http://www.theatlantic.com/technolog...nitely/418587/
Construction of the World's Largest Telescope Is on Hold Indefinitely
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The decision is a victory for those who oppose the telescope project, including some Native Hawaiians, activists, and other cultural practitioners. Mauna Kea is sacred to Hawaiians, and the site in question is designated state conservation land. For astronomers, the setback is crushing.
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Interesting story mainly because of the political rhetoric around it.
In Canada, we usually talk about environmentalists and First Nations in the context of mining/O&G/shipping and other easy-to-attack industries. In other places, it's fights over deforestation and hunting.
This is a very progressive project, where it's purely a scientific endeavor with noble goals, but stopped for many of the same reasons. The immediate discussions has a vastly different tone than some of the recent events that we've seen (like Keystone XL rejection).
I hope that the astronomers are able to find a path forward.