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Connect the World
Mixed Messages from Brazil on G7 Amazon Aid; Russia Sends Second Batch of S-400 Missile Systems to Turkey; War in Syria Dominates Talks Between Erdogan and Putin; Rouhani Rules Out Talks Until U.S. Lifts Sanctions; Brazilian Tribe Fights for Amazon Survival; Brazil Records Its Highest Number of fires Since 2013; Expert: Indigenous Tribes on the Font Line of Flames; Puerto Rico Under Hurricane Watch; Indonesia Wants to Build New Capital City in Borneo. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired August 27, 2019 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ORORIRA WAIAPI, CHIEF OF THE MOGYWYRY AND PYRAKENOPA (translated text): We will never let them touch our land. We will never stop fighting. We will
fight forever. I've always been here, and I won't go out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST: Well, as fires devastate parts of the Amazon Rainforest, CNN takes you inside to meet its residents in an exclusive
report. We'll hear from the tribe willing to risk it all to protect their home.
Plus, hopes of political progress. But now this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Lift the sanctions, all the sanctions against the Iranian nation which are illegal,
cruel and wrong, should be lifted. If you lift all these sanctions and if you bow your head in respect to the nation of Iran, well, then the
situation will be different.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The French President Emmanuel Macron's optimism of the U.S.-Iran talks now seems misplaced. Iran pushing back hours after President Trump
returns home from the G7 summit.
And long lines just to get the basics. Puerto Rico declares a state of emergency ahead of a potential hurricane.
Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD, I'm Lynda Kinkaid in Atlanta. Good to have you with us.
The Amazon Rainforest continues to go up in flames, burning at a record rate. Just a short time ago, CNN learned that Brazil is shrugging offers
to help. The President's office says it will reject $20 million in aid pledged by leaders at the G7. But the President himself isn't being quite
so clear.
Jair Bolsonaro says he hasn't yet responded to the offer personally, will only do so if French President Emmanuel Macron, quote, withdraws the
insults.
Well as leaders wrangle over words, the very lungs of the planet are on fire. The Amazon Rainforest provides about 20 percent of oxygen produced
by the earth's land.
Well CNN is covering the story from inside the Amazon Rainforest. Senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh joins me from Porto Velho in
western Brazil. And journalist Shasta Darlington is in Sao Paulo. Good to have you both with us. I want to start first with you, Nick. Despite how
dire the situation is, some of the seven world's richest countries -- some of the world's richest -- pledging $20 million and yet Brazil is rejecting
it, haggling over it. Explain why.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you have to bear in mind, $20 million is a terribly small sum for the world's seven richest
countries. Who have been grand standing, frankly, how important the Amazon environmental crisis actually is, to be offering to try and deal with it.
Now the question of course now comes down to whether Brazil accept that amount. And that seems to really depend on Jair Bolsonaro's feelings.
Now his office -- as you said -- rejected it pretty flatly. It won't make itself a massive difference to firefighting here, the main in the hour get
a call to go out and tackle some of the fires -- they say actually often gets set by people looking to deforest -- around and about to heat of noon
part of the day.
But Jair Bolsonaro said he may consider taking that $20 million in the event that Emmanuel Macron withdrew the claim that he said Bolsonaro was a
liar. Now rewind you back to how this spat between two men essentially deciding the fate of the lungs of the earth.
It began when at the G7 Macron said that Bolsonaro was lying to him about his regard for the environment. Then hours later Bolsonaro commented on
the offensive meme on social media which was very offensive toward Macron's wife. Macron then said well that is deeply offensive not only to me but to
the women of Brazil, and also, he hoped that Brazil would eventually get one president that was up to the job.
And now we're in the situation where Jair Bolsonaro is basically saying, my office may have said we're not taking the aid, I haven't said it myself. I
might take it if Macron climbs down.
How we're in the situation where I'm talk about the burning of the lungs of the earth at an extraordinary rate and we've spent first couple minutes
discussing how two men's feelings in two different cities are playing out and hampering the aid effort is by itself extraordinary. But it's probably
the time of the age that were in, how climate change and the climate crisis is so much about people's guttural feelings about how it has to be tackled.
Behind me, these men clearly know the fires rage and that will continue to rage. And their only five percent up in Brazil on just a year ago. But it
is startling, frankly, that we're even discussing the emotions of the Brazilian President.
[11:05:00] He came to the presidency saying that the Amazon was a resource that his people should be using. He's recently clarified saying that he's
not against dialogue with France, perhaps softening his rhetoric. I think he still wants the apology. President Donald Trump has come to his aid at
Biarritz. Trump refused to at least state his position on climate change, talking windmills and dreams and the extraordinary wealth of the United
States. Still though, through all of this, the forest burns and smoke is thick enough that at times it's accurate in the town nearby where we are in
Porto Velho.
KINKADE: And, Nick, just stand by. I want to bring in Shasta Darlington. The right-wing President has been blamed in part for the devastation we are
seeing right now in the Amazon Rainforest. Just how popular is he and how much pressure is there within Brazil for him to do more?
SHASTA DARLINGTON, JOURNALIST (via Skype): Well, Lynda, I think it's kind of ironic while this war of words is going on sort of at the highest
levels. Brazilian businesses and especially agriculture are bracing for the worst. Then there's a lot at stake here. Brazil is by far the largest
exporter of both beef and soybeans and a lot of that is produced in the Amazon.
So now you have countries saying they're going to boycott particularly Brazilian beef. And you have traditional, well-established large-scale
producers trying to distance themselves from the devastation in the Amazon, and really calling on Bolsonaro to bring in the rhetoric and get to work
putting out the fires. They say that they're the first ones interested in solid and reliable environmental policies so that they can sell goods on
the international stage without being blamed for cutting down the forest to produce them.
So we've heard, for example, from a former agricultural minister called Blairo Maggi. The biggest soybean producer in Brazil who's also been
called the chain saw king saying that Bolsonaro of all people is ruining Brazil's reputation.
And this has also had an impact among the broader public, according to polls. The majority of Brazilians think the Amazon should be protected.
And now a new poll has just been released showing that Bolsonaro's approval rating has plummeted to 29 percent here in August from 40 percent in
February. And while the environment isn't the main reason they cite, they do say the environmental policy has something to do with this decline and
his approval rating -- Lynda.
KINKADE: No doubt. Shasta Darlington and Nic Payton Walsh for us on this story. Thank you both very much.
Well Brazil's President is also at odds with another group, the Waiapi tribe. Now this indigenous group lives deep in the heart of Amazon. But
its way of life is increasingly threatened by Mr. Bolsonaro's policies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AJAREATY WAIAPI, CHIEF OF KWAPO'YWYRY VILLAGE (translated text): Some time ago we live well. We did not worry about land. We did not know that we
would have many invaders, loggers and prospectors in the future. Many talk about our land. They said that they will take our land.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: We're going to bring you that exclusive report coming up a little later in the program. Plus, I'll speak to a leading expert about
conserving the Amazon and what these wildfires mean for people living there.
We are learning that Russia has begun delivering its second shipment of S- 400 defensive missile system to Turkey. The first delivery happened last month, despite strong objections from the United States. Today's shipment
comes as the Turkish President meets with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Well earlier the Russian leader was heard telling Recep Tayyip Erdogan, by the
way, there was another batch delivered this morning.
Well also high on the agenda at those talks is the war in Syria. Mr. Erdogan says Turkish troops will soon enter a planned safe zone in the
north of Syria following the opening of a joint operation center with the U.S. over the weekend.
Well CNN's Frederik Pleitgen joins us now on the phone from Moscow for more on this developing story. And Fred, obviously Syria is a key talking point
today. Erdogan concerned about the security of Turkish soldiers. What exactly does he want from Russia?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): You're absolutely right, Lynda. And Syria, especially the problems there
in (INAUDIBLE) province where of course the Russian backed forces there have started an offensive a couple days ago. And that's really one of the
key points of tension between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin.
Essentially Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants more de-escalation. He wants to be sure that his forces that are in that area don't get hurt in some fighting
that's going on now there right now. He made a very strong statement saying he believes it was Syrian government forces backed by Russians and
that a group escalated the situation there over the past couple days, the past couple of weeks.
[11:10:00] And the Turks say that that is a large national security for them, and instability on their borders and not just on the borders, but of
course, inside Turkish territory as well.
The Russians for their part are essentially blaming the rebels that some of which are backed by Turkey, for escalating the situation. And it was quite
interesting that the Russians have been saying they don't believe what's going on right now is a breach of that escalation agreement that the Turks
and the Russians have.
However, Vladimir Putin said today that the two sides have agreed to do more to combat some of these very hardline groups, at the same time both
them saying they want to try and stabilize the situation. Which of course, has gotten very bad over the past couple days, the past couple of weeks of
course. Also a lot of civilians being killed in the crossfire -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, absolutely. Frederik Pleitgen for us on the phone from Moscow. Good to have you with us. Thanks so much.
Well just 24 hours ago as the G7 summit was ending, it looked like a meeting between the Presidents of Iran and the U.S. was in the works. Well
now Tehran is saying, not so fast. Hassan Rouhani now says he won't meet Donald Trump until the U.S. lifts crippling economic sanctions against his
country.
Well this is a blow to French President Emmanuel Macron who offered to broker the talks and hoped that they would happen within weeks.
Well CNN's John Defterios has reported extensively on the impact of those sanctions. He joins us now from London. John, good to have you with us.
It was looking promising 24 hours ago that there was word, and according to President Trump, a really good chance of a possible meeting between the
U.S. and Iran. But Iran's President clearly now warning that that will only happen with conditions.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: I wouldn't count it out, Lynda but I would suggest also that this effort by President Macron to
build a bridge between the United States and Iran has hit a major roadblock, no doubt about it.
President Rouhani on national television today suggesting that this is more than a historic photo opportunity that could take place perhaps on
sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. It has to be the real deal when he talks about sanctions relief. And boy, what a level of
sanctions that the U.S. has applied over the last 18 months. Better than a thousand items and we can get into details of those.
But then Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, backed up the President and said he thought talks were unimaginable. You have to think in the context
of the Iranians and perhaps this is a first chess move by them to see if there's a goodwill gesture by the United States. By Donald Trump, it is
hard to see. But this is the push by Iran right now.
And then we have to consider, Lynda, the domestic climate in which Rouhani and Zarif are operating right now. Rouhani had to justify why Zarif went
to Biarritz to see President Macron on the sidelines of the G7. He captured it as an opportunity here to break the ice with the United States.
The hardliners saw it as desperate.
So I think there's a big, huge diplomatic gulf right now where the United States and Iran sits. This is the opening remarks of course. Don't have
time to the U.N., but that's not a hard and fixed deadline. And does President Macron try to get back into this and serve as the bridge builder,
if you will, or is it too high risk for him after that gesture in Biarritz.
KINKADE: And, John, Iran continues to claim that it has lived with economic sanctions for a long time but there's no doubt it wants relief.
Just give us a sense of what sort of impact, how crippling these sanctions are?
DEFTERIOS: Well I am glad you bring it up. Because a lot of people think it's just a political game by the United States, but it's a painful
economic one. One the Iranians by the way, frame as economic torture. Something that's very, very severe. Although this doesn't seem to be
resonating too much within the G7 community itself.
But to give you a sense of why we're talking about. The number one revenue earner for Iran is the oil exports. They're as high as 2.8 million Barrels
a day under the nuclear accord. They're harboring below a half million barrels a day and we don't have official figures. Because Iran's keeping
those close to the vest and not reporting them on a monthly basis to OPEC. That means about $50 billion a year.
The real has been collapsing against the U.S. dollar particularly after May when the U.S. tightened the screws on sanctions. So we have import costs
going up, hyperinflation hitting 50 percent in the latest month. And the International Monetary Fund suggests there is going to be a second year of
contraction and a deep one at 6 percent.
So why do I bring up these figures? Because there's a lot of pressure on Rouhani and Zarif to deliver something. Some relief to Iran. And I think
it's very difficult after seeing that President Obama put together for the United States that 2015 accord. We know Donald Trump doesn't like it.
It's going to be something extraordinary to bring him to the bargaining table by the U.N. General Assembly. Let's see what the Europeans have to
offer. So far, a good gesture, not much more.
KINKADE: Yes, absolutely. John Defterios always good to have you with us, thanks so much.
Well still to come here at CONNECT THE WORLD.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:15:00] KUMARE WAIAPI, MEMBER OF WAIAPI TRIBE (translated text): We live inside the lung of the Amazon, because the Amazon brings health to us.
Health of the world. This air is of the world!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: CNN takes you into the heart of the Amazon Rainforest to meet the tribe on a mission to save it. We'll have that exclusive report just
ahead.
And later, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. An island devastated by a hurricane two years ago is bracing for another.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. You're watching CNN and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
Our top story this hour, wildfires continue to rage through the Amazon, many of them burning around the lands of indigenous people. For the tribes
living in the rainforest these fires are indicative of a larger crisis, one that threatens their very survival. CNN's Isa Soares reports with
exclusive footage shot by filmmaker Apo Gomes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WAIAPI TRIBAL MEMBERS SINGING (translated text): We are singing for the butterfly. What are you doing Butterflies?
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For as long as anyone can remember, the Waiapi tribe have been the stewards of these waters. And the
land that caresses it. In return, the Amazon Rainforest has given back, with every drop and seed safeguarding their livelihood, tradition and
ultimately their survival.
KUMARE WAIAPI, MEMBER OF WAIAPI TRIBE (translated text): We live inside the lung of the Amazon, because the Amazon brings health to us. Health of
the world. This air is of the world! Polluted air means problems to us. Health problems, sadness. This is why we care about climate change, and
our concern, Waiapi indigenous.
SOARES: But the isolated Waiapi, 1,500 strong across 92 villages in Amapa state, say they've never felt so under threat as they do today.
AJAREATY WAIAPI, CHIEF OF KWAPO'YWYRY VILLAGE (translated text): some time ago we lived well. We did not worry about land. We did not know that we
would have many invaders, loggers and prospectors in the future. Many talk about our land. They said they will take our land.
[11:20:00] SOARES: And it seems not even the demarcation set up as those 1988 Constitution can protect them. That is now perilously close. With
President Jair Bolsonaro calling for protected and demarcated sections of the Amazon to be opened up to roads, ranching, farming and mining. Arguing
this demarcated area is too large for the indigenous and it's hindering development.
On the ground, the Waiapi tell us they have already begun to feel the impact of his words and policies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE WAIAPI MEMBER (translated text): This government is massacring our rights and our indigenous peoples.
SOARES: With getting (INAUDIBLE) while miners, loggers and ranchers invading and assaulting their land.
VISENI WAIAPI, DIRECTOR OF WAIAPI VILLAGES COUNCIL (translated text): They're already started killing the indigenous people. We do not want to
lose another drop of blood.
SOARES: Audio provided to Brazilian journalist just after their chief was killed on July 22nd shows their urgency for action.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (audio translation text): He was stabbed multiple times in his body and genitals. He was killed cruelly.
SOARES: But they say the savagery didn't stop there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE WAIAPI MEMBER (translated text): They are entering indigenous houses and assaulting children, assaulting women.
SOARES: They may be shaken, but the Waiapi are not running scared. Instead, in silence they ward off evil spirits and ready for battle.
ORORIRA WAIAPI, CHIEF OF THE MOGYWYRY AND PYRAKENOPA (translated text): We will never let them touch our land. We will never stop fighting. We will
fight forever. I've always been here, and I won't go out.
SOARES: They're fight as taken them all the way to the to the United Nations
JAWARUWA WAIAPI (translated text): With the election of Jair Bolsonaro President of Brazil it increases the threat to our rights and our
territories. We do not accept mining on our land. He does not respect our culture, our way of life and our forests. We are worried.
SOARES: The Brazilian government says there was no credible evidence that the chief was murdered. With the minister of the environment adding that
the chief drank too much and fell into the river. But according to Amazon Watch, there have been at least 14 cases of invasions and assaults into
indigenous territories by land grabbers, loggers and miners, who have left their dark stain on indigenous people and on the greatest rainforest with
fire scorching the land at an unseen rate.
The Waiapi have luckily been safe from the fire but remain threatened by Bolsonaro's environmental policies.
The yellow marks here show the scale of deforestation which has increased more than 60 percent in June compared to last year. That's over 750 square
miles of lost land. Put it simply, that's one and a half soccer fields being destroyed every minute of every day.
AJAREATY WAIAPI (translated text): Our concern is that if the forest is gone, people will also and.
SOARES: And while the Waiapi wait for the world to act, life goes on here. 59-year-old chief, Ajareaty, goes to school to learn Portuguese.
AJAREATY WAIAPI (translated text): I said I want to learn what nonindigenous life is like. How is their life -- I want to know how to
speak their language. I want to know, so I can talk to the white people out there.
SOARES: Teaching the next generation.
AJAREATY WAIAPI (translated text): I want my daughter to be just like me, a Chief. She always talks about the fight for the land, of our land. This
is very important for me.
SOARES: Traditions that have protected their ancient lands, actions that defend the very air that we breathe. Isa Soares, CNN.
WAIAPI TRIBAL MEMBERS SINGING (translated text): We are singing for the butterfly. What are you doing Butterflies? We're protecting the planet.
We will tie for the planet not to fall.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:25050] KINKADE: Well CNN reached out to the Brazilian President's press office about the government's policies in the region, was told the
President would make no comments or his office. CNN also reached out to the Ministry of the Environment and Brazil's National Indigenous Affairs
Agency and they did not reply to our request for comment. And Indigenous Affairs Agency redirected us to the President and ministry's press office.
Well Daniel Aristizabal is with the Amazon Conservation Team. He works extensively with tribes in the region. Joins us via Skype from Bogota,
Colombia. Good to have you with us. Thanks so much for your time.
DANIEL ARISTIZABAL, AMAZON CONSERVATION TEAM (via Skype): Hi, Lynda, how are you?
KINKADE: Good, thanks, Daniel. So obviously, we just heard about the Waiapi tribe there. Paint a bigger picture for us. How many tribes rely
on the Amazon Rainforest. How many people are we talking about that live there?
ARISTIZABAL: Well there is roughly from 300 to 400 indigenous tribes living in the Amazon -- depends who you ask. And this could be from 1
million to 3 million people. But they're not the only ones that depend on the forest. There's 34 million people that depend directly on the forest.
Now these tribes though are the ones that depend most on it, because they live in the reserves. And most of the fires have not started in reserves
but are moving really fast into the reserves now.
KINKADE: Right. And so, so often we hear that when we talk about the Amazon forest, we hear it being described as the lungs of the earth. Not
only, obviously, for the rest of the planet, but those tribes, there's also 3 million species of plants and animals. Give us a sense of how much is
under threat with the deforestation we're seeing and now these fires.
ARISTIZABAL: Well, the issue here is the capacity of the Amazon to be reseeded and grow again. So the problem now is that fires are larger than
in past years and we're really scared of this tipping point that everybody talks about. Because the catastrophe could not only for the indigenous
communities but everybody else.
We have to remember that the nutrients that come down from the Andes into the Amazon, feed the oceans and ultimately feed the organisms that create a
lot of the oxygen that we breathe. But another really important thing is that the Amazon serves as carbon sink. So it's like a carbon sponge that
has been grabbing all the contaminants that we've been polluting into the air since the industrial revolution and keeping them safe for us.
Now with fires, we're burning them all into the air, creating pollution. Not only in the air but in the water systems. Ultimately, it's going to
affect the whole world. But particularly the people that are living there that depend directly on the forest. So the people that depend on the food,
the game, the fish, timber products, the nontimber products which are completely their livelihoods.
KINKADE: A lot of people might not realize Brazil is the biggest exporter of beef and soy, much of it is grown in what used to be the Amazon
Rainforest. Surely the world can be blamed in part for that demand.
ARISTIZABAL: Yes. The demand is something we all need to work on and also production. You can't have a one-sided solution. So we can all do
something in terms of the demand on our lifestyles and also policies that control this. But also the way it's being produced. The way it's being
produced is completely incompatible with the way the forest works. There're much more technical ways to produce more efficient ways of farming
and cattling in the Amazon, and we have to listen to the indigenous people who are there. Because they're the ones that know how to do that. They've
been doing that for hundreds of years.
If we want to produce a surplus, we need to have these dialogues between the indigenous ancient knowledge and new technologies coming out, to avoid
these burning and slashing of the forest in these large scale. This can be done and it's been done in other parts of the world.
KINKADE: So, Daniel, when it comes to conservation, give us a sense of what strategies or policies are working in the Amazon Rainforest while
taking into consideration Brazil's economy?
ARISTIZABAL: Well, something that's very interesting is that for years, we thought national parks and protected areas were the best strategy to
protect the Amazon. But now we're actually seeing is that indigenous reserves -- which in a way are productive -- are the most efficient
strategies for conservation.
So when you look at the map, the places that are better preserved, the forests that are more pristine are actually forests that are guarded and
maintained by indigenous people. This requires for a really interesting way to look at the Amazon and try to connect corridors of forest that are
still standing. What you want in a forest is for it all to be connected. Because otherwise there's no connection between seeds, genes, oxygen,
water. You can do that with the Amazon that we have left and still have patches to produce other types of products like soy or cattle.
Daniel Aristizabal, good to have you with us on conservation in the Amazon Rainforest. We appreciate your time.
ARISTIZABAL: Thank you, Lynda, thanks a lot.
[11:30:00]KINKADE: When we come back, stocking up. The island of Puerto Rico is about to be hit by another major storm. We'll tell you how bad
this one is when we come back. Stay with us. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Hello, you're watching CNN and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
Well it's been two years since Puerto Rico was devastated by hurricane Maria, and the island still hasn't fully recovered. Now another storm is
bearing down. Tropical storm Dorian expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves towards Puerto Rico. Well residents there are
already lining up, stocking up on food and water. CNN meteorologist Chad Myers joins us for the latest. Chad, how is it looking right now?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, we've been watching the storm roll over Martinique, St. Lucia, and those islands are quite tall. I mean,
Martinique is 1,200, 1,300 meters tall. So that has torn up the storm a little bit. But now as the storm has moved back into the water of the
Caribbean Sea -- very warm water -- it will begin to intensify and that's the rub.
How much will it intensify before it gets to Puerto Rico? Or even to Punta Cana. We're not really sure yet. We're still in this cone where it could
be almost Santa Domingo. And then all the way over here to Ponce. But as you look at the storm right now, it is intensifying. But because the
mountains gotten away for a while of the islands, we didn't get that upgrade in wind speed.
The forecast now is for it to be about a 110, 115-kilometer per hour storm tomorrow night. But if this storm truly gets its stuff together, it could
be 140 -- no question about that. Now that's not the forecast, but that's the other side of what this could be if it gets together away from the
island.
That's why the people of Puerto Rico, the people of the Dominican Republic, even the north side of Haiti are really on guard right now because of what
the storm can be. As we break the storm apart as it goes over Puerto Rico and also DR, Hispaniola, that's when the storm gets back into warm water
near the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. And then eventually back to 110 kph on the way to Florida.
A lot of moving parts. Many, many moving parts with this storm, Lynda. It isn't over until it actually does make landfall.
[11:35:02] But in the next 30 hours, it will be critical to see how much intensification we will get right there over the Caribbean. We know where
it's going. The models are all in agreement, plus or minus 50 clicks. But at the most part, if this thing gets into the Atlantic Ocean here near
Nassau, near the Bahamas here and Grand Bahama Island, that's where the water is warm. That's where the intensification could take place. That's
where we're watching for the Bahamas and also for all of south Florida over the next couple of days.
ANDERSON: All right. Chad Myers, we will continue to check in with you and the rest of the people at the weather team. Thanks so much.
MYERS: You're welcome.
KINKADE: Let's get you up to speed on some other stories that are on our radar right now.
U.S. pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson says it will appeal a ruling that it must pay a half billion dollars for promoting addictive opioid
painkillers. Well this is the first state civil trial for a drug maker over the opioid crisis which has killed hundreds of thousands of people.
CNN talked with lawyers from both sides. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SABRINA STRONG, LAWYER FOR JOHNSON & JOHNSON: The way in which the company manufactured these medications and market them to doctors was extremely
responsible. There are warnings on these medications, FDA approved warnings, and is up to the doctor with their patients to make decisions
about who is appropriate for these medications.
BRAD BECKWORTH, LAWYER FOR STATE OF OKLAHOMA: Doctors do the prescribing but they do it based on the information that the drug companies gave. They
went to every doctor and said look, there is a less than 1 percent chance of becoming addicted if you use our drugs every day. That was just a lie.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well Britain's opposition party leaders have released a joint statement saying they agree on the urgency to act together to prevent the
U.K. from leaving the European Union without a deal. Well meanwhile, Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, says if the Prime Minister, Boris
Johnson, does not deliver Brexit by the October 31 deadline, he will, quote, politically die.
Accusers of Jeffrey Epstein are in a Manhattan courtroom right now. They'll get a chance to tell their stories before the indictment against
the late financier is dismissed. Epstein killed himself in jail as he awaited trial on charges of trafficking underaged girls for sex.
Well live from the CNN center, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, a vanishing city. The story of a global capital that is slowly sinking into
the sea.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN ad this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
A remarkable story now. The city that is dying. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is home to millions of people. But if the country's President
gets his wish, the capital will move Jakarta as it slowly disappears into the Java Sea.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE (voice-over): Jakarta is sinking. Scientists say the sprawling capital of Indonesia which is home to more than 10 million people is
dropping below sea levels at alarming rates.
[11:40:03] The government of Indonesia announced Monday that it now wants to move its capital from Jakarta to the island of Borneo. The Indonesian
President, Joko Widodo, says the new capital, which has yet to be named, will be in a safer, more centralized place.
JOKO WIDODO, INDONESIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The place has minimum risk of natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, tsunami,
forest fire, volcanos and landslides. Secondly, the location is strategic as it is located in the center of Indonesia.
KINKADE: But critics are concerned that building a new city in Borneo will destroy more of the island's forests which are home to orangutans and other
wildlife, already under threat by the palm oil industry.
Some residents say Indonesia should concentrate on fixing the problems in Jakarta. The residents are struggling to cope with pollution, traffic, and
frequent flooding.
In the past, it was not like this. It was nicer, and the sea water was good. The beach sand was nice and we could still play in the water. We
now can't do it anymore, the water is murky, dirty. Every high tide it is flooded.
Reports say north Jakarta could be 90 percent submerged in the next 30 years. It's already built on swampy ground with water now spilling over
from the Java Sea and the city's 13 rivers. Although water is everywhere, it's not fit to drink. People must rely on underground aquifers which has
weaken the city's foundation, making it easier for the city to slip into the sea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Now why has the water level become higher than my home, and I am below water level? Maybe because the sea
water is eating up the soil little by little. That's what I know.
KINKADE: Indonesia's President says Jakarta will continue to be the country's financial capital, but it's unclear how he plans to stop the
city's decline with another city ready to rise as soon as Parliament gives its approval.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Great news there.
Well, in today's Parting Shots, we go down under to waters off the coast of Australia for what is a very unusual sight. Take a look at this. A boat
sailing through a sea of pumice rock. The sailors first spotted the massive sheet of volcanic rock earlier this month days after an underwater
volcano is believed to have erupted near the Pacific Island of Tonga. The pumice rock is the size of New York's Manhattan. That's about 20,000
football fields. An Australian couple sailing their catamaran to Fiji were the first to report it. Scientists say the pumice could help heal the
countries endangered Great Barrier Reef, by replenishing some of the reef's lost marine life.
I'm Lynda Kinkade. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you so much for watching. I'll see you tomorrow.
[11:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)
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