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Connect the World
UK Sending more Long-Range Rocket Systems to Ukraine; Experts Debunk Russia's Claim about Prison Attack; CNN in Kabul a Year after U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan; Farm Manager: Crops have Effectively died over Long, Hot Summer; Security Source: Hostage Standoff at Lebanese Bank Ends; Global Citizen Holds Annual Festival Next Month. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired August 11, 2022 - 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)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Hello, I'm Lynda Kinkade in Atlanta. Welcome back to "Connect the World". New pictures, new questions
and new intrigue are what caused those massive explosions at a Russian airbase in Crimea.
These are the satellite pictures of the Saki Airbase before and after the blasts on Tuesday. They show at least seven destroyed Russian warplanes two
other planes appear to have sustained damage. Ukraine has not admitted to the attack nor has it denied it.
Russia says the destruction was caused by exploded aviation ammunition, but it's not giving specifics. If Ukraine was behind these blasts it would be
the first major attack on a Russian military site in Crimea since Russia annexed it back in 2014.
And it would mark a significant escalation in this five and a half month long war. With today the UK announced its sending Ukraine another shipment
of long range rocket systems and missiles. The latest move by the West to boost Ukraine's long range weapons capabilities and more help is coming.
The British Ukrainian and Danish Defense Ministers met in Copenhagen today, the Danish Defense Minister announcing that 26 countries are pledging more
than $1.5 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. Ukraine's Foreign Minister voicing appreciation for the additional help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLEKSII REZNIKOV, UKRAINIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: I am glad that we all have common sense that there is no time for fatigue. That is - unit energy and
frankly speaking, the main energy in this case is money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, our Nic Robertson joins us live from Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region of Eastern Ukraine. Nic, good to have you with us! So let's
start with the attack on Crimea. Russia, of course, denying that it was attacked, claiming that it was munitions explosion. Ukraine hasn't claimed
credit either. Talk to us about what's your take on what went down given that this is likely to be Moscow's biggest loss of military aircraft in a
single day since World War II.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, Russia really doesn't have any credibility with it statement. And part of that is borne
out by the satellite imagery showing these big craters there and the part of it by the video imagery, which shows separate explosions almost
simultaneously, but in slightly different locations.
And that really doesn't speak to what the Russians claim it - what Russia claims it to be an accident, the fact that Ukraine is quiet and not
claiming that this was a strike by them, gives them a certain sort of ambiguity. And this leaves Russia guessing what actually happened.
You know Russian leadership and perhaps Russian people are very unlikely to believe that these seven fighter jets were destroyed and two others damaged
by an accident. It just seems given the proximity of Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014 to the rest of Ukraine, it seems very unlikely.
But what Ukraine has been able to do by the weapon systems that it's getting from the west is reach further and more accurately behind Russia's
lines. And that allows it to target ammunition stores, it allows it to target you know, fuel depots, and potentially in this case, an airbase.
And this is important because these are things that Russia didn't expect. Russia thought that Crimea was safe and beyond the range of Ukrainian
weapon systems. And this perhaps now tells them something different.
So all of these strike this one, the others that we've seen over the past few months, are going to slow down Russia's efforts to move deeper into
Ukraine. So the ambiguity I think, the Ukrainian position will leave Russia guessing. But I think they're experts on the ground will come up with some
analysis that clearly they're not making public.
KINKADE: And of course, Nic, the UK is pledging to send more long range weapons into Ukraine. Denmark, also offering over $100 million in financial
aid. Ukraine clearly has some powerful weapons already, in terms of what was used if indeed, Ukraine carried out this attack in Crimea on that
Russian airbase. What sort of weapons would have the capability to do that?
ROBERTSON: Well, the high miles system that United States has given to Ukraine has a relatively limited range. It's very accurate and it has a
range that has been very effective for Ukraine.
[11:05:00]
ROBERTSON: But there are parts of that weapons system that that, as far as we know, publicly declared, have not been supplied to Ukraine and that
could give them a longer reach.
What we heard from the British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, at the Conference in Copenhagen really sort of hinted that they're not on a
downswing right now, in terms of supplies.
He said, look, you know, six months ago, we were talking about what weapon systems to supply sort of, you know, man, portable shoulder launched
equipment, and there was concern that there'll be blowback from that. He said, now we're talking about how many helicopters we have supplied? How
many aircraft we've supplied?
So that what Ukraine is getting from the west is on an upswing, so it wouldn't come as a surprise eventually, if we learn that what are these new
pieces of equipment they'd been given, be it an aircraft or something else has really had that reach into Crimea, but everything they're getting is
important. And what we were out seeing here, just over the past couple of days, has been weapon systems that are targeting the Russians, the Russians
just behind their front lines.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (voice over): Suddenly, action, camouflage off, Ukrainian troops rushing their new native compatible artillery out of cover, the Polish
crabs, a 40 ton beast of battle. This day, targeting Russian positions almost 30 kilometers 18 miles away they shoot and scoot.
ROBERTSON (on camera): That whole operation took about two to three minutes they calculate. They've got about eight minutes to get back under the tree
line here to be safe from a return fire.
ROBERTSON (voice over): There's a lot these troops like about their new kid safety high on the list. It's so much better than we had before. Gun
Commander Vasily (ph) says its mobile route of danger fast.
ROBERTSON (on camera): So this is your command vehicle?
ARTEM, UKRAINIAN BATTERY COMMANDER: Yes. Our, my command vehicle
ROBERTSON (voice over): Artem runs the whole battery.
ROBERTSON (on camera): So you can see the whole battlefield here?
ARTEM: Yes. This is the towpath.
ROBERTSON (voice over): It's all high tech.
ROBERTSON (on camera): So where there's a cross here, this is the target.
ARTEM: This target, we should--
ROBERTSON (on camera): You already shoot this target?
ROBERTSON (voice over): A former math teacher, he had two weeks training on the crabs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To learn it, I would say it's--
ROBERTSON (on camera): User friendly?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROBERTSON (voice over): Poland gave Ukraine 18 of the crabs system, and they're buying another 56 two months in service, their accuracy, making
them popular.
ARTEM: It is very big difference between is this new guns and Soviet old guns, because its guns got the new GPS systems.
ROBERTSON (voice over): Each shot a better chance of hitting its target.
ROBERTSON (on camera): These troops are really hoping the crab system can make a difference. So far this war has been fought mostly by artillery the
Russians massively out gunning the Ukrainians. But even with the new guns, there's a problem. Ammunition here is tight.
ROBERTSON (on camera): And do you have enough shells?
ROBERTSON (voice over): His answer with a wry smile and chuckle. I'd like to have more rounds to send the occupiers back home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: But it's going to take more than just sort of - this sort of heavy artillery equipment and rocket systems to really build an army and
make it effective at doing what President Zelenskyy says he wants to do, which is push Russia out of Ukrainian territory, it's probably going to
take years to bring the troops up to a NATO standard.
And we know from NATO leaders that that is what they intend to do. We saw, you know, without artillery battery that they were using some pretty non-
standard communication equipment that some of the troops didn't, sort of really equipped with the right footwear and a number of other things.
But what you know, again, going back to what we heard from the British Secretary of Defense, Ben Wallace in Copenhagen today, he said, look, we're
talking about training tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops. So this is a work in progress. These systems in the battlefield today are holding Russia
back, but that alone, they're not necessarily going to push Russia back and that really is going to take time and building a more integrated force
here.
KINKADE: They certainly need all the support they can get. Nic Robertson for us in Kramatorsk Ukraine thanks so much of that perspective much
appreciate it!
Well, Western military experts say it's extremely unlikely that dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed last month by U.S. made rocket.
Ukraine is flatly denied it attacked the prison camp as Moscow claims.
[11:10:00]
KINKADE: CNN's David McKenzie has more on this story. We need to caution you that some of the images here are graphic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Svetlana hasn't heard from a son in more than two months.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were promised that they would be taken prisoner in order to save their lives.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Her son like sons and husbands of many at this demonstration in Kyiv is a prisoner of war, held at a Russian camping on
Olenivka. It's a cry for help, but for many of the POWs, one that came too late.
At least 50 of them were killed in an attack on the building where they were held. Russia was swift to blame Ukraine, saying it had killed its own
to prevent them from confessing war crimes.
LT. GEN. IGOR KONASHENKOV, RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE SPOKESPERSON: A deliberate missile attack on July the 29th from the American high Mars
multiple rocket launch system on a pretrial detention center in the area of the settlement of Olenivka.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Russian journalist at the scene displaying remnants of a high Mars rocket serial number included. But a CNN investigation found
that it's extremely unlikely that a Hymas struck the prison.
CHRIS COBB-SMITH, BRITISH ARMY VETERAN AND SECURITY ADVISER: We would see a crater in the ground and we would see more blast damage.
MCKENZIE (voice over): British Army veteran and weapons expert Chris Cobb- Smith has seen his fair share of missile strikes. He says this wasn't one of them.
COBB-SMITH: We would see certainly on this firewall here, we will see fragmentation pop marking from an explosion from the fragments of the
munitions as it went off. And that's not happened. All we're really seeing here is evidence of a fire, an intensifier. So to me, this does not
indicate a large detonation.
MCKENZIE (voice over): The available video and images show buddies badly burned, some still in their banks. Forensic pathologist tells CNN, a fire
preceded by a small explosion was likely responsible.
DR. BENJAMIN ONDRUSCHKA, PATHOLOGIST, UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER HAMBURG- EPPENDORF: It seemed to be that something needs to be exploded close by to the reverie burned badly, resulting in a detonation resulting in a fire.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Ukraine is using U.S. donated 200 pound Hamas rockets to hit Russian depots and other high value targets.
But the visuals of the aftermath that have emerged are usually different from the scene at the prison.
Before and after satellite imagery from a confirmed time are striking Nova Kakhovka shows a Russian warehouse destroyed by the blast at Olenivka.
There are burn marks on the wall but crucially no structural damage.
COBB-SMITH: Everything in the site is blackened. The bodies have been severely charred. Everything you can say has been has blackened with the
high mass pieces we've seen presented as evidence that do not display any blackening at all. It does not look as though they've been in the scene of
an intensive fire.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Cobb-Smith and other experts say it's unlikely that the incident was accidental. Olenivka is believed to house more than 1000
prisoners. Here you see the satellite images from the day before the incident showing POW circulating in different areas of the camp.
But Ukrainian officials and relatives say around 200 prisoners were moved to this warehouse in a different zone just before they were killed.
Ukrainian officials also say the incident happened on the eve of a prisoner exchange.
Kyiv has rejected Moscow's version, and accused Russia of using a powerful incendiary weapon against the building and the prisoners.
MCKENZIE (on camera): CNN's investigation can almost certainly rule out Russia's version of events but we may never know why those prisoners were
moved and exactly what happened.
Russia has publicly invited the Red Cross and United Nations experts to visit but both organizations say they have yet to be given access to the
prison.
MCKENZIE (voice over): The families of the prisoners are increasingly desperate.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm asking all people who can, who care to help bring back our sons, our heroes.
MCKENZIE (voice over): But they don't even know who was killed that night. Know what killed them. David McKenzie, CNN Kyiv.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, CNN reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment on the findings of our investigation, but we have yet to hear back. You can
follow all the latest developments from Ukraine on our website including a fascinating report on the detention center attacking Donetsk that killed 50
Ukrainian prisoners of war.
[11:15:00]
KINKADE: The scene and investigation uncovering evidence that shows Russia's claim that Ukraine used U.S. arms to kill its own POWs most
certainly false. That is @cnn.com.
We are tracking developments from Beirut, Lebanon, where a security source tells CNN that hostage negotiations are underway. Take a look at these
pictures just coming into us, police and troops near a bank where an armed man is holding employees and customers up after reportedly trying
unsuccessfully to withdraw money from his frozen account.
Well joining me from London is CNN Journalist Tamara Qiblawi. She spent several years in Beirut, covering key events in Lebanon and the Middle East
for CNN digital. Good to have you on this story for us Tamara. So this is certainly a sign of desperation. A man an armed man holding up a bank in
Beirut just to get his own money out.
TAMARA QIBLAWI, CNN JOURNALIST: Yes, absolutely. I mean, it's really important to note that while this is a very dangerous hostage taking
situation, it's not technically a robbery. The man has barged into the bank; his bank his branch of the bank in the middle of Beirut's bustling
Humra Street, and has demanded his own money back.
Since October 2019, the vast majority of people's deposits have been held by these banks after severe capital controls were imposed on them, which is
basically dissipated people's life savings across the country.
And so in a lot of ways, this is a story that has captured attention across Lebanon and across the region, one would say because it's really come to
epitomize the depths of despair that the Lebanese people have been experiencing for almost three years now.
KINKADE: Suddenly, a dire economic situation right across the country. We are just seeing pictures that came into us moments ago of what appears to
be some people throwing bottles at the police.
And you were speaking earlier about the fact that people across Lebanon have some sympathy for this man, given the situation that they're all
facing. We'll leave it there for now. Tamara thanks so much for joining us.
When we come back after a short break, CNN goes inside Afghanistan a year after the U.S. withdrew and the Taliban took over, what life is like for
those struggling to make a living and for girls who are being denied an education.
And later in the show, extreme heat and little rainfall are translating into a nightmare for the UK. I'll be talking to a farm manager in England
about the impact of the long, hot summer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
KINKADE: We are approaching one year since the chaotic and deadly U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. It ended America's longest war and left
Afghanistan in the hands of the Taliban.
For many the image of people chasing American planes desperately is trying to find a way out of the country that burned into memory. As those events
unfolded, our Clarissa Ward was on the ground providing her award winning reporting to CNN.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What a difference 24 hours made? This is day one now of reporting in what's called the Islamic
Emirate. Now you can see a lots changed. Certainly the dress code for me has changed.
We're standing here with Taliban fighters just behind us and they're keen to show the world that they are able to maintain law and order on the
ground.
KINKADE: Well, Clarissa Ward is back in Kabul for this anniversary to give us a sense of what life is like there today. She spoke earlier with my
colleagues, Brianna Keilar and John Berman.
WARD: So the Taliban is really trying to have a lighter footprint, at least visibly on the streets, you do still see them, they don't want to be filmed
anymore. It's not like the initial days where there was the sense of jubilation and victory.
Now you have to get a lot of permission. It's an onerous task; to go through the process to be able to record here and there has been certainly
a sort of strangling of the local media.
You do see women, as you can see on the streets; you also see that I am dressed in a less conservative fashion than I was before. I want to stress
the Taliban has passed a ruling that women are supposed to wear, not just a full hijab, a full head covering, but actually the niqab which completely
covers the face of many here, women here wear the burqa.
What's interesting to see, though, is that a lot of women in Kabul are like, thanks, but no, thanks essentially, they're refusing to wear it.
They're continuing to dress how they used to dress.
And it seems that for the moment, the Taliban doesn't really have a vested interest in trying to crack down on that, and then trying to resurrect the
most vaunted notorious vice and virtue police as they became known.
And so there is that sense that perhaps there's a slightly lighter touch than there had been certainly in the 1990s. But I want to stress, John and
Brianna, that beneath the surface, we do not see any real meaningful changes in the Taliban's ideology, or in its ideas of how best to govern.
So when we talk about seeing women on the streets, where we're not seeing women anymore is in their places of previous employment. Women are still
allowed to work in the healthcare sector, it's a necessity, and in some humanitarian roles, as well as teachers education.
But women who were working in business, women who were working as ministers and in ministries have also been told, in addition to all girls above the
age of 12, that instead of going to school, and instead of going to work, they must now stay home.
The Taliban says that this is just until the right or correct Islamic environment can be created. But this is now many, many months that we have
been hearing this and they have been pressed over and over again, not just by Western journalists, but by Islamic scholars from all over the world and
by Muslim countries as to what the holdup is, and what needs to be done.
What are the specific conditions that need to be reached, in order for girls to return to school, in order for women to be embraced in the
workplace again and again? And what we're hearing from the Taliban is kind of obfuscation on this point.
They don't want to be drawn into the details as to the conditions themselves, which makes many people here very nervous that there is no real
plan, in fact, to try to reintegrate women into this society. John, Brianna?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Yes, what does that mean for the future of girls there, there's actually a little girl, Clarissa who has
been darting in and out at times through the back of your live shot there who we can see who looks probably I'd say she was there before, but she's
probably I'd say around 10 or south of 10.
How in the last year, has her future changed and if you could speak to that for Kabul, but also in rural areas as well?
WARD: So this is a really important point that you bring up Brianna, because what you see and feel in Kabul is not the same as what you're
seeing and feeling in rural areas where women's education was never a priority.
Where girls were often married off at a very young age and where the society is generally speaking, much more conservative and much more
supportive of the Taliban.
And so what you hear in rural areas is that people are just delighted that the Americans left that the war has essentially calmed down that there's
been a return to relative peace and quiet.
[11:25:00]
WARD: And they're not focused on this sort of more interesting or more compelling to certainly international audience social issues such as
women's rights. But for that 10 year old girl who you mentioned, her future looks grim.
Let's be very clear about this, there is no immediate plan for her to be go able to go to school after sixth grade. We hear anecdotally stories of
girls deliberately trying to fail their fifth grade classes so that they can be allowed to repeat the year.
We know of many cases of girls and women who are coming together to set up underground schools, where girls can go and learn in a sort of clandestine
environment.
But I think that the heartbreak for so many here is that for the 20 years, that the U.S. and its allies had a presence in Afghanistan. While that
certainly was a very polarized presence and would be categorized as an occupation by many, there was still a chance for women and girls, that you
could dare to dream that you could participate in society.
Those dreams really have been all but snuffed out now. The IRC the International Rescue Committee, which I mentioned before, has said that 70
percent of women civil society organizations have been forced to shut down.
And countless women and girls who were involved in activism, who were trying to speak out on behalf of girls have either been forced to leave the
country or forced to abandon that type of activity because it can potentially be dangerous for them and for their families.
KINKADE: Thanks to Clarissa Ward there one year after the Taliban's takeover. Ashraf Ghani claims he is still president. He told the Afghan
broadcasting network that based on the Constitution; he is still the president until the people choose his replacement.
He also said Afghanistan was deceived by the Americans in making an agreement with the Taliban. Ghani fled the country as the Taliban swept
Kabul. Still ahead on "Connect the World" the long hot summer that's been a killer for crops and forests, and how the extreme heat and drought are
causing hardships for people across Europe. Have that story in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back to "Connect the World". I'm Lynda Kinkade in Atlanta. Good to have you with us. Well, a startling new report released this hour
reveals the Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet. Climate study by the Finnish Meteorological Institute describes the
phenomenon as arctic amplification; it's caused by heat trapping emissions from burning fossil fuels.
[11:30:00]
KINKADE: The study analyzed temperature trends in the Arctic Circle between 1979 and 2021. And it's produced findings not previously seen in models of
research.
Well, Europe summer of extreme heat and little rainfall is making life tough for millions of people. In France, the government is calling on
companies to release their workers who are also volunteer firefighters.
Visuals there scrambling to get a grip on spreading wildfires that are turning southwestern France near Bordeaux into an inferno. CNN's Salma
Abdelaziz brings us a sense of what people are dealing with across the continent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER (voice over): Soaring temperatures and few signs of rain. Millions across Europe are experiencing some of the hottest
and driest climate conditions since record keeping began creating a tinderbox.
More than 600,000 hectares across Europe have burned in wildfires already this summer. French authorities report numerous outbreaks. Emergency
services in southwest France have gone door to door urging more than 6000 residents to evacuate.
MARTIN GUESPERA, LOCAL SECURITY OFFICIAL: The fire is still progressing. It caught us by surprise with its direction. It created its own wind its own
story its own movement.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): France has experienced its driest July since 1959. And like much of Europe is braced for another heat wave over the coming
days. Large parts of England are under Amber warnings where homes are typically ill equipped to deal with extreme temperatures, straining a
health service already feeling the heat.
Wildfires continue to burn in Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Portugal, where for five days of fire has ripped through the heart of one of the country's
national parks.
DUARTE, RESIDENT OF SAMEIRO: It really breaks my heart. Everything is burned, everything is ruined. There is nothing green left. It will take
many years to regenerate, and I won't be around to see it.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): These images in central Spain highlight the severity of the drought. The reservoir stands nearly empty, locals fear for
the future of their economy.
FRANCISCO BAZAGA, LOCAL BUSINESSMAN: It's been several years without rain and we're hitting rock bottom. If it doesn't rain, unless they find some
alternative water supply, the future is very, very dark.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, temperatures will rise in all European areas at a rate exceeding
the global average and are projected to keep rising. Salma Abdelaziz, CNN London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, the drought could officially be declared Friday in parts of England. That's according to British media reports. A drought declaration
would mean water companies will be expected to impose restrictions on domestic and commercial water use.
Weather officials say last month was the driest July in England since 1935. Well, Andrew Francis is the Farm Manager for the Elveden Estate in England,
Elveden promotes environmentally responsible farming. And Andrew joins us now live, good to have you with us.
ANDREW FRANCIS, FARM MANAGER, ELVEDEN ESTATE: Thank you.
KINKADE: So July 2020, going down in history as the driest July in England since 1935. Andrew, can you give us a sense of the impact on you and your
farm? Because it looks pretty dry right now behind you.
FRANCIS: Yes, absolutely. It's horrendously dry. We've had no significant rain here for at least 65 days. We're currently experiencing less than 45
percent of our annual rainfall. And in our grind season, which is absolutely critical to us, we've had less than 35 percent average rainfall.
So the 65 percent shortfall will have to - have been supplied by irrigation.
KINKADE: Right, we're just seeing is 31 degrees right now where you are. Talk to us about your farm, you promote environmentally responsible farming
and you provide quite a substantial amount of produce for the UK. Take us through the specifics.
FRANCIS: Yes, that's correct. So sort of fall is about 22 and a half 1000 acres in size. Half of that area is devoted over to conservation or long
term conservation plans. And the other half is used for farming combinable crops of grains and primarily roots vegetable production.
So we're really looking to produce potatoes, onions, carrots and parsnips, for the supermarket's and for the customers and grainers as a bright crop
in between, and then manage all the conservation areas very much in hand to hand with the farming and everything that we do.
We're in quite a dry part of the region for the UK, which is absolutely essential, sort of like free trade in soils.
KINKADE: And Andrew of course, the UK has faced extreme temperatures this summer, temperatures I'd never seen before in the UK. Talk to us about the
impact on agriculture especially when it comes to irrigation, I imagine your costs have gone up.
[11:35:00]
FRANCIS: Yes, costs of more than more than quadrupled. So not only are we pumping a lot more water, but we've actually got the energy price increase
to fit on top of that as well. So that's really hitting us hard in terms of cost perspective.
From an operator perspective, the team has been flat out irrigating crops since early April, which is something that we wouldn't normally plan to do.
So the guys have been working really, really hard.
And we're actually we've run out of water reserves now above ground. So we're now just solely reliant on our wells. So where we're pumping water
out from the aquifer is all that we have left, a big problem coming up is that we've run the 2022 crop has been short of water.
So yields are going to be down quality is not looking very good. But we're coming up to an extremely dry period through harvest. And the problem is
with our hard baked hard dry soils, is that we're going to need water to soften and to get crops like potatoes out of the ground without freezing
them. And we're going to really be stuck for water to be able to do that.
KINKADE: And even tougher given that the government is considering more water restrictions. What could that mean for you? Is there a drought
management plan? Is there a water storage plan for agriculture?
FRANCIS: Yes, there is, but it's not really good enough to be honest. Its agriculture is a sector that is often left out of these sorts of emergency
plans, and particularly drought plans.
And the industry has been asking for agriculture being to be incorporated to these drought plans and to have its own drought plan as well. A lot of
the answers to, to the problems that we're facing, rely on more water storage for us, we don't really store enough water in the UK, if we have
enough water balance currently, we just don't store enough.
So when we run out in the summer, we've got nothing to fall back on. So that's a long term strategy. I think shorter term; we've got some really
big problems facing us, particularly when we look at next season's crops.
So we're just starting to approach the planting season for our grains. And soils are just so hard; they're powder dry, we can't really cultivate them
or work them. And to be honest, there's little point putting seeds in at the moment. Because it's so dry, nothing will germinate.
KINKADE: And so Andrew talks to us about the solutions in terms of water storage, what would you like to see?
FRANCIS: I think one of the simple ones is above ground storage. So it's more lagoons. There are some plants that are being talked about putting
some very big lagoons around through the East of England. But these are probably 10, 12 years away.
So we need something in a lot quicker than that, on farm storage has been a solution that farmers have integrated for a number of years. But being able
to get those approved through planning permission and their ecological impacts is quite difficult.
So we really need government and everybody to just all come together on this and help water storage become an easier option, and easiest short and
medium term option so that we can, so we can get through this really difficult period, whilst we're investigating longer term plans.
KINKADE: And of course, all the experts say unfortunately, this is a sign of what's to come. What are your biggest fears? What are your biggest
concerns going forward, especially when you look towards the next season?
FRANCIS: I think at a society level as farmers, we have to be really conscious of the water that we're using. And we have to make sure that
every drop that we use; we really optimize its efficiency, so that every cubic meter we pump is turned into valuable nutrition.
That leads on into food waste, where we have to make sure that again as growers and farmers, that what we harvest is really fit for purpose, that
everything that we grow in the field can reach the consumers plate so that we reduce food, food wastage that way.
I think beyond that longer term, I think it's very concerning as to how these summers, even from early spring; we're getting really dry periods now
through the spring. So any crops planted in the spring come under huge drought stress, as we've seen this year.
So I think we need to think about starting to experiment about shifting some of our planting patterns. It may seem a little radical for us, but I
think it's something worth doing that. Actually the downside of planting too early might not be as impactful as it is planting a normal time and
running into these really severe droughts.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly a tough summer. Andrew Francis from Elveden Estates, really good to get your perspective and we wish you all the best.
FRANCIS: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, some positive news on the economy out of the United States. Stocks opening higher today building on yesterday's gains fueled by that
better than expected U.S. consumer inflation report.
It's encouraging new inflation data just released to, prices that producers paid for materials in July was 9.8 percent year over year. That's actually
an improvement from the more than 11 percent spike in June. And helping all of this is oil prices; they're down some 20 percent since June.
[11:40:00]
KINKADE: The average U.S. petrol price is now below $4 a gallon tumbling 21 percent in the past three months. Well still to come on "Connect the
World". Music that will make an impact, I'll speak to one global citizen organizer on this year's lineup and the fundraising goals ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. While sharks play an important role in marine ecosystems, nearly a third of all species in the world are threatened with
extinction. Today on "Call to Earth" a bamboo shark breeding program that also helps protects their coral reef habitat.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): On a tiny island of Thailand Andaman Coast, a crew of divers is bringing precious cargo on board. These are
captive bred Bamboo sharks and they were about to take their first plunge into the wild with Marine Biologist Kullawit Limchularat.
KULLAWIT LIMCHULARAT, SENIOR SPECIALIST, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SINGHA ESTATE: We found that around this area has a lot of coral and this is a
perfect place for the bamboo shack, because this shark is the reef species.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Freedom for the first time.
LIMCHULARAT: The bamboo shack is small specie they will swim on the bottom. They did not aggressive and the team is not chopped.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Sharks in general may have a bad reputation with humans, but they are essential for their marine habitat,
says Limchularat.
LIMCHULARAT: The sharks play the important role in the environmental because they are a predator. They will control the weak prey. Environmental
of the coral reefs will be stronger.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Bamboo shark numbers have declined in recent years due to fishing practices and habitat destruction potentially
putting reefs like this in jeopardy.
LIMCHULARAT: The corals are habitat for a lot of fish. They just like oasis in the desert just like rainforest - not have sharks, the ecology of the
reef will be destroyed.
[11:45:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Those juvenile sharks cut their teeth here at the Marine Discovery Center at SAii Phi Phi Island Village.
LIMCHULARAT: You see the capsule is moving.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): It's part of a holiday resort with a focus on sustainability. The shark embryos come from the Phuket marine
biology center. Between one and three months later, they hatch as baby sharks.
LIMCHULARAT: This guy is around just two weeks after they hatch.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): When they reach 30 centimeters, they're moved to a bigger tank for another three months before they're released
into the ocean. The center is also home to a fish made famous by Disney Pixar animated classic Finding Nemo.
LIMCHULARAT: Everyone's know this orange and white coffee is a Nemo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): These clownfish are bred here and will be released in the wild if local populations are depleted Limchularat says.
LIMCHULARAT: Do you know how many species of clownfish in Thailand?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): Although part of a resort, the Marine Discovery Center is open to the public and dedicated to educating locals
and tourists alike on how to take care of the marine environment.
LIMCHULARAT: Local committee is the one who lives here. They need to know what they have and how important that they have to protect.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice over): By fostering change above and below the ocean programs like this for these species and the reef habitat, a chance
at recovery.
LIMCHULARAT: When we release them, we feel like we give something back to nature, it may give them a chance the Mother Nature can kill themselves.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well let us know what you're doing to answer the call with a #calltoearth. We'll be right back, stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: We have an update just in to CNN on a story we brought you earlier this hour. A security source confirming that the hostage standoff at a bank
in Beirut Lebanon has ended.
The armed suspect had been holding employees and customer's hostage asking to withdraw his own money. He was threatening to kill everyone inside and
set himself on fire if he couldn't access his frozen bank funds.
Well hostage taker handed then surrendered and all hostages were released. The terms of his surrender are unclear at this stage. The source says
earlier the suspect's family arrived at the bank asking him to understand off.
Of course for almost three years now Lebanon has implemented severe discretionary capital controls. People have been unable to access their
life savings. Well, now to an event aimed at addressing global poverty.
That is Ushering performing at the 2018 Global Citizen Festival in South Africa. The annual event seeks to inspire activism to end extreme poverty
around the world made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Well, this year's festival also focused is also focusing on
empowering girls and women and it's happening next month in two locations.
[11:50:00]
KINKADE: New York City, and Accra, Ghana. Some of the music industry's top apps will appear including a return to Africa by Usher, at a performance
that will also mark the 65th anniversary of Ghana's independence.
Well Hugh Evans is the CEO of Global Citizen and joins me now live from Accra. Good to see you here and congratulations, 10 years, 10 years since
you created this music festival that promotes action to end extreme poverty. And you've certainly come a long way in that time; just take us
through what you've achieved.
HUGH EVANS, GLOBAL CITIZEN CEO: Well, firstly, thank you so much, Lynda, for having me on your program this morning. Really global citizen in the
last 10 years has been about mobilizing an unstoppable movement of citizens to take action to end extreme poverty and tackle the world's greatest
challenges.
And we're so thrilled that after 10 years, global citizens have taken more than 30 million actions that have impacted the lives of over a billion
people around the world.
We've deployed now $41 billion to those who need it most. And that involves really practical things like distributing 86 million COVID-19 vaccines,
planting 157 million trees to help fight the climate crisis.
And most recently, as you mentioned in South Africa, working to encourage the South African government to deliver an additional $129 million to
provide free menstrual hygiene products to girls in public schools across South Africa, so they can stay in school and ultimately lift themselves out
of extreme poverty, but all of this has been powered by a movement of citizens.
And that's why we're so proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Global Citizen Festival this year.
KINKADE: Yes, it really is a remarkable achievement. And you always draw huge names to these global citizen events, from Beyonce to Hugh Jackman, to
Lady Gaga. And this you have two international stages in New York City and of course, Accra, Ghana. What can we expect?
EVANS: Well, firstly in New York City, which is our home on the Great Lawn of Central Park, we're thrilled that this year will be headlined by
Metallica, Charlie Puth, Mariah Carey, Rosalia, Maneskin, The Jonas Brothers, Mickey Guyton and hosted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
And then flipping to Ghana, West Africa, where I am today were hosting it in the iconic black star square because this year marks the 65th
anniversary of Ghanaian independence from Britain.
It's going to be headlined by Usher, SZA, Stormzy, H.E.R., Tems, Sarkodie, Gyakie and Stonebwoy, an incredible lineup of local Ghanaian acts with some
of the biggest international superstars.
And all of this will be broadcast all around the world so that citizens can be part of this movement wherever you are on the planet.
KINKADE: And certainly you need all the help and support you can get because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. And certainly Russia's war in
Ukraine has affected the number of people now facing extreme poverty.
EVANS: Absolutely, you know, we know that just as a result of COVID-19 alone, 100 million more people were pushed into extreme poverty. And now as
a result of both the refugee crisis, as well as the food crisis that's been caused by Russia refusing to allow grain to be exported from Ukraine, and
now also the issues of access to fertilizers across Sub Saharan Africa, there are an estimated 200 million people that will be pushed into extreme
poverty by this November, if we don't take urgent action now.
That's why we're calling on citizens all around the world to be part of the movement today to download the Global Citizen app. We don't charge for
tickets to the Global Citizen Festival that free, for you earn them through calling on world leaders and business leaders and philanthropists to step
up and commit billions of dollars for the fight to eradicate extreme poverty.
KINKADE: And so how do people go about that they download the app, what sort of actions do you expect to see in the next month?
EVANS: Well, this year, we wanted to make action taking really about how you can integrate it into your everyday life. So if you're in New York
City, you can volunteer at a local food bank, and your action and volunteering earns you points. And then you can use those points to come to
the Global Citizen Festival for free because we want to give back to the city of New York. But likewise here in Ghana, you can do the same.
You can actually volunteer to support local environmental projects, as well as food security projects here in Ghana. And regardless of where you are in
the world, you can fly to be part of one of the Global Citizen festivals or you could just take action from your living room.
So wherever you are in the world download the Global Citizen app, we make action taking an activism straightforward. But you could also all of your
actions combined put pressure are on world leaders to do the right thing. Because whether it's about tackling the crippling debt crisis it's
afflicting the world's poorest nations or addressing the climate crisis, all of these things, as Mandela said, are not gestures of charity, their
acts of justice.
[11:55:00]
EVANS: We need to see that there's systemic change created. And that's what the movement is all about.
KINKADE: A very important movement. Looking forward to the concert next month September 24, I believe.
EVANS: It is.
KINKADE: Good to have you with us. As always, Hugh Evans thanks so much.
EVANS: Thank you so much, Lynda.
KINKADE: And thanks to all of you for joining us. I'm Lynda Kinkade that was "Connect the World". Our world, "One World" is coming up next, stay
with us, you're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
