German Firm Hired to Save Easter Island Sculptures - General Tiki

T tikibars Tiki Socialite Aku Hall, Chicago Joined: Apr 11, 2002 Posts: 2034	T tikibars Posted posted on Sun, Nov 9, 2003 12:57 AM Well, as a haole who was passionate about studying tribal art and anthropology long before I was interersted in the kitsch aesthetic we call Tiki, I have struggled with this issue for many years. My selfish WANTS are for Rapa Nui to be preserved as a big, untouched outdoor museum, and for the people who live there to be happy and content in their little village. But of course, THEY, the islanders (for the most part - of course there are exceptions) want McDonalds, Nike, Cable TV, and cell phone service. Who am I to deny them the luxuries I take for granted every day? (well that said, I have boycotted McDonalds for the past 12 years, and I don't happen to own a pair of athletic shoes, but I digress) But also, Rapa Nui is such a unique place on earth, nothing is like it and it can never be replaced. I strongly feel that if the island is opened to development outside of Hanga Roa, the islanders may aquire material goods and services, (and you may get your more frequent flights there), but the world will loose one of it's few remaining untouched and fascinating treaures. If I am not mistaken, 6 of the 7 wonders of the ancient world are gone. How amazing would it be to see the Hanging Gardens of Babylonia, or the Temple of Artemis or the Colosus of Rhodes? They're all gone, all but the pyramids in Egypt. And they ain't coming back. An old cliche says: You can't go home again. Once it is gone, it is gone. And look at Stonehenge: you can't get near the place. It's roped off, you have to look at it from like 100 yards away. You can walk right up to the Moai, as it is now, and say hello. This is because, so far, the vast majority of the Rapa Nui tourists have been respectful. But as soon as luxury hotels go up, a whole other class of people are going to show up, and with increased numbers comes the inevitable increase in disprespectful idiots. Some of the islanders realize this and are more than willing to enjoy the current level of tourism which brings money to their economy without ruining the careful balance between keeping their miracle pristine and safe while allowing enough tourism to increase their standard of living. Commercial devlopment outside of Hanga Roa will permanently destroy this balance and we will lose Rapa Nui as it exists today, forever. As I said: the people there do not have cable TV or designer jeans, but they are happy, healthy, and well fed. Ultimately, the people that live there must decide what they want for themselves, and from 6000 miles away, all I can do is hope, maybe selfishly, that they choose to preserve their unique heritage rather than embracing the crappy American junk culture that our advertising firms make to seem so appealing to all of these precious cultures around the globe.

Well, as a haole who was passionate about studying tribal art and anthropology long before I was interersted in the kitsch aesthetic we call Tiki, I have struggled with this issue for many years.

My selfish WANTS are for Rapa Nui to be preserved as a big, untouched outdoor museum, and for the people who live there to be happy and content in their little village.

But of course, THEY, the islanders (for the most part - of course there are exceptions) want McDonalds, Nike, Cable TV, and cell phone service.

Who am I to deny them the luxuries I take for granted every day?
(well that said, I have boycotted McDonalds for the past 12 years, and I don't happen to own a pair of athletic shoes, but I digress)

But also, Rapa Nui is such a unique place on earth, nothing is like it and it can never be replaced. I strongly feel that if the island is opened to development outside of Hanga Roa, the islanders may aquire material goods and services, (and you may get your more frequent flights there), but the world will loose one of it's few remaining untouched and fascinating treaures.

If I am not mistaken, 6 of the 7 wonders of the ancient world are gone.
How amazing would it be to see the Hanging Gardens of Babylonia, or the Temple of Artemis or the Colosus of Rhodes? They're all gone, all but the pyramids in Egypt. And they ain't coming back. An old cliche says: You can't go home again. Once it is gone, it is gone.

And look at Stonehenge: you can't get near the place.
It's roped off, you have to look at it from like 100 yards away.
You can walk right up to the Moai, as it is now, and say hello.
This is because, so far, the vast majority of the Rapa Nui tourists have been respectful.
But as soon as luxury hotels go up, a whole other class of people are going to show up, and with increased numbers comes the inevitable increase in disprespectful idiots.

Some of the islanders realize this and are more than willing to enjoy the current level of tourism which brings money to their economy without ruining the careful balance between keeping their miracle pristine and safe while allowing enough tourism to increase their standard of living. Commercial devlopment outside of Hanga Roa will permanently destroy this balance and we will lose Rapa Nui as it exists today, forever.

As I said: the people there do not have cable TV or designer jeans, but they are happy, healthy, and well fed.

Ultimately, the people that live there must decide what they want for themselves, and from 6000 miles away, all I can do is hope, maybe selfishly, that they choose to preserve their unique heritage rather than embracing the crappy American junk culture that our advertising firms make to seem so appealing to all of these precious cultures around the globe.

Post #59130 by tikibars on Sun, Nov 9, 2003 12:57 AM