Protests resume over giant telescope project on Mauna Kea

Science : On Wednesday activists on Mauna Kea in Hawaii resumed protests to block construction of the proposed 18-story Thirty-Meter Telescope. Protesters have expressed concern over the number of telescopes there already, and they cite a history of mismanagement of the site by the state government and the University of Hawaii, which holds the lease. Protests started in October 2014 at the groundbreaking ceremony and came to a head in April , when Hawaii state governor David Ige halted construction to allow further dialog. On 20 June it was announced that an agreement had been reached , which included accelerating the removal of several of the 13 telescopes already on Mauna Kea. Nevertheless, when crews showed up on 24 June, they found the road blocked by protesters; according to Andre Perez of the Oahu-based Movement for Aloha No ka Aina, a “major confrontation” ensued, in which 11 people were arrested.