246
It was encouraging to feel the popular warmth and backing of the Canarians
in our struggle. As an example of this, I mention only one curious incident
that I experienced personally. In the Plaza del Adelantado in La Laguna, there
is an old cloistered convent in which the mummified remains of a nun who
died in an aura of sanctity are venerated. On one day of every month these
remains are on display to the public; it is a very popular event, and there are
always poor people at the doors of the convent’s church. I was walking through
the square one day and a beggar who was unknown to me suddenly blurted
out, ‘Don Francisco, they’ve robbed us of the super telescope through the
fault of the ******* politicians in Madrid. I want you to know that we are all
very sorry’. This unexpected consolation both took me aback and moved me.
Perhaps the only positive thing Spain has obtained from this useless war
with ESO was that a Spaniard, Xavier Barcons, had managed to become first
the President of the Council of ESO in 2012 and later, at the end of 2016,
Director General of that organization, a very important post.
To bring this chapter to a close, I again insist with deep sadness that, had
the European Extremely Large Telescope been brought to the ORM, it would
now be almost finished, thus gaining an advantage of fifteen to twenty years
over our Americans competitors, and with an overall saving in its construction, commissioning, and running of not less than 50 per cent. Will ESO ever
give an explanation for these realities? Will it one day reveal the real reasons
why they chose Armazones, when it has been clearly demonstrated that the
conditions for astronomical observing at Roque de los Muchachos are better?
It serves no purpose to lament what might have been, but I have felt obliged
to explain all that happened in a truthful way. I have agonized over whether
or not to reveal all, and had I still been Director of the IAC, I might have
prudently desisted. Nevertheless, at my time of life I feel free to lay the truth
on the table. I also believe it to be a just recognition of the efforts of the many
people, Canarians included, who put their hearts and much hard work into
this beautiful enterprise only to see it frustrated.
F. Sánchez
It was encouraging to feel the popular warmth and backing of the Canarians
in our struggle. As an example of this, I mention only one curious incident
that I experienced personally. In the Plaza del Adelantado in La Laguna, there
is an old cloistered convent in which the mummified remains of a nun who
died in an aura of sanctity are venerated. On one day of every month these
remains are on display to the public; it is a very popular event, and there are
always poor people at the doors of the convent’s church. I was walking through
the square one day and a beggar who was unknown to me suddenly blurted
out, ‘Don Francisco, they’ve robbed us of the super telescope through the
fault of the ******* politicians in Madrid. I want you to know that we are all
very sorry’. This unexpected consolation both took me aback and moved me.
Perhaps the only positive thing Spain has obtained from this useless war
with ESO was that a Spaniard, Xavier Barcons, had managed to become first
the President of the Council of ESO in 2012 and later, at the end of 2016,
Director General of that organization, a very important post.
To bring this chapter to a close, I again insist with deep sadness that, had
the European Extremely Large Telescope been brought to the ORM, it would
now be almost finished, thus gaining an advantage of fifteen to twenty years
over our Americans competitors, and with an overall saving in its construction, commissioning, and running of not less than 50 per cent. Will ESO ever
give an explanation for these realities? Will it one day reveal the real reasons
why they chose Armazones, when it has been clearly demonstrated that the
conditions for astronomical observing at Roque de los Muchachos are better?
It serves no purpose to lament what might have been, but I have felt obliged
to explain all that happened in a truthful way. I have agonized over whether
or not to reveal all, and had I still been Director of the IAC, I might have
prudently desisted. Nevertheless, at my time of life I feel free to lay the truth
on the table. I also believe it to be a just recognition of the efforts of the many
people, Canarians included, who put their hearts and much hard work into
this beautiful enterprise only to see it frustrated.
F. Sánchez