Changes

But it was defenseless against the abuses of firearms and slave traders. The elders, who knew the periods of glory and also those of slavery, decided to join Chile to stop these abuses, ceding sovereignty.

But it was defenseless against the abuses of firearms and slave traders. The elders, who knew the periods of glory and also those of slavery, decided to join Chile to stop these abuses, ceding sovereignty.

Between 1965 and 1970, the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) settled on Easter Island, radically changing the way of life of the Rapa Nui, as they became acquainted with the customs of the consumer societies of the developed world. During this period, the government of Eduardo Frei Montalva enacted the Pascua Law, which meant a basic leveling between the rights of the islanders and the Chilean mainlanders.<ref>{{cite book|title=Iorana & Goodbye|publisher=Pehuén|author=Patricia Stambuk}}</ref><ref>[https://www.24horas.cl/nacional/la-desconocida-historia-de-la-base-gringa-albergada-en-isla-de-pascua-2132317 La desconocida historia de la base "gringa" albergada en Isla de Pascua]</ref>

Islanders were only able to travel off the island easily after the construction of the Mataveri International Airport in 1965, which was built by the Longhi construction company, carrying hundreds of workers, heavy machinery, tents and a field hospital on ships. However, its use did not go beyond airline operations with small groups of tourists. At the same time, a NASA tracking station operated on the island, which ceased operations in 1975

Easter Island is triangular in shape and roughly 64 square miles in size.

Easter Island is triangular in shape and roughly 64 square miles in size.

In his book <cite>Collapse</cite>, [[Jared Diamond]] has cited Easter Island as a cautionary tale for what happens when a society foolishly squanders its natural resources without regard for the future, a process that admittedly happens much faster in the restricted case of an island.

In his book <cite>Collapse</cite>, [[Jared Diamond]] has cited Easter Island as a cautionary tale for what happens when a society foolishly squanders its natural resources without regard for the future, a process that admittedly happens much faster in the restricted case of an island.

Under the Presidency of the Republic of Captain General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, [[Easter Island]] is elevated to a level of importance and dedication from the Chilean authorities previously unthinkable, and one of the most important measures in this regard was the creation of the Province of Isla de Pascua, which culminated with the appointment of the eminent Rapa Nui archaeologist and international university academic, Mr. Sergio Rapu Haoa, With an austere administration and charismatic leadership Sergio Rapu Haoa generated a paradigm of local administration that has been maintained by all subsequent governments, which although it has lost prominence as a paradigm, due to political quotas and lack of support from the central government, has definitely established that a member of the Rapanui ethnic group is the representative of the central government in the territory.<ref>[https://polinesia-chilena.blogspot.com/2007/11/independentismo-secesionismo-y.html Independentismo, Secesionismo y Autonomia - Polinesia Chilena]</ref>

Under the Presidency of the Republic of Captain General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, [[Easter Island]] is elevated to a level of importance and dedication from the Chilean authorities previously unthinkable, and one of the most important measures in this regard was the creation of the Province of Isla de Pascua, which culminated with the appointment of the eminent Rapa Nui archaeologist and international university academic, Mr. Sergio Rapu Haoa, With an austere administration and charismatic leadership Sergio Rapu Haoa generated a paradigm of local administration that has been maintained by all subsequent governments, which although it has lost prominence as a paradigm, due to political quotas and lack of support from the central government, has definitely established that a member of the Rapanui ethnic group is the representative of the central government in the territory.<ref>[https://polinesia-chilena.blogspot.com/2007/11/independentismo-secesionismo-y.html Independentismo, Secesionismo y Autonomia - Polinesia Chilena]</ref>