The British Museum in London is an amazing place. You can explore it for days (many, many days…) and don’t have enough; you can find there lots of wonderful pieces from all over the world; and you don’t pay for your visit!
You can also find there one Moai, Hoa Hakananai’a.
I wrote yesterday, it’s bit controversial topic – do you know why?
From one side, you can say, Moai was stolen and should be returned from London to Easter Island.
But, it’s much easier (and cheaper for many) to visit the British Muesuem then going to Easter Island; so more people can see Moai and learn a bit about history of Easter Island; and actually get inspired to visit Easter Island one day.
Some people even complain, that Easter Island doesn’t care enough for Moai; and Moai on Easter Island are slowly getting more and more destroyed (even by peeing dogs…); so the Moai in British Museum will survive longer in much better shape.
British museum instead of exhibiting stolen pieces should exhibit replicas and return the stolen to the countries of origin instead and stop downgrading them as incapable of preserving them. It is nonsense and what is happening is the exact opposite 😉 See Greece, Egypt, India, China, Iraq and many more …
good point!
but it’s more relevant to Greece, than to Easter Island;
because visiting Greece is as easy as visiting London (more or less).
In my opinion it shouldn’t be based on which place is more accessible, which is as well a matter of point of reference really. What makes London the center of Earth? Visitors can admire replicas and learn about their history in museums such as the British museum and originals should stay in lands of origin. Even more so when they are stolen and not obtained in a legal way.