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posted by martyb on Sunday April 12 2015, @05:48PM   Printer-friendly
from the looking-for-answers dept.

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.

 
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  • (Score: 2) by mtrycz on Sunday April 12 2015, @08:41PM

    by mtrycz (60) on Sunday April 12 2015, @08:41PM (#169403)

    The facts are:
    In response to a big project, locals have taken to the streets and protest against it. They have also created social network/media accounts to promote their cause and it has been sucessfully met with support. Local celebrities support the protests and it has also gained support from people in other places as well.

    What the media reports:
    A media selebrity has written against a big project on twitter, and the hashtag he used has been sucessfully met with support. Also other celebrities do this. There's also a twitter account posting pictures of local protests and it has also gained support from other people in other places as well.

    I find this kind of "coverage" dangerous. Reality isn't virtual.

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