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Connect the World
Michael Bloomberg Drops Out of Presidential Election; Joe Biden Surges to The Top of The Democratic Pack; The European Commission Unveiled A Proposal For A Climate Law Aimed To Becoming Climate Neutral By 2050, But Climate Activist, Greta Thunberg Claims The Law is Not Enough. Aired 11:18a-12p ET
Aired March 04, 2020 - 11:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:18:00]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNNINT ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to "Connect the World." I`m Lynda Kinkade sitting in for Becky Anderson. Good to have you with us.
We will continue to track the breaking news out of the United States Michael Bloomberg dropping out of the race for the White House.
But first, the extraordinary measures being used to stem the novel coronavirus as it spreads around the globe. Authorities are using
technology to monitor quarantines cancelling large events and also discouraging travel. Here in the United States, infections have now risen
to 130, nine people have died. And worldwide the death toll is over 3,000 with nearly 94,000 people infected. Christiane Amanpour reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: A worldwide shortage of protective equipment is hampering the response to the coronavirus
outbreak and leaving countries scrambling to prepare for public health emergencies.
Rapidly depleting supplies of goggles, gloves and masks have left doctors and nurses dangerous ill-equipped according to a new warning from the WHO,
the World Health Organization. China announced to further drop in new cases raising hopes that the outbreak is beginning to level off there the hardest
hit country and where it erupted.
But across Asia, the number of confirmed infections continues to grow. In South Korea where a spike was recorded authorities are battling the
contagion with technology. A GPS based app is expected to monitor thousands of people under quarantine (inaudible) they leave their designated
locations.
[11:20:00]
Iran, one of the worst-affected countries, will activate a 300,000 strong team of healthcare workers after reporting more than 90 deaths from the
virus, including an advisor to the supreme leader.
An outbreak of the virus in Iran`s prisons prompted the temporary release of more than 54,000 inmates, including the British-Iranian, Nazanin
Ratcliffe, and the country`s parliament has been suspending until further notice after some 23 lawmakers tested positive for the coronavirus.
Across Europe, authorities are taking early precautions to stop person-to- person transmission, and several government have banned large scale gatherings and have closed some public places. Italy announced a
significant increase in its death toll, bringing the number there to almost 80 dead, and most of them living in the north of the country.
The disease and its knock-on effects have rattled markets all over the world, and a sudden interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve on
Tuesday was designed to stimulate that economy and could be followed by similar actions from other countries.
As for developing nations grappling with their public health response, the World Bank has now committed $12 billion in aid. Christiane Amanpour, CNN,
London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: So as you just heard, Italy says it`s considering a country-wide closure of schools and universities as the virus reaches more than 2,500
cases there. I want to bring in our Ben Wedeman who`s live in Bergamo, Italy, and our Sam Kiley who joins us fro Abu Dhabi. Ben, first to you.
So Italy has the biggest cluster of coronavirus outside of mainland China within Europe, and moving to close all schools and universities until mid-
March is obviously going to be a huge undertaking. What does that mean for parents? So they have to find a way to care for their kids and work from
home?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it`s going to be a problem because many Italian parents, both mothers and fathers, have to
work. However, the amount of work is dramatically down as a result of the slowdown in business that has resulted from the coronavirus. Now, just to
give you an idea where we are, we`re in Bergamo which is northeast of Milan. This is in an area - this province I`ve seen a spike in the number
of new cases in addition to the government closing schools country-wide, and of course they`ve been closed in this part of Italy now for more than
two weeks, they are also considering establishing new red zones, these containment areas where local inhabitants are not allowed to leave and
others are not allowed to enter because of this spike in the numbers.
And the numbers continue to climb. As of yesterday evening, the number of new - of recorded cases was 2,502, and as Christiane mentioned in that
report, the death toll is climbing steadily. It`s now at 78, and we expect new figures within the hour. The number of recorded new deaths was 27 in
the previous 24 hours, and that`s the largest single increase in one day. So the Italian authorities are considering all of these new measures, but
they still haven`t been able to determine whether the measures already taken, including establishments of these red zones in 11 towns and villages
in this part of the country, whether they`ve actually been effective to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Lynda --
KINKADE: Exactly. Ben Wedeman, thank so much. I want to bring in Sam Kiley in Abu Dhabi because obviously there`s a huge proportion of Iranian
politicians who now have the coronavirus and there is some extreme measures being considered in Iran, including the release of thousands of prisoners
and the activation of this national team of health workers.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Iran I saying they`re going to activate 300,000 people from the sort of ruling busty (ph)
militia to act as healthcare workers. It`s interesting to see how and whether they can train that number of people to control this - the spread
of this virus. It`s been focused very strongly recently at least the reactions of the government around the city of Kun (ph) and around Evin
Prison.
The prison, of course, the location where Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held, the dual Iranian-British national accused by the Iranians of
spying in accusation this year and the government of the United Kingdom hotly dispute.
The Brits - British have asked for clarity about what is here status in that prison and whether or not it is the case as it`s been mooted that some
prisoners may be released at least on furlough to allow or prevent rather the further spread of that virus if indeed it has got into the prison.
[11:25:00]
But this is all affecting other countries in the Middle East, particular those that have close links with Iran, particularly geographical links.
Kuwait has got 47 confirmed cases, very small number of people in that country to start with.
The numbers have been climbing steadily elsewhere. Iran of course has got the nearly 3,000 confirmed cases with 92 dead. The United Arab Emirates is
also just like the Italians but not indefinitely.
They have for a month, at any rate at the beginning, today suspended all schools and universities, a precautionary measure. But I think the most
dramatic news, Lynda, is coming out of Saudi Arabia now, which is that the ongoing pilgrimage -- not the annual Hajj pilgrimage but the steady state
of pilgrims visiting Mecca is now being stopped.
It was stopped last week for people coming into the country from outside. That has now been stopped from -- by -- for access to people inside the
country. Now that`s the first time that has happened in anybody`s recorded memory.
It didn`t even happen with the MERS virus rose out of the Middle East some years back. But the -- as a precautionary measure again because of the (ph)
tight packs of numbers of people on that pilgrimage into Mecca and the many numbers living in tents.
And so make it very, very difficult indeed for the authorities to fully control the spread of this virus. So they`ve taken the unusual step now of
preventing anybody go on pilgrim for the time being to Mecca.
KINKADE: Yes. It`s some unprecedented measures being taken. Sam Kiley for us in Abu Dhabi. Thanks so much. Over the latest on the coronavirus and to
separate fact from fiction, subscribe and listen to our podcast. CNN`s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, will make sense of the
headlines, speak with the experts and give you all the information to keep you safe and healthy.
Well, you`re watching "Connect the World." I`m Lynda Kinkade. Coming up, Bloomberg out, Biden now on top. Also ahead ...
(BEGIN VIDEO)
GRETA THUNBERG, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST: For over one and half years we have been sacrificing our education to protest against your inaction.
(END VIDEO)
KINKADE: Greta Thunberg pulling no punches with European law makers as they reveal new plans to tackle climate change.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back. We`re following the big news here in the U.S. The day after the Super Tuesday primaries, Michael Bloomberg has dropped out of
the democratic presidential race and is throwing his weight behind Joe Biden. Bloomberg is making that decision after what was a pretty poor
showing Tuesday. And Biden surged to the top of the Democratic pack.
While, our Ryan Nobles joins from Burlington, Vermont. Vermont, of course, among the bright spots - one of the few bright spots of any senators who
now faces an even greater challenge after Bloomberg`s decision to drop out. Ryan, good to have you with us. So Bernie Sanders obviously facing very
touch competition now from the former vice president, Joe Biden, but he still had a relatively good night, especially if he can pick up more
delegates in California where the counting is still underweight right?
RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that`s right, Lynda. I mean, I don`t think there`s any doubt that the Sanders campaign expected Tuesday night to
be much better for them than it turned out, but there are some silver linings for Sanders. You know, you`d much rather be Bernie Sanders right
now than you would Michael Bloomberg or Elizabeth Warren, and you know, there`s a very good chance that after all of the counting is done in
California that there is a chance that Sanders even has a delegate lead after all of this because California was the biggest prize on the map and
Sanders will likely win there handily.
So basically what this is and the campaign is preparing for this for some time is going to be a head-to-head match up between Bernie Sanders and Joe
Biden, and they`re basically going to start this phase of the campaign on even footing, and it`s going to be up to the democratic primary voters to
decide if they want to take a more progressive path or if they want to stay in a moderate lane, and that`s an argument that Bernie Sanders is prepared
to make. And he`s either going to go down fighting the progressive fight or he`s going to vault himself as the next democratic nominee and we`ll
have a much better idea of which way it`s going to go over the next couple weeks.
KINKADE: So obviously we`ve had a few candidates now drop out. Michael Bloomberg I mentioned. We also had Pete Buttigieg before Super Tuesday
dropping out, both throwing their support behind Joe Biden. Obviously Elizabeth Warren didn`t do very well in Super Tuesday. Her team apparently
trying to do the math now and look whether there is a path forward for her campaign. No doubt there must be some hope within the campaign of Bernie
Sanders that should she drop out it could help him consolidate his supporters?
NOBLES: Yes, that`s exactly right, Lynda, and I think one of the things that you saw happen yesterday and it began in South Carolina was a
coalescing of the moderate lane of the Democratic Party behind Joe Biden, and that was a big part of the reason that he did so well last night. We
haven`t seen that same level of consolidation with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, so we really don`t know whether or not there are more
progressives or more moderates because the progressive lane is still kind of pulled apart now between Sanders and Warren.
So you`re right. This is going to be a bit of soul searching for Elizabeth Warren here over the next 24 to 48 hours. In talking to the Sanders
campaign, I know that they are not going to put any pressure on Elizabeth Warren to drop out at any time. They don`t think that it`s their place to
tell her that she`s run a very aggressive campaign and has earned a lot of votes and deserves the time and space to make that decision for herself,
but once she comes to that decision, expect the Sanders campaign to make an aggressive play for her support. You know, at the very least it could be a
symbolic gesture to those folks that are kind of sitting on the edge and can`t decide which path the Democratic Party should go forward and happen
to like Elizabeth Warren that she prefers Bernie Sanders.
I mean, I think there`s no doubt that she`s more ideologically aligned with Bernie Sanders than she is Joe Biden, but I also think that Elizabeth
Warren wants to pick the candidate that can best take on and beat Donald Trump. And at this point, we don`t know what`s in her mind when it comes to
that very important central question.
KINKADE: Exactly, and it seems that`s what most Democratic voters want, someone that can, indeed, beat Donald Trump. Ryan Nobles for us. As
always, thanks so much. Well, I want to go to Afghanistan now where a day after U.S. President, Donald Trump, spoke by phone with a top Taliban
leader. The U.S. military launched an air strike against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. Washington accused the Taliban fighters of attacking and
Afghan military checkpoint. And Afghan officials say at least 25 Afghan soldiers have now died in three separate Taliban attacks.
Well, U.S. defense officials say the Taliban are risking squandering an opportunity for peace. So soon after the two sides signed that historic
agreement on Saturday to bring about an end to America`s longest war.
CNN`s Nic Robertson has just returned from Doha, where that agreement was signed and where he sat down with the Taliban spokesman. I want to speak to
him now. From London. Sorry, Nick, we spoke extensively over the weekend during the historic signing of this agreement between the U.S. and the
Taliban with -- obviously the hope was that this would lead to some sort of peace plan.
But clearly days after that and only hours after Donald Trump spoke with the Taliban, we are seeing this huge, major attacks really and now this
U.S. airstrike. Give us a sense of how bad things are on the ground.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, what I`m told is it doesn`t mean that the deal is over, per se. But what it very clearly
indicates is what the Afghan government have been saying that they receive from the United States, which was the support of the United States that if
the Taliban reneged on their deal or reneged on the terms of it in any way that the United States would strike.
And it would be very strongly behind the Afghan government. And that`s what`s been demonstrated here. However, this breakdown in the reduction of
violence really seems to have been triggered, at least from the Taliban perspective, on the fact that the deal they signed with the United States
called on the Afghan government to release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners.
Now, the Taliban believe that that number was 5,000 not up to. And they expected the Afghan government to release those prisoners, their fighters
before the proper peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban could begin a couple of days from now.
But the Afghan government said that was too soon. The Taliban decided to resort to violence. But the United States came in on the side of the Afghan
government to support them.
But I think it`s important here because there`s a lot of talk about divisions within the Taliban. But when I put to the Taliban spokesman who
was a member of that negotiating team over the weekend, the concerns of the Afghan government going into the deal that they couldn`t really trust the
Taliban.
And whether or not the Taliban really had a control over all its fighters. Well, this is how that conversation went.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
The Afghan government today is very concerned about the Taliban because they don`t believe that you really are committed to a peaceful course that
they think that the narrative inside the Taliban between fight -- between leadership and fighters is -- is one that the military conflict could
continue.
MUHAMMAD SUHAIL SHAHEEN, TALIBAN SPOKESMAN: I think it is now really something grotesque to say that there is a difference between the -- the --
the leadership and the military people. So we -- we observed the one week deduction in violence and -- and that you saw no large scale attack all
over Afghanistan.
And I was member of -- and I am a member of the communication channel monitoring the incident throughout their country. And we didn`t notice any
massive attack because our leadership had ordered our commanders to restrain their attacks and they abide by that.
So -- and also there were rumors in (inaudible) that there are 20 faction in Taliban -- or rather than beyond Taliban there are 20 factions. And you
notice there was no faction in Afghanistan. Only the Islamic in Madrid (ph) controlling all over the territory.
And when they promised we will not do -- we will not attack and they practically proved they didn`t. So I think those forces say they do not
trust the Taliban or they will not -- they`ll do what they have -- are promising, I think they are themselves the spoilers of peace. They do not
want peace. They just spread suspicions in order to prolong the status quo.
(END VIDEO)
ROBERTSON: But I think -- I think the real take away from this is that the Taliban there say that when they weren`t on a reduction in violence they
could hold that because they`re unified. Therefore, when they go on the offensive that comes from their central command. Now their central command
is going to have to make the assessment. Well, we are going to have to stick to the deal that we made with the United States and we can`t target
the Afghan government because we`ll feel the full force of U.S. forces on us if we do.
[11:40:00]
So I think the ball goes back to the Taliban court now and this is something that they, for their own interest, this reduction in violence and
everything it could lead to, they quite possibly are going to want to keep that alive.
The reality also is that they do have elements within them that are divided over the way forward.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly seems that way. Nic Robertson for us in London. Thanks so much. You`re watching CNN. We`re going to take a quick break.
We`ll be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
KINKADE: Each year here at CNN we mark the progress of women working to create change and make an impact right around the world. We`re leading up
to International Women`s day on March 8th. We are show casing stories with inspiration women doing extraordinary work.
And as part of our Call to Earth commitment, we are highlighting women working to protect the planet and create a more sustainable future. Today
we meet a conservationist focusing on future generation in Rwanda.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
KINKADE: Valerie Akuredusenge has been connecting children with nature in the northern province of Rwanda for the past six years.
VALERIE AKUREDUSENGE, CONSERVATION HERITAGE: OK. This exercise is good for your mind, your lungs.
KINKADE: She works with students from local schools next to the Virunga volcanoes, home to endangered mountain gorillas.
AKUREDUSENGE: These gorillas live in the Volcanoes National Park.
KINKADE: Every year she gives her conservation education course to 200 students between the ages of 10 and 16.
AKUREDUSENGE: Zebra.
(CROSSTALK)
Good. There are (inaudible) in all corners of the world that they have never seen. But we do that to open up their minds to the entire world.
(CROSSTALK)
What.
(CROSSTALK)
Yes.
KINKADE: Even though Rwanda is a land locked country in Central Africa, marine life is a popular topic in Valerie`s three hour a week conservation
course.
AKUREDUSENGE: Look at this one.
KINKADE: And the children learn about more than just protecting animals.
AKUREDUSENGE: We teach them how to grow trees, how to grow vegetables so they can eat a healthy diet.
KINKADE: They learn geography, different time zones in hemispheres, and the solar system. Valerie has created this conservation curriculum through
her nonprofit Conservation Heritage Turambe.
AKUREDUSENGE: Turambe is Rwanda word means we want to be sustainable. That`s why we are working with children, future generation, (inaudible)
future conservationist.
KINKADE: And she even goes one step further.
AKUREDUSENGE: These kids get a chance to see some of the wildlife; including mountain gorillas and golden monkeys inside the Volcanoes
National Park. Its five years now taking kids to see wildlife in the Volcanoes National Park and when they see animals, for example gorillas,
they say they look like us.
They have eyes, eyelids, or (ph) mouths. And look at the teeth. They -- they become crazy. Even some plant species we see along the road they stop
and they ask what is this.
If you can touch because it has thorns. It`s a thistle.
(CROSSTALK)
Mountain gorillas feed on this plant species. It`s very important to teach children about the (ph) environment because they are the future generation.
KINKADE: And Valerie says her efforts are now paying off. Many of these children dream of careers in conservation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Conservation is a good time (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A park ranger.
AKUREDUSENGE: I feel so proud when I hear kids saying that they want to be gorilla doctors, guides working in the hotels. I say yes. My goal is being
met. (Foreign Language).
(END VIDEO)
KINKADE: We will continue showcasing inspirational stories like this as part of our new initiative here at CNN. You can of course get involved by
letting us know what you`re doing to answer the call. Just jump online with the hash tag Call to Earth. Well, this is CNN, we`re going to be right back
after this.
[11:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. The European Commission has unveiled a proposal for a climate law aimed to becoming climate neutral by 2050. Now this is as the
block (ph) relays new data showing January was the warmest month on record for the European content.
Climate activist, Greta Thunberg, is in Brussels. And she told members of the European Parliament that the EU is pretending to be a climate leader
and that this law does not go far enough.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
THUNBERG: You stated that yes, the house is actually burning. This was no false alarm. But then you went back inside, finished your dinner and
watched your movie and went to bed without even calling the fire department.
I`m sorry, but this makes no sense at all. When your house is on fire you don`t wait a few more years to start putting it out.
(END VIDEO)
KINKADE: Well, chief climate correspondent, Bill Weir, joins us now from New York. It`s always good to see you, Bill. So the EU wants to become
climate neutral by 2050. That`s just 30 years from now, which seems highly ambitious but if was Greta Thunberg there, she certainly gave that plan a
thumbs down. Gave a great analogy too as to why there`s no other option but to act now.
BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and not ambitious enough period, is here message there. And she`s 17 years old but obviously wise
enough to do the math, which is according to the top climate scientist around the world, humanity only has about 500 giga tons of carbon left to
burn. Period. Forever. But we already know of 2,900 giga tons already on the books of major oil, gas, coal companies.
And the EU just voted a couple weeks ago overwhelmingly to approve 32 major gas infrastructure projects. So she`s just calling them out on the -- on
the wide gap between promises and actions there.
And there are countries, of course, in the EU much more interested in this topic than others. Denmark has led a new movement. France, Spain,
Netherlands joined in on this. Germany noticeably absent but they want to move it up to 2030 to try to add some more urgency to this timeline and
this target.
But other countries like Poland are dragging their hills. They`re still burning a lot of coal and want some financial help to transition. So it is
global politics, very complicated but sometimes crystallized through the words of a child like Greta.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. So Bill, when we look at the records over the past few months. I just mentioned earlier Europe has just posted its warmest
January on record. And sadly, we`re continuing to see that sort of pattern right around the world.
WEIR: Absolutely. And we`re also seeing what comes after those record breaking temperatures. So in Antarctica they broke two records. It was as
warm as Barcelona or San Diego down at the bottom of the world. And couple weeks later we now have the satellite pictures to show the result of that.
These huge ice caps are disappearing in -- in weeks, which is very troubling when it comes to sea level rise.
[11:55:00]
The waste (ph) glacier is like a cork holding back all that land ice. And it that goes, there`s no telling what happens next.
But also the -- the locust swarms you`re seeing in -- in East Africa, scientist are finding more links that they -- that they`ll get worse with a
-- in a warming world. And in California, no rain. The driest February ever, which is exceedingly troubling if you`ve seen the wildfire stories
coming out of there. So it`s all around the globe and sort of in every sort of echo system we`re seeing this.
KINKADE: Yes, we`re certainly are. And as you mentioned Antarctica, so much ice has melted from one glacier there that it`s reveling an uncharted
island. Bill Weir, we`ll have to leave it there, but as always great to get you on the show. Thanks so much for your time.
WEIR: My pleasure, Lynda. Thanks.
KINKADE: Well, I`m Lynda Kinkade. That was Connect the World. Thanks so much for joining us today. Enjoy the rest of your week. We`ll see you the
same time tomorrow.
END
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