Stop The Construction the TMT Telescope on Mauna Kea and the Arrest of Mauna Kea Protectors

[longship]

88. I notice that you continue to frame in cultural impact.

What are these cultural impacts. (I also notice that you continue to combine the cultural with the biological argument. Not so sure what to make of that.)

I want to read specifically about these cultural things. Please enlighten me so that I might understand why they might be important. It seems to me that these protests might be a fringe group, like those protesting the LHC, and other big science projects. In my years in science they have always been around. Science generally listens to such arguments, but when their arguments don't hold up, well, you know.

But I do not think the Mauna Kea summit as a holy site is going to win the day. If there is an environmental argument I am sure the scientists will listen with open ears and make accommodations. But the way to do this is not by erecting holy shrines on the summit or blocking access.

Sorry about the virgin in the volcano remark. But I just wanted you to understand that the volcano god holy site argument would be a non-starter with me, especially as the summit has had world class telescopes there for many decades. I apologize that I framed it in such a crass way. But equally you should know that such a cultural argument goes absolutely nowhere. That ship has long since sailed.

I do not know if we can come to an agreement, but I would like you to at least understand my position. I respect parts of your argument as you have presented it. I am sure that the scientists building the TMT are and will consider the environment. Once it's built, there will not likely be much traffic up there. All observations happen at much lower altitudes and often thousands of miles away. The altitude is not very conducive to life, except maybe lichens and bacteria, but certainly not physics grad students who end up doing much of the grunt work.

My best to you.