Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

Ukraine: Grain Exports From Odesa Should Begin This Week; Russia's Foreign Minister Shoring Up Support In Africa; Pope In Canada To Apologize To Indigenous Groups. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired July 25, 2022 - 10:00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:00:30]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMANTHA POWER, ADMINISTRATOR, UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: We can all hope and even pray that the deal that the United

Nations negotiated but that Russia immediately turned its back on by bombing the port of Odesa that that deal somehow sticks.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR (voice over): Well, a breakthrough to free Ukrainian grain could help alleviate the suffering for millions

around the world. Question is, will it hold? And.

VICTORIA MCINTOSH, RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVOR: UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would break down on I would cry, thinking about it would be done. And I

wonder why. What did I do to you?

ANDERSON: The Pope visits Canada to apologize for decades of church abuse of indigenous children. Plus. Wildfires rage near Yosemite National Park in

California as extreme weather grips United States from coast to coast.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. The time in London is 3:00 p.m. Getting the grain out of Ukraine. That complicated task

gaining some clarity today after Russia bombed targets over the weekend in the port city of Odesa. Now millions of tons of grain are stored there.

Ukraine's infrastructure minister saying despite the attack, the first grain exports from Black Sea ports should start within days.

Now look, there's been a lot of uncertainty about grain shipments given the Odesa attack happening one day after Ukraine and Russia signed an export

agreement in Turkey. There are also battlefield developments to tell you about as this war now enters its sixth month. Russia hitting targets to the

north in the Kharkiv region. These pictures show the aftermath of attacks in the town of Chuhuiv. Officials there fear several people are trapped

under rubble after shelling.

But Ukraine reporting progress in its counter offensive in the south in Kherson. A military advisor there saying resistance forces damaged bridges

that Russia has been using to supply troops. Ukraine president calling it a step by step advance.

Let me bring in our international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson connecting us from Kyiv today. And Nic, you've been talking to Ukraine's

infrastructure minister about grain exports and what comes next. What have you been told?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. I asked if the Russia's attack on the port was going to put them off their stride and

trying to sort of get the grain that they have stored in their ports to the international community to those poorer nations that are waiting for it. He

said absolutely not. They're committed, they're going to continue to work, that they're sending their people to Istanbul right now today so that they

can work with the Joint Coordination Center that's going to oversee and facilitate this agreement.

And I asked him about, you know, what he's hearing from Russia and the strikes in themselves, how he interprets it. And he believes that this is

Russia just trying to exert itself, exert its influence and show that it's the main power, that it's the one in control of the situation. I asked

about a specific point that Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister has been saying for the past couple of days, that appears at the very least to

be an embellishment on the agreement.

He said that Russian warships have the right to escort the food convoys to the Bosphorus where those international inspections will take place. This

is not part of the deal as articulated by the United Nations. And the infrastructure minister here told me also not their understanding, it's not

going to happen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OLEKSANDR KUBRAKOV, MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF UKRAINE: So we won't allow to do this. Our territorial waters and our sea ports only Ukraine and

Ukrainian Navy will be -- will be there. So if you're talking about like inspections and all the decisions that will be in near Turkey, to be near

Bosphorus and we will be leaded by Turkey and by United Nation.

ROBERTSON: So, no Russian ships escorting the convoys anywhere along the convoy?

KUBRAKOV: No. Bo ships at all in this process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So the Russian foreign minister also saying that Russia has the right to shell the port of Odesa at targets that it believes there and

that's what the military has said as well that they will continue to target if they believe there are targets and they are saying that this won't

actually impede the export of the grain.

[10:05:10]

It does. Of course, all of this does rather make the possibility of this deal actually getting off the ground. It makes it look more tenuous but

from a Ukrainian perspective, they're committed to it, Becky.

ANDERSON: Months of diplomatic work, of course, behind the scenes to secure that deal Friday, within hours Russian cruise missiles slamming the

principal port named in the court, which does beg the question, can Russia be trusted at this point, Nic?

ROBERTSON: It really does. Russia got something in this deal. It got the right to export its food and fertilizer from Russia out through the

Bosphorus. Things, items that were controlled by international sanctions because it has precipitated a war in Ukraine. So Russia got something out

of this deal. It got the right to make money out of this deal. In some parts of the world, in some places, you might look upon that as extortion

that they got -- they're creating this scenario of Ukraine's grain being bottled up in its ports and unable to export it.

Yet they -- to allow that grain to get out, they got something for it. And I think this sort of underlines what we've been hearing from various

leaders. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and it's really Russia's actions really questions their credibility and their commitment to make this deal

work. Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Turss said that it -- this really questions -- brings into question the credibility of President Vladimir

Putin himself.

So, a lot of condemnation on Russia's actions of firing those missiles but it's also Russia's rhetoric around the whole deal. That really continues to

put it in some level of doubt, if you will.

ANDERSON: Yes. Nic Robertson is in Kyiv in Ukraine. Nic, thank you. Despite that these strikes on Odesa, the Kremlin's grain shipments will go on as

part of the U.N. brokered deal ships steered by Ukraine, then we'll move millions of tons of grain out of Odesa and to other ports. They traveled

through a "safe corridor in the Black Sea," then through the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey, from there, they would head to global markets.

Well, Larry Madowo is hearing talk of plan B if this still doesn't work out, he's in Nairobi. Obviously, the African continent, many countries on

the continent in desperate need of grain, it's a -- it's an area that, you know, will benefit enormously if this food stuff is on the move again.

You've been speaking to Samantha Power of USAID. What has she told you?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, she's hopes that there's another way to get that grain through the Black Sea and into the rest of the world.

Because here in Africa, we're already seeing high food, fuel and fertilizer prices because of the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And even

though Samantha Power says you can't trust Vladimir Putin, she hopes and prays that that deal can still go ahead.

Even though she points out, Russia immediately turned back on its deal as soon as the signed by bombing the port city of Odesa. Samantha Power also

called out countries that have started the war and also are not doing enough to alleviate the suffering of people suffering from the global food

crisis. Some of the worst affected are here in Kenya, in Ethiopia and Somalia, a region known as the Horn of Africa that is seeing some of the

worst droughts on record.

And if this goes on, even more people could face mass starvation and deaths. And that's why she thinks everybody should step up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POWER: This is a moment for all countries that play leadership roles in the international system, as the People's Republic of China clearly aspires to

do and has done in certain domains. It is for them, for all of us to show up and to dig deeper than we have so far if we are going to prevent this

crisis from becoming a catastrophe.

MADOWO: How big is the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine into the current problem you're seeing in Kenya and Somalia and Ethiopia?

POWER: In terms of food just coming from Somalia, more than half of the wheat in this country -- in the country of Somalia comes from Ukraine. It

is trapped in the port of Odesa. 20 million metric tons of wheat and corn are trapped. So, you know, we can all hope and even pray that the deal that

the United Nations negotiated but that Russia immediately turned its back on by bombing the port of Odesa that that deal somehow sticks.

MADOWO: Do you worry about Russia's commitment to that deal if literally just hours after it was signed already bombing Odesa and what impact would

that have if they don't honor the end of the deal?

[10:10:07]

POWER: Well, we have been living the contingency plan because there's no way you can trust anything that Vladimir Putin says. We are working with

the Ukrainians on Plan B. Plan B involves road and rail and river and again, you know, sending in barges and, you know, adjusting the rail

systems so that they're better aligned with those in Europe, so that the exports can move out more quickly.

But there is no substitute for Putin allowing the blockade to end, his blockade to end and the grain is being sent out the most efficient way

possible, especially because we've lost so much time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: The world has lost so much time, that's what Samantha told us, Samantha Power told me. And after her trip here in Kenya and Somalia to see

some of the areas worst effect that have dropped, Becky, she's off to India, trying to find alternative sources for wheat and grain for people

that need it badly to alleviate the global food crisis. And she also said she appreciated the voices of African leaders that helped bring that

Ukraine-Russia wheat grain deal to fruition.

ANDERSON: Yes. Meantime, Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister is in Africa. What's he doing?

MADOWO: He's here on a charm offensive. He started off in Egypt meeting the leadership there. And then the Arab League has just been in the Republic of

Congo meeting President Sassou Nguesso there. He's then expected in Uganda and finally in Ethiopia to be the leadership with ups and possibly the

African Union. And he's been pointing out that Russia has long standing relations with African leaders.

And that's unlike western nations, Russia doesn't have the stain of the crimes of colonization. And so, that Russia and Africa, good partners, and

he's getting a lot of support here. There are many Africans, not just African leaders who feel that Africa should remain neutral in that Russia-

Ukraine war because they don't want to be drawn into a proxy war between the West and Russia.

And that is why -- this is one of the few places where Sergey Lavrov, where President Vladimir Putin and where Russia is not a pariah where they're

very eager to do business with Russia. In fact, Russia has a summit with African leaders later this year in Ethiopia, maybe October, November where

they will be pushing more of their alternative facts on the Russia-Ukraine war, but also how to inch out an edge out the West and do more business

with the continent.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. Larry Madowo is in Nairobi for you. Thank you, Larry.

One of the biggest markets for grain is Egypt. In fact, most of its supplies come from Russia and Ukraine. A little later in the newscast,

we'll talk with Egypt's former foreign minister about being caught between two key allies.

Also ahead. An historic gesture of atonement. We'll be live in Canada next where Pope Francis is on a journey of penance. And we will have the latest

on the global heatwave including an explosive wildfire. You can see here now threatening thousands of homes in California. More on that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:15:17]

ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. The time in London at least is quarter past 3:00. Well, it almost

always means more to apologize in person. And Pope Francis is doing exactly that today in Canada. He is offering an historic gesture of atonement for

the Catholic Church's role in decades of abuse of Canadian indigenous children.

CNN's Paula Newton is in Edmonton showing us what the Vatican calls a potential pilgrimage. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It is a people trip like no other, one that we'll see Pope Francis humbled himself on

behalf of the Catholic Church and apologized to Canada's indigenous peoples for years of abuse and harm. Only months ago, if you could imagine his

journey here when the Pope is calling a journey of penance for what a Canadian National Commission says was cultural genocide.

At least 150,000 indigenous children separated from their families and forced to attend residential institutions where thousands injured physical,

sexual and emotional abuse from priests, nuns and school staff.

MCINTOSH: Kneel down the way you made us kneel down as little kids and asked for that forgiveness.

NEWTON: Victoria McIintosh in Victoria Macintosh was taken from her family at the age of four.

MCINTOSH: My grands made this for me.

NEWTON: This was the coat she says she wore when her mom dropped her off at a Catholic institution in Manitoba in the 1960s.

MCINTOSH: That nun took it off from me and threw it up my mom.

NEWTON: McIntosh said the nun then called her mother a savage. An incident she said foreshadow years of abuse. She says her mother never forgave

herself.

MCINTOSH: And I told her I said, it's not your fault. It wasn't your fault or choice that you have.

NEWTON: McIntosh says she was sexually assaulted by a priest for years. When she was only a child.

MCINTOSH: He violated me. And ways that no child should ever go through. And I would break down and I would cry, thinking about it when he done. And

I wonder why. What did I do to you?

NEWTON: Macintosh says that priest was 92-year-old Arthur Massey. It was only in June when he was charged with indecent assault. He has not entered

a plea. And it is the impunity of the Catholic Church's actions that hangs over this visit. Even as dozens of indigenous communities now search the

grounds of these institutions where hundreds of unmarked graves have already been identified.

NEWTON (on camera): As indigenous communities work to recover their lost children, there is still much ambivalence about the Pope's visit and his

apology.

The Pope was blunt, he called it a journey of penance.

DERRICK HENDERSON, BAND COUNCILOR, SAGKEENG FIRST NATION: I don't know. That's interesting interpretation of it, right? You know, for me, it's not

a journey, right? This was -- it was more than a journey for our people I think and the journey will never end, right. That's going to be there

forever.

NEWTON: Pope Francis says he acknowledges that, but hopes this historic gesture of atonement will bring some measure of relief and healing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Joining us now from Edmonton in Canada. Some skepticism then about this trip, certainly from victims. How is the pope planning to

apologize?

NEWTON: Listen, it's extraordinary. And the images that we already saw, Becky, of him a ride in Canada, he's 85 years old, not able to walk really

without assistance. And yet he made it a priority, not just to come here to Canada, but to go to an indigenous community. Well, he will be in just a

few -- just a couple of hours from now, he is going on their soil, indigenous soil to apologize. And that brings a great credibility in terms

of what he is saying.

And the fact that the Catholic Church after so many years of impunity, actually has some sincerity about this. But I have to tell you, Becky, they

will be parsing his words and a speech delivered there very carefully because at issue here is not Catholic abuse which we have covered,

unfortunately, right around the globe. The issue here is that of cultural genocide, that it was more than just those who worked at these Catholic

institutions inflicting abuse, that it was systemic and that its goal was to eradicate a culture. And that is what they will be listening for. They

want the Pope to apologize.

ANDERSON: Your report included the sort of skepticism as shown by some of the victims.

[10:20:02]

How's the Pope's visit being received by indigenous leaders, Paula? And will it -- will this visit help heal the national pain in Canada do you

think?

NEWTON: Yes, Becky. From the survivors that we've spoken to and the indigenous leaders, there's absolutely mixed feelings. And you're right to

point that out. What I think is very unfortunate is the fact that every time they even talk about this, it is re traumatizing. Just his visit here

will absolutely come with so much heartache and grieving. This is just the beginning of that healing process.

And for that reason, we have some people who want the pope here and need to hear it from him and others who think, what for? I don't need an apology

from this man. It will not help and in fact, it will just make me angrier. And so, it is really mixed in terms of the reaction and everyone dealing

with it really in a very personal way. And that is something I have to tell you, Becky, that Vatican and the Pope say that they will address in the

coming days.

ANDERSON: Paula, thank you. Paula Newton on the story.

More than 3000 homes and businesses around California's Yosemite National Park are in danger from a fast moving wildfire. The fire began on Friday

but has exploded in size and so far firefighters have had absolutely no luck containing it. It's being fueled by a record breaking heatwave that

has gripped much of the United States. 60 million people across U.S. remain under heat alerts today.

There is some relief we are told on the way temperatures aren't dropping closer to normal this week in cities like Boston, New York, and

Philadelphia. But there are hotspots that remain. And there will be people asking when will they be getting any relief? Let's bring in CNN'S

meteorologists Chad Myers. Let's start with those fires. The images are very frightening. How dangerous are these fires burning near Yosemite?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, we're up to over 6000 hectares now. And it's not so much the heat, it's hot in California all the

time. What's happened is we've had a multi decadal drought in these areas. And so we've had this little beetle, bark beetle that has killed millions

and millions of these tall lodgepole pine trees, they're all just standing there dead waiting to burn.

So we have 10 percent containment right now on that fire, which means 90 percent of it is still growing rapidly. And the ground is just so

desperately dry, that any spark that flies from one fire will start another one somewhere else. So that's where we're going out to the west, very, very

hot conditions. In the east, we're still not approaching what I would say would be the record we ran through in London, right?

We're not looking at 40.3 as an all-time high, where the old high was 36. It's hot, don't get me wrong and there are millions of people in the way.

But the West is where the real focus for this week will be. The cold front will run on by the East Coast and cool everyone off. From the upper 30s to

the upper 20s, OK. We'll take that. That's a nice little change.

But down to the south, that cold front doesn't get there. Cold fronts don't make it to the south until probably October in late September at least. So

the heat advisory in the East today for big, big cities, millions and millions of people living in here and it will approach probably 40 heat

index. Heat index across the central part of the country is going to run at 45. So, that's a lot hotter back out west.

And then farther to the west, we see temperatures, real temperatures around 40 degrees in places here like Seattle, you might get the 37. But the

problem is only 41 percent of that town, that city has air conditioning because they just don't need it. They just don't -- they'd rather keep

their house warm in the winter than have to keep their house cool in the summer. And look at Medford down in the upper 40s again for heat indexes.

And the fire we're talking about right here, near Merced, California near Yosemite National Park. And there we go with the 6795 hectares now, 10

percent containment. The one good thing, Becky, about this if there is such a thing as a good thing. There were so many other fires around the oak

fire. They call it -- they named -- we named fires here in America so that we can keep them separate because there are so many.

There are other older fires that have happened around the oak fire. So, that stand of trees has already been burned once and will probably act like

a good fire break for the firefighters when the fire does run into the older fires because the trees are essentially gone.

ANDERSON: And I think you make a really good point there because whilst I just need you once again to explain how extreme weather and climate are

related. There is an issue of management here as well, isn't there?

[10:25:09]

MYERS: There certainly is an issue of management. There's no question. But you were talking a very, very large area. En if you had, you know, 10,000

workers trying to cut down some of these trees or remove them. Most people said that that really wouldn't help all that much. Now, what would help

would be to build one mile wide fire breaks where maybe in a checkerboard pattern or something where the fire couldn't get any farther than that, or

at least little saplings would be getting to growing again.

And then they would be green and not dead and brown like these trees that are just standing there waiting to -- waiting to burn.

ANDERSON: Yes. Chad, it was a pleasure. Thank you, sir.

Chad Myers on the story for you. Let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. An international outrage

building after Myanmar's junta executed for people accused of terrorism. Two were pro-democracy leaders. These were Myanmar's First Judicial

executions in decades and rights groups fear that there will be more as a military government crackdown on dissent continues.

A volcano on the Japanese island of Kyushu began erupting on Sunday, forcing more than 50 people who live nearby to evacuate. Japanese officials

are monitoring a nuclear power plant about 50 kilometers away from the volcano but said has not yet been affected by the eruption.

And voters in Tunisia are going to the polls to decide a referendum on a new constitution. If passed, it would expand the president's powers he is

seen voting here. The ballot takes place exactly a year after he declared he would rule by decree and ignore parts of the older constitution.

Well, analysts say that the passing of Monday's referendum will be the final nail in the coffin for Tunisia social and political gains made after

the Arab Spring. Setting the country back then on a path to democracy now a path that will be difficult to return from. You can find much more on this

story now. Meanwhile, in the Middle East newsletter, you can sign up for that at cnn.com/mideastnewsletter.

We'll start between two allies. Egypt does its best to keep growing as Russia's war on Ukraine drags on. We'll get a fresh perspective from

Egypt's former foreign minister coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back.

[10:30:00]

I'm Becky Anderson in London. And the time is half past 3:00. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Wherever you are watching, you are more than

welcome.

The date is a Middle Eastern staple food. That's popular all over the world. But environmental changes are making it hard to produce the fruit.

CNN's Jomana Karadsheh looks at how Iraqi farmers are trying to save the date.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): At the entrance of Iraq and Hajarah desert, thousands extend across the horizon.

Young date palms recently planted in hopes of saving an age old staple that is now under threat.

MOHAMED ABDUL-MAALI, COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, FADAKA DATE PLANTATION (through translator): The date palm is a symbol and pride of Iraq. That's what we

wanted to replant palm trees to restore this culture to where it used to be a country of more than 30 million palm trees.

KARADSHEH: Iraq's long been one of the top date producers in the world with millions of date palm tree groves across the country. But swaths of once

thriving plants have since withered away dehydrated and blighted by environmental changes.

MUSSA MOHSEN, OWNS AROUND 800 DATE PALM TREES (through translator): Before we had an abundance of water, rainwater too coming from the mountains. This

area was like a sea but due to the lack of rain the land started drying up gradually.

KARADSHEH: Decades of drought in addition to ongoing conflicts are slowly creating desert like conditions in once lush areas. And as water levels

decline, salt levels rise, posing new challenges for those hoping to keep the industry alive.

ALAA AL-BADRAN, AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER (through translator): The issue of water salinization began around the mid 90s which created another issue for

us other than the issue of cutting. Now if people want to plant new palm trees, they will face saltier water and soil.

KARADSHEH: The U.N. stated in a press release that it is supporting Iraq and mitigating and adapting to climate change. The country's environmental

situation has been subject to a number of converging pressures ranging from poor water quality, deforestation, soil salinity to air pollution, conflict

and land use change.

Amid efforts to reverse some of those collective impacts on a key agricultural sector, some of those who depend on its success fear the

worst.

ALI HUSSEIN, DATE FARMER (through translator): What is in my heart is a dread, never seen the palms again. We are waiting for the pumps to come

back. But over here, everything is there. There is no water, nothing. I don't know that it will come back. I worry the beautiful days won't ever

come back.

KARADSHEH: Whether the date palm industry can be revitalized before it's too late remains to be seen as Iraq tries to save a national icon from our

global climate crisis.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Istanbul

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Right. Well, we started CONNECT THE WORLD in Ukraine, reporting on the Russian airstrikes in Odesa carried out one day after the Green Deal

was signed. That deal sign of course on Friday. Those strikes over the weekend. I want to show you how that port city of Odesa is using art as an

act of resistance. CNN's Ivan Watson went to meet the performance at a Odesa's Opera and Ballet Theater to witness their message of strength. Take

a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): There is great beauty in Ukraine amid the pain and suffering. In the southern port

city of Odessa dancers in rehearsal, try to tune out Russia's deadly war.

WATSON (on camera): This is more than just a beautiful expression of art and culture against the terrible backdrop of this war. These dancers offer

a symbol of defiance, a sign that Ukrainians are not giving up.

WATSON (voice over): The Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater stands like a jewel. Albeit, one protected by sandbags, the Russian rockets and missiles

periodically pound Odesa, residents here cling to pre-war normality. And that includes the city's 135-year-old opera.

Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich is the opera's director.

WATSON (on camera): It's beautiful.

Do you still need opera and ballet when there is a terrible war?

VYACHESLAV CHERNUKHO-VOLICH, CHIEF CONDUCTOR, ODESSA NATIONAL ACADEMIC OPERA AND BALET THEATER: Yes. All people need this and it's very important

for society. Opera House is the symbol of good life. It's -- you hear.

WATSON (voice over): The good life tonight's ballet performance but amid preparations there's an interruption. An air raid siren warns of a possible

attack. I mustered downstairs.

WATSON (on camera): It says shelter.

[10:35:07]

WATSON (voice over): Musicians and dancers wait in the basement. The threat delays the start of the show. To have tonight solo ballerinas tried to stay

limbered.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. This is not normal.

WATSON (on camera): Why are you sitting here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because work. Work. Yes. In our country.

WATSON: Are you afraid?

Yes, of course we're afraid says Katerina Calchenka (ph) though we're getting accustomed to these threats, and that in itself is horrible.

WATSON (voice over): After a long delay, the opera gets the old clear. Audience members emerge from their own shelter and take their seats.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In case of the neighboring power, all people must proceed to the shelter. Glory to Ukraine.

WATSON: The music of Chopin fills the hall. And for the briefest of moments, the war seems very far away. The reality though, is some of these

performers sent their children away for safety to other countries. A number of the artists and crew are defending their country serving in the

Ukrainian Armed Forces, while those on stage struggle to keep the city's cultural spirits alive.

Soloist Katerina Calchenka crosses herself before entering stage right.

But after just a few steps, the curtain suddenly closes.

WATSON (on camera): Bad news, the third air raid siren of the night has just gone off. The curtain just came down. And the show has been brought to

a stop.

I want the whole world to start screaming Calchenka tells me to stop this horror so that innocent people and children stop dying. I asked for help

the ballerina says, and for people not to remain silent.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Odessa, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: In the next hour of CONNECT THE WORLD I'll talk to Ibrahim Kalin who's the spokesperson for the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. I'll

get reaction to the Russian Ukraine Grain Deal that Turkey helped mediate and to the Russian attack in Odesa that followed as Turkeys still believe

there can be a negotiated end to this war. We will also pose that question after this.

And after a long dry spell golfer Richie Ramsay is back. We've got details of his dramatic win coming up after this short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:40:19]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AUTUMN PELTIER, ACTIVIST: I believe no matter what our race or color is, how rich or poor we are, everybody deserves clean drinking water. Water is

the lifeblood of Mother Earth. It's the lifeblood of everything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Autumn's journey to becoming a water protector began when she was eight. Unexpectedly sparked by a visit to an indigenous

community in Canada a few hours from her home.

PELTIER: I had to go to the washroom. When I went to go wash my hands, I realized that on the like -- right -- directly on the mirror it said, do

not drink the water, not for consumption and boil water advisory. I asked my mom, what does this mean? And she told me well, they can't drink their

water here. I said why? She says because the water is polluted. And so, I don't -- I -- later that night, I go home and I researched what a boil

water advisory was.

I know I was only eight. But for me at the time, I kind of like thought about the fact that there was kids that were my age and younger that had no

idea what it's like to just go to your tap and drink water. That kind of like impacted me in a way for me to feel like I needed to use my voice to

speak up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi routes to the water here run deep with ties to the Wiikwemkoong First Nation in Canada.

PELTIER: When I first started doing my work, I was like 10 years old. And at the time, there was very, very little almost no media coverage about any

indigenous issues, especially the water crisis in First Nations communities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She spent the past eight years speaking out about the importance of clean water to international organizations like the U.N., and

the World Economic Forum. And in 2021, she received the planetary health award from Prince Albert II's foundation.

PELTIER: Being awarded by people like the Prince of Monaco knows that my voice is not only being heard within Canada, it's being heard

internationally.

Hi, I like to thank everyone who is still continuing to follow my journey.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For Autumn, fighting for clean water is literally in the hands of Gen Z.

PELTIER: It's different with this generation because of social media for my personal opinion, we're always on our phones, we're always on social media,

different apps, and we're able to see like, all these different posts, all these other things about climate change, or you know, just world issues in

general. When I speak my goal really is like the younger generations, young people, you wouldn't generally think like a kid or a young person would

speak up about world issues or political issues, that we shouldn't have to be speaking about in the first place.

And so that's why it's so much more powerful because that's how you know something is wrong. That's how you know something has to be done.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And for this and more stories about the next generation of climate environment, you can visit cnn.com/goinggreen. That is our Going

Green Series.

All right. Some sports news for you. And golfer Richie Ramsay's dry spells seems to have come to an end on Sunday. He won the Cazoo Classic in

Southport New England giving him his fourth D.P. World Tour title. This is first title win since 2015. You've got the details, Alex Thomas.

What's the result?

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, I mean, he's not a household name.

ANDERSON: Yes.

THOMAS: People who follow Europe's D.P. World Tour formerly the European so known well, because he got those five Europeans Tour wins in seven years

from 2008, 2015. By 2015, he was happily married. He had his first child, a daughter, the following year, and then suddenly his world ranking started

to go up. He'd lost the ability to win and he promised his daughter that he would win a tournament and he said afterwards that he never breaks a

promise to his daughter.

So she's finally been alive to see him win one.

ANDERSON: Oh, that is lovely.

THOMAS: That's why he was so emotional after winning it.

ANDERSON: That is lovely. More on that coming up in World Sports with Alex. That's after the break. You get the second half CONNECT THE WORLD after

that. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORT)

END