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Archive for June 25th, 2015
Demonstrators protest against solar telescope construction top Haleakala
Posted by Hawaii News Now: Ben Gutierrez on June 25th, 2015
Hawaii News Now: Protests against construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea has refocused attention to the summit of Haleakala on Maui, where construction has been underway on the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope.
Demonstrators gathered at the Central Maui Baseyard south of Kahului to mark a phase of the construction that was scheduled to begin Wednesday night. A wide load convoy was set to leave at 10 p.m. to deliver telescope equipment to the summit.
The equipment is large enough that the...
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Climate pressures threaten political stability – security experts
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on June 25th, 2015
Reuters: Politically fragile countries face breakdown as a result of mounting climate change pressures, and even stable ones may find coming shocks too big to manage peacefully, security and development experts warned.
But work now to protect food security, reshape water sharing agreements and cut risks from worsening weather disasters could play a huge role in reducing future conflict and instability, they said in a report commissioned by G7 governments.
Both at-risk and stable countries would benefit,...
Wildfires blister Alaska with increased frequency, intensity
Posted by Associated Press: Dan Joling on June 25th, 2015
Associated Press: Alaska residents endure the nation's harshest winters for the reward of beautiful summer days with sunshine that lingers until midnight.
But increasingly, large wildfires have marred the pristine outdoors, filling the skies with black smoke and forcing people who live near forests to flee for safety.
A study released Wednesday reinforces a trend revealed by state records, showing that wildfires have been blistering Alaska with greater frequency and intensity.
The findings have left forest...
Thousands die in Yemen in fights over water
Posted by SciDevNet: None Given on June 25th, 2015
SciDevNet: Clashes over water are killing up to 4,000 people a year in Yemen, its government says. These conflicts, which predate the country's civil war, include raids on wells and other fights over water access involving armed groups, according to Yemen's interior ministry. "The conflict in Yemen is exacerbating water scarcity by reducing access to safe drinking water. If urgent action is not taken, the country will fall into further humanitarian crisis.' This compares with more than 2,500 deaths so far...
TMT crews fail reach Mauna Kea summit
Posted by KITV: None Given on June 25th, 2015
KITV: On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters forced construction crews for the Thirty Meter Telescope to come to a halt, but it didn’t come without sacrifice.
In total, 12 people were arrested for obstructing the passage, but after a six-hour attempt to make it to the top of the summit, TMT crews only reached about a mile and a half up from hale pohaku before turning back.
It’s been a long haul for those for and against building what would be one of the world's largest telescopes on land held sacred...
Over 700 protest on summit of Mauna Kea in Hawai’i
Posted by Maori Television: None Given on June 25th, 2015
Maori Television: Construction of a 30 metre telescope (TMT) on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawai'i resumed today.
More than 700 protesters marched on to the summit to stop the construction and 11 of them were arrested.
Tears of anger and frustration has erupted again. Intense emotion as local officers dragged a protester away.
Tonight protesters continued to rally to protect their sacred mountain.
TMT are ready to resume their construction of a $1.4 billion telescope, after putting the project on hold...
Protest Again Delays Hawaii Giant Telescope Construction
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on June 25th, 2015
Huffington Post: Work on the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope on the Big Island of Hawaii was delayed again Wednesday after construction vehicles were blocked by hundreds of protesters, who say the giant telescope is being built on land sacred to Native Hawaiians.
Protesters pushed boulders into the road to the construction site atop Mauna Kea and stood in the way of vehicles, forcing construction crews to retreat and cancel work for the day.Ten people were arrested.
Work on what will be among the world's...
Thirty Meter Telescope construction disrupted protesters again
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on June 25th, 2015
Reuters: Eleven people were arrested on Wednesday in a protest against what would be one of the world's largest telescopes being built on a dormant Hawaiian volcano, which has sparked a contentious debate over Native Hawaiian rights and sacred lands.
Workers attempted to resume construction of the $1.4 billion US Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on the 13,000-foot summit of Mauna Kea on Wednesday, but were met by several hundred demonstrators who put large boulders in the path of construction vehicles.
The...
Governor Office Addresses TMT Protest
Posted by Big Island Now: Jamilia Epping on June 25th, 2015
Big Island Now: Governor David Ige’s Chief of Staff Mike McCartney released a statement Wednesday evening the day`s protests on Mauna Kea of the Thirty Meter Telescope project.
In the statement, McCartney noted that a total of eleven individuals were arrested. These individuals are in addition to one person arrested by the Hawai’i Police Department. HPD`s arrest was made on the Hawai’i County portion of the Mauna Kea Access Road.
“The arrests are unfortunate, but the state’s number one priority is the safety...
TMT construction on hold again after Mauna Kea protests
Posted by KHON: Brigette Namata on June 25th, 2015
KHON: Gov. David Ige`s chief of staff says construction on the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea is on hold until further notice.
Construction was scheduled to resume Wednesday, but no vehicles were able to reach the site. Vehicles turned around and left after hundreds of protesters blocked their path on Mauna Kea.
Protests were staged at the 9,200-foot elevation for more than six hours in an attempt to stop the construction convoy from advancing.
"Roadblocks" were spaced roughly 100 yards apart...