Citizens Oppose Decision to Allow SpaceX Launchpad on Their Island Due to Health and Environmental Risks

By B.N. Frank

Elon Musk never seems bothered by the facts that citizens, environmentalists, doctors, and scientists worldwide oppose his company’s broadband satellites (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) or that SpaceX vehicles keep exploding (see 1, 2, 3).

Recently, French residents rejected the company’s request to install a satellite antenna in their village. Papuans don’t want a launchpad on their island. Would anybody?

From The Guardian:

Anger after Indonesia offers Elon Musk Papuan island for SpaceX launchpad

Biak island residents say SpaceX launchpad would devastate island’s ecology and displace people from their homes

Papuans whose island has been offered up as a potential launch site for Elon Musk’s SpaceX project have told the billionaire Tesla chief his company is not welcome on their land, and its presence would devastate their island’s ecosystem and drive people from their homes.

Musk was offered use of part of the small island of Biak in Papua by Indonesian president Joko Widodo in December.

An Indonesian government representative told the Guardian this week the planned spaceport was being developed in consultation with the Papuan government and local communities, and that Biak’s development as a “Space Island” would “bring positive economic impacts” for islanders.

But Papuans on Biak are fiercely opposed, arguing a space launchpad will drive deforestation, increase Indonesian military presence, and threaten their future on the island. A tribal chief on the island, Manfun Sroyer, said he feared Papuans will be forced from their homes.

“This spaceport will cost us our traditional hunting grounds, damaging the nature our way of life depends on. But, if we protest, we’ll be arrested immediately.”

Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, also aims to develop a large rocket launch site on Biak island by 2024.

“In 2002, Russians wanted our land for satellite launches. We protested and many were arrested and interrogated… now they’ve brought it back, and this harassment and intimidation is still going on,” Manfun Sroyer said.

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Safer and more secure high-speed internet can be attained with a hardwired internet connection (see 1, 2, 3). Enough with the dangerous satellites already!

Stop 5G International has scheduled the next Global 5G and SpaceX Satellites Protest Day on March 20. Children may also submit artwork to be shared on the group’s website.

If you oppose broadband satellites, please sign and share an open letter asking that Elon Musk and SpaceX stop launching these satellites.

Cities AND entire countries have taken action to ban, delay, halt, and limit 5G installation AS WELL AS issue moratoriums on deployment. Doctors, scientists, and telecom whistleblowers also support a petition boycotting 5G phones.