Thirty Meter Telescope protests

The Thirty Meter Telescope protests are a series of protests and demonstrations that began on the Island of Hawaii in the United States with the choosing of Mauna Kea as the site location for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on the most sacred mountain of the Native Hawaiian people. Protests began locally, within the state of Hawaii but went global within weeks after the arrest of 31 indigenous peoples, aging between 27 to 75 years of age, who had blockaded the roadway to keep construction crews off the summit.

The TMT, a ground-based, large segmented mirror reflecting telescope is a response from scientists, answering a recommendation that a thirty-meter telescope be the priority of scientists, suggesting it be built within the decade. Opposition to the project had begun shortly after the announcement of Mauna Kea as the site chosen out of a total of 5 proposals. Opposition against the observatories on Mauna Kea have been ongoing since the first telescope was proposed in 1968 however, this protest may be the most vocal. The project is expected to be completed by 2024, nearly simultaneously with the 39-meter, European Extremely Large Telescope being built in Chile.

Origins

Kealoha Pisciotta, a former Mauna Kea Observatory employee, testifies at a State hearing in 2011

Native Hawaiian activists such as Kealoha Pisciotta, a former employee of the Mauna Kea observatories, have raised concerns over the telescopes on Mauna Kea desecrating their most sacred mountain.^[2] Pisciotta, a former telescope systems specialist technician at James Clark Maxwell telescope, is one of several people suing to stop the construction^[3] and is also director of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou.^[4] As of April, 2015, two separate appeals were still pending.^[5]

The 1998 study: Mauna Kea Science Reserve and Hale Pohaku Complex Development Plan Update: stated: "...nearly all the interviewees and all others who participated in the consultation process (Appendices B and C) called for a moratorium on any further development on the summit of Mauna Kea".^[6] Both Native Hawaiians and environmentalists are opposed to any further telescopes. Despite a 2006 judge's ruling stating no new sites could go on the mountain until after a draft plan and environmental impact statement was developed, the TMT was already in the works.^[7] The TMT project is a response from scientists, answering a recommendation from the US National Academy of Sciences that a thirty-meter telescope be the top priority of astronomers and suggested it be built within the decade.^[8] Urgency in construction is due to the competitive nature of science with the European-Extremely Large Telescope also under construction.^[9] Mauna Kea's summit is the most sacred of all the mountains in Hawaii to the Native Hawaiian people.^[10][11][12]

The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources conditionally approved the Mauna Kea site for the TMT in February 2011. While the approval has been challenged, the Board officially approved the site following a hearing on April 12, 2013^[13] despite the opposition in Hawaii to it being built.^[14]

Blockade and protests

Protesters on Mauna Kea, standing in front of construction crews and equipment on October 7, 2014

First Mauna Kea blockade and Palo Alto protests, 2014

On October 7, 2014 the groundbreaking for the telescope was being live streamed via webcam. The proceedings were interrupted when the official caravan encountered several dozen demonstrators picketing and chanting in the middle of the roadway. A planned ceremony at the base of the mountain was scheduled by the group, Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, in opposition of the telescope^[15] and in a press release dated that day, the organization Sacred Mauna Kea stated: "Native Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians will gather for a peaceful protest against the Astronomy industry and the “State of Hawaii’s” ground- breaking ceremony for a thirty-meter telescope (TMT) on the summit of Mauna Kea."^[16] Several members traveled up the mountain and were stopped by police, where they laid down in the road and blocked the caravan. The nonviolent protest did not stop or block any people but when the ceremony for the ground breaking began, protestors interrupted the blessing, stopping the proceedings as well as the groundbreaking.^[15]

That same day in California, protesters demonstrated outside the headquarters of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in Palo Alto, CA.^[17][18]

Second Mauna Kea blockade and arrests, 2015

Beginning in late March 2015 demonstrators halted construction crews near the visitors center, again by blocking access of the road to the summit of the mountain. Heavy equipment had already been placed near the site. Daniel Meisenzahl, a spokesman for the University of Hawaii, stated that the 5 tractors trailers of equipment that were moved up the mountain the day before had alerted protestors that began organizing the demonstrations. Kamahana Kealoha of the group Sacred Mauna Kea stated that over 100 demonstrators had traveled up to the summit to camp overnight, to be joined by more protestors in the early morning to blockade crews.^[19] On April 2, 2015, 300 protestors were gathered near the visitor's center where 12 people were arrested. 11 more protestors were arrested at the summit.^[20] Protestors, ranging in age from 27 to 75 years of age were handcuffed and led away by local police.^[21] Among the major concerns of the protest groups is whether the land appraisals were done accurately and that Native Hawaiians were not consulted. When the trucks were finally allowed to pass, protestors followed the procession up the summit. A project spokesman said that work had begun after arrests were made and the road cleared.

Among the arrests was professional surfer and former candidate for mayor of Kauai, Dustin Barca. A number of celebrity activists of Native Hawaiian descent, both local and national, began campaigning over social media, including Game of Thrones star, Jason Mamoa who urged Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) to join the protests with him on top of Mauna Kea.^[22] Construction was halted for one week at the request of Hawaii State Governor, David Ige on April 7, 2015 after the protest on Mauna Kea continued and demonstrations began to appear over the state. Project Manager, Gary Sanders stated that TMT agreed to the one week stop for continued dialogue. Kealoha Pisciotta, president of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou viewed the development as positive but said opposition to the project would continue.^[23]

Temporary halt

The following day the governor announced that the project was being temporarily postponed until at least April 20, 2015.^[24] In response to the growing protests the TMT Corporation's division of Hawaii Community Affairs launched an internet microsite, updating content regularly.^[25] The company also took to social media to respond to the opposition's growing momentum by hiring public relations firms to assist as the company's voice in the islands.^[26]

National, international and continued local demonstrations

The protest has sparked statewide, national as well as international attention to the Hawaiian culture, Mauna Kea and opposition to the 45-year history of 13 other telescopes on the mountain. Demonstrators and peaceful protestors around the world began picketing while carrying signs supporting the blockade and opposing the TMT.

At the University of Hawaii Manoa, hundreds of students lined the streets for blocks and, one by one, they passed the stones from the student taro patch of the university's Center on Hawaiian Studies down the human chain to the lawn in front of the office university president, David Lassner where the stones were used to build an ahu as a message to the university.^[27]

On April 21, 2015 hundreds of protesters filled the streets of Honolulu protesting against the TMT.^[28]

See also

• Mauna Kea Observatories
• Giant Magellan Telescope
• Office of Hawaiian Affairs

References

Explanatory notes

Citations

External links

• INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII - Round table discussion on the TMT