Statement on the Guilty Verdict for Scientists in the L’Aquila Earthquake Case(October 29, 2012)News
The April 2009 earthquake (Mw6.3) in the L’Aquila region of central Italy caused over 300 deaths and a great amount of damage in the area. Following this event, seven members of a government committee, which included prominent Earth scientists, were criminally charged with manslaughter. On 22 October 2012, a verdict was announced with all members of the committee found guilty and given 6 year sentences.
The details of the reasoning for the verdict have not yet been made available. According to a report by Nippon Housou Kyoukai (NHK) news, however, the prosecutors stated that the charges were not based on the inability to predict the earthquake, but instead on negligence in the analyses of the situation and insufficient communication of information. These charges were supported by the court decision.
The government committee had issued a so called ‘safety declaration’ to residents. Regretfully, as a result of the notice there were many victims of the earthquake, and as earthquake researchers we must take this fact very seriously. We give prayers for the people that lost their lives and express our condolences to their families and relatives.
In our country, earthquake scientists are actively involved in forming national and local policies concerning earthquake hazards, and we are very concerned that such researchers in Italy are being held directly responsible for earthquake losses. We understand that scientists have the role of carrying out independent research and responsibility for communicating their results to society. When providing important information to the public, researchers must maintain a fair stance and have a sincere approach to the science
As a result of the decision in Italy, we fear that the attitudes of scientists may become inhibited. If expressing opinions about disaster management can lead to criminal liability, researchers may no longer speak so openly, and may make statements not based entirely on science. Over the long-term, this could lead to inadequate scientific evaluations for disaster management policies, and this would be a backward step for society. When committed researchers make honest contributions to efforts in natural disaster reduction, they should not be held liable for crimes.
The events in Italy raise important issues about the role of scientists in our modern world. The Seismological Society of Japan envisions societies more resilient to earthquakes, which can be built on a relationship of mutual trust and the interaction of local government, community residents and researchers who maintain earnest and unbiased efforts in science. We make continued strong commitments to advance these efforts.
Teruyuki Kato
President, Seismological Society of Japan
The mission of SSJ is:
To promote studies of earthquakes and the interior of the Earth,
To share and disseminate the results,
To contribute to earthquake disaster mitigation.
SSJ holds annual fall meetings, which cover many disciplines related to earthquakes and the interior of the Earth. Other symposiums, some of which are arranged in cooperation with other organizations, are held to accommodate specified topic and and purposes. SSJ is a member of the Japan Geoscience Union (JPGU), which annually holds a large combined meeting in the spring.
Publications sponsored by SSJ currently include 'Zisin' (a peer reviewed research journal in Japanese), the 'Newsletter' (a bi-monthly compilation of news for members), 'Naifuru' (a quarterly collection of earthquake topics targeted mainly for the public), and abstract compilations of the annual meetings. Beside these publications in Japanese, SSJ co-sponsors the international peer reviewed research journal "Earth, Planets and Space (EPS)" published cooperatively with other related geophysical societies in Japan. The former journal "Journal of Physics of the Earth (JPE)", which was merged into EPS in 1997, was also a publication of SSJ.
Those who agree with the mission of SSJ and wish to become part of SSJ can apply for membership by submitting application forms to the administrative office. The forms are distributed from the SSJ office. Decisions on membership approval are made by the SSJ Council, which has responsibilities for the general activities of SSJ. Approved members receive Zisin and the Newsletter, and are allowed to give presentations at the annual meetings. Discounted membership is available for students.
