02-24-2011, 04:40 AM
Totally in favor of it. Throwing around the word "sacred" is totally meaningless. Personally I consider the ocean around these islands sacred but I don't see anyone demanding a moratorium on fishing, when all fishing by definition impacts the naturally occuring marine environment here. More environmental damage goes on daily here simply due to fishing than will ever happen from another telescope on Mauna Kea. You could say the same for ranching but I don't see many activists demanding that all cattle ranching end immediately, as there is a heck of a lot more aina impacted in areas that are now essentially devoid of native species. I also don't buy into the idea that because some Native Hawaiians deem something sacred it must be off limits, especially when other Native Hawaiians are in favor of TMT. I was reading in a textbook on Hawaiian ecological history that in pre-contact times fully 80% of all the islands from the coast up to the 1500' elevation level was intentionally altered for human occupation and activities, much of it by mass burning of areas to allow agriculture. The environmental arguments against TMT fall pretty flat and any argument based on religion has no validity in a secular country. Nothing is actually "sacred", that's just a word humans have made up along with the concept of god. If something is archaelogically, historically, or environmentally sensitive and important, that actually means something, and those are things on which I support or oppose TMT. For me the trade off is in its favor. Of course the impacts on those should be taken under important consideration and plans modified to minimize impact. Widening Saddle Road has had far more impact in every regard on Mauna Kea than the TMT ever will.
Oh, I think you forgot to add "Free Mumia" to your list. I write all this as a far left vegan progressive, so I do appreciate your good intentions despite my sarcasm. I just think there are far more appropriate targets for your efforts than the TMT.
Love sciencedaily.com too!
Oh, I think you forgot to add "Free Mumia" to your list. I write all this as a far left vegan progressive, so I do appreciate your good intentions despite my sarcasm. I just think there are far more appropriate targets for your efforts than the TMT.
Love sciencedaily.com too!