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Scientists Worry over 'Bizarre' Trial for Failing to Predict Earthquake

This story just makes me angry on so many levels and highlights the simple truth that people have no concept or ability to deal with the word "risk".

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/scientists-...140222748.html

Also, fuck Italy.

Quote:

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.

While such a trial is unlikely on U.S. soil, experts say, American geologists and seismologists are watching closely, surprised at a legal system that would attempt to criminalize something as uncertain as earthquake prediction.

"Our ability to predict earthquake hazards is, frankly, lousy," said Seth Stein, a professor of Earth sciences at Northwestern University in Illinois. "Criminalizing something would only make sense if we really knew how to do this and someone did it wrong."

Henry Pollack, a professor of geology at the University of Michigan, echoed Stein's concerns.

"The whole thing seems bizarre to me," Pollack told LiveScience.

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Re: Scientists Worry over 'Bizarre' Trial for Failing to Predict Earthquake

Thought I lived in a overly litigious society.

This is pretty ridiculous. If the scientific community was actually aware of an impending event, and actively decided not to warn the public that's one thing. But if the means are beyond their current capability... Yeah, its crazy to hold them criminally and civilly liable. Doubly so considering the area is historically known for seismic activity.

This sounds oftly similar to a situation that arises here in the states all too often. People who live on the beach, then bitch and moan that a hurricane sucked their house into the great blue abyss, or those who plant an unsecured, foundation-less mobile home in an area unaffectionately called 'tornado alley' then cry when said tin can is thrown into the next county by a freaking tornado. Like who could have imagined?

Re: Scientists Worry over 'Bizarre' Trial for Failing to Predict Earthquake

Or the people up here in Manitoba who built their homes on a consistent annual floodplain and then go demanding government compensation.

Re: Scientists Worry over 'Bizarre' Trial for Failing to Predict Earthquake

Or people in Japan demand the scientists to perform seppuku because of the tsunami

Re: Scientists Worry over 'Bizarre' Trial for Failing to Predict Earthquake