Post #73668 by christiki295 on Fri, Jan 30, 2004 6:43 PM

"Taxi drivers from Santiago cruise up and down the . . . avenue looking for fares.

Word has gotten out in Chile that you can make dollars easy on Easter Island," explains Hucke, a member of the self-appointed "Rapa Nui parliament," which is pushing to have the island's status placed on the agenda of a United Nations committee on colonization.

Of the 3,000 or so residents here, about a third are transplants from the Chilean mainland. Last year, Easter Island had its first armed robbery — committed by a youth from the mainland.

Easter Island apparently is undergoing the issues associated with balancing increased tourism and the wealth it can bring with the loss of homogenousness of the culture (acknowledging it already has changed dramatically, no longer connects from the Moai building cultures and has borrowed from Tahiti).

Possibly nationhood will resolve this issue because it will allow for a ban on those relocating [Bali &/or Indonesia has one for the same reason], although I do not know what governmental dollars for public improvement projects or the ability to attend Chilean schools & univiersities [for free], etc. will be lost as a result.

However, that may be a small price to pay over the long run to maintain your culture, although I wonder if 21st century issues including the lack of isolation, and the related tv, tourism, development etc. has already sealed its fate.

[ Edited by: christiki295 on 2004-01-30 18:50 ]