GeologyRocks

 I came across this on the web, downloaded it, but didn't make a note of the source.

However I thought it might be of interest.

Italian Seismologists to Be Tried for Manslaughter

Let's tell the story straight: in early 2009 people in Italy were having a series of small earthquakes. The authorities, rightly, said that nothing could be predicted. A lone researcher claimed to predict a large quake using radon emissions (which, I said, is like predicting the Dow Industrial Index from the behaviour of IBM). He rented sound trucks and urged people to flee. People got more upset. The Civil Protection minister consulted a group of seismologists, then issued an irresponsible statement in his own words that "the scientific community tells me there is no danger, because there is an ongoing discharge of energy. The situation looks favourable." People calmed down. A large earthquake struck L'Aquila a week later killing 308 people.

Your question: Who should go to prison for this situation?

My answer: Nobody.

Italy's answer: That minister and those scientists he talked to because they didn't tell people to skip town en masse and leave their homes unguarded for an unknown period of time. Nature News Blog reports that indictments have been issued and a trial is set for September.

To any scientist with a desire, or an obligation, to inform the public it's the nightmare that won't go away.

John