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The construction of the 18-story, $1.4 billion Thirty-Meter Telescope atop the Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii has been temporarily halted due to protests.
The campaign has garnered celebrity support and participants across the world:
Supporters of the project point out that there are already 13 telescopes built within that conservation zone. But none are as large as the latest planned structure, dubbed the Thirty-Meter Telescope, which would require the destruction of five acres of land.
The Honolulu-born Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa posted pictures on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #WeAreMaunaKea, That and the hashtag #ProtectMaunaKea have seen big jumps in use this week. San Francisco Giants' pitcher Madison Bumgarner, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and Momoa's on-screen spouse, Emilia Clarke, and real-life partner, Lisa Bonet, also got involved.
Momoa's Instagram account is currently dedicated to the issue with a link to an online petition pasted as his status. The Instagram account @ProtectMaunakea also hosts pictures of hundreds of people who have posted signs in support of the conservation efforts. Organisers protested off social media as well by holding a worldwide sign waving with participants from Hawaii, Alaska, New York City, Las Vegas, Kentucky, Arizona, Tahiti and Tonga.
The Thirty-Meter Telecope's web site also has coverage.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 12 2015, @06:40PM
Think of a mountain towering off within driving distance within your own metro area that you and your fellow inhabitants regard as a natural landmark, and fantastic resource for sightseeing, hiking, camping, etc.
Now imagine someone wants to build a gigantic wind farm on the very top of the mountain, and has secured the necessary state approvals. It'll be visible from 100 miles away. You might not be so happy about it either.
It's easy to charge NIMBY when the project is happening somewhere else.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by mhajicek on Sunday April 12 2015, @07:32PM
I would celebrate.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 1) by Anne Nonymous on Sunday April 12 2015, @08:08PM
Threaten to build the telescope at the bottom of a sacred cave, and then "settle" for building it on top the mountain. Everyone wins.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 13 2015, @10:55AM
I wish someone would build a wind farm near me, the turbines look fucking awesome. I'd have one in my garden if I could!
I love it when I crest a hill and those graceful behemoths rise into sight. It's like humanity put on its big-boy pants and decided to make something beautiful and work with nature, rather than just setting shit (coal, gas etc.) on fire like a caveman.