WHY 'THERE' IS 'HERE'? 

Every few years I leave my high-tech world to enter developing countries to obtain a different perspective from which to view our more modern existence. My travels have taken me to Haiti and other islands in the Caribbean, and such diverse places as Bermuda, Australia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Italy, Germany, Britain and St . Pierre & Miquelon. I learned much from every stop. I also try to spend substantial time there and, in some cases, to "go native." My first insight into how computers operate came from a stone age chieftain in the Kikori rain forest in Papua New Guinea some years ago. There I realized everything is related. This winter I toured Morocco and Spain. First to check developments relating to EXPO 92, the world's largest EXPO ever, which ties in with "The Age of Discoveries" on the 500th anniversary of Columbus taking sailing lessons. Subsequent columns will deal with EXPO 92.

Regular readers are aware of my belief that the global warming trend is beneficial and should be encouraged .... a different viewpoint from the usual doom and gloom scenario. My theories do appear controversial. That's always an indication, to me at least, that I'm on the right track. So off I went along the road to Morocco.

Morocco is located in northwestern Africa, its north coast washed by the Mediterranean, its west coast by the Atlantic. A mere 20 kilometres from Gibraltar and Spain, this tiny distance has separated European and Moslem civilizations for centuries.

Morocco's population numbers close to Canada's -- and that's about as close a comparison as you can make. But Morocco is much smaller at 170,000 square miles compared to our 3,845,774 square miles It is a Moslem monarchy still subsisting mainly on agriculture. The number of jobs for a constitutional monarch are in decline these days and turmoil in Africa and the Middle East isn't making life easy for King Hassan of Morocco. He appears to be handling challenges as well as anyone could expect considering the times and his country's situation.

Many languages are spoken in Morocco. Once the capital of the Moorish Empire that stretched from Persia (Iran) to Spain. Arabic, Berber, French and Spanish, reflecting both the natural ethnic groups in the area and the languages of previous colonial and Moorish powers. It is the home of the familiar movie image of "Beau Geste". The parallel ranges of the Atlas Mountains rising up to 15,400 ft. (5,000 metres). Skiers can have breakfast in Marrakesh and slalom the slopes at Oukaimeden in the High Atlas in the afternoon. Generally Morocco is an area of low rainfall and the westernmost extension of the Sahara, the world's largest desert, which stretches across North Africa, above the equator to the eastern reaches of Saudi Arabia. Morocco is as far from Riyadh as Vancouver is from Sault St. Marie. It is also more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) from North to South. I know, my wife drove it (I had to hold the video camera).

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