Opposed to TMT
Opposed to TMT
I oppose the Thirty Meter Telescope project atop Mauna Kea. I moved my family to the Big Island to get away from Oahu’s pollution and high cost of living. Now, I have to deal with a potential environmental disaster, as irresponsible scientists and our own university want to build an industrial park on the top of our major water source here on the Big Island! The Wailuku River, the state’s largest by volume, flows down Mauna Kea and into Hilo Bay.
The snow that melts on the top gets carried down to other rivers and streams as well, and will be contaminated by the runoff that is created by the construction site at the top.
Hilo Bay is already polluted by the years of sugarcane bagasse being poured into it from up mauka, now they want to add to it by pouring more runoff down from TMT’s construction site? This doesn’t make sense.
Soon, Hilo Bay will look like Kaneohe Bay, with its dead sea life and floating rubbish. This project violates so many environmental laws, yet it gets the blessing of the governor. Doesn’t make sense. They should have chosen the “no build” option as outlined in the EIS.
As for me, I will not be pursuing my master’s degree at the University of Hawaii, nor will I be pursuing any of their scholarship money when I attend another institution.
I also will be boycotting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and any other partner agency that accepts moneys generated by TMT. As a Hawaiian and concerned citizen, I will not accept money or have any part of a university or group that would do this to the ‘aina.
This is not a practice in sustainability or responsible stewardship. I know many others who feel the same way, and are leaving UH because of it.
Shana Wailana Logan
Hilo
Service dogs
Service animals such as dogs will always be allowed into stores because of two reasons.
One, the stores do not want to lose customer business. Two, the store management does not want to end up in court facing a civil lawsuit for some Americans with Disabilities Act violation.
If owners of service animals must carry proper credentials when entering a business establishment, I doubt if stores will hire and pay for additional employees just to monitor those entering with service animals.
Rick LaMontagne
Hilo