The story of Easter Island, the statues (called moai, of which there are about 900) and the fate of the forests there may have lessons for our society. The warring and competition between the two factions of people on Easter Island were constant, even as the island became denuded of forests and other resources. Perhaps one lesson from the history of Easter Island is about violence.

Human history is a story, so there are different ways of telling it. It depends on what you think is most significant. Here is my first attempt.

What does the history of humanity look like if we see ourselves as being ‘of spirit’ rather than mere matter and a generator of better technology?