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2liveque makes an important point although there are other factors in play. Mauna Kea is demonstrably a better site than La Palma especially for infrared work which is why it and its partners want to be here. Moving to La Palma is definitely plan B and might still happen, but...
The TMT really find themselves between a rock and a hard place at the moment. I suspect it's unlikely they will get NSF funding if they move outside the US so a move to La Palma would likely mean finding a significant amount of money from elsewhere (i.e., several hundred million dollars). That might be a possibility, but it might not. Secondly, if this standoff continues for a significant amount of time, they risk losing some of their current partners. And if they move to La Palma, they also risk losing partners. I don't envy their position at the moment.
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"No reni, the crab are the kids who get education programs courtesy of the observatories and actually better themselves. Some may even stop speaking pidgin. It's the astronomers who come with class, sophistication, education and big dreams. That's very intimidating to polynesian rednecks."
Polynesian rednecks???? Dear God, what ignorance
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Reni, don't pretend I said all polynesians are rednecks. Those who buy into the oomea crab mentality qualify. If you understand the syndrome correctly it's crabs in a 5 gallon bucket and one makes it to the top but the rest on the bottom pull it back in. Hence a "Hawaiian" who says "TMT get off the mauna!"
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Most represent status quo because they know you won't do anything constructive about it.
Fear of retaliation is commonly given as a reason not to speak on the record. Most recently contractors concerned about building code changes. This risk can be avoided by moving away, after which there's no reason to complain.
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Punatic 007.....Oh, I understand YOU alright. I quoted you. disgusting
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https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/post/g...s-7th-week
" Kim said he wishes he had more time to resolve the conflict, but time may not be on his side.
"Time is going to be determined by the people who control the decisions of the TMT," he said."
Is this "save Face" ? could not be helped? just not enough time ?
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just not enough time ?
Protestors say "never", which is a really long time.
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"Is this "save Face" ? could not be helped? just not enough time?"
Just my opinion, but both Ige and Kim have now made statements that indicate they're trying to put themselves in a position where they can say "don't blame me" if the TMT doesn't get built here.
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"don't blame me"
...and they're getting away with it, too!
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As demonstrated, us citizens of Hawaii have no real power over our government unless we can muster a few hundred people to block a road. So are we going to do it or what?
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muster a few hundred people to block a road
A few hundred Hawaiians because they're magically exempt from prosecution.