Seismologists Tried for Manslaughter for Not Predicting Earthquake

by Dick Mac

In Italy, six seismologists and one government official are being tried for manslaughter because of their failure to accurately predict the ferocity of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, and by extension forewarn the citizenry.

Three hundred people died during the quake.

This wasn't the first major earthquake the area had seen in recent years. A 6.0 quake struck just North of the L'Aquila quake, in 1997.

Two small earthquakes occurred in hours before the 2009 catastrophe. Such foreshocks are not unusual, and are not immediately indicative of a larger, more deadly quake to follow.

"This is a really complex region," said Stuart Sipkin, a seismologist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). . . . "We certainly see foreshocks," Sipkin told LiveScience. "It's not real common, but it's not uncommon either."

The notion that the scientists should be tried due to nature is absurd, especially when the officials running the governments of Western Civilization so readily dismiss findings of the scientific community on a regular basis.

Anti-science, pro-business, quasi-Christian leaders like Silvio Berlusconi want to blame scientists when nature strikes, but ignore scientists when they warn of impending doom based on the activities of industrialization. Let's ignore the scientists when their predictions are unpopular with the business community, and then blame them when it costs money to fix what they are unable to predict.

*sigh*

Seismologists Tried for Manslaughter for Not Predicting Earthquake

Seismologists Tried for Manslaughter for Not Predicting Earthquake

Stepping Up To The Plate

by Dick Mac

I have been awe-struck by the magnitude of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The destruction is immense, the stories tragic, remarkable and uplifting, all at the same time.

Japan is the only nation to have been attacked with nuclear (well, atomic) weapons, so the idea that they might experience another destructive explosion of that magnitude is sad and scary.

At the end of WWII, as Japan was drenched in radioactive fallout, there was very little international travel, so except for the winds and perhaps some ocean-going vessels, there was little chance for the radiation to be carried anywhere.

Nowadays, there are jets flying in and out of Japan on a regular basis and we do not yet really know what levels of radiation they carry to their destinations. Time will tell.

It is at times like this that most Americans stand-up to be counted. We tend to give more of ourselves when others are in need.

I liked this news story:

Hollywood has made plenty of disaster movies, but the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan is no fiction and the entertainment industry has responded to the dire situation there with generosity.

Oscar winner Sandra Bullock became the latest to join the cause when the American Red Cross said on Thursday that she had given $1 million to help victims of the disaster in Japan.

Several other celebrities and Hollywood studios have also pledged support to the nation.

Charlie Sheen, the embattled Hollywood bad boy, is donating $1 per ticket for all his upcoming live stage shows to the Red Cross.

Pop star Lady Gaga designed a bracelet for Japan relief and within 48 hours it raised $250,000, with sales ongoing.

Singer Katy Perry is donating sales of glow sticks on her concert tour to Red Cross relief in Japan.

Earlier this week, the Walt Disney Co donated $2.5 million to the American Red Cross for humanitarian efforts in Japan, and it also said it would match employee donations up to a total of $1 million.

The Warner Bros studio has pledged DVD and Blu-ray sales of its movie "Hereafter" to Red Cross efforts in Japan.

The donation by Bullock stands out as one of the biggest donations by a single Hollywood star.

The American Red Cross, which earlier this week announced an initial contribution of $10 million to the Japanese Red Cross Society, said it was "extremely grateful" to Bullock and her family for the gift.
Bullock joins Hollywood pack in aid to Japan (Reuters - Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

It's wonderful that so many people are stepping up to the plate during this incredible disaster. Even Charlie Sheen!

I am attending a benefit concert by Sonic Youth, Yoko Ono, Cibo Matto, and others. Every penny is going to aid Japan. Nobody is taking money from the ticket sales, not the performers, the theater, the workers, nor publicists. I am lucky to live in New York City where an event like this is taking place.

There may be an event for you to attend in your area. If not, there are certainly plenty of charitable organizations that can get your money to those who need it most.

We can only hope and pray that things stabilize. That the nuclear power plant can be brought under control, that those freezing and hungry in the North will be sheltered and fed, and that Japan can rebuild without completely bankrupting their already fragile economy.

Please consider a donation to Doctors Without Borders/Medicines Sans Frontieres. At this time they are using unrestricted donations to fund efforts in Japan. They are not accepting donations specifically earmarked for the recovery efforts in Japan, at this time.

Donate to the DWB/MSF Response to Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

by Dick Mac

I remember working in the kitchen of Brasserie 1300, in San Francisco in 1977, when a mild tremor struck the city. All the hanging pots and pans clanged against each other, one or two fell to the floor. We each found a doorway/door frame to stand in and the sensation passed as quickly as it came. We all laughed nervously and did our best to make light of the event.

I never admitted to the others that I was very scared.

Since that time there have been many horrific earthquakes around the world, including the 1989 San Francisco Earthquake that proved that a city can be well-designed to withstand strong tremors.

Most second-world and third-world cities do not have the benefit of earthquake-proof construction.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is one such city.

On Tuesday, an enormous earthquake flattened huge portions of the region, leaving thousands dead and injured and millions homeless.

President Obama acted swiftly and decisively in sending economic and military aid to our Caribbean neighbors, in stark contrast to his predecessor who was unable to send help to an American city in a timely manner after a massive flood.

The outpouring of good-will from around the world has been wonderful.

After emails, phone calls and conversations with friends, I am finally getting-up off a hundred bucks to send to Doctors Without Borders. Thank you to Mark, Kevin, Kim, and Beth for listening to my thoughts about Haiti and the disaster.

If you haven't donated yet, I urge you to go here and do so: Doctors Without Borders Haiti Earthquake Response

U.S. Geological Survey Preliminary Earthquake Report