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Easter Island Statue Plans Paris Pilgrimage

'Moai' aims to change humanity's 'materialistic conscience': government

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 16, 2008 6:50 PM CST

(Newser) – A “moai”—one of the giant statues of elongated heads on Easter Island—will travel to Paris in 2010 on a mission to challenge the “materialistic conscience” of the world, the Independent reports. Representatives of the Pacific island’s government said the statue had made its wish for travel known to them and “wants” to be placed in the Tuileries gardens, between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde.

The moai “is going to find a platform in Paris to spread spiritual energy which will change the conscience of humanity," said Easter Island's tourism director. "It is going to transform the materialistic conscience of the world into something more humane." And who's footing the travel costs? French luxury goods company Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy.

This undated photo released shows some of the massive Moai statues on Easter Island.
This undated photo released shows some of the massive Moai statues on Easter Island.   (AP Photo)
In this 2007 file photo, giant volcanic rock statues called Moais are shown on Easter Island in the South Pacific.
In this 2007 file photo, giant volcanic rock statues called Moais are shown on Easter Island in the South Pacific.   (AP Photo)
This file photo taken March 23, 2008, shows one of the massive Moai statues whose right earlobe was stolen by a Finnish tourist from Easter Island.
This file photo taken March 23, 2008, shows one of the massive Moai statues whose right earlobe was stolen by a Finnish tourist from Easter Island.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Guest
Sep 29, 2009 1:50 AM CDT
Does anyone know when the Maoi is due to arrive in Paris?
Mr.C
Dec 16, 2008 11:37 PM CST
someone help me understand how can the tourism director think this benefits them? Are the statues returning? How does this "change the... .. that is actually too absurd to type.. How does this mean anything?

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