Miniature world on an island

A small island in a very remote place has allowed scientists to imagine the miniature world, with the same conflicts of interest and environment as it is happening throughout the globe.

Rapa Island is isolated in the South Pacific, half way from South America to New Zealand. From the initial cooperation, the first settlers here have come to war with each other when faced with similar environmental pressures and competition that is happening globally.

"Rapa is a very remote place, like another planet. When settlers come here, they immediately affect the environment," said study leader Douglas Kennett, from the University of Oregon. "With the population explosion, you can see the same thing on a larger scale than today. It leads to social conflict."

Remnants of a remaining fortress on Rapa Island. ( Photo: LiveScience) Measures of age of carbon isotopes at various points on the island show that the first residents arrived in Rapa on boats in 1,200. Initially, they camped in stone tents along the coast and could have coexisted very well.

But peace does not seem to last long, based on the heavy fortifications found on the island.

"Rapa became so stubborn for about 300 years later," Kennett said. "This island is 530 km away from the nearest neighbors, so these fortifications are not to prevent enemies from outside."

The competition for natural resources and degradation has pushed Rapa residents into war factions, Kennett argues.

When the Polynesians came to Rapa, people also brought items such as plants and mice, besides the main food that was taro. They came here after nearby islands like Fiji and Tonga were exploited. " There is no place to go, Rapa has been the stop of the journey, " the researchers said. Finally, it was Rapa's turn to be cleaned up to serve new residents, and fierce competition took place, forcing residents to move deep into the mainland.

Rapa's history is a lesson that can be applied to the world today. " With the world population exceeding 6 billion, human-induced environmental change is an urgent problem, threatening global communities that are increasingly dependent on each other ."

More and more modern evidence of how the population boom has harmed the environment - experts say - not just in the third world. Part of California, Arizona and northeastern America is experiencing severe water shortages and can only get worse.

T. An