In article <1992May18.123817.6566@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de>
dfi@specklec.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de (Daniel Fischer) writes:
[Entschuldigung an die deutschen Leser, aber ich habe nicht die Zeit, das
alles 2x zu tippen (und Unix bietet leider keinen translate-Filter :-); an-
dererseits hat vielliecht jemand von dem Vorgang in der Presse gelesen und
wuesste gern mehr ueber die Vorgaenge. Wurde eigentlich ausserhalb von Bonn
ueber die juengsten Vorgaenge berichtet?]
A unique event took place here at the MPI for Radio Astronomy in Bonn last
Friday: suddenly many people found themselves in the dark as an environmenta=
list action group (the local chapter of 'Robin Wood') was unrolling a big
sheet from the rooftop that cried:"Vatikan & MPI zertrampeln Ethik und Oeko-
logie. Rettet Mt.Graham" (Vatican & MPI crush Ethics and Ecology. Save Mt.
Graham). At the same time a small group of demonstrators plus some invited
journalists appeared in front of the building, featuring a group of American
Apache indians (oops, I meant 'ethnic Americans', or what's the politically
correct way to put it...) and calling (through a megaphone) for the director
to confront them. The background, of course, is the construction of an obser=
vatory by the University of Arizona in collaboration with the Vatican observ.
and the MPI, taking place at this very moment on Mount Graham in southern
Arizona. As many will recall, the main objection raised against these plans
was based on the supposed endangering of a rare squirrel species that used
to live there; a complicated series of legal battles between the UA and
environmental groups (most notably the Sierra Club) followed.
But while this went on and on and the tempers flared, the squirrels decided
they had enough and went to another region of the mountain richer in food -
and unaffected by the astronomical construction work. This fact, discovered
during detailed squirrological studies, as well as the cooperation of the UA
in preserving and even upgrading the ecological situation on the mountain
(by reforestation of a vastly greater area than was lost in the construction)
led to the UA's winning of all legal procedures. And then, seemingly out of
nowhere, did a socalled 'Apache Survival Coalition' appear, claiming the
Mountain to be holy, desecrated by the astronomers, having served as a
ritual place for centuries - and that noone had ever asked them. In contrast,
the UA claims to have been in contact with each & every tribe in the area,
w/o having heard any objections. In addition, the Indians' claims to represent
*the* Apaches were questioned as well as the claims regarding their previous
use of the mountain. As a consequence of that, the ASC had no legal success
either so far, although they claim that the lawsuit is still pending.
It is hard to get detailed information on all these and several other aspects
of the issue, especially from Germany. I would be very glad if someone with
first-hand or otherwise good knowledge of it could help me answer the following
questions that came up during our discussions with the demonstrators. Of
particular interest is the question:"Why?" Who is in control of this never-
ending anti-astronomy campaign in Arizona??? I have heard rumors that behind
both the squirrel issue and the Apache issue are the same few (white) people
who pursue this action for unknown reasons. Can this view of things (that
would expose both the environmentalists and the Apaches as abused instruments)
be confirmed? Now here for some of the details that should be filled in:
<> What's the present status of all the lawsuits: is there really still
something pending, regarding either the environmental or the Apache claims?
<> Who, according to past or present U.S. federal or AZ state law is *the*
legal representative on an Indian tribe? The ASC group claimed to speak for
all Apaches, other U.S. sources say they are just a radical faction that in
no way is supported by the majority of their people. Is this a clear-cut case?
<> Who was *when* contacted by the UA? The ASC says it was never contacted.
<> What do we know about the ASC claims that Graham was and is a major
ritual place? What was done there that cannot be done anymore when astronomers
are present? Isn't it so that, due to the astronomization of Graham, ordinary
visitors - who earlier used to be there in the 10000's - are actually *banned*
from reaching the top now, and that only astronomers *and*Indians* can go up?
<> The ASC spokesman in Bonn (who called himself 'spiritual leader') also
said that there was once a major massacre on Mt.Graham, and that the astrono=
mers would now find bones whereever they look. Is that correct? If so - what?
<> And what's behind the accusations, heard again here on Friday, that key
experts were forced by their superiors to deny a threat to the squirrels
during the earlier environmental law-fights? The claim is that the UA somehow
managed to bend the Endangered Species Act, abusing the law. The other view
of this (obviously rather complex) thing is that these experts were in fact
working for the other side, so that their 'forced opinions' could later be
used to discredit the astronomers' positions, a move that, however, failed.
Anyone knowledgeable on this aspect of the issue (it happened a few years ago)?
<> Finally, we all here are wondering why there have never been troubles
regarding Indian rights in the case of the Kitt Peak National Observatory.
Why did astronomers and Indians get along so well there but not here?
Thanks to anyone giving clarifying hints! As our Usenet feed is extremely
slow (messages go out within hours, but we do not see the follow-ups for
about a week!), I would be glad if someone who responds could also send a
copy as e-mail to dfi@specklec.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de. And if you have an inter=
esting news article on the issue, esp. the current ASC affair, please fax it
to me under Germany(+49)-228-525-229. Finally, this posting is in no way
an official message from the institute!!! I'm not even involved in the
German telescope project for Mt.Graham, the Submillimeter Telescope (SMT).
I'm just collecting information for further distribution, because all the
public (at least here in Germany) hears of the Mt.Graham controversy now and
then is about bad astronomers killing animals and suppressing Indians. THIS
IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE - in fact, a surprising number of people here are what
one might call 'green'. It's just that we are an easier target for some
action-oriented groups than abstract problems like global warming and ozone
depletion...
+ dfi@specklec.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de - Daniel Fischer - p515dfi@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de +
| Max-Planck-Institut f. Radioastronomie, Auf dem Huegel 69, W-5300 Bonn 1,FRG |
+----- Enjoy the Universe - it's the only one you're likely to experience -----+
[P.S.: should there be newsgroups for either Indian or Arizona politics
discussions, please spread this info request there as well. Thank you!]
-- "Just when I found a drink even better than my 'live tea', my drink drilled a hole in the jar and escaped." -Claudio Calvelli