Volcano Listserv has received several submissions concerning the
current attempt to hold some noted Italian scientists liable for the apparent
failure to predict an earthquake in 2009. This is as much a political situation
as a scientific one. In the past, when we have posted information about
political issues, especially in Italy, it has led to a long series of emails on
both sides of the issue, which most subscribers have told us they would rather
not receive. We do not endorse any position about the Italian earthquake issue
and do not plan to host a debate on the matter. If we receive many requests to
post contrary views to what Rick Wunderman states below, we will distribute a
representative response.
Thank you for your understanding of this situation.
Jon Fink
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Italian earthquake scientists held liable for failing to predict the L'Aquila
Earthquake
From: "Richard Wunderman" <WUNDERMA@xxxxxx>
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Hello Everyone,
I just learned (from Sam Bonis) of an attempt to hold Italian scientists
responsible for not providing advanced notice of the 6 April 2009 L’Aquila
earthquake (85 km NW of Rome; USGS describes it as Mw 6.3 and notes at least
287 (some news says 308) killed, 1,000 injured, 40,000 homeless, and 10,000
bldgs destroyed or damaged). One of the accused is the venerable
scientist Franco Barbari (Professor of Volcanology at the Dipartimento di
Scienze Geologiche, University of Roma, and Deputy Minister for Civil
Protection in the Italian government from 1995 to 2000 and Director of the
Civil Protection Agency of Italy from 2000 to 2001). I am skeptical
that the scientists could be judged guilty in a court of law, but am largely
ignorant of how these things work. I also advocate reading Tandem
online’s article, which suggests complexities I had not considered . . ..
Here’s a letter people are signing in support of the scientists
http://www.mi.ingv.it/open_letter/
Here’s a brief article in Earth magazine dated 15 June 2010:
http://www.earthmagazine.org/earth/article/354-7da-6-f
This article adds more dimensions about what happened that led to the legal
case (Tandem online, 6 June): http://corrieretandem.com/viewstory.php?storyid=10237
Yours,
Rick
Rick Wunderman (Global Volcanism Pgm., Smithsonian Inst.)
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