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Connect the World
Ireland Takes a Bailout; The Financial Crisis in Europe; Cholera Epidemic Worsens in Haiti; Cambodia Stampede
Aired November 22, 2010 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: An angry bailout backlash in Ireland and demands that the government resign.
Well, Greece has already been there. Some say a stagnant Portugal could be next.
But what if the tap in Brussels runs dry?
Tonight, we ask if the very future of the euro is in danger.
Going beyond borders on the day's biggest stories, on CNN, this is the hour we connect the world.
Well, political turmoil in Dublin as the full extent of the financial chaos sinks in.
The question this hour -- how far does the contagion spread and will the euro be the ultimate victim?
I'm Becky Anderson in London for you.
Also tonight, cholera claims more lives in Haiti as the United Nations says the world isn't doing enough.
Well, you know they're smart, but just how smart?
We're going to get up close and personal with these very special marine mammals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICKY MARTIN: You're always concerned about -- about what's going to happen to your career after you, you know, tell the world something like this.
But you know what?
I was -- I was just really af -- really tired of fear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, what is on Ricky Martin's mind?
He's your Connector of the Day answering your questions. That is CNN in the next 60 minutes.
And do remember, this is your show so do get involved -- CNN.com/connect or my Twitter account, becky@cnn.
From Bill Clinton to Lady Gaga, your questions -- the biggest names get answered here.
All right, let's kick off tonight, he's been under pressure since his country was forced to make a humiliating U-turn and accept a bailout. Despite calls for a snap election, Ireland's prime minister today vowed to put the country's finances first.
So let's head straight to Dublin, where Jim Boulden has been following the day's twists and turns -- Jim.
JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of twists and turns, for sure, Becky.
It was an extraordinary day. Just 24 hours after the Irish government said that it would take this money from the IMF. And with headlines saying it's been humiliating and that the government is bust, the prime minister held an emergency cabinet meeting. And there were rumors flying around Dublin that he would announce his resignation. In fact, he did not announce a resignation. He said they must get this budget passed on December 7th. And only when all the budgetary passes, then he would dissolve parliament and go to the people for an election. We're thinking maybe in January.
But he was asked time and time again in the press conference, would you resign?
Here's the response from Brian Cowen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN COWEN, IRISH PRIME MINISTER: I was asked to take on this responsibility as leader and teacher. And I've enjoyed the full responsibility of that office. And I at this time, for our country, we believe in the government -- and the ministers who are from my party share this with me -- that the greatest statement of confidence that must be given in this country today is passing the budget on the 7th of December. That is the most important thing for this country. And all of us in Dail Eireann have a responsibility to meet that -- to meet that challenge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOULDEN: Now, some of the parties here want him to go right away, Becky.
The question is, will he get enough votes on December 7th to pass this budget, this budget that the IMF, of course, will be watching very carefully -- Becky.
ANDERSON: All right, Jim.
Thank you for that.
Let's take a closer look then at the worst deficits across Europe.
According to a report from Eurostat, Greece led all of Europe at the end of 2009, with the largest government deficit as a percentage of GDP at 15.4 percent.
Now, Ireland was second, at 14.5 percent, there or thereabouts, followed by the U.K. at around 11.5. Other E.U. countries making up the top six include Spain, Latvia and Portugal.
Well it may not have the biggest deficit in Europe, but Portugal remains one of the greatest concerns. Yet it has no major problems at its banks and no property bubbles.
So what is the fear facing that country?
Well, firstly, there are questions over whether the government can meet its target of cutting this year's deficit to 7.3 percent of GDP. Now add to that a sluggish economy and austerity cuts, which could, according to the IMF, push the country back into a recession.
All this spooking investors and pushing up the yields on government bonds.
If Portugal misses its deficit target and slips back into a recession, could the country's borrowing costs spiral out of control?
Well, can Portugal do anything to avoid becoming the next country to seek a bailout?
Earlier I put that question to Filipe Garcia, a financial analyst based in Portugal's second largest city, which, of course, is Porto.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FILIPE GARCIA, INFORMACAO DE MERCADOS FINANCEIROS: The short answer is no. The Portuguese keeps saying it will not has correct (ph). But we think this is being some kind of a denial position because they can be forced the opposite way.
Take the example of Ireland. Ireland was forced to ask for help, not willing to do that. But because other countries -- the European countries -- wanted them to do it. And I think it -- that situation can happen to Portugal, too.
Of course, Portugal has structural problems. We have a growth problem. We have a deficit problem. But at this point, the main concern is about contagion to the Eurozone countries.
So we think, at this point, this is not in our end anymore and it is very likely that we will have to ask for help, too.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, a gloomy outlook, then, in Portugal.
But what's the mood in Greece, the first Eurozone country to apply for a bailout?
Well, earlier, I asked Elinda Labropoulou in Athens whether Ireland's announcement would help take the pressure off them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELINDA LABROPOULOU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Greeks are not surprised to see this. I mean it's something that has been talked about for a long time. We've been looking in different directions. We've been, also, looking at Portugal, looking at what's happening there. So there was a sense that this may be coming.
Of course, for Greece, it's -- it's very important not to be alone in this. Until now, they felt a little bit like the black sheep of euro, if you like, and they felt that it was just their problems. Now, with looking at Ireland, Greeks are starting to think, well, wait a minute, yes, we do have a lot of problems, yes, we have issues like corruption, which are very Greek. It's not the same case as in Ireland.
But it seems to be the case that some of the European mechanisms may not be working or they may just be too strict for a lot of nations to follow. So it's not just Greece.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Hmmm. All right, well, with two countries bailed out and others possibly on the brink, the future of the Eurozone looks far from rosy.
But can it survive in its current form?
Well, let's head to New York and put that question to
Gillian Tett, the U.S. managing editor of "Financial Times".
Firstly, let's get to the point, shall we, here.
Should the Irish prime minister resign, do you think, Gillian, over this?
GILLIAN TETT, U.S. MANAGING EDITOR, THE "FINANCIAL TIMES": Well, I think at the moment, what is crucial is trying to show the market that there actually is a proactive plan in place to try and tackle the fiscal problems. And so I think that if it's the case that him staying in place allows the parliament to pass a budget, then probably he should not resign.
Above all else, what the markets want to see is that somebody is in charge.
ANDERSON: All right. Stick with me for a moment.
I want to give our viewers somewhat of a litmus test here.
Just how bad do things need to get before a country seeks a bailout?
In basic terms, the -- the indicator is when the yields on government bonds go so high that the country can't afford to get funding from the markets.
Now, for Greece, for example, this happened back in May this year, when the country's bailout was finally agreed. By that point, the yield on the 10-year government bonds, which are crucial, has reached just under 12.5 percent.
Now for Ireland, yields on government bonds reached a record level of the 11th for this month, during the G20, when they hit almost 8.9 percent.
Now, as for Portugal, its high point was reached a day earlier on the 10th, when yields on its 10-year government bonds hit about 7 percent. They recovered much since and are currently at 6.9 percent.
So given that, Gillian, what should we expect next?
TETT: Well, I think that there's going to be a lot of uncertainty in the market for quite a long time, because what this financial crisis has essentially done is it's been like a cold wind going around a house that's got a few rickety holes and things. It's -- it's exposing every single crack in the system.
And it's shown very clearly that there are some fundamental structural contradictions inside the euro project. And, in a sense, many inver -- American investors have long been concerned about this, but those concerns have really come to the fore.
And, frankly, the Eurozone leaders collectively have still not shown the type of cohesion and proactive policy response that many people want to see right now.
The special irony is that the government of Ireland itself has done quite a lot. And thus far, at least, it's been fairly cohesive and forward looking.
But the big question now is whether the Eurozone leaders jointly can do that.
ANDERSON: Yes, OK. Now, the U.K. isn't one of those. We're not a member of the Eurozone. But have a listen to what the U.K. finance minister said in relation to the euro.
This is George Osborne.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE OSBORNE, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I have been one of the fiercest critics of Britain joining the euro. I didn't want Britain to join the euro. We pointed out some of the challenges that was going to face members of the euro.
But I told you so is not much of an economic policy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: No, it's not, is it?
And the Conservative Party of George Osborne never a great fan, of course, of the euro, never mind the European project, Gillian.
But like he says, I told you so ain't great politics. He does so have a point.
Is the -- is the European monetary project, in and of itself, broken at this point?
TETT: Well, a couple of weeks ago, a senior British banker -- a former banker -- joked that he thought the Eurozone was heading into a two tier zone -- the hard part and the soft part; if you like, the Mediterranean countries, the periphery countries, and a Northern European core.
And everyone stressed, well, that was just a joke. But certainly over in Wall Street right now, many hedge funds, many investors are taking that joke very seriously, indeed.
ANDERSON: So what -- what...
TETT: (INAUDIBLE)...
ANDERSON: Sorry, Gillian.
What was the big picture?
If -- if I were a viewer watching in Germany or Guinea-Bissau, for example, why should I care about this story?
TETT: Because significant turmoil in Europe is potentially very bad for the European economy. And the world's global economy simply cannot afford to have another region where economic growth is potentially going to be damaged.
And then the reality is if you have a period of extreme currency volatility, where, potentially, the euro's value swings about quite wildly vis-a-vis the dollar or, potentially, even the euro breaks up -- and I don't think we're there. But that, again, is another aspect which is going to drag down global growth and hurt many, many people, including those a long way away from Europe.
ANDERSON: It doesn't look good.
Gillian, always a pleasure.
Thank you for joining us.
Your expert on the subject tonight.
So -- so just how bad -- well, let's have a look at what effect Ireland's bailout and the continued fears over the Eurozone has had on the markets.
How bad are things?
The European markets all finished down. And in the U.S., only the NASDAQ finishing the day's trading in positive territory.
Just as the U.N. warns that the international aid is trickling in too slowly for Haiti -- moving on for you -- health experts give an even more alarming assessment of the cholera epidemic. Two live reports for you on the crisis coming up.
This is CONNECT THE WORLD.
Also, dolphins like horsing around, but don't let their fun loving antics fool you. They could be the second most intelligent species on the planet.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: This is CONNECT THE WORLD.
I'm Becky Anderson in London.
Now to the troubling news about the extent of Haiti's cholera epidemic.
Health officials say that the death toll has risen to at least 1,344 and they predict the scale of the epidemic will surpass the original estimate of 200,000 cases.
Well, as the needs grow, the U.N. is asking donor countries to reach deeper into their pockets. It says it's received less than 10 percent of the some $164 million needed to combat the disease.
Well, compounding all of this, the U.N. says protests targeting its peacekeepers are still disrupting the delivery of vital humanitarian aid.
We've got two reports for you now.
Ivan Watson is in Port-au-Prince while senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth, is in New York.
Let's start with Ivan -- sir, the picture on the ground?
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you may be able to hear some music in the background. And that is because, in the midst of this health crisis, with the growing death toll -- 1,344 people at least who have died as a result of cholera since it was first detected on the island last month, you have a political campaign underway.
Elections are just six days away. They're going to take place on Sunday, Becky. And candidates -- some 19 candidates running for president as well as the senate and for parliament -- are out blaring music in the streets. There are crowds of people coming through here dancing and waving the posters of various candidates for office.
But that cannot disguise the very grim news on the ground that more and more people are getting sick. At least 57,000 who have been treated since cholera was discovered here. And the World Health Organization predicting that their initial estimates, as you mentioned, will be far more than the initial 200,000 people that could be infected.
Why is that?
That's because Haiti has not had to face the cholera bacteria in at least a century. You do not have the natural immunity in the population here to the bacteria. And you also have these terrible conditions of an impoverished country with very bad sewage systems, poor access to clean water and medical workers who are not trained on how to deal with this disease that is rampaging through this impoverished society -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Ivan, where's the money, first question?
And, secondly, just how bad are these protests against the -- the U.N. members -- the forces there who are, well, it seems, struggling to keep order at this point?
WATSON: Well, that's right, we -- we did see a lot of violence last week -- a lot of stone throwing in several cities against the United Nations peacekeepers. Today, I've been hearing about clashes in a town to the west of Port-au-Prince, not really involving peacekeepers, but complaints about the main electoral commission, with Haitian police firing guns to disperse crowds of -- of stone throwing demonstrators and setting fire -- setting tires on fire.
According to the International Crisis Group, there have been 13 elections here in Haiti since 1987 and nearly all of them have been marred by pre-electoral violence, by allegations of fraud and delays in the final days before the vote. And it looks like we're seeing more of the same coming into Sunday's presidential election. And that's without the challenges posed by this deadly cholera epidemic.
ANDERSON: And still no money, Ivan?
WATSON: That's right. The United Nations complaining that they've recovered less than 10 percent of the emergency $164 million they asked for to help combat the cholera epidemic. They say that they have tens of thousands of treatment packets. It's really simple what you need to battle cholera, these rehydration salts, in some cases, the more severe cases, a - - I.V. fluids to inject into people. It's those first critical hours when people can become dehydrated due to acute diarrhea, which can actually kill a victim. And all it takes is rehydration to keep somebody alive.
The big challenges, the U.N. has been telling me, is that they don't have enough trained doctors and nurses who know how to deal with the disease. They don't have enough trucks to collect the bodies of victims who are dying. I talked to a Haitian Ministry of Health worker. He said that he was attacked by a stone throwing mob when he came into one Port-au- Prince neighborhood over the weekend.
Why?
People were scared that he was going to bring disease into their neighborhood. They had to run away and left at least one victim -- one cadaver there. And that can help spread more of the disease through an already endangered neighborhood.
ANDERSON: Yes, a grim picture.
Ivan, stay with me.
Let's bring in Richard Roth from New York for an update on how the United Nations is handling this crisis -- Richard, you've heard what Ivan said there.
What -- what's the U.N. up to at this point?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, Becky, held a morning meeting with top U.N. officials on this Haiti situation, including various humanitarian leaders inside the U.N. organization.
A lot at stake for the U.N. in Haiti. Critics there say the U.N. really is an occupying force, which the UN, of course, would deny. It's there to provide stability, to help the Haitian people, to be within a phone call away at those polling places.
But as we know and as Ivan has reported, the U.N. peacekeepers caught in the crossfire and were the target last week.
Now, the UN, as Ivan has said, badly needs nurses, doctors, chlorine tablets, tents for the chlor -- for the cholera centers that have been opened up. Thirty-six of them now open, some 60 smaller ones to come online.
Officials say the situation in the city of Cap-Haitien, the second largest population wise in Haiti, has been calming down there compared to last week.
Tony Banbury, the assistant secretary-general for field support for the United Nations told CNN earlier today that he thinks the amount of people with cholera in Haiti will rise dramatically.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BANBURY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR FIELD SUPPORT: This is a major emergency and the world needs to focus on doing everything necessary to stop the spread of the disease and to treat people who catch it so they don't die from it. And we can do that. We know how to do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: The UN's humanitarian chief, Valerie Amos, is going to tour camps there, Becky, the next two days. But the United Nations doesn't want to get stigmatized by people accusing them of spreading cholera or bringing it in with these Nepalese peacekeepers. Independent lab tests, according to the UN, say nothing has been found. They're not precluding anything. They think it's more important right now to focus on saving lives in Haiti.
ANDERSON: Richard Roth at the U.N. and Ivan Watson on the ground.
Both of you, we thank you very much, indeed for joining us.
You're watching the show that joins the dots on the big stories around the world.
We're going to bring you the video that has sparkled a firestorm at security checks at airports.
Is the pat-down going a bit too far?
First, though, breaking news out of Cambodia -- a street celebration turns deadly and the toll keeps raising.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: well, I want to bring you an update on some breaking news out of Cambodia at this point.
Well, the death toll is rising dramatically after a stampede in Phnom Penh. The minister of information announces that 339 people were killed when panic broke out at an annual festival. It happened on a crowded bridge near the Royal Palace. Well, authorities are now investigating what triggered the stampede.
Philip Bader, news editor of the "Phnom Penh Post," joins us on the line with the details.
What is the government saying at this point, sir?
PHILIP BADER, NEWS EDITOR, "PHNOM PENH POST: Well, right now, Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced the current death toll at 339 people and roughly 329 injured. That death toll is expected to rise.
But few details as to how the stampede, as they're calling it, actually -- actually happened. There's mixed reports.
ANDERSON: What do we know at this point?
BADER: Well, the -- the mun -- municipal police chief has said that the stampede likely occurred because of the suspension bridge is not actually near the royal palace. It's -- it's over the Koh Pich River. And so the swing of the bridge, with so many people on it, created panic. And a stampede occurred. People got crushed and that was the primary cause, with reports of people jumping off the bridge to try to escape the -- the stampede.
ANDERSON: And we're looking at some pictures that we got earlier into CNN. It's pretty disturbing stuff.
Do we know whether things have calmed down at this point?
BADER: Yes, they have. In the last hour or so, the streets have calmed and clear. It's the water festival season, the last day of the water festival. And there were quite a lot more people in town than normal -- several million, at least two million, as the estimates have been made.
But right now, the streets are quiet and there have been no further news reports in terms of updating the -- the death toll or the injuries.
There is a -- a -- a meeting -- a committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow, a -- a meeting of inquiry here to -- to try to get to the -- to the bottom of the details of what caused the -- the stampede. And Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced a day of mourning for Wednesday.
But beyond that, there's -- there's no further details at the moment.
ANDERSON: You say that -- that this is -- these were celebrations to mark the end of the rainy season.
Have we ever seen anything like that which we've seen today happen before?
BADER: No. The most that you would see is -- is maybe an elevated -- evaluated automobile accidents and various criminal activity, that sort of thing. But never anything on the scale -- and, in fact, in Hun Sen's remarks, he -- he said that it's the worst tragedy since the Pol Pot regime.
So there's never been anything like this kind of -- this kind of accident, this kind of tragedy during the water festival.
ANDERSON: The worst tragedy since the Pol Pot regime.
Sir, we thank you for joining us there.
Sadly, these kinds of deadly stampedes are not uncommon when large crowds flock to small areas, lacking the facilities, of course, to control big gatherings. Earlier this year, 21 people were killed in a stampede at a music festival in the German city of Duisburg. More than 500 others were hurt.
Now, there were two major incidents in 2008, in September. Two hundred and twenty-four people killed at a temple in Western India. A month before that, at least 140 people died in a stampede at a remote northern temple at the foot of the Himalayas.
In previous years, there have been a number of deadly stampedes during the hajj in Saudi Arabia, among the worst in 2006. Three hundred and sixty-four people were killed during the pilgrimage to Mecca.
And in 2005, nearly a thousand Shia worshippers were killed in a stampede during a religious procession in Baghdad.
This is CONNECT THE WORLD.
I'm Becky Anderson.
Coming up next, the storm of criticism intensifies. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is forced to explain why this young boy is being patted down shirtless.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're back with CONNECT THE WORLD.
I'm Becky Anderson in London.
Coming up, stripped down to the waist -- was this pat-down on a young boy a step too far?
And just why do airport screening procedures have us up in arms?
Plus, they're believed to be the second-most intelligent species on Earth. But what -- it's what dolphins did in front of a mirror that's got scientists really excited.
And from living la vida loca in Hollywood to helping the victims of child trafficking, Ricky Martin will be answering your questions as your Connector of the Day.
Those stories are ahead as promised. First, let's get you a quick check of the headlines at this hour.
Irish prime minister Brian Cowen says that he is not giving in ground despite widespread anger. Sinn Fein protestors marched outside his office after the government decided to ask for an international bailout. Several parties have called for new elections.
The Haitian government says cholera had now killed more than 1300 people and infected nearly 57,000. A top UN official says there is a possible -- possibility to stop the spread by giving Haitians immediate access to treatment, but that would involve setting up thousands of treatment centers.
A district commander in New Zealand says a robot sent in to survey the damage to a mine has broken down and can no longer be used. Officials say the families of 29 miners missing inside are starting to despair. Rescuers can't go down themselves because the air is too toxic.
Cambodia's information minister says a stampede in Phnom Penh has killed at least 339 people, and the toll is expected to rise. It happened during the country's annual water festival. Crowds were crushed as they crossed a bridge near the royal palace.
A chorus of criticism directed at the US Transportation Security Administration is growing louder as the country prepares for the busy Thanksgiving travel period. At the heart of the issue is the choice some passengers are facing between full-body scanners and new enhanced pat downs by security agents.
Well, the firestorm intensified over the weekend over this video, when this video emerged of a young boy receiving a pat down with his shirt off. The video was shot by another passenger in the security lineup at an airport on Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah. On the video, other passengers can be heard calling the situation "ridiculous" and "unbelievable."
The TSA is responding to questions about the video. He was asked today, the head of it, on CNN's American Morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN PISTOLE, US TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: What I understand is, when the boy walked through the metal detector and alarmed, his father decided to take matters into his own hands and took his shirt off. Saw -- resolved that there was no issue there, and so the father and the security officer helped the boy get the shirt back on and they went along. So, that's the information I have, now.
So, clearly, common sense has to play a role in this. But we also have to remember, how can we best -- provide the best possible security while working with the traveling public as a partnership.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right. Well, this week is one of the busiest travel periods of the year in the US, with two million people a day on the move ahead of Thanksgiving. And as some call for a boycott of the full-body scanners, others are choosing to avoid the airport altogether. CNN's Kate Bolduan reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kyle Whitney could hop on a plane and be home for the holidays in just one hour. But this season, he's opting for what he considers the hassle-free option, a seven-hour train ride to avoid new airport security measures.
KYLE WHITNEY, HOLIDAY TRAVELER: I don't like the practices that I've seen, and it's just one more reason not to go through with the ordeal of flying.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): The new measures from the Transportation Security Administration have set off a wave of criticism and frustration among passengers. Shown here in photos from DenverPost.com are the pat downs some call extreme. And there's also the revealing full-body scanner machines.
So, what can air travelers expect this holiday season? Most will walk through metal detectors. Only 69 airports in the country, about 12 percent, have full-body scanners. For those who do go through full-body scanners, the TSA says they're safe. The exposure to radiation is less than you'd receive in two minutes of flight.
And passengers will only receive the enhanced pat down if they refuse the full-body scanner, set off the scanner's alarm, set off the metal detector's alarm, or are randomly selected. The TSA says children under 12 who require extra screening will receive a modified pat down.
TSA administrator John Pistole told CNN's Candy Crowley, the challenge is finding a balance between passenger's privacy and doing their job to keep those passengers safe.
PISTOLE: Clearly, if we are to detect terrorists, who have been proven innovative and creative in their design and implementation of bombs that are going to blow up airplanes and kill people, then we have to do something that prevents that.
BOLDUAN (on camera): Despite the controversy, Pistole says the procedures are staying in place for now. Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: As Kate mentioned in her report, only about 12 percent of US airports actually have those full-body scanners, but around the world, the percentage is even smaller. The global list includes several Canadian airports, including Toronto, Vancouver, and Regina. International airport in Saskatchewan, as well.
In Europe, they've been introduced at Manchester and Heathrow in the UK, plus Amsterdam, Paris, Moscow, and Rome. And in Asia, Tokyo has them, along with at least three airports in South Korea.
Around the world, reaction to the body scanners is mixed. Some passengers questions whether they are really effective or, indeed, necessary. Others are saying the inconvenience is worth it if it keeps it safe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's true, it gets a little step too far but, on the contrary, if they can increase my security on the plane, because we live in the era of war on terror, actually, I don't mind. They can do whatever they want, because this can keep me safe.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As far as the scanners go, I don't feel like that's really necessary to go through security. I don't think you need to scan through clothes and to be looking at what's underneath. I think that going through a metal detector should be sufficient.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Let's face it, it can sometimes feel like there as just as many screening procedures as their are airports in the rood. Our own Richard Quest has flown through many of them. I asked him earlier today about some of the inconsistencies that he has encountered. This is what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are completely inconsistent. What works in one airport doesn't work in another. Belts that I walk through with -- on my jeans quite happily in London will set off a klaxon of alarms in Frankfurt.
Just take what I'm wearing at the moment. Almost guaranteed, the braces -- suspenders will set them off. Well, I'm not about to start removing these. On one occasion, I think the best one so far, was the gentleman's collar stiffeners, the little things that you put in your collar. I had brass stiffeners like these and the security man was determined that it was going to come out because he said this could be a threat to the aircraft.
Computers, belts, shoes, and now, we have pats. It's a development that takes us, frankly, into a whole new league.
ANDERSON: There is some talk that TSA is going to soften its stance. Will it, do you think?
QUEST: If they do soften the stance, it certainly won't be publicly trumpeted. It'll be very much just done -- and nobody will really notice unless they're going through security. John Pistole is quite adamant. He's not going to take risks with security.
Now, he also accepts, as you've heard in the reports, that these measures are very controversial and rather unpleasant. But, I've met Mr. Pistole, I've spoken to him, whenever you talk about these sorts of issues, he's quite clear. He's an FBI man through and through and he's not going to willingly give ground.
ANDERSON: Look, for those who are concerned about this patting down, it's this sense that there's an invasion of privacy, that this is invasive. Is it? And, to a certain extent, is it more than privacy concerns here that people worry about?
QUEST: I think that there has to be an element. I'm going to go out on a limb here, Becky. Grow up and get over it has to be part of the rule for any adult person, there's going to be an element. Look, what do you want them to do? If you're not prepared, if you're not prepared to stand like this and have a full-body scan and you have set off an alarm and they do need to search you, what do you expect them to do?
Now, providing it's done with dignity, integrity, and privacy, then, I think, it will continue in some shape or form. It's also -- there's one other thing it has to be done with. Efficiency. The first whiff of scandal about this, and the whole lot comes crashing down.
ANDERSON: All of this, of course, begs the last question, which is simply, what's the alternative, Richard? Is there one?
QUEST: There isn't an easy alternative. I'm not dodging your question, Becky. The truth is that the best form of security won't happen at those metal detectors and scanners. It's going to be the intelligence, like we saw from the Saudis, with the two courier devices. That's the best form of security.
If you're asking bluntly, is there any alternative to standing and being searched, to being patted, to opening up bags, to taking off belts, shoes, computers? At the moment, there's no realistic alternative.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The expert of experts for you this evening, our very own Mr. Richard Quest.
Still to come on this show, we are kicking off a special week-long look at intelligent life in the animal world. We're going to focus first for you on dolphins and how their antics in front of a mirror give us an insight into their minds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Forty-two minutes past nine in London. I'm Becky Anderson for you. Now, abstract thinking, language skills, even a sense of self and time. We humans, of course, have these capabilities. But you may be surprised to know that we are not alone.
Tonight, we kick off a special week on amazing animals, smarter than you might think. And we begin with mammals that some scientists believe are the second-most intelligent species on Earth, dolphins. Not only are their brains big, but also, incredibly complex, it seems. Randi Kaye takes us to an underwater laboratory.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Spend a day with a dolphin, and you're quickly reminded of why they've always captured our imaginations. They are playful, sociable, and just incredibly fun to be around.
But scientists say there's a lot more to these animals, and they're just beginning to understand the intricate thinking of these so-called big- brained mammals.
KAYE (on camera): Here you go, Nani! Good girl! We came here to the Baltimore Aquarium to see just how intelligent dolphins are. You see them playing with their trainers all the time. But scientists who study them say there's a lot more happening there than just play, that their intelligence actually rivals ours. Here you go!
KAYE (voice-over): To see up close what has scientists so excited, we climbed down into a tiny underwater lab with a window into the aquarium, where scientist Diana Reiss puts a two-way mirror up against the glass. The dolphins can't see us, but Reiss can study how the dolphins react to the mirror.
DIANA REISS, SCIENTIST, UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK: We used to think we were the only species on the planet that could think. And now, we know that we're amongst many thinking species. So, the questions are no longer, "Can they think?" But "How do they think?" And what's amazing in this capacity, with giving them mirrors, it looks like they're doing a lot of things very similar to us.
KAYE (voice-over): Reiss has been studying dolphins' behavior for 25 years.
REISS: Most animals don't even pay attention to mirrors. So, if you put a mirror in front of your dog, most dogs won't even look in a mirror. Cats don't pay much attention. Other animals do pay attention, but never figure out it's themselves. They think it's another of their own kind.
KAYE (voice-over): But dolphins do figure it out.
REISS: And not only do they figure out that it's them, but they show interest to look at themselves. So, one thing is to understand it's themselves, it's a whole other thing to say, "I want to look at myself. I want to -- let me see what my face looks like, or what does it look like when I turn upside down and blow a bubble?"
KAYE (voice-over): We sat in awe as this group of dolphins explored themselves before us, unable to ignore the mirror. Several did hang upside down.
REISS (whispering): He's upside down. He's going to get wild, now. He's being very innovative. Watch this. Big show.
KAYE (voice-over): Other dolphins open their mouth and stuck their tongue out. They put their eye on the mirror to get an even closer look.
Not convinced a dolphin can recognize itself in the mirror? Take a look at this video of an earlier experiment from 2001. Scientists marked this dolphin on the side with a black pen, but did not mark the other. When released, the dolphin with the mark swims directly to the mirror and turns the mark towards the mirror, like he's trying to take a look at what's been done to him. The unmarked dolphin doesn't show the same behavior.
Dolphins aren't the only big-brained mammals who recognize themselves. Elephants do, too. Watch what happens when Reiss tested them at the Bronx Zoo. This one, with a white X marked on his face, turns toward the mirror, over and over, to take a look.
Back at the Baltimore Aquarium, Reiss is now focusing her research on younger dolphins.
REISS: Beau is five.
KAYE (voice-over): Just like human children, younger dolphins make lots of movements and watch their reflection. They quickly learn they are watching themselves.
KAYE (on camera): What are you trying to figure out with the younger dolphins?
REISS: We're trying to figure out when -- at what age, at what developmental age, do they start figuring out that it's them in the mirror, and when are they showing interest in the mirror.
KAYE (voice-over): Foster, who is three, started recognizing himself in the mirror about the same time toddlers do, when he was about a year and a half. Reiss says some dolphins pick up on it at just six months, much earlier than children.
REISS (whispering): This is Spirit. Now Spirit's testing this. She's still figuring this out. And what's funny is, we recognize this because it's so similar to what kids do, what chimps do, it's amazing. They go through the same stages. These are animals that have been separated from us for 95 million years of evolution. Big brains, processing things in similar ways.
KAYE (voice-over): With a mirror providing a window into the dolphins' minds, Reiss believes she is discovering that their super-high levels of intelligence are in many ways much like our own. And, if that's true, the question is, what does that tell us?
REISS: In the end, what this tells us is that we need to look at these animals in a new light, with a new respect, and really provide much more protection in terms of conservation efforts and welfare efforts for these animals. And also appreciate that we're not at the top anymore. We're not alone. We're surrounded by other intelligences.
KAYE (on camera): Oh, wow. So smooth. Beautiful.
KAYE (voice-over): Remember the old saying, that it always seems like dolphins are smiling at you? Well, maybe they are. Randi Kaye, CNN, Baltimore.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Lovely. And tomorrow, we're going to pick the brains of lemurs for clues about how the minds of man's earliest ancestors might have worked. These critters native to Madagascar are some of the oldest primates on Earth, and we're going to meet a researcher who conducted tests on touchscreen computers and say -- and says that lemurs are so smart, they may even understand a bit of basic math.
We're going to be right back tonight with our Connector of the Day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, his fame has crossed the borders and his talent has crossed genres. A live performer, a soap star, and a chart-topping singer. And now, an author and humanitarian. Let's get you connected with a Latino sensation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): With his Latin looks and crooning vocals, it didn't take long for Ricky Martin to grab the spotlight. Even before his first American album topped the charts, Martin was in the hip band Menudo. But it was his catchy single, "Living La Vida Loca" that made him a global star.
(MUSIC - "Living La Vida Loca")
ANDERSON (voice-over): The single sent Martin on a whirlwind tour, performing for millions of screaming fans around the globe. Since then, the Puerto Rican-born singer has come out with a string of hits, including "She Bangs" and "The Cup of Life."
Offstage, Martin is known for his extensive humanitarian work and has established a foundation that has made the fight against child trafficking a major focus.
Throughout his career, Martin was also subject to speculation and gossip regarding his sexuality. But earlier this year, he put the rumors to rest by disclosing that he is gay. In a new memoir out this month, he discusses this decision and what led up to it. He talked to me about why he's chosen to write about this now.
RICKY MARTIN, SINGER: To be honest, Becky, it all started as a game. I sat in front of my computer and I started writing about the work that I've done in my foundation, the Ricky Martin Foundation. We've been working on human trafficking for many years, now. And I just said, "You know what? Let me see how it feels to really actually write about this."
And then, I started writing about my trips to India, and then I started writing about my spiritual quest and my years in the music business, and then I started to feel really, really, really comfortable about everything. And then I came to the conclusion that it was a really good way to talk about my homosexuality.
ANDERSON (on camera): Good story. Charlie asks, "Were you worried about the backlash from your fans when you talked about coming out?"
MARTIN: Yes. I think you're -- you're always concerned about what's going to happen to your career after you tell the world something like this. But you know what? I was just really -- really tired of fear.
And this book is about acceptance. This book is about recovering dignity. This book is about self esteem. And for me, the most important thing is to be at peace with who I am and, obviously, the communication that I'm going to have with my children about life is going to be completely transparent. And they are one of the most important reasons why I went there in this book.
ANDERSON: I know the twins are so important to you. How do you rationalize the balance between family and fame, Ricky?
MARTIN: For me, the most important thing is family. The love is basic at this point, and it feels really beautiful to have a two-year-old tell you, "Daddy, Daddy, I love you" every other hour of the day. So, for me, that is exactly what motivates me to go into the studio, to start creating images for new videos or even start thinking about my next world tour.
ANDERSON: Good stuff. Another question from one of the viewers. Chris says, "Was it hard to come out when you were marketed for so long as a sex symbol to women?"
MARTIN: Yes, like I said, you are concerned about the reaction of people. But then again, that's allowing yourself to be seduced by ego. And I'm -- I try to practice detachment every day of my life. The most important thing is to be happy with yourself and not -- try not to jump into old patterns of, like I said, fear. This is me, and I'm happy.
\ And when I'm on stage, I'm going to be dancing, and -- my body, I'm going to be reacting towards music and the applause of the audience. You don't understand the reaction of the audience since I came out. I always say this, but my Twitter account went from 500,000 to 1.8 million. And so, that -- I must say that fear is mental.
ANDERSON: Yes.
MARTIN: And you just have to be happy.
ANDERSON: Just one more on this, from Joseph. He asks whether you support gay marriage.
MARTIN: Of course I support -- of course I support gay marriage. I am -- I want to have that option. Why do I have to sit in the back row when it comes to such a basic right? For some people, to sign that paper - - for some families, to sign that paper is extremely important. Why can't I have it?
ANDERSON: Juan Carlos wants to know if there is or was a particular memorable moment that you have got fixed in your mind while you've been performing.
MARTIN: My music has given me the opportunity to literally go around the world. My last tour was so beautiful, I visited -- oh, 70 countries around the world. And to be able to find similarities instead of differences because of music I think is fantastic.
ANDERSON: I know that you have made a commitment to try and stop human trafficking around the world. It's one of the things you really care passionately about. It's something that we're committed to on this show, as well. And John asks, "What made you support the cause initially?"
MARTIN: Many years ago, I had the opportunity to go to India, and I rescued three girls from the street, not that were trafficked, but that could have become victims of trafficking. When I rescued them, I had no idea what human trafficking was.
And then I was -- I went back home, and I started doing my research, and I found out that, unfortunately, there are men out there that are paying hundreds and thousands of dollars to rape little kids as young as four years old.
Now, knowing about this, not doing something about it is like allowing it to happen. For many years now, the Ricky Martin Foundation has been trying to work on -- just creating awareness around the world. I'm using my music to talk about this subject that is dreadful. We're talking about slavery of the new era.
ANDERSON: Listen, you share a passion for this cause with Demi Moore and her husband, Ashton Kutcher --
MARTIN: Yes.
ANDERSON: Who were on the show last week. They mentioned just how unsexy the issue is. If you had one message to the world, what would it be?
MARTIN: Let's focus on children and let's make sure that we understand that they're not our future, that they are our present.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Ricky Martin for you. And your next Connector of the Day has been dubbed the Julia Roberts of Africa by her millions of fans. Tomorrow, we'll find out how Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji is now trying to make a name for herself in the west.
Remember, this is your part of the show. We ask your questions for you. Head to cnn.com/connect to be part of all of this. That's the website, that's where you can get involved. Tonight, we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Just time tonight for your Parting Shots. And this one inspired by sporting heroes who stretch their talents just that little bit further.
Japan's Mai Yamagishi performing a spectacular leap, there, at the Asian Games.
Chelsea's Jose Bosingwa was out to prove that footballers, too, can stretch it out with the best of them.
So, too, field hockey. This Malaysian player isn't too far off the splits with his hit with a stick.
Indian tennis player Somdev Dewarman gives it a good stretch during the men's singles finals at the Asian Games.
But it's this Korean fencer who takes the biscuit, as it were, finishing off her competitor in perfect formation from the floor. Ouch.
I'm Becky Anderson, that is your world connected this hour, here, this Monday. "BackStory," though, is up next. Don't go away, I'm going to give you, first, though, a check of the headlines. This is CNN.
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