RAPA NUI OR EASTER ISLAND Rapa Nui, or Easter Island as it is more widely known, is an island of 63 square miles (163 square kilometres) atop three extinct volcanoes. It was settled by Polynesians around 300AD and is famous for its carved stone figureheads, termed moai. These were carved out of solid volcanic rock between 1100AD and 1680AD and were moved to their intended locations on Y-shaped sledges pulled by up to 150 men. The average statue stands 4.4 metres high and weighs 14.2 tonnes. It is believed that these moai were symbols of authority and power as well as repositories of sacred spirits. There are still some 887 such statues on the Island. The society that existed there prior to European contact was an advanced one, supporting itself with vegetable gardens, constructed water courses and dams and fishing for tuna, oysters and dolphins. This idyllic lifestyle was to change dramatically when on Easter Sunday, 5 April 1722, Dutch Captain Jacob Roggeveen, landed on the Island. Within just 150 years of his arrival, disaster struck the Island through European contact - bringing slavery; diseases such as measles tuberculosis and small pox; and sheep farming with 70,000 sheep denuding the Islands formerly rich grasslands. Thus, contrary to earlier archeological beliefs, the Rapa Nui civilization was not lost through its own ecocide but rather through genocide by external foreigners armed with muskets. In 1888, Rapa Nui was annexed by Chile - a fact not recognized by the Rapa Nui Parliament - even though today the Island is ruled by a Chilean Governor, Chilean officials and a Chilean police force. The traditional rulers consisted of four classes - noblemen (ariki), priests (ivi-atua), warriors (matatoa) and servants/farmers (kio). The colonists have done their best to eradicate the traditional system of government but tribal land beliefs are still strong and are the vexatious topic of negotiation with the Chilean colonial power. Tourism is the main industry now with 15,000 tourists a year flying in from French Polynesia and from Chile, generating an estimated $2,025,000 a year through hotel accommodation. In 2012 Rapa Nui had a population of 5,800 residents, who are increasingly concerned that thousands of tourists are disrupting the environment and lifestyles on the Island.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 14:39:05 +0000