In brief
Protests in Hawaii against Mauna Kea’s new telescope mark one week
Protesters demand respect for Indigenous beliefs of volcano’s sanctity
The Hawaiian protest movement believes that continued building on the top of the volcano is an attack on the beliefs of the Indigenous people of the archipelago and on their identity. A makeshift camp has been built by protesters, who rather regard themselves as “protectors”.
Protests have also taken place in Hawaii’s capital Honolulu’s Waikiki neighbourhood.
Hawaii Governor David Y. Ige has declared the state of emergency in the mountain in order to guarantee “security” and allow the construction of the telescope.
Protests began five years ago, when construction works began, which were paralyzed after a few months.