Say what? Italian seismologists face manslaughter

A rescuer looks for survivors in the remains of a collapsed building on April 8, 2009 in the Abruzzo capital L'Aquila. / Getty Images

No one can predict earthquakes. But six seismologists and a government official are being tried for manslaughter in the deaths of more than 300 people in the 2009 tremblor in L'Aquila, Italy. The city's public prosecutor says the scientists downplayed the possibility of a quake to an extent that townsfolk did not take precautions that could have saved their lives. A judge has just set the trial to begin on September 20.

The case, which was brought in 2010, hinges on the statements of Bernardo De Bernardinis of Italy's Civil Protection Agency at a press conference a week before the quake. His agency had asked the scientists to convene and discuss whether the increasing seismic activity in the area might indicate a risk of a major quake.

At the subsequent press conference, De Bernardinis, who is being tried along with the scientists, told the crowd, “The scientific community tells me there is no danger, because there is an ongoing discharge of energy. The situation looks favorable.” (via Nature News) People say that as a result of this reassurance, they didn't leave their homes or take other precautions against the quake struck.

However, in the minutes of the meeting, the scientists do not say that there was "no danger," though they say that a swarm of mini-quakes is no certain indicator that a major one is on the way. Additionally, “the idea that minor earthquakes release energy and thus make things better is a common misperception," Susan Hough, a geophysicist at the USGS, comments (via Nature News). "But seismologists know it’s not true. I doubt any scientist could have said that.” The scientists have since said the statement misrepresented their opinions.

Nearly 4,000 scientists have signed a letter of support for the seismologists, saying that the government should focus its efforts on enforcing building codes--the area is a very high-risk quake zone--rather than trying the scientists. “The proven and effective way of protecting populations is by enforcing strict building codes,” says Barry Parsons of Oxford University, a signer of the letter (via Nature News). “Scientists are often asked the wrong question, which is ‘when will the next earthquake hit?’ The right question is ‘how do we make sure it won’t kill so many people when it hits?’”

What the future holds

The trial begins on September 20. If convicted, the scientists and De Bernardinis could serve up to 12 years in prison.

The president of a L'Aquila association of the earthquake's victims hopes that the trial will lead to a more thorough investigation of what happened, particularly with regard to information the committee may have had about which buildings were more likely to crumble. “Nobody here wants to put science in the dock,” he says (via Nature News). “We all know that the earthquake could not be predicted, and that evacuation was not an option. All we wanted was clearer information on risks in order to make our choices.”

[kalamazooo]

Leading researcher on earthquake precursors Prof. Pier Francesco Biagi has shed some light on the subject. Contrary to what some of the defendants, such as National Geophysics Society Chairman Enzo Boschi allege, "the issue of earthquake forecasts is not unsolvable." However, the L'Aquila story is complicated by the fact that the public has been polarized around the case of researcher Giampaolo Giuliani, who used his data on radon precursors to the earthquake to claim that he had forecast the earthquake. Radon emission is a precursor, but is not enough to build a reliable forecast science. It must be used in correlation with other parameters, such as electromagnetic activities on Earth, in the atmosphere, in the ionosphere, etc. Researchers on earthquake precursors, such as Professor Biagi and Russian physicist Sergei Pulinets, are advocating a "multi-parameter" approach in order to establish a credible early warning system.

Therefore, "it is not possible that one single individual would go on television and in the newspapers claiming that he has forecast an earthquake. We would have an ongoing, constant warning, because there are many crazy people around. Forecasts must be made by a government agency."

In the case of Giuliani's one-man and one-parameter warnings, Giuliani had even erred on the epicenter, indicating the town of Sulmona, 55 km south of L'Aquila. Had people from Sulmona been evacuated on the basis of his warnings, they would have been moved to L'Aquila, and the earthquake toll would have increased! As concerns the government Commission on Great Risks, it does have a responsibility, Biagi insists. The Commission met on March 31 for less than one hour and issued a release that more or less said: the population can be assured, there is no threat of a strong earthquake. "Well, if earthquakes are not predictable, as they say, the Commission made a mistake, because de facto it made a forecast. It was a forecast that there will be no earthquake, but still a forecast!"

The Commission should instead have said, according to Biagi: "We are watching a strong seismic sequence in the Aquila region. Seismic sequences are quite common in Italy; generally they tend to decrease in intensity and frequency in time. Sometimes, however, they culminate in a strong event (and this is seismic history, on the record!). We are not able to say what will happen in this case, but in any case there is a state of alert in the area, and those who want to leave, should do so. Technicians will be immediately sent to check the situation of various buildings and eventually single buildings will be condemned."

Professor Biagi was in L'Aquila on March 30 and he says you could just look at the Casa dello Studente to condemn it. During the earthquake, the building collapsed like a house of cards, killing eight students who were sleeping there.

[mollydtt]

I'm also confused. It sounds like they wanted a call for evacuation. So if the "big one" didn't happen for a year or so, should they stay evacuated until it occurs?
Would the scientists be sued for problems associated with leaving their homes indefinitely?
This lawsuit SHOULD be an embarrassment.

[KPeters_from_UK]

"We all know that the earthquake could not be predicted, and that evacuation was not an option. All we wanted was clearer information on risks in order to make our choices."

Hold on, I'm a bit confused did he not say that earthquakes can't be predicted? So why are the scientists on trial then? Are the scientists then simply just scapegoats? If you want someone to be held accountable look at the structural engineers. Stupid and a waste of money.

[BiblicalProphet]

"All of my investigations seem to point to the conclusion that they are small particles, each carrying so small a charge that we are justified in calling them neutrons. They move with great velocity, exceeding that of light." - Nikola Tesla, July 10, 1932

DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD TELL YOU if man sent information Faster Than Light as messages to the past say over a century ago?

They didn't tell you because it caused world record earthquakes as the data from the future was realized and acted upon.

They didn't tell you because it allowed The United States of America and JP Morgan to take everything.

They didn't tell you the place...
these messages were first sent back in time... someplace but you don't see Times Square Tesla's Lab.

They didn't tell you this "messaging" to the past caused a Man-Made New York City Earthquake attributed by police at the time to Nikola Tesla's lab.

They didn't tell you why Nikola Tesla fearing more of these Manhattan earthquakes dropped out of the Trans-Atlantic race with Marconi and rushed his work to Colorado Springs.

They didn't tell you TESLA LISTENED FIRST...
AND THEN CALLED HIMSELF.


They didn't tell you he used the information to bet on boxing.

They didn't tell you placing a bet can cause earthquakes.

They didn't tell you the front pages of The New York "Times" was the first bulk data sent and it was done by Nikola Tesla for JP Morgan, EH Harriman who hunted and killed all those bear "markets"

They didn't tell you The Harriman Expedition went to Alaska and set up the equipment three months before Tesla caused Earthquake No. 333.


They did't tell you Tesla's action actually created this world as we know it's slight difference means the action even created you in it.




They didn't tell you and CAN'T TELL YOU NOW BECAUSE all the wealth and all the power in the world then changes hands. All countries, religions, investment, gambling, and even Vegas & Wall Street are worthless if the pentagon admits they have data from the future.

Nikola Tesla caused world record 47ft uplift earthquakes, tsunamis, avalanches & volcanic activity in Alaska during September in 1899.

He signed the earthquake for you.
It was Milne Shide No. 333.
British Association for The Advancement of Science Earthquake No. 333 commencing at 3h 03m 27s epicenter time in 1899.
(WHY HE DIED IN ROOM #3327 HOTEL NEW YORKER)

A second divisible by 3, times 3, times 3,
in a minute divisible by 3,
in an hour divisible by 3,
on a day divisible by 3,
in a month divisible by 3, times 3,
in a year divisible by 3 TIMES THREE!
DO THE MATH...
And for Christ's sake it was Earthquake Milne Shide No. 333

"All repeated acts or operations I performed had to be divisible by three and if I missed I felt impelled to do it again, even if it took hours."
-Nikola Tesla

If you only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6 and 9, then you would have a key to the universe.
— Nikola Tesla