11-28-2016, 06:57 AM
There were a lot of false claims about environmental pollution and over exaggerations about the TMT project in general. However for most people involved in this case it boils down to very personal issues. For Pisciotta it was the removal of her family stone and ashes which didn't get proper protection. For others just the idea of something existing on the mountain pains them, some of them to the point with they can barely speak about it -- they invoke the religious arguments. A smaller group just enjoy a good fight of "our culture" vs "haoles". A few others demanded more money from TMT. See the essense of today's anger from 2001 -- http://articles.latimes.com/2001/mar/18/news/mn-39418
In the past, Gypsy professed environmental damage and emotionally likened TMT to the NDPL (Standing Rock).
The problem is for the Big Island, astronomy, a green industry, contributes about $91 million a year to the economy. Chasing it out for unrelated emotional reasons is very short sighted. Can the industry be improved, sure. Can the protestors find better economic substitutions, no. Will they compromise, no. Will we all lose in the long run, yes.
In the past, Gypsy professed environmental damage and emotionally likened TMT to the NDPL (Standing Rock).
The problem is for the Big Island, astronomy, a green industry, contributes about $91 million a year to the economy. Chasing it out for unrelated emotional reasons is very short sighted. Can the industry be improved, sure. Can the protestors find better economic substitutions, no. Will they compromise, no. Will we all lose in the long run, yes.