Morpheus Speaks

MORPHEUS Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream, Neo? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?

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MORPHEUS The Matrix is everywhere, it's all around us, here even in this room. You can see it out your window, or on your television. You feel it when you go to work, or go to church or pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

NEO What truth?

MORPHEUS That you are a slave, Neo. That you, like everyone else, was born into bondage ... kept inside a prison that you cannot smell, taste, or touch. A prison for your mind.

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MORPHEUS The Matrix is a system Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save ... You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it. 

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Global Village

Which one would you have?

Global Village or Globalisation? These terms are used interchangeably or synonymously - we constantly hear through the media that we live in a global village or that globalisation is upon us - it's rather clichéd, either way. But, if given a choice, I wish we had the global village approach rather than a globalisation approach. Think of all the things that a village contains - a micro economy, a sense of community, a shared sense of responsibility and a sense of unity or togetherness. Contrast that with globalisation, which is often understood to be the rise in monopolies out to exploit every corner of the planet. Perhaps that view is pessimistic, but I still vote for the village approach.

The Global Village, rather like a mela/global shopping fair sits just outside Dubai on Route 311 - Emirates Road. It runs, as in previous years, between November and February and I was there twice this weekend. The village is made up of pavilions with country themes - Egypt, India, Iran etc. where crafts, clothes and foods are sold. There's also entertainment - we saw a magnificent dervish from Morocco, who really stood out. I missed the photo op, but the performance was fantastic. Anyway, here are pics showing the Pakistan and Afghanistan pavilions.