Posted by ku ching on September 14, 2008 at 12:51pm
MAUNA KEA RENT, ITS THE LAW
By Kealoha Pisciotta
Mr. Conklin you are correct ceded lands may be used for educational
purposes. You are not correct however, in claiming the foreign governments
and corporations operating on Mauna Kea are non-profit organizations. Not
even the University (UH) operates as a non-profit, since it leases
technology patents for millions of dollars to corporations such as
Raytheon, MIT Lincoln Labs, and Lockheed Martin.
The foreign observatories are funded via their national science budgets
and/or corporate monies. For example, the taxpayers of Japan and the
Mitsubishi Corporation fund the Japan National Telescope (Subaru). Canada,
France, Britain and other countries operating telescopes atop Mauna Kea,
operate in a similar fashion. International taxpayers, corporations, and
even the UH in this instant case are NOT non-profits.
Hawai`i taxpayers are being saddled with the full burden/liability of all
damage incurred on Mauna Kea. Any damage to the watershed lands befalls
the State taxpayers. Science depends on the good will of the taxpayers.
And despite your opinion on the subject Mr. Conklin, state law bars the
use of ceded lands (especially where profit is concerned) without charging
fair market lease rent. The law is clear and it was established to
ensure profit is not got off the backs of the state taxpayers. Asking
Hawai`i citizens to subsidize foreign capital and gain is unreasonable.
NASAs annual budget is ~$14 billion dollars and all other state and
federal astronomy money is funded by the taxpayers. Given the billions of
public dollars spent, astronomy in context, is not finding the cure for
cancer or HIV/AIDS. We have always supported astronomy, and simply argue
good science should support the protecting the environment, conservation
and the cultural traditions of the people of Hawai`i. Observatory rent is
a legal requirement.
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