As I type this, Native Hawaiians are being forcefully removed from protecting a sacred site where a 1.6 Billion USD Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is planned to be built. This mega telescope has been adamantly opposed by Native Hawaiians since Mauna Kea, a mountain with longstanding, deeply rooted sacred significance, was chosen as an ideal location for observing far into space. News coverage has made its way across the globe.

However, as land protectors continue their efforts, here in Canada, students have been outraged to find a list of universities in support of the building of the TMT on this sacred territory. These universities are part of ACURA - The Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy, which is a partner in the TMT Observatory Corporation. 

This petition is aimed at putting pressure on these institutions to urge the building of TMT in another location, which has already been identified as the Canary Islands. While our country and many of these institutions pledge commitment to better relations with Indigenous communities, it is unbelievably unacceptable to see the support of such a blatantly destructive project on the lands of Indigenous people in another part of the world. 

Help us today by signing this petition!

Photo Credit: Hawane Rios