Olivia Browne- Hawaii Fights TMT, the World's Largest Telescope (Period 6)

Mauna Kea is the worlds tallest summit at more than 6 miles high and is believed to be the darkest spot in the world, making it perfect for astronomical studies. It is also the most sacred location of the native Hawaiians, which they believe to be the burial grounds for their ancestors and the site of the genesis of their people. The native Hawaiians have been fighting the building of telescopes since the 1960's but, on August 27, 2015, it came to a boiling point. A large group of protesters, The Protectors, came to prevent the TMT to begin construction. 30 people have been arrested on the charges of obstruction because the group of astronomers have all of the necessary permits and documents to start creating the revolutionary telescope. The Protectors state that they will continue to protest until the "desecration of their sacred mountain" has ceased.

The article is trying to convey the balance between science and religion as a very tedious and delicate one. They tend to lean more to the Native's side but, generally stay pretty neutral considering that the author is neither a astronomer or a native Hawaiian. I had no prior knowledge of the on going tensions over Mauna Kea and I think the reason this article was created was to educate people like me, who had no idea what was going on. This article is significant because it brings the struggle between beliefs and scientific pursuits to light for all of America.

Sources: http://www.ibtimes.com/pulse/mauna-kea-hawaiians-origin-story-why-thirty-meter-telescope-has-outraged-island-1983974