Native Hawaiians Want To Halt A Massive Telescope Project. Here's Why

[Igel]

8. These things tend to be highly spun.

And the article you read depends to a great extent on the person doing the writing.

One big complaint--largely from Hawai'ian sources--deals with money. They don't like that for these massive, expensive buildings, the University is charged a pittance and charges 10s of thousands of dollars. (largely paid for by grants, and the University's non-profit.) Money should go to native causes and to help the native population.

The complaint "we demand that the government respect our notions of what's sacred and accommodate our religion on what's public grounds" is always squirrelly. A lot of people who said no to a cross or Xian services are less likely to object if the religious services are non-majority/non-dominant and go downright supportive if they're "indigenous" beliefs that need an establishment of Congress to support them. The principle as a principle only matters for some people when it achieves the desire goal.

A lot of it is distrust. But sort of generalized. "No, this part of the government has nothing to do with me and never has, but I distrust it." Exerting power over something tends to reduce the level of distrust greatly, even if nothing else changes. Flattery helps. But really, it's back to money, because what's the good of your having power if what you control doesn't benefit *you*.

The environment concerns I don't tend to count very highly. Like "climate change," the telescope's not going to have that big an impact. But it's a politically prominent claim. Aquifers, too. If there were snail darters and tropical frogs in the news somebody would say, "You know, we haven't had a study that conclusively shows that there are no snail darters or tropical frogs in the area."

Yes, I'm cynical. On the other hand, this battle's been going on for a while. And the same battle was fought numerous times in the past, but notice that there are already clusters of telescopes there. Each of which was built after power, money, and sufficient lipservice was shown to the right activists, advocates, and politicians.