Ancestral Values Driving Sustainability
The still important, symbolic value of the moai, their mana, and the prominent place of folklore and music show how much the ancestors inspire the current generation of Rapa Nui inhabitants. The four islanders we spoke to were, each in their own way, advocates for environmental protection and a harmonious society. For them, the ancestral values work as guidance, driving many initiatives that strive towards a more sustainable island. Central to this view is that they perceive Rapa Nui as their island, from which they draw their ancestral energy and sense of solidarity. To preserve it for future generations, a healthy environment and living together in harmony are important conditions.
Although Rapa Nui has a unique history, also elsewhere people can draw on ancestral values. Cooperation, innovation and tolerance have helped our ancestors weather many storms. These are values that we will surely need to create an ecologically sound and socially fair society.