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Merkel Says Up to 70 percent of Germany Could Get Infected; Top U.S. Official Says to Get Ready for Cases Everywhere; Number of Cases Worldwide Passes 116,000; Italy's Daily Life and Economy in Downward Spiral; Saudi Arabia and Russia Holding Steady in Oil Price Standoff; Bank of England Cuts Interest Rates Half Point to 0.25 Percent; Students Shine Spotlight on Modern Day Slavery. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 11, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are at least 1,000 confirmed cases in the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Developing overnight, Italy is reporting a huge spike in the number of deaths from the coronavirus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Gripping the world and leaking into every part of daily life. Germany's Angela Merkel now issues a stark warning about the
spread of coronavirus. Then --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is very substantive differences between Joe Biden and myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Is it time to say bye-bye Bernie? Joe Biden pouring another celebratory cup of Joe this hour. And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES BARKLEY: I'm Charles Barkley. What does freedom mean to me? Living in the greatest country in the world, being able to say whatever you want
to.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being happy, family, friends around me he.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Freedom means being able to pursue exactly what I want to pursue with no barriers. With nothing holding me back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN is celebrating "MY FREEDOM DAY" with students from over 110 countries getting involved.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: Well, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better, as the coronavirus keeps tearing through every part of our daily lives. How
we eat, how we entertain ourselves, see our friends, get around, make money. No matter where you are right now, this hour, that connects us all.
Hello and welcome to our show.
Case in point, to all of the above, Germany's Angela Merkel giving a blunt new warning about how many people in Germany could get this coronavirus.
Remember, though, although many people could get infected, most will have few to no symptoms at all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): When the virus is out there, the population has no immunity and no therapy for this. Then 60
percent to 70 percent of the population will be infected as long as this situation continues to exist.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's a global message. America's top infectious disease expert warning that the virus will most likely come to you no matter where you
live. Case numbers in the U.S. now at 1,000 people infected, doubling in just the last three days. Keep that in mind and take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR OF U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: As a nation, we can't be doing the kinds of things we
were doing a few months ago. That it doesn't matter if you're in a state that has no cases or one case. You have to start taking seriously what you
can do now that if and when the infections will come, and they will come, sorry to say, sad to say, they will.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: More on this and more on Europe's response Chancellor Merkel's warning. Let's bring in Ben Wedeman in Bologna in Italy. Which remains of
course in a nationwide lockdown. We've also got John Harwood in Washington and John Defterios ready to break down the effects on the markets. Ben,
let's start with you and how Italy is coping. You visited a hospital in northern Italy. What did you find?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Basically what we're seeing here in Italy is there is a sort of a jarring juxtaposition of these
disturbing images from inside intensive care units where doctors are struggling to keep their patients alive. And the scenes in the streets of
cities like Bologna where people are pursuing a life that simply must go on.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Inside the intensive care unit in a hospital in northern Italy, doctors and nurses struggle with what they say is a tsunami
of new patients. Every day brings ever more new cases, ever more deaths.
Despite it all, the few tourists left in the northern city of Bologna pursued la dolce vita, though many sites are now closed.
CAROLINA VERSAU, BRAZILIAN TOURIST: Italy is so beautiful outside. But I think inside is better. But I have next trip, I think.
WEDEMAN: This country of 60 million souls is now in theory under lockdown. Movement is restricted, schools and universities closed, public gatherings
prohibited and all sporting events canceled.
[10:05:00]
FILIPPO BASSI, TEACHER: Every day this main square is full of people that's talking with each other, very close, kissing, handshaking, you don't see
that now. So of course, it is like the plague.
WEDEMAN: The bubonic plague killed thousands here in the 17th-century, Bologna survived and went on to prosper. The cafes in the city's normally
bustling. Central Piazza Maggiore are emptier than usual, yet the few patrons are hardly panicking. Life must go on. The dogs still need to get
out.
(on camera): Two dark clouds hover over Italy at the moment. Of course, there is coronavirus, but many people here are in fact more worried over
the long-term impact the virus will have on the economy.
(voice-over): Business is all but evaporated. And if draconian measures are what it takes it bring it back, some say so be it.
We have to face the emergency with the strictest measures, like they did in China, says Alessandria Carvalho (ph). It is a dictatorship, but they did
the right thing.
Across the street, Manuela Pinnate says more should be done. I would be fine with a total 20-day shutdown, she tells me, because people are afraid
and work is going badly. It's bad but this city has seen worse.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Ben, Chancellor Merkel's warning of how widespread this could be in Germany, coming amid some significant criticism that there has been no
coordinated coronavirus response from the European Union countries. Echoed by Italy's former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi who is calling for the same
containment measures to be taken across the block. Does his frustration reflect the wider view where you are?
WEDEMAN: Yes, there is a feeling that even though these latest measures which cover the entire country are a step in the right direction, that
perhaps it's not quite enough.
We are hearing from, for instance, officials in the Lombardy region where Milan is located, Matteo Renzi and others who have -- politicians have
generally been supportive of the latest measures, but they're saying that when you see the numbers that come out, every evening at 6:00 p.m. from the
Italian Civil Protection Agency, they just grow and grow and grow and there is a feeling that even more extreme measures should be taken.
And in fact people we've spoken to here are saying, you know, as a woman said, a 20-day total shutdown. Many of these politicians are saying, look,
we should close everything. Bars, restaurants, shopping malls, all but the most essential commercial enterprises like supermarkets and pharmacies
should remain open.
Only those two things, everything else should come to a screeching halt because in a sense, if not, the economy could be doomed among other things.
In addition to the spread of the coronavirus perhaps being stopped, if they impose even more harsh restrictions. But certainly the sense is that the
measures that have been taken so far are going in the right direction. But something much stronger perhaps needs to be done -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, and not necessarily just in Italy, but across the EU as a whole. Thank you, Ben.
To the U.S. now and to John Harwood. And, John, Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with bankers today and I'm just taking a look at the big board
here. Once again, in decline. I won't call it a deep decline because we've seen worse, but some 3 percent lower and change. Investors clearly looking
for some leadership and detail now on what will be on offer to help support the economy. Correct?
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. It is not clear that the steps the President has called for so far in particular a huge
massively expensive suspension of the -- social security payroll tax is not clear that's going to happen.
Democrats are trying to get a vote before the end of the week on a more targeted package to help people who can't go to work. Who don't have paid
leave and to assist some businesses that are overextended with debt and have lost revenue and can't stay afloat -- especially small businesses.
They included some aid to small businesses in the package they did last week.
[10:10:00]
But this is an administration that has been buffeted by the day to day movements in the stock market that you mentioned, meeting with financial
executives today with the markets down several hundred points on the open today. The bigger problem, however, is that the administration has not
gotten ahead of the public health portion of this, which is rapidly mushrooming.
You mentioned a doubling of the cases in the last several days. We now have states moving ahead to shut down gatherings of large number of people,
colleges across the country going to online classes and telling students not to come back from spring break.
This is a society that is waking up to the fact that this is a much bigger problem than their President had led them to believe. We're still way
behind in coronavirus testing. And a lot of public health authorities are trying to accelerate now and meet the demand, but the United States is not
there. This is not been an effective coordinated response from the administration so far.
ANDERSON: Yes. John Harwood in the U.S. for you. Let me bring in John Defterios, who has been keeping an eye on these markets. John, a rate cut
by the U.K. today by some 50 basis points. That was significant, down to .25 percent. Is the ECB, the European Central Bank's turn tomorrow. Its
critical rate now at minus .5 percent on deposits. Does the ECB have any wiggle room at this point?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, it's interesting, because we're seeing see that Christine Lagarde -- who now
runs the European Central Bank and was that the International Monetary Fund before that -- is starting to make parallels to this crisis to the 2009 and
'10 global financial crisis. So they're looking at the toolbox again, Becky, and using quantitative easing as an option.
But to your point here right now, we're ten years into the economic cycle. Europe is not in great shape. Doesn't have a lot of options on the table
for a budget stimulus outside of Germany, for example. Italy doesn't have that option and the government is printing money on many fronts to try to
lift up the economy or at least stabilize it.
The Bank of England I would say did the right thing, cutting interest rates as you suggested severely. But also in its budget for the year, came out
with $50 billion worth of stimulus. That's what you need to do during a crisis.
And to John's point at the White House, I think President Trump has to manage expectations. He set the bar extremely high. Suggesting that he had
major plans for the airline sector, the cruise industry, the hotel industry, even perhaps the oil and gas sector which is getting pummeled by
a policy coming out of Saudi Arabia and Russia right now.
And I think the real danger here, they're behind the curve, number one, but you don't want to see them mixing sound economic policy and response which
is late with political engineering for the election. This idea of supporting the oil and gas sector smells of political favors in the oil and
gas belt right now.
And almost a moral hazard because they took on so much debt in this boom to 13 million barrels a day. This is not the G-20 or G-7 reaction, Becky, we
both saw during the global financial crisis. It's drips and drabs, ten years into an economic cycle and candidly not enough from the U.S. just
yet.
ANDERSON: Yes. We'll wait to see what we get out of the U.S. as the hours go on. John, I want to talk about that oil price war that you alluded to.
Saudi Arabia following through with its pledge to flood the market, Russia holding steady as well.
Vladimir Putin predicting today that the Russian economy will come out stronger. We are now hearing the UAE where I am based and you are normally
based with me is ready to follow suit with its own increase in supply. What is the likely effect on the market and indeed on prices and the industry?
DEFTERIOS: Well, I call it the all in Arab strategy here, Becky. Saudi Arabia is adding 2.5 million barrels by April. We now know that the UAE is
going to add another million barrels, that's 3.5. We had cuts in place of 2 million barrels that was part of that OPEC plus strategy. They all expire
at the end of March. You can have a 5.5-million-barrel swing. It's like adding an Iraq to the market. And that's why we see prices swinging.
By the way, this downturn in prices doesn't tell the whole story. Because we were up 3 percent in Asia. What people not thinking we'd go to this
nuclear strategy that Saudi Aramco has now with the support of ADNOC in Abu Dhabi.
The Russian minister, Alexander Novak, the classic technocrat, said this is probably not the best option now, but Russia may add half a million barrels
a day to kind of compete in this market.
The shale producers of the United States will take a pummeling now, and, Becky, this is why we're down better than 30 percent since the last week
when I was at the OPEC meeting Thursday in Vienna. It is catastrophic.
[10:15:00]
The executive director of the International Energy Agency told our colleague Richard Quest yesterday this is not the right thing to do when we
have a coronavirus to flood the market with oil. Pretty direct language from the IEA.
ANDERSON: Yes. Keep an eye on demand, of course. All right, thank you, sir.
As we were discussing with Ben Wedeman, little earlier on, life in Italy must go on, despite the whole nation being locked down. For more on what
that is like, I want to bring in Ugo and Christina Palumbo and their kids who are experiencing this locked down life in Milan with three kids under
the age of 4. Thank you for joining us. It's great to have you on with the kids as well. Tell me just what's going on as far as life is concerned at
this point?
CHRISTINA PALUMBO, MILAN RESIDENT: Hi, well, it's definitely -- it's a bit more hectic than we're used to, at least for myself and the kids at home.
Just we're closed in, we're regret home all day. So there is a lot going on, a lot going on just inside the house. But then outside I guess that's a
different story.
ANDERSON: What have you been told by authorities?
UGO PALUMBO, MILAN RESIDENT: Well, you have to minimize the times when you go out and you can really go out only if you need to. It's not really clear
necessarily what are those reasons and which ones are not. I'm talking a little bit about the borderline cases. But the rule itself, the law itself
is not that strong. If you want to go out, unless you're driving far away, you're allowed to do so.
ANDERSON: So how are you guys coping? I mean, what are you doing so far as shopping is concerned, for example.
C. PALUMBO: Well, in terms of shopping, I mean grocery stores open. There are very few shops open now. But grocery stores are open, healthcare being
a little stricter. They're having lines -- lineups outside of the grocery store because they don't want so many people being in there at the same
time.
Over the loudspeaker phone at the grocery store they're telling people to keep at least a meter distance from everybody. Most people I've met the
grocery, I'd say most people were wearing masks. The employees at the grocery store, everybody is wearing masks. But there is food, you're
definitely finding food on the shelves and what not.
ANDERSON: I know you guys don't want to get into politics, particularly, but just explain to me how you think politicians have been coping, and just
how concerned are you about how long this goes on.
U. PALUMBO: Well, the rules -- I mean, this is an emergency and is unprecedented. So it is understandable that it was a little bit clouded
what was right and what was wrong. But right now what I think this past weekend, with the drop of the decree, it's not that the kind of firm
guidance, firm leadership we're looking for.
Just last night the minister posted a picture on Instagram with comment, very proud, saying we're working hard. And it posed the picture with the
room of 50 people, no secure -- no meter distance, safety, no masks, no gloves, nothing.
People in the room like it is nothing. And obviously everybody understands that we have to coordinate authorities, it is not easy. But keep that
behind doors, show that kind of example on Instagram, then the average Italian is going to look at you and say, well, maybe this is not that
dangerous if they're all together in a room.
ANDERSON: Yes. I know you've been able to work from home. So you can carry on. But just finally, I mean, clearly no one knows how long this will go
on. How worried are you?
U. PALUMBO: Well, the economic side of what's going on is pretty concerning and scary. There is no consumption happening at almost any level, and our
economic system, like any other, is based on consumption mostly. So I think you have to go back to a war to see what happens when consumption lapses.
On the other end, of course, the health of everybody is the most important thing. And I guess what every government is doing in different ways is to
balance the safety of its citizens versus the economic future that is in a couple of months at the very most, otherwise going to be a terrible
challenge, a challenge you can actually not even compete in so many companies go belly up.
[10:20:00]
ANDERSON: Ugo and Christina Palumbo with their three kids under the age of 4. Good luck and thank you for sharing your story with us here on CNN
today. Important for us all to understand what life is like. And how life goes on.
Well, we've been talking a lot about how the vast majority of people who become infected might have very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. But
for others the virus is extremely dangerous. Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT(voice-over): That's the coronavirus you're looking at. As it enters healthy cells, it uses the
cells to make copies of itself and then the infection spreads.
It also triggers the immune system to try to kill the virus, and attack infected cells including ones in the lungs. That battle inside the body
causes inflammation and in severe cases that inflammation can lead to pneumonia, organ failure or even septic shock. Especially for high risk
people, any or all of those can eventually lead to death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, by the way, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has a brand-new podcast, "CORONAVIRUS FACT VERSUS FICTION." Do head over to CNN.com to learn about
the virus from where exactly it came, to how you can prepare for a busy travel season. That is an extremely good podcast, "FACT VERSUS FICTION,"
well worth a listen.
From around the world, hundreds of schools and colleges here in Abu Dhabi to Ukraine have moved their classrooms online in a bid to contain and stop
the spread of the coronavirus. And while those students' daily routines have drastically changed it hasn't stopped them getting involved with one
of CNN's key initiatives, "MY FREEDOM DAY."
Every year on March 11th, CNN partners with students around the world to shine a spotlight on modern day slavery with young people from 110
countries this year telling us what freedom means to them. My colleague Kristie Lu Stout has more from Hong Kong.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Hong Kong, "MY FREEDOM DAY" feels a little bit different this year. Instead of being out of school, I'm
in the control room where I've been talking to students via video chat. Schools here in Hong Kong because of the coronavirus outbreak are closed
for at least two months, but that has not diminished the enthusiasm for activism for these students.
FAITH ABIGAIL YIH, 8TH GRADE: To me, I used to think that freedom was being able to express my thoughts. But being stuck at home, I feel like freedom
to me is safety. And I feel safe when I'm at home, I feel safe when I'm not out and I feel like that -- I'm really lucky and I would be privileged to
be in a safe place and then also be privileged to be able to be learning.
LU STOUT: What have you learned about modern day slavery?
HIROKO KAWASE, 10TH GRADE: Every country in some way or some form has modern day slavery. And especially Hong Kong, where slavery (INAUDIBLE)
here. But it's all (INAUDIBLE) I think find it and solve it.
JASPER THEODORE CHEN, 8TH GRADE: After doing research I found out that Hong Kong actually doing one of the worst in terms of taking action against
slavery. And has a very high population to slave ratio.
LU STOUT: What are you doing to fight modern day slavery?
SHIRA KIM, 12TH GRADE: We actually somewhat indirectly support modern day slavery. Because a lot of it is used really far down the supply chain by
big corporations, so that's something I'm trying to be more mindful of.
SUBIN SHETTY 10TH GRADE: In my opinion, one of the biggest things we're doing is releasing books about "MY FREEDOM DAY" into our library. Since
school has been shut down, we are actually uploading the books on to a web page called SORA where students can go into the web page, access the books
and read more about the issue that's going on.
LU STOUT: The problem of modern-day slavery is just so daunting. How optimistic are you that you can make a difference?
YIH: I'm quite optimistic about solving modern day slavery. I think that our generation, we have the tools of social media that we can use to spread
awareness.
CHEN: Awareness and contacting local NGOs we can make a big difference.
SHETTY : It gives me hope that people like us, the younger generation really have the ability and knowledge to express our thoughts and
contribute into making a change.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[10:25:00]
ANDERSON: Well, as we mentioned earlier, young people from 110 countries around the world have reached out on social media to tell us what freedom
means to them. We're going to be bringing you their answers throughout this show and the rest of the day here on CNN. In the meantime, do let us know
what freedom means to you. You can jump online, use the #myfreedomday. We'll keep an eye out for those comments from you wherever you are in the
world. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: Many of the pundits declared that this candidacy was dead. Now we're very much alive. The character of candidates, the character of the nation
is on the ballot. It is more than a comeback in my view, our campaign. It's a comeback for the soul of the nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Unstoppable or so it would seem at least. Tuesday marked a decisive turning point in the U.S. presidential race. Joe Biden has a clear
path to the Democratic nomination after winning at least four of Tuesday's six primary contests.
CNN's senior political analyst John Avlon is standing by in New York. And, John, speaking to supporters, Joe Biden sounded like a candidate who had
already won the nomination. He extended an olive branch to Bernie Sanders and to his supporters. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: We need you. We want you. There is a place in our campaign for each of you. And I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their
tireless energy and their passion. We share a common goal. And together we'll defeat Donald Trump. We'll defeat him together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, John, no word from Sanders so far on whether he'll end his campaign. Last Sunday though he said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: I'm not a masochist who wants to stay in a race that can't be won.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Is it time for Bernie Sanders to drop out for the sake of Democratic Party unity? Do you think?
JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: A lot of folks will be telling him that. And Sanders notably did not speak last night after the blowout
wins by Joe Biden with these massive margins in Michigan, which Sanders won last time and Missouri and Mississippi.
So the path forward for Bernie Sanders is very tough. But he has led a movement, even more than a typical preapical campaign. His aides say he
wants to participate in the debate this Sunday which will be held on CNN in Phoenix, Arizona.
But the map next week, big states, trending towards Joe Biden. So very difficult to see what that would accomplish except one last hoorah and
perhaps laying a glove on Joe Biden which would presumably further hurt Democratic unity. And there's a lot of healing to be done within the
Democratic Party right now.
ANDERSON: So, John, what of Bernie Sanders's supporters should he call it a day at this point?
AVLON: Well, look, I mean, his supporters, even last night, we saw some things we've seen consistently throughout the race. Sanders not converting
the voters he had in 2016, let alone growing the map as he promised to do.
[10:30:00]
But he's consistently crushed with voters under 30 and that cohort of Democrats which described themselves as very liberal, around 25 percent of
the Democratic Party. Those folks are going to have to decide for themselves what to do.
But the overwhelming issue in the Democratic party is defeating Donald Trump. And if some folk on the far left aren't satisfied with the choices,
they saw what happens when you stay home or vote left wing protest third party last time around. Because the margin was so tight, in states like
Wisconsin and Michigan.
ANDERSON: Always a pleasure, sir, thank you. John Avlon with your analysis. Well, as Joe Biden takes command of the Democratic race for the White
House. Here at CNN we are taking our lead from students on what is his fourth annual "MY FREEDOM DAY." Their enthusiasm has not been dampened by
any means because of the coronavirus. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, SAINT-NICOLAS-LA-CHAPELLE, FRANCE: For me, freedom is when you're free to do something and there is no one that can stop you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, SAINT-NICOLAS-LA-CHAPELLE, FRANCE: To be free is to be happy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SAINT-NICOLAS-LA-CHAPELLE, FRANCE: Freedom means to do something without (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): I think freedom is the right to have your own opinion and do whatever actions you want.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SAINT-NICOLAS-LA-CHAPELLE, FRANCE: For me, freedom is being frank, open or outspoken.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Join us as we celebrate "MY FREEDOM DAY" up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: You came up with the idea that ultimately became mobile. When you were really quite young, just take me back to that period, how difficult
was it?
KANYA KING, FOUNDER, MUSIC OF BLACK ORIGIN: It was very challenging trying to get support for a platform that was going to celebrate and champion
black music and culture. I remember, you know, becoming quite frustrated with the injustices I saw around me.
Because, you know, black music, and black artists were making waves that were reverberating around the world but weren't seemed worthy enough to
become celebrated in their own right. And I just wanted to do something about it. But I don't feel that I had any resources or networks or
contacts. Basically it's now or never and I refuse to fail.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR, QUEST MEANS BUSINESS: What does freedom mean to me? It's the freedom to think what I want, to say what I want, to
go are I want, to associate with whomever I want.
DEONTAY WILDER: nobody telling the what you want to do.
Freedom to me means V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.
ALBERT ARENAS: Freedom for me is being able to do what you want with your time and be happy.
LU STOUT: Freedom is a struggle. Freedom is a fight. And freedom is never giving up on the fundamental for your life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, NAIROBI, KENYA: Freedom to me is dance. Freedom to me is knowing that I can achieve anything even though where I come from.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, NAIROBI, KENYA: Freedom to me not missing school due to lack of central schools.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom to me is getting an education.
Freedom to me is showing the world that that I'm inside a slum.
Freedom to me is being able to (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, ABU DHABI (through translator): Today I am a displaced person, just because I asked for freedom. And because I stood against the
injustice of Assad's gangs in Syria. Freedom and dignity to me is the bread and salt of life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, ABU DHABI: I from the American community school of Abu Dhabi and I feel free want time go karting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[10:35:00]
ANDERSON: Good luck to him. You just heard it from the students themselves, from Kenya to Syria, right here in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. What freedom means
to them, education, personal safety, a whole life of fun. Well, today we are celebrating what freedom means to all of us on this CNN's fourth annual
"MY FREEDOM DAY."
Every March CNN partners with young kids around the world for a student led day of action against modern day slavery. And even with many schools closed
by the coronavirus outbreak, young people in more than 100 countries have already been in touch with us from Afghanistan, Eritrea, right through to
Laos, Lebanon and Vanuatu and everywhere in between, believe me.
CNN's Lynda Kinkade is at the Atlanta International School in the state of Georgia in the U.S., hearing what students there think about personal
freedom as well as political intellectual and religious liberty as I understand it. Lynda, what is the next generation telling you?
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we are in very good hands with this next generation. Because here at the International School in Atlanta,
not only are they dedicated to learning about this cause every single March, but all year round.
In fact, they started an anti-trafficking group ten years ago, there's now about 30 students, 30 to 40 students in this club age 14 to 18, and they
are leading the charge today. And I have some students with me right now. We've got some of these girls are 14 and they've just joined the club this
year. Just explain why you joined the anti-trafficking club.
MAANYA MADAN, NINTH GRADE STUDENT: So I saw it in middle school. We always used to participate during every single "MY FREEDOM DAY" and I always
looked up to the group that organized it. Because was an upper school class group that they created and they looked to raise awareness about this issue
that is very important and also something that going on in the world. So I thought I wanted to help out in some way.
KINKADE: Excellent. And tell us what Freedom Day means to you?
MADAN: So for me, freedom means to express and be able to do something without having specific restrictions against you. So today is kind of a day
to understand all the things that are going on in the world where people don't have necessarily freedom, and some people who do and to help each
other out and raise awareness about it.
KINKADE: Excellent, and Sophia, you're 14 as well, why did you decide to join this anti-trafficking club and how did you hear about it?
SOFIA NYSTROM, NINTH GRADE STUDENT: I thought that it was always a very important issue and I thought that most people should be more aware about
it. I originally joined this club because my friends joined. But I'm learning more that it is a really important issue that more people should
be talking about.
KINKADE: And this is an issue that isn't just in some foreign country, it's here in the U.S., right here in Atlanta. What have you learned about this
issue since joining the club?
KATE FOGLESONG, NINTH GRADE STUDENT: So, I've learned that this issue is not just around the world, it's also right here in Atlanta. Very
specifically in Atlanta. So it's really important that we raise awareness about what's happening around us as well as globally because all of it is a
really important issue.
KINKADE: I'm going to come back to you girls in a second. I want to introduce you to some the youngest students. These are second-graders. We
have Pierce, Gabriel and Autumn and they are seven and eight. Pierce, just tell us what today is about.
PIERCE O'BRIEN, SECOND GRADE STUDENT: It is about Freedom Day and it's our Freedom Day and we, like, celebrate that, like, this country is free now.
And we don't have to, like, we can do things we love. If it wasn't free, like we couldn't go to the park, or watch TV and stuff like that.
KINKADE: What is freedom mean to you, Pierce?
O'BRIEN: It means to be playing with my little brother Brooks and playing with my friends and going on to vacation with my family.
KINKADE: And Gabrielle you've been learning about my Freedom Day. Abigail, what does it mean to you?
ABIGAIL BOGALE, SECOND GRADE STUDENT: Freedom means that everyone should have equal rights, no matter how different they are.
KINKADE: Excellent answer. And to you, Autumn what does Freedom Day mean to you?
AUTUMN ROWCLIFFE, SECOND GRADE STUDENT: It means to me if I like a sport, and if somebody says I can't play it because I'm a girl, I show them that
they're wrong.
KINKADE: It's a very good answer. And tell us about some of the things you're learning about today when it comes to my Freedom Day.
BOGALE: What we are learning about -- where learning about freedom and those who hadn't had that.
KINKADE: And there is some chocolate being sold at the front of this school. What is special about that type of chocolate?
BOGALE: It's special about that chocolate, because that type of chocolate is not from child labor.
KINKADE: Exactly, free trade chocolate. Excellent. And I want to go back to these girls, because you guys are really leading the charge and, Becky, you
mentioned some things the students are learning about today and they are going to do an art installation.
[10:40:00]
Looking at the rights of a child based on what UNICEF sets out of the right of a child and each group has a different right that they're focusing on.
Tell us about this art project.
MADAN: So we created our art project and they're right here and they have a wood installation. All of them have a specific U.N. right on it. And it's
kind of has to do with each grade. So each grade will come over, we'll talk to them a little bit about the right is and what they think the right is.
And then after that they get to sign it. Kind of us saying, I will protect this right, I will make sure that I protect it for myself and for others.
And just to learn more and raise awareness about what the rights are.
KINKADE: And so, as you can see, Becky, these are -- the two pieces of that art installation, the right to healthcare and nutrition and the right to a
nurturing environment. That is the second-graders that have done that one. So we will be here all day and speaking to a lot of inspiring students --
Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Good for them. Thank you, Lynda. Lynda at the International School in Atlanta and students the world over getting in
touch with us by social media with their comments on -- and your comments if you're one of them, on what freedom means to you.
Well, CNN will have special coverage of "MY FREEDOM DAY" throughout the day. We are going to hear from youngsters all over the world in a half hour
special program. That is 4:30 p.m. London time, 8:30 here in Abu Dhabi. It is not too late to be part of that global celebration. Share your story on
social media using the #myfreedomday. Back after this, guys.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me, freedom is the freedom to dance and the freedom to learn.
I want to be in safe with my friends.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All today we have been asking what freedom means to you. It's all part of the annual Freedom Day celebration.
I want to bring in CNN's WORLD SPORT anchor Andy Scholes. As we listen to some kids in Africa singing about what freedom means to them, Andy, what
does it mean to you?
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Well, Becky, you know freedom to me is just being able to, you know, chase your dreams without any fear of persecution.
ANDERSON: Wonderful. And we will hear more from athletes I know, in "WORLD SPORT" after this break. Thank you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[10:56:59]
SCHOLES: Some great answers there from all those guys. Let us know at CNN what freedom means to you. Of course, use the #myfreedomday. That will do
it for this edition of "WORLD SPORT." Becky, will bring you back in. What do you have coming up for us?
ANDERSON: Yes, well that is our big question today as well. Andy, thank you. What does freedom mean to you? This is Freedom Day and we have had
students from over 110 countries give us their responses, getting you some of those responses and heading to a school in Kenya. Just ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
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being a really fantastic fuel. Our coffee logs burn about 20 percent hotter and 20 percent longer than wood logs do. In our process, we save roughly 80
percent CO2 against putting those coffee grounds into landfill and 70 percent compared to unruly digestion.
