By: Trustee Rowena Akana
Source: Letter sent to newspaper editors, October 2008
I fully support Chile’s bid to be the site for the proposed $1 billion Thirty Meter Telescope being built by U.S. and Canadian Universities instead of Mauna Kea.
Both sites offer the same clarity of atmosphere that the telescopes need, but Mauna Kea is a sacred mountain and should not be further desecrated.
Mauna Kea has already been irreparable damaged by existing telescope facilities and it can never be restored to its original, pristine state.
I say, stop the devastation and let the Chileans have it.