Resources for those that support MK astronomy

[TomK]

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.

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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

[knieft]

Looks like a fine debunking effort!

Cheers,
Kirt

[TomK]

It doesn't address the weirdest claim that's circulating on social media, which says that the observatories are nuclear-powered and use a huge water duct under the mountain to cool the nuclear material before pumping it up again to maintain power. I'm still not convinced this isn't a wind-up, but people seem to now be making the same claim.

Fortunately, Andrew Cooper is on it:

http://darkerview.com/wordpress/?p=26501

[EightFingers]

Do you think any of that matters to the people on the mountain?


Puna: Our roosters crow first

[TomK]

No, but it might matter to those who support them but aren't entirely sure why. There are many out there that support both Hawaiian culture and astronomy on the mountain but are being put off by a campaign of misinformation and intimidation.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

weirdest claim that's circulating on social media... the observatories are nuclear-powered... a huge water duct ... cool the nuclear material before pumping it up again

Obama’s birth certificate fabricated by DofH vital records in Honolulu
Moon landing faked
HART will pay for itself in fares
Flat Earth Socirty has an actual membership
Tax increase is temporary
HPP “Road Maintenance” Fee

The weirder something is the less likely people can understand how improbable it is, so the greater chance they’ll fall for it.

[ironyak]

While it never hurts to have facts, in my experience, misinformation has not been central to the messaging on social media (this time around). Rather Mauna Kea & TMT is being seen as part of a larger struggle of indigenous rights against business/government/colonizers (i.e. the bad guys), and is often compared to the recent events in Puerto Rico and Standing Rock/Dakota Access Pipeline, all of which is a much more difficult narrative to untangle and sort through.

[TomK]

While you might be right, ironyak, one thing that is prevalent right now is social media bullying. At least this enables those in that unfortunate position to post something that is true and then withdraw from the hate-fest that follows.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

misinformation has not been central to the messaging on social media (this time around).

Perhaps it’s not the driving force, but it’s still fairly prevalent. Here’s one example:
Kaniela Ing, a former member of the State House from Maui who should know better posted:

Spoiler: major weapon contractors reside in current telescopesI
This is about TMT investors getting even richer off our military-siphoned tax dollars by weaponizing our sacred Mauna.
Even if you support the project—if you want peace and oppose the military industrialized complex, you cannot in good conscience choose this location.

I replied that wasn’t true, that there are two military related scopes on Maui but not Big Island, (as did one or two other people). He did recant saying he lives and Maui and didn’t know about Mauna Kea. Why did he post as if he did know?

To top it off 53 people liked his Mauna Kea weapons comments.

I’ve been called a bot, fake news, racist, and a lot more especially when I bring up the 72% Native Hawaiian TMT support poll. People really can’t stand that possibility.

[Pilgrim]

Thank you Tom for putting this together. And thanks to HOTPE for your mana'o and wit. It's starting to feel like we're in a real life version of the movie Idiocracy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBvIweCIgwk