Maropeng is located near the Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa, a site significant for early human fossils including Mrs Ples, one of the most complete skulls of Australopithecus africanus. It serves as a hub for learning about human evolution in the area known as the Cradle of Humankind, where life first emerged 3.8 billion years ago and some of the earliest stone tools and evidence of fire use were discovered. The document discusses how humanity's development of tools, language, social structures and technology has both advanced our species and put increasing strain on the environment.

1. Maropeng, originally called Mohale's Gate, is Setswana for "the place where we once lived". Africa is the birthplace of humankind. This is where our collective umbilical cord lies buried.

2. Maropeng is located 10km away from the Sterkfontein Caves, a world heritage site. Life first emerged about 3.8 billion years ago. Our journey begins in South Africa, where fossils of some of the earliest known life forms on Earth have been found.

3. Maropeng is the hub of the cradle site, the cultural and corporate event site for the area. The first stone tools were made and used in Africa at least 2.6 million years ago.

4. Here the piece de resistance is displayed - the original Mrs Ples fossil. The celebrated Mrs Ples, otherwise known as "Mr" Ples. It is the world’s most complete skull of Australopithecus africanus , at least 2 million years old. Mrs Ples was discovered by Dr Robert Broom and John Robinson in 1947.

5. 3 million years of human activity have taken place in and around this area. Our ancestors were able to use and control fire at least 1 million years ago at the Cradle of Humankind.

6. The first 5/6th of earth time are devoid of fossils and based only on rock dating. At first, superheated gases escaped into space. It took millions of years for the first land masses to emerge.

7. The Path to Humanity. The first discovery of an early hominid species in Africa was by Raymond Dart.

8. The Human Gateway. We're a diverse species, bound by common characteristics that make us human. Bi-pedalism or our ability to walk upright, our jaws and diet, a complex brain, an advanced ability to make tools, the ability to make and control fire, the ability to use complex language to communicate, our preference for living with others, a history of peopling the world, an exceptional capacity for creativity.

9. We are one species, and our collective voracious appetite is putting strain on our planet. Will we use our unique tools to find a solution?

10. The Gaia Principle First described by James Lovelock in 1979, the Gaia Principle describes the Earth as a single, living organism, with all its biological, geological, chemical and hydrogen processes acting in concert, to regulate the planet and ensure its survival through the exquisite array of feedback loops.

11. MEGAFAUNA - First Victims of the Human-Caused Extinction Know your science and our historical path. Our impact on our environment began long before the industrial revolution, or even before our agricultural farming. Visit www.megafauna.com.

12. Communicate and share ideas. Can economy and the ecology be united for the benefit of all ? Visit www.wholism.co.za

13. Use technology wisely. The ability to make tools and the state of the art technology we have today is nothing to be afraid of. We can use it wisely to find good solutions. “ There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew.”

14. Will we destroy ourselves? Not necessarily. Watch “An Inconvenient Truth” which is not a despairing movie – it is hopeful. If we don't remain in denial, if we can take stock of the reality of our situation, and use our abilities to find sustainable solutions based on the full historical evolution of our species (not just recent history), we may find a way to nurture not only the planet, but each other too.

15. What do you think? South Africa, the rainbow nation, demonstrated that a seemingly desperate situation can be overcome with an acknowledgement of the wrongs done and a combined effort to work towards a solution that is healthy for all. Inherent in that is the knowledge that every kind of relationship is 50/50 – that is the very definition of relationship . Can this principle be applied to our ecological crisis?

16. Restaurant at the End of the Universe. What is on the menu at Morapeng? What was on offer at this spectacular restaurant at the end of the Morapeng exhibition? Certainly not community grown, organic food. Not a diverse menu of delicious indigenous greens and fruits. If I were involved, I would recommend that as a means to contribute to the economy of the local community, the health of the visitors to the centre, and the contribution of re-generation of the environment!

17. Its a beautiful planet. And human beings are no more nor less beautiful than anything else on it! Lets love ourselves as well as this unique place we call home.