorism by building a school
	ID: 1298982 ·

Message boards : Politics : Italian Scientists Convicted of Manslaughter for NOT predicting an Earthquake