Hawai'i is under threat again - this time, not from natural disasters, but from
the reckless ambitions of billionaires who think their wealth entitles them to exploit these sacred lands and waters. Sign the petition to protect Hawai'i's oceans, wildlife, and cultural heritage. Together, we can hold the line against this latest act of greed and exploitation.Right now,
Elon Musk's SpaceX is petitioning the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), asking it to expand the company's experimental rocket landing zone in the Pacific Ocean near Hawai'i. This includes areas dangerously close to
the strict nature reserve of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Papahānaumokuākea isn't just any stretch of water. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site, an ocean sanctuary spanning over 1.5 million square kilometers. This marine monument hosts an extraordinary diversity of life, from
endangered sea turtles and majestic whales to vibrant coral reefs. Beyond its ecological importance, it holds
deep cultural and spiritual significance for Native Hawaiians. Allowing SpaceX to crash debris into these waters is nothing short of
desecration.Even more alarming, SpaceX wants to increase its annual rocket landings fivefold, from 5 to 25, and expand the landing zone to 20 times its current size.
This would send even more debris into fragile ecosystems without any serious assessment of the environmental consequences. Despite claims that the landings "would not result in significant impacts," many experts and community members are calling this out for what it is - a dangerous and dismissive sham.
The rockets would land perilously close to protected areas, and it's naïve to believe that debris and pollution will magically respect the boundaries of marine sanctuaries. Falling space junk doesn't recognize maps - it will threaten marine mammals, sharks, sea turtles, and the coral reefs that sustain them.This is more than an environmental issue.
It's a continuation of a painful pattern of exploitation. From Mark Zuckerberg's attempts to claim Native Hawaiian lands to Musk's disregard for our ecosystems,
wealthy oligarchs have repeatedly treated Hawai'i as their personal playground. They fail to see the people, the culture, and the fragile beauty they threaten to destroy.
We must take a stand. Let's send a clear message: Hawai'i's oceans and ecosystems are not experimental dumping grounds. We will not allow billionaires to desecrate sacred spaces for profit and ego. Sign this petition to demand the FAA deny SpaceX's reckless request to expand its rocket landing zones.