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Connect the World
South Africa Pauses Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Rollout; Malawi Endures COVID-19 Surge As Variant Takes Hold; Historic Second Case Against Trump Begins Tuesday; Crucial Week For Biden's $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Plan; Queen Rania: Pandemic Has Revealed Cracks In Our Society; Rescue Effort Under Way For 170 Plus People Missing. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired February 08, 2021 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: A very warm welcome to you wherever you are watching in the world a damaging setback for South
Africa's fight against the Coronavirus.
The race to vaccinate against COVID-19 is taking on new urgency today with the Coronavirus variant now dominant in South Africa, putting up full stop
on that country's vaccine rollout, the reason? Well, a preliminary study on the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine the first designated for emergency use
there, finds it offers minimal protection against mild to moderate cases of the variant first sequenced in South Africa.
Well, the multi week pause happening as cases surge in the country and in neighboring countries. Now important to point out the study is still
awaiting peer review, and does not offer any information on possible protection against severe cases of COVID-19.
AstraZeneca says it believes the vaccine can be effective against severe disease under the right dosing intervals. The study's lead reach researcher
is hopeful for that as well. South Africa health officials say by the beginning of March, they want to administer 100,000 AstraZeneca doses and
we have just learned that the country may receive some doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by the end of the week as senior health official says
that vaccine is shown to be highly effective against preventing severe disease from that South African variant.
Well, David Mackenzie previously connected us to the lab that first discovered that variant in South Africa he is today in Malawi in that
country and during its own Coronavirus surge, and I want to discuss that momentarily. First, walk us through what is happening as far as the
Vaccine.
Let's start with Malawi. How long will the vaccine roll ups? Put? I'm getting confused. How long will the vaccine roll up pause for in South
Africa and just how concerned are authorities at this point? David? Apologies.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No problem. Becky, you know, the vaccine pause is a very tough decision for the scientists and government in South
Africa because there was much fanfare when that 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived a short while ago.
But it's quite extraordinary. Looking at the data from that limited study, we've been speaking to Shabir Mahdi, the Head of the vaccine trial for many
months now. And he showed how as that variant emerged and then dominated in South Africa, you could see that people on the trial quickly became less
affected by the vaccine and certainly more likely to get COVID-19.
So that's very bad news for them. Here's the Health Minister explaining why they took that pause?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZWELI MKHIZE, SOUTH AFRICAN HEALTH MINISTER: --infection, and we're uncertain about the impact on of the vaccine that it will have on
hospitalization, severe diseases and death, excuse me. This means that what we will take from Professor Shabir Mahdi is that some more work needs to be
done on this issue, because the results from other countries have been quite satisfactory. But there are issues in South Africa that we need to
study a bit more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Well, obviously this news affects potentially the entire region here in Malawi. They were hoping for those vaccines to have an effect in
the coming weeks or months through the Covax facility. But I think a lot of people will be waiting to see what South Africa does when dealing with this
variant and the effects on that vaccine, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, understandably so. Oxford's lead vaccine developer Professor Sara Gilbert told the BBC they will likely have a modified jab to combat
this new variant, have a listen to what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH GILBERT, PROFESSOR OF VACCINOLOGY, OXFORD UNIVERSITY: We have a version with the South African spike sequence in the works. It's not quite
ready to vaccinate people yet. This year we expect to show that the new version of the vaccine will generate antibodies that recognize a new
variant.
And then it will be very much like working on flu vaccines. So people will be familiar with the idea that we have to have new components new strains
in the flu vaccine every year to keep up with the main flu strains that are circulating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that is clearly a hope from Sarah Gilbert and we will keep an eye on exactly how that develops through all of this. David is of course
deeply troubling, particularly for Africa, as we've been discussing for a while now the idea of vaccine nationalism and poor countries getting to the
sort of short end of the stick Malawi where you are was also said to receive this, the same AstraZeneca vaccine through COVAX.
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: So this new information will inevitably and cause concern and impact decisions moving forward as the variant is the major driver of - of
infections across the region, correct?
MCKENZIE: Well, that's right. And I think as I said, that's the worry now that they need vaccines in this country, they need it fast. They're hoping
for some 40,000 vaccine doses full health care workers, that's being agitated by doctors without borders and administrators here just to have
something to try and help the healthcare system to cook because we've been into this hospital and district hospitals where they are struggling, many
of the doctors are out sick.
And that vaccine nationalism where according to Duke University, some 16 percent of the world's population of those rich countries have pre ordered
some 60 percent of the available vaccines Becky.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE (voice over): Here too COVID-19 is inflicting its most painful toll.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It went up so they started teaching it. OK, emotions are very blurred. We don't know when to be the doctor that lost patience
and then to be the family member or friend that's lost people and you'll burry it.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Dr. Tamara Pirie (ph) has a simple message for those who think COVID-19 is only severe in the Northern Hemisphere, or that
vaccines are only urgently needed in Europe and the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now on to this second wave which is a lot - I think it's going to be a long year.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Follow her on round in Southern Malawi's largest hospital, where shifts are measured in days, not hours.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This tent here as used to disinfect the dead bodies. And I think that's one of the most traumatic things. We see people die all
the time but not like this. Not at this rate, not this many people who will well just a week or two ago, so it can get quite brutal.
MCKENZIE (voice over): In the last available space, outside plastic tents are being erected to handle this and future waves. These are the few extra
resources--
MCKENZIE (on camera): We have basics. We don't have fancy treatment, we can't ventilate our patients and we don't have a capacity to ventilate. And
there is no one else to step into the wards just Dr. Perry and a fellow Malawian doctors who for months have battled the virus that now because of
a new South African variant is only getting worse.
MARION PECHAYRE, HEAD OF MISSION, MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES: I don't remember feeling like this in the first place. May I'll just feel your --.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Doctors without borders is fighting to get vaccines to Malawi. And at the very least into the arms of healthcare workers like -
one of just three remaining specialists covering four full COVID wards, the other five all out sick with the virus.
PECHAYRE: Literally the country's - before I dying and like all the systems are, like really strained with this particular wave.
MCKENZIE (on camera): Some countries have ordered many times the number of vaccines and the size of their population. What impact could that have?
PECHAYRE: The issue right now is more a timing issue than a quantity issue. The health system falls apart. You know, it's not only people dying from
COVID that we're going to have here. We're going to have excess mortality related to other diseases.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Hope is still being kept alive, if only because of - and the nurses and the workers constantly delivering precious oxygen tanks
to the wards that - says to survive as a doctor at Queen's also means being a realist.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had to accept that our situation will be different. You have to come in mentally prepared and you have to tell yourself I'm
going to be well, and I'm going to look after myself and we'll deal with what we have, but we'll do our best.
MCKENZIE (on camera): After all, her skills as a doctor are honed by the years of never carrying a full arsenal of weapons. 20 year olds in Europe
might get vaccines before you get a vaccine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How does that make you feel? That's brutal, but it's reality.
MCKENZIE (on camera): Why would this moment be any different?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Well, isn't it a stocks comment that Becky that young people healthy people in other parts of the world could get the vaccine before
someone like - she just wants to do her job and help Malawians but they know that if they don't have these specialists and the nurses and the
doctors vaccinated, they really could struggle in the coming months as wave after wave potentially hits this country, Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, sure. This is important stuff. David, thank you very much indeed. We were talking earlier about what is going on in South Africa and
I spoke just before the show with the Co-Chair of South Africa's Coronavirus Advisory Committee who is still hopeful that vaccines can and
will get us to the other side of this pandemic. But he says we have to be smart about it.
[11:10:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SALIM ABDOOL KARIM, CO-CHAIR, SOUTH AFRICA'S COVID-19 ADVISORY COMMITTEE: I think we have to accept that we are now in a world of COVID-19 that is
creating new variants and those variants will escape immunity and we likely to see this continue in various ways.
What it means is we have to now be smarter about the way we make our vaccines and how we can respond with the next generation of vaccines. So we
need a wider array of vaccines. We need new generation vaccines that are much broader in the immunity that are able to kill a wide range of
variants.
And importantly, as new variants emerge, we've got the ability to rapidly produce a new booster shot that deals with new variants. So I think what we
have seen is a new way in which the race between the virus and humankind is playing itself out. And I'm pretty confident that with the science we have
--.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We're watching developments in this region this hour has a major corruption trial resumes. The court case involves the man who runs Israel,
Benjamin Netanyahu was back before a judge a short time ago saying he's not guilty of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust charges.
On top of the trial, the prime minister also facing a new election just six weeks away and with his old friend Donald Trump no longer in the White
House, at least Mr. Netanyahu to wonder how the new Biden Administration will handle U.S. Israeli policy connecting us now to CNNs Sam Kylie, who is
in Jerusalem for you. This surge, just discuss the significance of Mr. Netanyahu's plea and I wonder if you will just explain how people are
reacting to it, Sam?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, Israel is six weeks away from general election. So the issue for Benjamin Netanyahu
and his supporters, whom he asked not to attend, not to turn out and demonstrate in his favor because of the COVID pandemic outside Jerusalem
District court they don't want to see a court case involving prosecution witnesses being rolled out over the coming weeks.
He pleaded not guilty as anticipated or said he agreed with previous written pleas submitted by his lawyers to the court system here. His
lawyers made the argument that the attorney general here had not given written permission for these investigations to be conducted in the first
place, which was, in their view, a breach of protocol. The court is now considering those arguments and a number of others that may result in a
return to court in early March.
So neither side really has, "Won the argument" as to whether the trial gets going in earnest in this run up to the elections. But that is the key issue
for the Netanyahu camp.
On the other side, the there were anti-Netanyahu demonstrators out on the street, noisy but not in huge numbers, kind of stall wall elements that
represents a level of unity among opponents of his that we haven't seen at all in the Israeli left, which is largely in disarray, leaving the right
certainly the leading element likely to win in the March elections or that is six weeks away, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, and of course, Israelis heading to the polls in six weeks for what is the fourth election in as many years? One of Netanyahu's most
contended policies, the expansion of settlements, something the new U.S. president hasn't yet commented on Sam.
KILEY: Yes, very interesting. Indeed, just in the first few weeks of this year, indeed, on inauguration day itself, the Netanyahu Administration
issued instructions gazette effectively, new settlement homes have sold more than 3000 new homes both in East Jerusalem and on the West Bank.
And current with that there have been a number of forced removals particularly of Bedouin groups in South of the West Bank around Hebron, and
in the north, and this has generated a good deal of anger among very senior diplomats indeed. This is what turned out when they went to protest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY (voice over): A convoy of European Ambassadors trooping out to the West Bank to complain against Israel's forced removals of Arab farmers from
this land.
[11:15:00]
KILEY (voice over): The moment grand gesture meets grim reality. The day before Israel had destroyed a Bedouin camp, declaring the farming area, a
closed military zone.
KILEY (on camera): So how many times has your shelter been confiscated this month?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three times every month three times.
KILEY (on camera): Do you have any hope that there is now a new president in America? That he can maybe help with this sort of problem?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Insha Allah, we Insha Allah the situation will get better with the new president maybe, Insh Allah.
KILEY (voice over): These Bedouin farmers show little enthusiasm for these fleeting visits, seeing them as empty gestures while Israel continues to
build on the West Bank. This year ahead of Joe Biden's presidential inauguration, Israel rushed to announce the construction of 3,352 new
homes, effectively for Jews only on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.
The Trump Administration said that Jewish West Bank settlements were not inconsistent with international law. Palestinians hope that Biden would
reverse this into line with Europe and the UN but he didn't mention the Palestinians or Israel in his first foreign policy speeches president.
KILEY (on camera): Do you think you are a priority? It doesn't look like it to be honest.
MOHAMMAD SHTAYYEH, PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER: I said the moment we are a priority. We know that Washington is occupied with so many problems,
Corona, the economy, or the sorts of things which we understand.
KILEY (on camera): Things like these for the agricultural communities of Bedouin are all too familiar on the West Bank, but there's growing anger
among the Palestinians, against the Israelis against their own leadership and against the international community.
KILEY (voice over): The European spend about $780 million a year on the Palestinians, they're the biggest donors to the Palestinian authority. It's
almost entirely reliant on foreign donor money to run about 40 percent of the West Bank, but U.S. led peace talks with Israel are in a deep coma.
KILEY (on camera): Some people would say you're simply renting peace of the Palestinians.
SVEN KUEHN VON BURGSDROFF, EU REPRESENTATIVES, WEST BANK AND GAZA: Well, that's how you do allow hope to continue to exist?
KILEY (voice over): Meanwhile, a top Israeli official says the Bedouin are pawns in a political stunt, orchestrated by the Palestinian authority.
MARK REGEV, SENIOR ADVISER TO ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: The Israeli government was willing to go an extra mile here. We offered them to be
relocated. We offered to build house in enough area, I think, for political reasons, the residents were not allowed to do to accept those proposals.
KILEY (voice over): Trump's support for Israel was hot. Israel may see a little cooling from Biden, but there's no change in the diplomatic weather
for the Palestinians.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY (on camera): Now, Becky, as we say, there, the Biden Administration has been rather opaque over the Israel/Palestine file a lot more coming
out, for example, over what the Biden Administration might do about Iran and its alleged nuclear program.
They're returning Of course, to potentially the deal that was struck under the Obama Administration, but no mention at all so far, from the Biden
Administration about whether or not they're really going to get involved here and try to break this diplomatic logjam.
There is hope in the political echelons among the Palestinians and indeed, there is hope that they may be able to warm up their relations with the
Biden Administration. But in comparison for the Israelis, with what went on under Trump, they are aware that they've got something of an uphill
struggle, this may well be the sort of thing that a Biden Administration would rather kick into the long grass and think about perhaps in a second
term, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Sam, thank you, Sam Kiley is in Jerusalem for you. Still ahead this hour Donald Trump is a day away from what is an historic
second impeachment trial. Coming up how it could delay President Biden's push for COVID-19 relief? We'll explain after this and a more contagious
variant of the Coronavirus, first identified in the UK could be the predominant strain in the United States in just a month. Some troubling new
numbers are just ahead.
And a mounting glassier breaks in India unleashing a wave of water and rocks into this valley. Now rescuers scrambled to reach schools of
survivors who may be buried under the debris.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Historic week is ahead in Washington as Donald Trump faces his second impeachment trial. We are just a day away from what is this
unprecedented event but we still know very little about the proceedings, including how long it will go on or whether indeed witnesses will be
called?
In a new filing Donald Trump's lawyers accused House Democrats who have been calling for their impeachment as conducting political theater. Well,
Democrats themselves, hoping for a speedy trial so that they can get back to passing President Biden's COVID Relief Bill.
The party is certain to be united on Trump's impeachment. But the big question is can they maintain that unity when it comes to Mr. Biden's first
big legislative push?
Well, in a new CNN op-ed, my next guest asks if the Senate impeachment trial even matters. His answer, yes especially for Republicans. He writes
if Republicans want to show that they are interested in purging Trumpism from the GOP, this will be an essential first step. CNN Political Analyst
Julian Zelizer joining me now from you, New York.
And that is the big question, of course, isn't it? Are they are Republicans interested in purging Trumpism from the GOP? And, you know, how will we get
an indication of that through this trial, sir?
JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, we'll see how they vote. That's the great thing about how Congress works? There's all this debate,
you keep hearing about a civil war in the Republican Party and Republicans wanting to move beyond the former president.
But so far, there's no evidence they want to do that most of the party remains very firmly loyal to the former president. And so now we will have
a concrete measure. Are they OK with what the former president did, and his role in the insurrection that took place?
ANDERSON: And let's talk about just how many Republicans are expected to vote for a conviction. Certainly the GOP Representative Liz Cheney, one of
those who've said her, her vote in the House at least was compelled by the oath she swore to the constitution. I just want our viewers to have a
listen to a little more of what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIZ CHENEY, U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN: Somebody who has provoked an attack on the United States Capitol to prevent the counting of electoral votes, which
resulted in five people dying, who refused to stand up immediately when he was asked and stop the violence that is a person who does not have a role
as a leader of our party going forward. That's going to require us to focus on substance and policy and issues going forward. But we should not be
embracing the former president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: ell Liz Cheney's comments, of course, did lead to many members of the Republican Party calling for her ouster. What is that tell you sir?
ZELIZER: Yes, it tells me that she's on the wrong side of the party on this issue, the fact that there was more animosity in many ways toward her than
there was toward Congresswoman Greene says a lot about a pretty radicalized Republican Party.
[11:25:00]
ZELIZER: Again, things may change. I think the visual evidence that House Managers are said to be getting ready to present will be very dramatic, not
only for Americans to see, but for American legislators to see who lived through this.
But still, I think the response to Cheney, the response to Congresswoman Greene suggests that there is very little daylight between the Former
President Donald Trump and the modern Republican Party.
ANDERSON: This is Trump's Former Chief of Staff have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK MEADOWS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: This is all about a political theater. It's really about Democrats trying to once again, make a
political point. Listen, this whole impeachment is designed to remove someone from office. President Trump is a private citizen at this point.
And yet what they can't stand it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The argument of course, being that the trial is unconstitutional, because Donald Trump is no longer president and so it goes on. Is there any
merit in that argument?
ZLIZER: Most legal scholars say no, there was a case where a Secretary of War was had a trial after he had left office that the constitution doesn't
say this can't happen. And they even have a provision to prevent someone from holding office again, which legal scholars suggest that indicates that
you can do this.
So there's not a lot of merit, even many conservative scholars don't agree with this argument. And on the first part, also, it's not - it's a twisted
argument. The last thing most Democrats want to do at the start of a new democratic administration is to deal with the former president.
So I think a lot of Democrats are doing this despite what they'd rather be focused on because they feel they have an obligation to hold the former
president accountable. And I don't really think its democratic theater so much is democratic duty.
ANDERSON: I just want to run something past you here, because a lot of people have asked me this question, and I'm sure our viewers will be keen
to get an answer from you. Joe Biden says that Donald Trump should no longer receive classified intelligence briefings.
I think a lot of people are surprised that that even is something that Donald Trump still gets isn't a privilege that can be stripped from a
former president?
ZELIZER: It is and the whole rationale for that really was to have former presidents be a source of advice and guidance. But we're in a situation,
which is unlike others that we've had where there is a sense of true instability, and a lack of trust with what the former president would do
with the information.
So the President has a right to do that. And I wouldn't be surprised if he follows through with that. I think that's the sense of Washington right
now. Even Republicans who support the president, I am sure there are many who privately don't disagree with President Biden's decision.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Meantime, of course, millions of Americans, Julian are still hungry, and they are still jobless. It is a critical week of
negotiations for Democrats about just how to move ahead with Joe Biden's COVID relief package? Do you what - do you share concerns of others that
there will be a real fracture in their unity, a unity that is certainly playing out when it comes to impeachment?
But on this dual track, is there? Is there or should Joe Biden's team be concerned that this could fracture at this point?
ZELIZER: Sure. I mean the Biden Administration and Senator Chuck Schumer who was the Majority Leader for the Democrats in the Senate. This is a
concern, there's going to be concerned that someone like Senator Joe Manchin, who's one of the moderates in the party might break because of the
overall number.
That said the administration has a lot going for it. Polls show many people approve of what the president's doing? They approve of the package. And
just at the ground level, people are desperate for relief. They're desperate for normalcy.
So I think the Biden Administration has a strong hand and if they move swiftly, if they move with determination, I think they could probably
prevent their party from splintering apart on this measure.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: It's early days of course Joe Biden wants to get so much done in the first 100 days so it will be fascinating to see whether the party can
kind of hold it together on this one, but it is an enormous number as you rightly point out 1.9 trillion.
Janet Yellen who is the new Treasury Secretary has said we have to think big and go big but this is an enormous number, isn't it? And so
understandably, you can see that there are concerns within the party. Thank you, sir always a pleasure. Julian Zelizer is in the house.
Still to come Coronavirus vaccinations critical to controlling the pandemic, just ahead my next guest says vaccines are just the start in
taming this deadly crisis. What do we mean by that we'll find out what else it is? That is on the table and part of our toolkit that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Health officials in the United States now confirmed a staggering 27 million cases of Coronavirus. And while that number alone gives you
pause I'm sure a new study shows a more contagious variant identified in the U.K. is now spreading rapidly throughout America and maybe doubling
around every 10 days.
Statistical models show it could become the predominant strain in the United States. By March now more than 14 million vaccine doses have been
administered in the U.S. but for now demand are outpacing supplies of that vaccine. Well, my next guest served on the COVID-19 Advisory Board for the
Biden Presidential Transition Luciana Borio says vaccines are just one part of this complex fight. And she joins me now from Washington.
I'm really interested to get your thoughts on this because, you know, we - ahead of these vaccines being distributed. We talked at length and experts
told us at length this would be the sort of panacea. And now we're being told that, you know vaccines really only provide, you know, a part of what
will be the solution going forward. So I want to get your thoughts on that.
And indeed, on how these vaccines that currently exist may or may not work against these new variants. Let's start with where the vaccines fit into
the toolkit as it were.
LUCIANA BORIO, VICE PRESIDENT, IN Q-TEL: Hi, Becky. So they're extraordinarily important in this toolkit. They really are. As we saw the
Super Bowl yesterday you know, the athletes they train a lot, but we know that they also manage your sleep they manage the nutrition and public
health measures are similar.
We need to be able to rely on all those assets. Vaccines being one of the most important ones, but we also have to wear masks and maintain social
distancing.
[11:35:00]
BORIO: Avoid indoor gatherings, so that we can really get to the other side of this pandemic.
ANDERSON: How concerned should we be here and in the States, of course, and by here, I mean outside of the state, you know, I've got viewers watching
all over the world, about these new variants? And the sort of device that you've just given us, I guess, makes is so much more important when we are
looking at the potential for some of these vaccinations not necessarily having the same sort of efficacy that we hoped that they would have, as
these new variants are now around.
BORIO: Well, so first of all, these variants emerged, because the virus is spreading. If we can prevent the virus from spreading, then there's a less
chance of virus mutation. So the most important thing we can do right now to avert this situation is to improve the vaccination program, which
administration is working very hard to do.
As you know, on Saturday, for example, they vaccinated 2.1 million people which are higher than they'd have been in the last few weeks. I suspect
that the pace is going to continue to pick up so we need to really ramp up the vaccination program and double down on the public health measures.
Now, there's a lot of uncertainty about how these vaccines will work against the new variants? For now, these vaccines seem to be so, so
powerful that they seem to protect at least against the outcome that we are most interested in, which is prevention of severe disease of
hospitalization.
And that's and the companies are getting ready to reformulate if needed. These were not easy decisions to make. It's not easy to execute, but we are
posturing to be ready to deal with this. For now, public health measures, masking, social distancing, avoiding gatherings is the most important thing
to do.
ANDERSON: Important advice, one of the reasons there is a delay in vaccinations in the United States at least is due to supply. Have a listen
to what Dr. Anthony Fauci said at the weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: The demand clearly outstrips the supply right now, if you look at
the escalation of availability of doses, purely on the ability and the capability of manufacturing that it's going to escalate and will continue
to escalate. As we go from February to March to April and beyond.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We're certainly getting a lot of transparency out of this new Biden Administration. Just how concerned are they about the physical roll
out at this point? And you know the expectations that they will actually reach the goals that have been set within these first 100 days?
Well I'm afraid, our guest's shot has frozen which does happen at times, and technology has led us down. But as you just heard vaccinations alone,
may not end this pandemic. And part of that comes from a lack of vaccine equity across the world. I spoke with Jordan's Queen Rania as part of the
Warrick Economic Summit. And she believes vaccine equity is imperative as we move forward to help us get out of this pandemic, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUEEN RANIA, JORDAN: It's an imperative to make sure that vaccine equity is a priority for us. Because, you know, we do have a cloud hanging over our
heads, all of us not just the poor nations, whether you're wealthy or poor, whether you're high income or low income nation, we have a cloud of
unevenness over us.
And this unevenness is not just in terms of how people have been impacted some much more severely than others, but also on our ability to recover.
You know, this pandemic has really revealed and reinforced cracks in our world order, you know, along the lines of income inequality, gender
inequity, social injustice, and you can't add health inequality on top of that, you know, so it is absolutely imperative that we really address these
issues.
If we're not motivated from a moral or ethical responsibility, then at least we should be motivated from a global health standpoint. You know,
we're all in a race against a pandemic, not against each other. And it's not a cliche to say that until all of us are safe, none of us are safe.
ANDERSON: I wonder whether you think that as the poor are getting poorer, especially in developing countries even such as Jordan itself.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: Whether you believe we will see a further crisis for globalization, and just how effective do you believe leadership is and can
be going forwards?
RANIA: Look I mean, from the beginning of this crisis, everybody has suffered some kind of loss, whether it's the loss of opportunities,
security, or worst of all loss of loved ones. But this clause hasn't been felt equally.
For some, the pandemic has been very disorienting, whereas for others, this has been truly devastating. So as some have said, we may be in the same
storm, but we're not in the same boat. So for example, you're seeing some people enjoying the benefits of the rebounding global markets.
But far too many people around the world are suffering from parallel pandemics of hunger, violence, illiteracy. In fact, for the first time in
20 years, extreme poverty is back on the rise. And so really, this pandemic has shown a light on pre existing cracks in our world order.
It's really reinforced and exposed fissures along the lines of inequality, like, as I mentioned earlier, whether it's racial, gender, social
injustice, and all these issues that we fail to address in the past. And, again, this is creating a very dangerous, destabilizing situation for all
of us, these problems are not biodegradable, they're not going to go by themselves.
So we need to be very serious about addressing these issues, because there's a great divergence happening in our world, whether it's across
geographies, income levels, generations. And this anger will - you cannot shield yourself - in an interconnected world, you cannot shield yourself
from this anger.
I would like to point out, however, that this period has also shown some of our strengths as international community. So even though there is room for
improvement, I think the global effort to try to combat and cure this virus has probably been the most coordinated worldwide response to any crisis in
human history.
So if we take the development of vaccines, for example, I think it would have taken us years to get to this point, had it not been for the
coordination and the collaboration of the medical community. And so that was a really shining, undeniable example of how a crisis can fuel
innovation, and how when we put our politics and national identities to aside and work towards a common goal, we can achieve so much for so many.
So moving forward, in the post pandemic world, which spirit, do you want to carry forward? Do we want to try and likely fail to go it alone? Or do we
want to agree to make everybody's well being our new bottom line and really try to work to achieve that?
I think that we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to try to re-imagine new social economic systems, and to exercise bold and visionary leadership,
and create a new normal that provides opportunity for everyone.
You know, I think we need a new north star to guide economic policy, new metrics that go beyond just measuring GDP, but actually look at
environmental and social criteria. Whatever normal we go back to, I know that we cannot go back to the old normal that left too many people behind.
Because we learned one thing from this crisis is that we're only as strong as the weakest among us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Queen Rania speaking to me recently. Coming up on the show, studying beauty and conservation in the heart of Central Mexico how one
woman became the most trusted guardian of the fat mountains, that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Well, call to earth and a call to action for the environment to share solutions to critical issues like global warming or deforestation.
It's a long term priority for CNN to drive awareness and inspire change. In today's report how Martha Ruiz Corzo colossal helps protect our region by
merging conservation with economic opportunity. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): This is Sierra Gorda, located in the heart of Central Mexico; this remote mountain range is one of the most
ecologically diverse protected areas in the country. With everything from deserts, to tropical forests, all this was once under threat until Martha
Pati Ruiz Corzo moved to the region until then she had only lived in cities.
MARTHA PATI RUIZ CORZO, GENERAL DIRECTOR, SIERRA GORDA ECOLOGICAL GROUP: I was surrounded by such beauty. I have never seen such blue skies and the
mist in the middle of the forest. It was like a shock for me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): That was more than three decades ago. Today she may be the region's most trusted guardian to protect that beauty
she co-founded the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group in 1987 after witnessing deforestation as a result of agriculture, manmade fires and illegal
logging.
In 1997 her grassroots organization helped the region achieve Biosphere Reserve status, protecting nearly 400,000 hectares of land, roughly the
size of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. Today Sierra Gorda or the fat mountains is valued for its wealth of biodiversity.
The group says it is home to 345 species of birds 800 types of butterflies, more than 110 different mammals, like the Jaguar and around 2400 plant
species. For Corzo, it was possible by collaborating with the local communities, many who live in poverty. Instead of logging, she helped find
them alternative ways to make a living.
CORZO: Sierra Gorda's 97 percent of the land is private land of 637 communities. You have to give them an opportunity because that's all they
have.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Raising money by working with partner organizations and the government she created economic opportunities through
protection of the environment. This helped create paid jobs in reforestation, waste management, eco tourism and education. Planting the
seeds of change Corzo hopes that her work will inspire people across the world.
CORZO: In other societies so far we need to talk about Mother Nature to connect them. Not everyone is going to recognize her but there are many
people that are ready to act that are really worried about the future and that are looking for answers.
[11:50:00]
CORZO: I am convinced that there she is for everyone because she is everything.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Conservation, helping preserve the beauty of Sierra Gorda for future generations, and sustained livelihoods through
nature.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And we will continue showcasing inspirational stories like this as part of our initiative here at CNN. And this is all about you of course
let us know what you are doing as well to answer the call with the #calltoearth we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, a wall of water and debris rolling down a mountain and crashing into a dam in Northern India. It began when part of a Himalayan
glassier collapsed on Sunday, triggering this avalanche of water and rocks. Well, it's smashed through the dam and swept into two hydro electric
project killing at least 26 people.
Where rescue crews are now racing to reach more than 170 others who are still missing that increased 35 workers who are believed trapped in a
tunnel hit by the avalanche. Rescuers have drilled at least 150 meters inside but the sheer volume of debris is now slowing them down. For the
latest on the rescue effort we are joined by Neeru Petwal who is a spokeswoman with the Indian Red Cross and I know that you have a team on
the ground. What are they telling you?
NEERU PETWAL, SPOKESWOMAN, INDIAN RED CROSS: Hi, Ma'am. Hello.
ANDERSON: Can you hear me?
PETWAL: Yes, I can hear you. Hi, good evening.
ANDERSON: What is your team telling you about the situation on the ground?
PETWAL: Right now the situation is that our team is working with the rescue team. And till now we had recovered 19 dead bodies, and we rescued 1818
people alive. But this is assumed that around 202 persons are still missing in that debris.
ANDERSON: Well, that is very distressing news and who is involved in the rescue effort and what sort of support does it need at this point?
PETWAL: There are 600 personals of Army, Indian Army and 200 personals of ITBP, and more than 300 personals of SDRF, and NDRF. And 10 active
volunteers--
ANDERSON: --the survivors described the disaster?
PETWAL: Ma'am.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were working on the crown of the tunnel when we heard screams get out. Get out. We didn't know what was happening. We started
running to escape when the force of the water gushed in through the mouth of the tunnel. We had lost hope. We didn't think we would survive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: What can be done at this point and to help and also to prevent what happened happening again to your mind?
PETWAL: We cleared the villages which are nearby that disaster place and moved the villagers to the safer place. And in that safer place, we provide
them the essential needs like food, water, everything we are providing them there.
ANDERSON: What's the government doing?
PETWAL: We are supporting the government only. The government is there they are doing the search and rescue.
ANDERSON: Alright, well, we'll leave that - we'll leave this here. We do hope that things improve the situation improves on the ground. And we wish
your team the very, very best of luck in the work that you are doing.
PETWAL: Thank you.
ANDERSON: All right. Well, that is it from us for this evening. Do stay safe and stay well, wherever you are in the world. It is a very good
evening from us here in Abu Dhabi.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
