Dwayne Johnson is putting some scientists between "The Rock" and a hard place.
The actor is throwing his star-power behind a group of protesters in Hawaii who are trying to block the construction of a giant telescope on Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on Hawaii's Big Island. Natives consider it sacred land and oppose the construction, so protesters have blocked a road leading to the mountain.
The Thirty Meter Telescope project, which is being largely funded by Canada, chose the summit of Mauna Kea because it is ideal for astronomy. The Rock, who is in Hawaii filming a movie, joined the protesters and told them, "I stand with you." He later said, "What I realized today … it’s bigger than the telescope. It’s humanity. It’s the culture. It’s our people, Polynesian people, who are willing to die here to protect this land. This very sacred land that they believe in so powerfully." (Page Six)