UPDATE: the governor’s office released a statement later in the day confirming that 11 were arrested, not 10.

Governor Ige is on the mainland for a conference about renewable energy. While he is away, 10 citizens of Hawaii were arrested on Mauna Kea today for physically impeding construction crews for the controversial Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) project, which has resumed with the blessing of the state. One of those arrested was Ku Kiai Mauna movement leader Kahookahi Kanuha. On behalf of the governor, Chief of Staff Mike McCartney released the following statement:

Statement on TMT

By Chief of Staff Mike McCartney on behalf of Governor David Ige

It is our belief that there will be mutual respect and aloha on Wednesday and in the days ahead as TMT restarts construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope.

TMT has the approvals needed to proceed with construction. We respect those who oppose the project and their right to peaceably assemble and to protest in an orderly and civil manner.

The State of Hawai‘i’s primary concern is the health and safety of its people. The state and Hawai‘i County are working together to uphold the law and ensure safety on roadways and on Mauna Kea, while allowing the people their right to peacefully and lawfully protest.

There were at least 500 people who gathered on the mountain today to prevent construction crews from continuing work on the TMT. Mileka Lincoln of Hawaii News Now reports that the crews only made it about 1.5 miles up the mountain. Here is a video she posted of the DLNR officer tearfully apologizing to the protesters and informing them that the officers would be turning around.

Photo posted to Instagram by @kaikea_____, posted here under fair-use

The U.S. House narrowly passed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) fast track legislation today by a vote of 218 to 208. The bill must now return to the Senate where it faces mounting opposition.

Last Friday, fast track legislation stalled in the House, in large part, because it was paired with Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), a program intended to support workers displaced by the increased emphasis on a globalized economy that would invariably come along with a trade agreement like the TPP. The Sierra Club calls the TAA language “inadequate.”

The House separated TAA language out from the fast track bill and attached fast track to an unrelated bill on the retirement benefits of firefighters and law enforcement officials. Twenty-eight democrats joined 190 republicans to vote for fast tracking the TPP.

However, the fight is not over yet. The Senate version of the fast track bill, which passed, was paired with TAA language. But, now, senators will be voting on a stand-alone fast track bill that does not include TAA language. A number of senators who previously voted for fast track are expected to vote no to a fast track bill that does not include such language.

“I do not support what’s coming over from the House,” said Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). “I voted for something that had laid-off workers from trade getting assistance and so that’s a very important component.”

The Sierra Club and other organizations opposed to the TPP will be campaigning to convince swing senators to vote no on the House bill. They expect to be successful, particularly because now there is no clear path within the bill to support workers displaced by the effects of the proposed TPP agreement.