Comments on: UK Astronomy Community "Deliberately Sabotaged" By Funding Cuts To Gemini Observatories

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:38:23 +0000

Sad, but inevitable.

What most people in the UK don't realize, or won't admit, is that the UK is on its last legs. The infrastructure of the country is failing at an ever increasing rate. Most of the hospitals are "no-go" zones for those who don't want to contract a superbug virus. The highway system is choking, and public railway is a death gamble due to unfunded maintenance.

Poor immigration control means that the UK is being flooded with uneducated foreigners who can't pay their own way, and will eventually suck the life out of the system. The country operates increasingly on a black market system of back-hand payments for services and stolen goods. There are now second and third generation families living off of state benefits, and the numbers are growing.

A few years ago, I worked in the UK with some of the British Forces. Every time I would visit, they would ask me to leave behind any pens or paper that I brought because they couldn't get any. They weren't joking.

If significant changes don't occur soon, Britain will be relegated to third-world status within fifty years. Astronomy will be the last thing on their minds.

Scary, isn't it?

By: Blog de Astronomia do astroPT » Doritos

Blog de Astronomia do astroPT » Doritos — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:38:48 +0000

[...] tivemos a notÃcia de que a NASA enviou uma mÃºsica dos Beatles para o espaÃ§o. Agora, devido Ã falta de fundos tambÃ©m na astronomia BritÃ¢nica, os astrÃ³nomos decidiram enviar publicidade aos Doritos, durante 30 segundos. O anÃºncio [...]

By: Astroengine.com Roundup and Opinion » astroengine.com

Astroengine.com Roundup and Opinion » astroengine.com — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:40:21 +0000

[...] and problematic issue facing international space efforts. First we hear about the highly publicised UK pullout of the Gemini Observatory project, then Jodrell Bank closes. Then in the US, it is announced that one of the Mars rovers will have to [...]

By: UK Physics and Astronomy in Danger » astroengine.com

UK Physics and Astronomy in Danger » astroengine.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:31:48 +0000

[...] UK Astronomy Community "Deliberately Sabotaged" By Funding Cuts To Gemini Observatories (January 28th, 2008) [...]

By: Universe Today » Cautious Welcome for UK Research Council U-Turn on Gemini Observatory Funding

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:33:36 +0000

[...] a temporary reprieve over their access to the Gemini Observatories in Chile and Hawaii. As previously reported on the Universe Today, UK astronomers were stunned at the decision to totally pull out from the [...]

By: Aqualung

Aqualung — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:54:12 +0000

No surprises here then. Don't ever forget that it is not the government that decides these things but the money behind the government.
Projects like these stop making a profit for someone when construction finishes. So someone involved with construction has told Gordon Brown to pull the funding because he has made as much money from it as he can.

By: Guy Batten

Guy Batten — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:39:03 +0000

This is so depressing, my country has become one were mediocrity is an aspiration and people boast of their ignorance in all the sciences.

By: Johnny Blues

Johnny Blues — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:23:49 +0000

When any government is faced with a finite source of money running out, its either raise taxes or cut programs. A Nanny State form of government is forced to cut science programs in lieu of cutting social funding. Nasa faces the exact same problem, but fortunately, the US has limited its role as caretaker of its citizens. Of course, that changes dynamically with potential political party power changes. Or, we just keep printing money until nobody will take a US dollar. Nasa will be biting its nails, waiting to see what party dominates funding come Jan 20th 2009.

By: alphonso richardson

alphonso richardson — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:03:32 +0000

This has nothing to do with socialism, or the "nanny state". more to do with the current state of ignorange, incompetence and 'soundbite' politics.
Politicians only concerned with results & re-election (surprise)
The Science education system is being messed about with (yet again) to improve the UK's place as a nation of innovation. Yet conversely, decisions like these fly in the face of these aims.
That said, such waste & idiocy has precedent in other areas. Big example of recent years – The Millenium Dome

By: Johnny Blues

Johnny Blues — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:51:14 +0000

These are the effects of a near socialist "nanny" state of government.

By: utsav

utsav — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:30:05 +0000

what a good news tou bougth here our earth
Thank you,

By: Astrofiend

Astrofiend — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:22:13 +0000

Andy C is spot on. Science is too important to be left in the hands of mere politicians. They will willingly throw good money after bad time and time again for any number of worthless and/or poorly thought out causes and yet completely piss away a quality investment in the future of science in britain. Britain, one of the historically mighty powerhouses of science is rapidly becoming just that – a historical powerhouse. I guess it's now up to the British people to impress upon their pollies the importance and gravity of the situation.

Craig.
Sydney, Australia.

By: Ian Kirk

Ian Kirk — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:55:54 +0000

Well you know what to do when it comes to election time. We need a major fuss made, lots more signatories on the Downing Street petitions. If it becomes a popular cause who knows what can be done?

By: Andy C

Andy C — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:58:27 +0000

Absolutely pathetic. A moronic decision from a Government that claims to want to make Britain a 'world leader in science'.

They've ignored the scientific community, and the 15,000 signatories to a petition aimed at reversing this decision.

Not only is UK Government throwing away its huge investment in this facility (and others), it will continue to cost money after next month ($16 million). The Government managed to find $120 billion to prop up the Northern Rock bank, billions more on the Olympics in 2012, and let's not mention the amount spent in Iraq, and yet it can't find a paltry $160 million (about $5 for every tax payer in the UK) to support fundamental science.

By: actionforspace.com

actionforspace.com — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:54:14 +0000

This is terrible. It is de-motivating to the UK to spend money on science initiatives like this if they end up not being able to use it.

By: Lancelot

Lancelot — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:15:42 +0000

Wow, it is bad for Gemini funding in short terms. However, I think it may open opportunities for other universities the chance to form consortia to bid usage time on the Gemini.