[SCMSL] URGENT -- SCMS CONFERENCE CANCELLATION

[Mark Roberts]

It's quite disappointing. I agree with Roger that most of the  
cancellations were likely from participants coming from abroad, and  
probably the big show-stopper was the possibility of spending up to  
ten days in quarantine. Masks, paperwork, daily temperature scans --  
all of those are annoying but completely manageable -- but ten days of  
quarantine under a jittery government in a foreign country is a bigger  
issue.

Of course, the chances of any sort of mass quarantine are very remote,  
but given the extraordinary level of precaution on the part of  
Japanese government, one can imagine people getting spooked, wondering  
where the line would be drawn. It seems like Chiyoda-ku was determined  
to cancel the conference and placed the SCMS in an quasi-impossible  
position, in effect forcing their hand.

What about the thousands of other travelers coming in and out of Japan  
every day? Why aren't they being asked to wear masks at their offices  
and report on their state of health every day? Or are they?

A lot of conference participants may come anyway. It would be great if  
some unofficial meetings could be arranged.

Maybe the Japanese government has some empty quarantine space that we  
can use, until the "real" flu victims show up...

On May 13, 2009, at 5:27 PM, Roger Macy wrote:

> Well, I am pretty dismayed by the reaction of many SCMS members.   
> The burden of additional precautions at the personal level was  
> surely manageable.  I'm sorry for those whose careers are affected.
> Even if I wanted to cancel my flight, I don't think this would be  
> grounds for claiming on a personal insurance.  Presumably, the sub- 
> set of SCMS members who are either already in Japan, or have other  
> commitments in Japan with family, friends and colleagues, is more  
> strongly represented on this list ?
> Are there circumstances in which we can meet ?
> Roger
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