Telescope Trouble | God's World News

Telescope Trouble

04/14/2015
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    Telescope Trouble

All eyes are on a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. The mountain isn’t going to blow, but Pacific tempers just might. Emotions are high over a 180-story telescope being built on a site some Hawaiians think is sacred.

Amid strong protests, Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) company will temporarily stop construction of a giant telescope on top of Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s highest point, until April 20.

The timeout came at the request of Hawaii’s governor and on behalf of the University of Hawaii and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Native Hawaiians have been protesting the project for a year. Last week officials arrested over a dozen people for blocking the road to the top of the mountain.

Protesters are happy about the announcement but are wary about the construction company’s keeping its promise to stop building.

"They did sneak up in the dark of night before, so we will maintain our presence and observation," says Kealoha Pisciotta, project critic and protest organizer.

Thirty Meter Telescope is erecting the telescope on land they say is ideal for the project. A TMT representative insists the company selected Mauna Kea “with great care and respect” and that the area holds no sacred Hawaiian burial sites or shrines.

While talks about the controversial telescope continue, the actions of both protestors and builders will be under a microscope.