Mauna Kea, a sacred Native Hawaiian burial ground and place of ceremony, prepares for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), which has been protested by Native people all over since its announcement to soon begin construction in July of 2019.
The University of California (UC) has been heavily involved in the TMT project as one of the primary organizations collaborating within the TMT project. As of 2016, the UC system has contributed 68 million dollars, and 30 million of the UC system’s own funds, showing a strong lack of monetary transparency. TMT is projected to cost over 2.4 billion dollars, with this number continuing to rise. UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang has been involved in said project since 2009, serving as the project chair.
In a statement by Chancellor Yang from July of 2019, he claims to have “respectfully reach[ed] out to the community” and that TMT “acknowledge[s] those who disagree with [the] project and express[s] respect for their views.”
The TMT project alleges to have reached out to Native Hawaiians about the construction of said telescope on Mauna Kea, which has already been tainted and desecrated by 13 telescope projects. TMT insisted that the building of this would drastically improve the local economy, seemingly disregarding the sacredness Mauna Kea holds for the local Native community.
Native Hawaiians have been battling colonialism and for the rights to their land since 1892. Protests against acts of scientific colonialism, such as that of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), have been ongoing. The Hawaiian Indigenous Peoples have been clear about the fact that they do not approve of this project, engaging in numerous acts of protest. One of the most notable occurred in July 2019, as 33 kupuna, Native Hawaiian elders, blocked a road to prevent construction and were arrested on the grounds of ‘obstruction of government operations.’
For over a decade, Native Hawaiians have made their disapproval for TMT blatantly clear. Though Chancellor Yang says he is grateful for the supporters of this project, the people who are denunciating this project are being silenced.
“We have learned much over the last 10-plus years on the unique importance of Maunakea to all, and we remain committed to being good stewards on the mountain and inclusive of the Hawaiian community,”
said Yang, in his statement. Can we really believe this, however?
Through the UC Divest TMT Movement, students at UCSB have come together to form Mauna Kea Protectors UCSB. They have been supporting the protestors at Mauna Kea in their fight for Indigenous rights, environmental protection, and food sovereignty. Since January of 2020, Mauna Kea Protectors have been collaborating with organizers in Uprooted and Rising, which works to end higher educations’ support for white supremacy in the food system.
So, “What’s next and what can I do to help?” you may be asking yourself. Here are a few ways you can urge UCSB and the UC system to divest from Mauna Kea:
Send an email to Chancellor Yang, calling on him to end his involvement in the TMT, as well as demand transparency of UC funding.
Keep up with news surrounding Mauna Kea and the UC Divest TMT movement.
Sign up for and attend one of the various meetings and panels hosted by Mauna Kea Protectors UCSB, to learn more about how to express your solidarity for this movement, as well as how to act on it.
Sign this petition.
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