07-23-2019, 04:37 PM
All,
This is a list of resources to help counter the enormous amount of misinformation and falsehoods that are being put out on social media about astronomy on Mauna Kea. We're working on putting this on a website so it's accessible via one click, but thought I'd post it here so you have the material available. I haven't edited anything, so sorry if the formatting is weird. Once it's on a reputable website, I'll post the link.
This was put together by an engineer at the IRTF.
-------------------------------------
Here is a presentation that gives a good introduction to the subject:
(including timelines, facts on economic/scientific impact, why TMT)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OyDEtsC...sp=sharing
Then here is a compendium of anti-TMT myths that keeps being spread around on social media: http://darkerview.com/wordpress/?p=26446
The TMT site itself has a very good compilation of facts and supporting documents: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-facts/
1) TMT vs decommissioning of 5 other telescopes:
On May 26, 2015, Governor David Ige announced a 10 point action plan for the stewardship of Maunakea. Which includes the decommissioning as many telescopes as possible with at least 25 percent (equals 5) of all telescopes gone by the time the TMT is ready for operation.
- https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2016/05/25/u...-maunakea/
2) TMT and the environment:
- See EIS documents: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-facts/documents/
- A summary: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-fa...derations/
- The Board of Land and Natural resources finding of facts and conclusion: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/wp-content...oposal.pdf
3) Hawaii vs Canary Islands or even Space Telescopes:
- Sites comparison: http://darkerview.com/wordpress/?p=26551
- TMT versus Space Based Alternatives: http://darkerview.com/wordpress/?p=15800
4) Native Hawaiian support of Astronomy and TMT:
According to some polls, there is a majority of Native Hawaiians that support the project. But since polls are not something we should rely on, here are some examples of Native Hawaiians in strong support of Astronomy:
- https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/07/protes...s-threats/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRNml05T2dI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1a76T2sm1H70pxx9KLJezKHhn0xi4HVfNRzCsuzqOVDXn4Nedpg2dHWCM
- https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/07/tmt-me...is-future/
- https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/3610...or-of-tmt/
- http://alohapueo.org/about-us
Sadly many Native Hawaiians supporting TMT or Astronomy regularly receive threats or are being called fake Hawaiians, etc...
6) Cultural Impact:
A summary: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-fa...g-culture/
Full report: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/occl/files/2013/...e-Vol3.pdf
7) TMT, Astronomy and the local economy:
- Study of the impact data: https://www.uhero.hawaii.edu/assets/UHER..._Final.pdf ($88M: Astronomy-related annual expenditures in the state / $168M: the astronomy sector’s total direct and indirect impact on Hawaii’s economy each year / $8M: state tax revenue generated by astronomy / 1,394: jobs created in the state)
- https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/201...diversity/
- "TMT is a $2 billion project funded internationally. It has already given our community $5.8 million in grants and will bring 140 jobs and $26 million in positive annual economic activity to Hawaii Island. We may never have an opportunity this big again." (https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/201...astronomy/)
8) The educational impact:
- A summary: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-fa...education/
- The Akamai Workforce initiative: https://akamaihawaii.org/
- THINK FUND: $1 Million committed annually for STEM education: https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/THINKFund
9) The science impact:
- NY times article on Maunakea discoveries: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016...eries.html
- Creating the very first picture of a Black Hole would have not been possible without the Maunakea telescopes: https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/post/i...e#stream/0
This is a list of resources to help counter the enormous amount of misinformation and falsehoods that are being put out on social media about astronomy on Mauna Kea. We're working on putting this on a website so it's accessible via one click, but thought I'd post it here so you have the material available. I haven't edited anything, so sorry if the formatting is weird. Once it's on a reputable website, I'll post the link.
This was put together by an engineer at the IRTF.
-------------------------------------
Here is a presentation that gives a good introduction to the subject:
(including timelines, facts on economic/scientific impact, why TMT)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OyDEtsC...sp=sharing
Then here is a compendium of anti-TMT myths that keeps being spread around on social media: http://darkerview.com/wordpress/?p=26446
The TMT site itself has a very good compilation of facts and supporting documents: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-facts/
1) TMT vs decommissioning of 5 other telescopes:
On May 26, 2015, Governor David Ige announced a 10 point action plan for the stewardship of Maunakea. Which includes the decommissioning as many telescopes as possible with at least 25 percent (equals 5) of all telescopes gone by the time the TMT is ready for operation.
- https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2016/05/25/u...-maunakea/
2) TMT and the environment:
- See EIS documents: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-facts/documents/
- A summary: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-fa...derations/
- The Board of Land and Natural resources finding of facts and conclusion: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/wp-content...oposal.pdf
3) Hawaii vs Canary Islands or even Space Telescopes:
- Sites comparison: http://darkerview.com/wordpress/?p=26551
- TMT versus Space Based Alternatives: http://darkerview.com/wordpress/?p=15800
4) Native Hawaiian support of Astronomy and TMT:
According to some polls, there is a majority of Native Hawaiians that support the project. But since polls are not something we should rely on, here are some examples of Native Hawaiians in strong support of Astronomy:
- https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/07/protes...s-threats/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRNml05T2dI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1a76T2sm1H70pxx9KLJezKHhn0xi4HVfNRzCsuzqOVDXn4Nedpg2dHWCM
- https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/07/tmt-me...is-future/
- https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/3610...or-of-tmt/
- http://alohapueo.org/about-us
Sadly many Native Hawaiians supporting TMT or Astronomy regularly receive threats or are being called fake Hawaiians, etc...
6) Cultural Impact:
A summary: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-fa...g-culture/
Full report: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/occl/files/2013/...e-Vol3.pdf
7) TMT, Astronomy and the local economy:
- Study of the impact data: https://www.uhero.hawaii.edu/assets/UHER..._Final.pdf ($88M: Astronomy-related annual expenditures in the state / $168M: the astronomy sector’s total direct and indirect impact on Hawaii’s economy each year / $8M: state tax revenue generated by astronomy / 1,394: jobs created in the state)
- https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/201...diversity/
- "TMT is a $2 billion project funded internationally. It has already given our community $5.8 million in grants and will bring 140 jobs and $26 million in positive annual economic activity to Hawaii Island. We may never have an opportunity this big again." (https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/201...astronomy/)
8) The educational impact:
- A summary: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/get-the-fa...education/
- The Akamai Workforce initiative: https://akamaihawaii.org/
- THINK FUND: $1 Million committed annually for STEM education: https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/THINKFund
9) The science impact:
- NY times article on Maunakea discoveries: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016...eries.html
- Creating the very first picture of a Black Hole would have not been possible without the Maunakea telescopes: https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/post/i...e#stream/0