An Italian court convicted seven scientists and experts of manslaughter on Monday for failing to adequately warn citizens before an earthquake struck central Italy in 2009, killing more than 300 people.
The court in L’Aquila also sentenced the defendants to six years in prison.
Among those convicted were some of Italy’s most prominent and internationally respected seismologists and geological experts, including Enzo Boschi, former head of the national Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
The 6.3-magnitude quake killed 308 people in and around the medieval town and forced survivors to live in tent camps for months.
http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/19882019/italian-court-convicts-7-for-no-quake-warning
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20025626
Thanks to Eunice Farmilant, William Sellers, Benjamin Napier and John Topal for these links
“God help us. I can’t understand how they can be made responsible for apparently unpredictable mother nature,” say John.
“Is it more dangerous these days to be a scientist than a soldier?” asks
Eunice.“Don’t want to be a scientist in Italy!!!!” says Benjamin.
“This could be a new trend; overpaid, sanctimonious eggheads sent off to the slammer for their failures, and could cut both ways in the case of AGW. Raises the stakes a bit, eh? Herr Professor? “ asks William.
16 Responses to Italian court convicts 7 for failing to predict 2009 earthquake
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Most Italian convictions in a lower court are overturned on appeal. The reason is the defendent gets a new trial where there are higher standards for jurors and the legal folks. The Amanda Knox trial and re-trial is typical.
This is absolutely outrageous.
Just shows how scientifically ignorant members of the judicial system are.
If they aren’t aware by now, these Italian. prosecutors and judiciary are the laughing stock of the western world.
Extrapolate this to politicians and the their scientific ignorance in dealing with such matters as Global Warming / Climate Change / Extreme weather events/ Sustainability.
I guess this means life for Michael Mann et al then. A long slam in the cooler!
Mind you, we are all about to get that!
Typical the full story is not explained in the MSM articles, at the time a scientist or two predicted the earthquake the ones that were jailed said there was nothing to worry about thus MAKING A PREDICTION I think it was in a previous post on this site that explained this. Good riddance to bad scientists.
This sounds more like the Inquistion rather than a reasonable trial based on science. No one can predict an earthquake, not even the scientists who study them. This is just another example of emotion rather than logic, which is how most people lead their lives.
Hello fellow Apple Junkie! Yes, I do live in Christchurch cerurnt aftershock capital of the world. It has been a very weird, and very sad, year since our first earthquake on September 4. Hopefully they will stop soon! By the way, I tried to have a look at your blog but for some reason I couldn’t seem to link to it
Now that there is a precedent, what will happen when people die because Global Warming is proved wrong? Many Italian (or other) scientists and politicians jailed because they denied what could happen? Or will so much be going on that this won’t matter any more?
Reminds me of Sheila Jackson’s The Lottery, a story about what happens to politicians “elected” in the future.
The world seems to be degenerating to the level of a Mel Brooks movie.
Methinks William hit the nail on the head.
If I recall another Italian seismologist predicted this or a nearby event and was ridiculed by these same people. He was ordered to leave town. His basis for alarm was magma movement.
(And all the climatologists in Italy are slinking away into the dark)
Headline: Mass Exodus of Climate Scientists from Italy!
How do you think I feel? When we geologists try to warn people nobody is listening or we are accused of procured alarm. At this point we will be condemned if we raise alarm or if we do not. Now here in Italy scientific community is in an uproar and I hope that we can make to withdraw the judgment.
If you will not receive further news maybe is because I was arrested too
There is a difference between giving advice when you have no financial or other interest in the outcome and giving advice when you do. If these guys were making money out of their prediction that there was no likelihood of a big earthquake then they deserve the slammer. But, if they weren’t, then they are only guilty of not predicting an unpredictable event.
In any event a magnitude 6.3 earthquake is not that big. If buildings are properly constructed in an earthquake zone then a mag 6.3 won’t cause loss of life from building collapses. Perhaps the people who should go to jail are the builders of those houses!
Frankly I think western governments have gone totally cuckoo! Next thing you know they will charge and convict the builders and engineers that built every town and city damaged by earthquakes.
Earth Quakes happen! No human is able to predict them accurately enough to satisfy government officials. If the government and people of Italy want to be safe from earth quakes they should all move to Libya. If we get an ice age that might just happen any way.
Global Warming IS happening but it’s NOT man made.
Earth goes thru climate cycles both widespread and local pattern changes.
Dad has learned that every 500 years we go thru warming/cooling and warming such as the 1000AD warm period/1500s mini ice age/The 1930s Dust Bowl/1960s cooling.etc
In fact during the 70s Dad was one of the few that knew we were going to warm up in the 80s/90s while everyone was crying out an ice age was coming
Dad was never part of the hysteria and knew the 500 year cycle changes which we are at a peak of.
The general trend will slowly cool off with a few blips here and there of scary warmth.
I have a serious climate question. (Gasp) he is actually serious? You bet I am!
I want to know why has this particular warming period effecting night time temps more then daytime?
The last several years wehave seen some pretty cold daytime temps during Artic airmasses but nightly minimums have been warmer then average for the most count.
Here in the Pacific Northwest most of the 80s/90s had warm nights with some winters up by +3 or more.