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> HELLO EVERYONE.
AND WELCOME TO 'AMANPOUR.'
HERE IS WHAT'S COMING UP.
A SPECIAL REPORT FROM CUBA, CONFRONTING THE MOST SERIOUS CASTRO REVOLUTION.INCE THE FROM HAVANA THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF U.S. AFFAIRS JOINS ME.
THEN, APOCALYPSE NOW AS EXTREME WEATHER DELIVERS ITS RAMPAGE.
LEGAL CASE FOR OUR PLANET.HE CEO OF CLIMATE EARTH JOINS ME.
PLUS.
OUR OLD APPROACH TO LOCKING AS MANY PEOPLE UP FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE DOES NOT MAKE US SAFE.
SAN FRANCISCO'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY TELLS WHY CRIME THERE ABOUT IT. AND WHAT HE'S DOING -- MADE POSSIBLE BY -- COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN THE COMMUNITY.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THESE FUNDERS.
AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM EVERYONE.
I'M CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR IN LONDON.
WHERE ARE OUR LOVED ONES?
FAMILIES IN CUBA.ION FOR MANY TWO WEEKS AGO THE COUNTRY SAW THE LARGEST ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS IN A GENERATION AND ACTIVISTS SAY MANY ARE STILL MISSING.
MORE THAN 500 OF THEM ARE STILL MISSING ACCORDING TO ACTIVISTS.E UNPRECEDENTED IN A COUNTRY WHERE GOVERNMENT IS SWIFTLY SHUT DOWN.
NOW TAKEN BACK CONTROL, MANYAS PEOPLE ARE STILL ANGRY ABOUT THE COLLAPSE OF THE ECONOMY, FOOD AND MEDICINE SHORTAGES, LACK OF INTERNET ACCESS, AND THE RECORD.
IN A MOMENT, MY INTERVIEW WITH THE MOST SENIOR CUBAN OFFICIALI.
BUT FIRST HERE IS CORRESPONDENT.
LARGEST PROTEST SINCE FIDEL CASTRO'S REVOLUTION STUCK CUBA THE GOVERNMENT QUICK STRUCK BACK.
CARRY OUGHT MASS ARRESTS.
SOME WERE FORCIBLY DETAINED.
AS THEY CHANTED HOMELAND IN LIFE.
ONE OF THE ARRESTS WAS PHOTOGRAPHER, WHO FILMED PART O.
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PROTEST HE WAS TRIED, CONVICTED PRISON.TENCED TO A YEAR IN COURT HE DID NOTHING WRONG.
HE SAID HOW IS THIS JUST WHEN I HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN A LAWYER, AND I AM INNOCENT HE SAYS.
IMMEDIATELY ONE OF THE POLICE IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES CAME AND HANDCUFFED HIM.
I SAID MY LOVE, BE CALM, YOU AR.
THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO SAY HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKING PART IN THE PROTESTERS.
ALMOST 700. PUT THE NUMBER AT THE GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS THOSEA.
-- POLICE.
LIKE THIS VIDEO, PELTING CARS WITH ROCKS.
NOT JUST FOR CHALLENGING THE ON THE ISLAND.MMUNIST PARTY TOND HAVING DIFFERENT OPINIONS INCLUDING POLITICAL ONES DOESN'. THINKING DIFFERENTLY, QUESTIONING WHAT'S GOING ON, TO IT IS A RIGHT. NOT A CRIME.
BUT ON THE STREETS OF CUBA, ELITE SPECIAL FORCES COMMANDOS WERE RECENTLY PLACED ON THE SANCTIONS LIST BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR ALLEGED ACTS OF REPRESSION TO PREVENT FURTHER PROTESTS FROM BREAKING U. MANYOE WHO WERE ARRESTED WOULD NOT TAL.
THEY WERE TOO AFRAID.
BUT SOME DID TELL US THEIR LOVED ONES HAD DID NOTHING OTHER THAN PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE OR SIMPLY RECORD AND UPLOAD VIDEOS OF THE HISTORIC PROTESTS AS THEY TOOKP.
ARRESTS DAYS AFTER POSTING THIS VIDEO TO FACEBOOK THAT HAVE NOW BEEN VIEWED OVER 100,000 TIMES.
AMONG THE CHARGES SHE AND HER HUSBAND FACE IS INSTIGATION OF DELINQUENCY.
ODETTE'S COUSIN SPOKE TO SEVERAL WHO WERE AROUND FOR THE PROTESTS.
AND SPOKE TO US FROM HIS HOME I.
THEY WEREN'T VIOLENT.
ANYONE HE SAYS.OW ROCKS AT THEN SPECIAL TROOPS CAME TO GET.
POLICE.NDO UNIT WITH MANY IN OF CUBA'S TOP ARTS HAVE CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN AND CALLED FOR AMNESTY FOR NON VIOLENT PROTESTERS.
AMIDST THE MASS TRIAL A SIGNS O.
A DAY AFTER HE VISITED HIS HOME, THE PHOTOGRAPHER WAS RELEASED -- ON HOUSE ARREST.
AWAITING APPEAL.
GOVERNMENT ONLY JUST BEGUN TO PR PROSECUTE WHOSE WHO BROKE THE LAW AS ALL OF CUBA SEEMINGLY HOLDS ITS BREATHE AND WAITS SO'. WITH THE FACTS ON THE GROUND.
> WELL THE UNITED STATES HAS IMPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST SOME CRACKDOWN P.S DURING THE HUMAN IN THE MEANTIME CUBA BLAMES THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ECONOMIC WHAT'S BEEN GOING.OTESTS AND DIRECTOR GENERAL AT CUBA'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
I STARTED ABOUT ASKING ABOUT THE SO CALLED DISAPPEARED.
CARLOS FERNANDEZ -- WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.
THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.
PLEASURE.
AFTER THIS ERUPTION OF PROTEST ACROSS YOUR COUNTRY THERE IS STILL, LET'S START WITH THE MANY, MANY PEOPLE RELATIVES SINCE THEY WERE DETAINED IN THOSE EARLY DAYS.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE PROCESSING OF PROTESTERS?
AND WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT GETTING ANY ANSWERS TO THEIR PERSISTENT?
MISINFORMATION.S A LOT OF BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS THE.
AS IS NATURAL THERE HAVE BEEN DETENTIONS IN CUBA AND ARRESTS AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED.
YOU HAVE THE EXAMPLE OF JANUARY.
HUNDREDS WERE DETAINED.
HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND.
CUBA.AME THING IS HAPPENING IN NOW, THERE ARE MANY ALLEGATIONS INTENSE CAMPAIGN OFTRONG VERY MISINFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DISAPPEARED, PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD OF.
IT IS NOT TRUE.
EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN DETAINEDS THEIR FAMILY KNOW ABOUT IT.
THEIR PEOPLE CLOSE TO THEM KNOW.
THEY HAVE BEEN -- EVERYTHING HAS LAW. DONE ACCORDING TO TO THE AND YOU CANNOT LISTEN TO ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE AIMED ANDPA WITHOUT DELIBERATE PURPOSE.
YOU TALK ABOUT DUE PROCESS.
WE'RE WATCHING THE RECKONING OF.
AND THERE ARE HUNDRED OSES OF PEOPLE CHARGED AND MANY ARRESTED BUT THEY DO HAVE DUE PROCESS.
THEY HAVE LAWYERS, THERE ARE ALL PLACE THERE. OF LAW EFFORTS IN NOT THE CASE IN CUBA, AT LEAST NO LAWYERS IN SOME CASES, ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN RELEASED TO HOUSE.
INCLUDING COUPLE OF JOURNALISTS.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIMPLY PROTESTED WHAT BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION IS A FAILING ECONOMY, DESPERATE NEEDS, LACK OF FOOD, RISING CASES OF COVID, THE IDEA THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING CARED FOR.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT VACCINES.
NOW TODAY YOUR COUNTRY HAS DAILY COVID CASES. NUMBER OF WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY SHOUTED LIBERTY OR LIFE AND FREEDOM ON THE STREETS BEING PU?
I AM SURPRISED ABOUT WHAT YO.
EVERYBODY IN CUBA THAT HAS BEEN DONE WITH DUE PROCESS.AS BEEN EVERYBODY HAS HAD ACCESS TO ALA.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE ACCORDING TO JUDICIAL PRACTICE WHICH IS IN CUBA COMMON TO WHAT HAPPENS IN MOST COUNTRIES AROUN.
SO I'M SURPRISED THAT YOU ARE CASE.G THAT THIS IS NOT THE EVIDENTLY YOU ARE BEING THE WORLD IS BEING MISINFORMED.
AS I SAID THERE IS A VERY INTENSE CAMPAIGN, LED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO MISINFORM AND TO TRY TO CREATE A VIRTUAL REALITY THAT THOUGH WIDELY WORLD., IT IS NOT THE REAL IT IS NOT REALITY.
PEOPLE IN CUBA THAT HAVE SHOUTED LIBERTY OR WHATEVER HAVE NOT BEEN DETAINED FOR SHOUTING THAT.
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN CUBA HAVE BEEN BROKE THE LAW, THEY VANDALIZED, THEY PRACTICED AGGRESSION AGAINST PEOPLE, AGAINST THE POLICE.
DESTROYED PRIVATE AND PUBLICPRO.
BEEN DETAINED IN CUBA.HAT HAVE AND YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME THA.
IT HAPPENS IN ANY COUNTRY AND ANY LAW-ABIDING COUNTRY, PEOPLE.
THE REST IS FICTION.
DELIBERATELY SAID SO WITHOUT ONE EVIDENCE.RD ONE EVIDENCE.
ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE.
ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE OF WHAT I.
WELL RECEIVE SEEN THE VIDEOSD REPORTERS.
WE HAVE REPORTERS ON THE GROUND AND HAVE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE A PERCENTAGE AS ALWAYS OF THOSE WHO SEEK TO VIOLENCE BUT THOSE WHO WERE SIMPLY PROTESTING AND BEING PRESENT IN AN UNPRECEDENTED WAY IN THE 60 YEARS SINCE YOUR REVOLUTION WER.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF.
BUT I GUESS I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD AND WATCHE.
DO YOU SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THAT YOUR PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE THESE PROTESTS?AS INSTIGATED IS THAT NOT JUST SOME OLD REVOLUTIONARY, YOU KNOW, COVER THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN USING FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS?
CLEARLY THERE IS A FIGHT, A EMBARGO, AN ECONOMIC FIGHT AN CUBA.EN THE UNITED STATES AND BUT WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE REACT TO SHORTAGES.POVERTY, NEEDS AND DO YOU THINK THEY BELIEVE THAT THE U.S. INSTIGATED THESE PROTESTS?
CHRISTIANE, THERE IS AN EVIDENT OPERATION OF REGIME CHANGE, LED BY THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT TO DATE AGAINST CUBA, HAS TO BE BASED ON LIES.ND IT YOU CAN REMEMBER THE SECRETARY OF STATE COLLIN POWELL AND SECURITY COUNCIL SPEAKING ABOUT.
YOU CAN MAKE AN ANALOGY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY WITH THE POWERFUL CAPACITY OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE UNITED STATES ON MASS MEDIA AND ON NETWORKS.
IN THE VIDEOS -- THAT YOU HAVE SEEN, YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ANY POLICE FORCE WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE ONE YOU FREQUENTLY SEE PRACTICED IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN MOST CITIES IN LATIN AMERICA OR CITIES INEU.
YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ONE.
YOU CAN PUT THEM ON TELEVISION AND NONE OF THEM IS GREATER THAN POLICE IN THE UNITED STATES IN CITIES AND EUROPE AND CITIES AND LATIN AMERICA OR OTHER PARTS OF.
YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ONE VIDEO OF EVIDENCE OF ANY ONE BEING ARE SHOUTING.USE OF WHAT THEY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DETAINED IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BROKEN THE LAW OR THEY HAVE INSTIGATED LAW.LE TO GO OUT AND BREAK THE THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DETAINED.
THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED IN FOR QUESTION OR THEY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IF THERE IS EVIDENCE O.
THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENED IN CUBA AND THERE'S NO SHRED OF EVIDENCE SHOWN ANYWHERE THAT SHOWS THE CONTRARY.
WE HAVE SEEN THE REPORTERS COMING AND DESCENDING THE PROTESTERS.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS USE WOODEN STAKES TO BEAT UP THOSE WHO ARE DEMONSTRATING AGAINST YOU.
BEYOND THAT, THE EMBARGO I BELIEVE MOST OF THE WORLD THINKS IT IS A CRUEL AND USELESS FORM OF COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT.
IT DOESN'T TOPPLE THE REGIME.
AND THE PRIVILEGE PEOPLE.
SUCH AS YOURSELF.
IT DOES TOPPLE THE VERY RIGHT TO LIFE OF THE PEOPLE THERE.
SO I WANT TO ASK YOU TO COMMENT, NOT ON U.S. CRITICISM OR OTHER OUTSIDE CRITICISM.
BUT NOW CRITICISM FROM WITHIN YOUR OWN RANKS, PEOPLE WHO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS COMMUNIST DIE HARDS, AS REVOLUTIONARIES, AS SUPPORTERS OF THE CASTRO GOVERNMENT AND BEYOND NOW.
THIS IS A SOCIOLOGY AS A RESEARCH NER A STATE-RUN YOU ARE.ION RIGHT THERE WHERE LUIZ AMELIO AYBAR HAS SAID WHAT HAPPENED IS BECAUSE WE DO NOT FIGHT WITH SUFFICIENTES FORCE AND EFFICIENCY THE HARMFU.
WE UNCRITICALLY FOLLOW OUR THEIR PATH.TEAD OF RECTIFYING WHAT DO YOU SAY TO NOW INCREASING LEFTISTS, SOCIALIST, COMMUNIST VOICES IN YOUR OWN ISLAND TALKING ABOUT YOUR FAILURES?
THAT IS AN OPINION THAT I RESPECT, THOUGH I DISAGREE WITH.
AS I TAKE EXCEPTION WITH YOUR PERSONAL ATTACK THAT I'M A PRIVILEGED PERSON.
YOU HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO SAY SO AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SAY THAT I'M A PRIVILEGED PERSON.I . BUT TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT, PEOPLE IN CUBA HAVE NEEDS.
AS THEY HAVE AROUND THE WHOLEWO.
STATES. HAVE IN THE UNITED LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.AT YOU CANNOT TELL ME THAT IN THE U.S. IN EUROPE, IN LATIN AMERICA THERE ARE NOT PEOPLE WITH STRONG HARDSHIPS THAT PROTEST AND THAT EXPRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES.
THE SAME HAPPENED IN CUBA.
AND FOR EXPRESSING THEIR DETAINED IN CUBA.Y HAS BEEN THAT IS THE POINT I AM MAKING.
OKAY.
THAT.N, I'M SORRY YOU RESENT I OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T MEAN PERSONALLY BUT DO I MEAN YOU AS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT.
I THIS THAT IS INCONTROVERTIBLE.
ACTUALLY YOUR OWN PRESIDENT HAS.
WE HAVE NOT MET EVEN THE PROMISES THAT WE MADE.
SO AGAIN THIS GENTLEMEN WHO YOU RESPECT AND WHOSE A SOCIOLOGISTG THE 2020 HALF THE COUNTRY'S HOTEL CONSTRUCTION AT A TIMEO THERE WAS A DRASTIC DECREASE IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND ACUTE AGRICULTURE.INVESTMENT IN SO MY QUESTION SO YOU, AS A GOVERNMENT, AND I KNOW YOU DEAL STATES PRIMARILY.TH UNITED BUT ARE YOU NOT CONCERNED THAT UNLESS THESE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED THERE WILL SIMPLY BE MORE PROTESTS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU BASH PEOPLE OVER THE HEADS, MOST PEOPLE ARE SAYING BARRIER.Y HAVE BROKEN THE FEAR THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED SINCE THE CUBAN REVOLUTION OF 1959 IN.
WHAT DO YOU SAY, IF I COULD ASK, IN CLOSED DOOR STRATEGY SESSIONS ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO OUT BURST IN THE FUTURE?R THIS
CONTRARY TO THE U.S. IT IS PEOPLE OVER THE HEAD.TO BASH I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE.
THIS GENERATION OF CUBANS CANNOT TAKE THE WEALTH OF A COUNTRY SATISFIED TODAY AND FORGET ABOUT FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY.BOUT THE THE COUNTRY DEPENDS ON INDUSTRY AND DEVELOPMENT AND WE CAN NOT ONLY LOOK AT TODAY AND FORGET ABOUT THE FUTURE.
WE CAN ARGUE FOREVER IF IT IS WISE OR NOT TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN HOTELS AND NOT DEDICATED TO AGRICULTURE.
BUT IN CUBA IT IS NOT ONE OR TH.
WE ARE INVESTING IN HOTELS AND WE ARE INVESTING IN AGRICULTURE.
WE ARE INVESTING IN FOOD PRODUCTION.
WE ARE INVESTING IN EDUCATION.
AND WE ARE INVESTING IN HEALTH.
WHOEVER SAYS THAT WE ARE DOING ONE OR THE OTHER DOES NOT KNOW AND DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CUBA, EVEN THOUGH I CAN RESPECT THAT POINT OF VIEW.
OPINION.OT ARGUE IF THAT IS AN
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN IN CUBA SEVERAL TIMES AS A REPORTER AND I HAVE STOOD WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO CARD.LL THEIR MONTHLY RATION AND I'VE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES AS OUR REPORTERS DO NOW THAT THEY CAN BARELY GET PAST WEEK TWO WITH THE STATE HANDOUT.
SO IT IS A REAL PROBLEM.
I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT HEALTH BECAUSE CUBA DOES STAND MUCH IN ITS HEALTH SYSTEM.S SO WELL KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD.
PLUS BIO MEDICINE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A CONTRACT OR AN AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW WITH A PROMINENT U.S. HEALTH CENTER ABOUT YOUR COVID VACCINE PRODUCTION, ETC.
SO I WANT TO ASK YOU HOW THAT'S GOING IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT YOU ARE UNDERGOING A MASSIVE THIRD WAVE THAT I SAID THERE WAS A HUGE RECORD OUTBREAK OF CASES RIGHT NOW TODAY HAS BEEN DECLARED.
PROCESS?UT THE VACCINATION AND ARE YOU CONFIDENT IN YOUR-G?
YES, AS YOU SAID WE HAVE -- WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN LATIN AMERICA THAT HAS ITS OWN VACCINE.
WE HAVE FIVE CANDIDATES, TWO OF WHICH HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR EMERGENCY USE ALREADY.
AND ARE CERTIFIED.
THE LEVEL OF 11 MILLION CUBAN, ALREADY BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.
AS YOU MIGHT UNDERSTAND AND THE AS HAPPENS IN OTHER COUNTRIES YOU NEED A CRITICAL MASS OF VACCINATION CONCENTRATED FOR POPULATION. AN IMPACT IN THE STILL IS GROWING.
AND THE DELTA AND THE BETA STRAIN ARE HAVING IN CUBA AS IN.
WE'RE HOPING THAT TO CURB SOMETIME SOON.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN AS IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW IN ANY TRUST IN OUR VACCINE.A GREAT IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A POWERFUL SOLUTION OR AT LEASTAL.
AND YES AS IN THE REST OF THE WORLD, THE VACCINE ALONE IS NOT.
FROM ACQUIRING THE VIRUS IT.
HELPS YOU IF YOU ACQUIRE IT AND IT DIMINISHES THE SPREAD CAPACITY BUT IT DOES NOT STOPIT.
AND UNTIL WE HAVE A GREATER MASS, WHICH IS GOING QUITE FAST I WOULD SAY IN OUR COUNTRY, WE WON'T HAVE A CURB IN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE INFECTED AS WE HAD OF.
SO FINALLY THEN, BECAUSE IT TOOK RAUL CASTRO TO COME OUT ANT PRESIDENT.
TO BURNISH REVOLUTIONARY FERVOR.
I THEN ASK YOU.
YOU NO LONGER HAVE A CASEMATIC, POWERFUL REVOLUTIONARY LEADER A.
WHOLE NEW DEMOGRAPHIC.E IS A ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THE MAINTAIN THAT REVOLUTIONARYAS FERVOR AND KEEP A LID ON ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO KEEP A LID ON IN YOUR COUNTRY?
I'M SURE THAT WE CAN.
I'M SURE THAT WE CAN.
CRISIS IN OTHER COUNTRIES,UT INCLUDING THE U.S.
NONE OF THEM HAS HOOD TO FACE A CRISIS WITH A SUPER POWER BENT ON PRODUCING REGIME CHANGE IN HAPPENING IN CUBA TODAY.AT'S WITH THE WEAPONIZATION OF INTERNET, THE WEAPONIZATION OFM.
THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO DO THAT.
IN CUBA, IN SPITE OF THAT, IN SPITE OF THAT, WE ARE SURE THAT.
AND LASTLY, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE U.S. LIAISON, OBVIOUSLY AND.
DO YOU FORESEE ANY CHANGE FOR THE BETTER, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RATHER THA?
IT IS DIFFICULT TOO SAY.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SEEMS ADMINISTRATION. THE TRUMP IT SEEMS LIKE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MORTGAGED POLICY TOWARDS LATIN AMERICA AND CUBA TO THE FLORIDA POLITICS AND ITSN ADMINISTRATION IS MORTGAGING IT AND AS HAPPENS WITH THE BANK, IT POLICY.COME THE OWNER OF THE AND TODAY IT SEEMS THAT ELECTORAL POLITICS IN FLORIDA IS GOVERNING WASHINGTON INSTEAD OF.
ON THAT NOTE, CARLOS FERNANDEZ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR.
IT'S A PLEASURE.
> AND NOW AFTER GETTING THAT RARE PERSPECTIVE FROM HAVANA, WE PRECEDENT.DISASTER WITHOUT THAT IS WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF ITALY'S SAR DIGNE REGION IS WEEK.NG THE WILDLIVS RAVAGINGTHS FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES.EN IT IS NOT TO ONLY REGION SUFFERING.
CATALONIA HAS MANAGED TO STABILIZE ITS FIRES THAT BURNED NEARLY 2,000 HECTARES OF LAND.
THE FEAR AMONG THE RESIDENTS THERE IS PALPABLE AS SCOTT McLEAN REPORTS.
FELT VERY HELPLESS NOT ABLE DO ANYTHING.
WATCHING THE FLAMES GET CLOSER ANYTHING.R AND WE CANNOT DO
JUST OVER THE PYRENEES IN SOUTHERN FRANCE IT TOOK 800 FIREFIGHTERERS TO BRING A BLAZEL WORRIED ABOUT THE PARCHED EARTH THAT COULD BE JET FUEL FOR A NE.
AND IN GREECE TOO DOZENS OF FIREFIGHTERS ARE BATTLING AN INFERNO NORTH OF ATHENS, WARNING DOORS.NTS TO CLOSE WINDOWS AND JUST WEEKS AFTER DEVASTATING FLOODING IN GERMANY AND BELGIUM KILLED MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE WIT.
DROUGHTS ARE BECOMING MORE SOUTHERN EUROPE.E SEVERE IN EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITIES SAY THAT THIS REGION IS AT GREATEST RISK ON THE CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASE.S FROM
THE FACT THAT ERRATIC WEATHER PATTERNS ARE GOING TO BE THE NEW NORMAL MEANS THAT WE NEED TO PREVENT THINGS GETTING WORSE.
AND IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING URGENTLY, AND URGENTLY, I MEAN NOW, THEN CLIMATE CRISIS IS GOING TO GET COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL AND OUR CITIZENS DO NOW.RSTAND THAT WE NEED TO ACT EU'S CLIMATE CHIEF.G FROM THE SO ACTION ON THE CLIMATE MUST COME NOT JUST FROM INDIVIDUALS BUT ALSO COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD.
LAWYERS AND THE COURTS ARE ALSO.
MY NEXT GUEST IS THE FOUNDING CEO OF CLIENT EARTH, A TEAM OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYERS DEDICATED TO REPRESENTING AND DEFENDING THE OCEANS, FORESTS, AIR AND SURVIVAL OF OUR NATURAL WORLD.
CASES.NOW THEY HAVE 166 ACTIVE JAMES THORNTON IS THE CEO AS IS.
WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.
JAMES THORNTON.EING WITH US YOU HEARD, YOU SAW THE REPORT.
YOU HEARD FROM FRANZ TIMMERMAN, THE EU CLIMATE CHIEF.
DO YOU THINK AND WE WATCHED FLOODS IN GERMANY, TERRIBLE FLOODS HERE IN LONDON OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO, THE CONDITIONS ARE I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T EVEE SOMETHING MIGHT CHANGE,HAT SOMETHING MIGHT GIVE ON A POLICY LEVEL BY TIME OF COPP 26, THE NEXT BIG WORLD CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR GLASGOW IN NOVEMBER?
I HOPE SO CHRISTIANE.
AND YOU VERY CORRECTLY POINTED FACE RIGHT NOW.IN EVERYONE'S SO IF POLICY MAKERS HAVE ANY BRAINS ABOUT THIS AT ALL, THEY WILL BE DOING A LOT IN GLASGOW.
WHAT'S DISAPPOINTING HOWEVER IS WEEKEND AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO AGREE TO GO OFF COAL.
SO THE ADDICTION TO FOSSIL FUEL IS STILL THERE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE POLICY MAKERS AND THESE GOVERNMENTS AND THAT NEED.
FOSSIL FUELS AND QUICK.ING
SO THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING JUST ON THE BRINK OF ITBECAUSE HAPPENING, I INTERVIEWED THE JOHN KERRY, FORMER SECRETARY OF.
AND HE -- YOU KNOW, HE RAISES THE DIRE WARNINGS.
BUT HE'S ALSO TRYING TO BE HOPEFUL.
HE DID THOUGH SAY THAT THE BOTTOM LINE OF MANY OF THESE COMPANIES, THESE FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES IS STILL SOMETHING SPEAK. RULING THE ROOST SO TO WHAT ARE YOU DOING, AS CLIENT EARTH, TO PARTICULARLY ADDRESS THAT ISSUE IN YOUR LEGAL ACTIVISM AND IN TAKING BIG PLAYERS TO COURT?
WELL, BECAUSE GOVERNMENTS AREN'T ACTING FAST ENOUGH, SEE VERY MUCH REDUCE THE WORSTLL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT IS VERY NECESSARY.
WE REALLY ARE TALKING ABOUT, AS DAVID ATTLEBORO PUTS IT, SAVING.
AND SINCE GOVERNMENTS AREN'T YET ACTING FAST ENOUGH, CITIZENS, CLIENT EARTH, FOR EXAMPLE, USING THE COURTS, CAN REQUIRE THE ACTION THAT ISN'T HAPPENING FAS.
SO WE AND MANY OTHERS AROUND THE CHANGE CASES.NGING CLIMATE AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HAVE NEARLY MOMENT.THEM ACTIVE AT THE SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY THERE HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LIKE 2,000 CLIMATE CHANGE CASES PILE.
AND I WOULD ESTIMATE PROBABLY 20% OF THOSE WERE BROUGHT BY CLIENT EARTH.
NOW, IT IS INTERESTING, IN THE ONES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH, THAT COURTS HAVE HEARD, NO COURT HAS EVER SAID THAT CLIMATE CHANGE ISN'T A REAL PROBLEM.
AND SO THERE ARE NO -- SO FAR NO CLIMATE-DENYING COURTS.
THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING.
POWERFUL LEVER. IS INCREDIBLY JUST RECENTLY WE WON A CASE AGAINST THE WORST-POLLUTING UTILITY, AN ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT IN THE WORLD IN POLAND, AND WILL GET THEM CLOSED DOWN.
VERY RECENTLY IN THE LAST I FEW MONTHS, OTHER NGOs HAVE WON A GERMANY.ORTANT CASE AGAINST SO A COUNTRY.
AND ANOTHER A VERY IMPORTANT BIGGEST POLLUTING COMPANIES.HE SO CASES ARE BEING WON WHICH ARE ACTUALLY CAUSING -- WHICH WILLC.
WHAT I WANT TO DRILL DOWN ON.
FOR MANY PEOPLE A WHOLE NEW WAY OF PUSHING FORWARD THE CLIMATE.
SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE BIG PICTURE IF THIS GERMAN LET ME READ THE DETAILS.OUT.
BECAUSE IT IS QUITE COMPLICATED.
AS YOU SAID THIS HISTORIC RULE BEING I THE GERMAN COURT IN APRIL, THAT THE COUNTRY'S GOALS.
AND IT APPEARS THAT THE LEGAL CASE, OR AT LEAST THE RULING WAS THAT PEOPLE'S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TO A HUMAN FUTURE WERE THREATENED.
GATHER YOU ARE USING THATAN ARGUMENT OF RIGHT TO LIFE OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MAKE THES.
PROCESS.ABOUT THAT AND THAT BECAUSE IT IS A REALLY FASCINATING WAY OF TURNING THE HEAD FOR THIS CRISIS.T ON ITS AND YOU SAID MANY COURTS ARE NO.
COURTS? GERMAN COURTS LIBERAL WERE THEY BOUND TO DO THIS KIND?
THOSE ARE WONDERFUL QUESTIONS.
AND GERMAN COURTS AREN'T LIBERA.
THEY ARE NOT PARTICULARLY PROGRESSIVE.
WHEN I STARTED DOING THIS WORK IN EUROPE, GERMAN LAWYERS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT OLD JUDGES.
AND THAT WAS NEWS TO ME BECAUSE STATES THAT WEREN'TE UNITED CONSERVATIVE.
SO THESE AREN'T PARTICULARLY LIBERAL OR PROGRESSIVE COURTS, BUT THEY SEE THE SIGNS.
AND THE GERMAN COURT SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PARIS AGREEMENT ISN'T LEGALLY BINDING IN THIS INTERNATIONAL STANDARD.S THE STANDARD.LOBALLY AGREED UPON AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ARE BEING DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHTS NOW GOOD ENOUGH.GERMAN LAW ISN'T NOW WHAT'S INTERESTING THERE IS THAT IF YOU JUST LOOKED AT THE GERMAN LAW, IT WASN'T THAT BAD.
IT IS BETTER THAN ANYTHING THE UNITED STATES HAS BY FAR.
BUT WHAT THEY SAID WAS, IT WAS NOT RESTRICTING EMOTIONS EARLY -- EMISSIONS EARLY ENOUGH SO THAT IT WAS PUTTING GENERATIONS.A BURDEN ON FUTURE NOW IMMEDIATELY -- IN POLITICS, TWO WEEKS IS IMMEDIATE.
THE GERMAN -- ALL OVER THEMSELVES AFTER THE RULING AND.
I THINK THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT.
THE RESULT JUDICIAL DECISION WAS GERMAN PARLIAMENT CAST A MUCH TOUGHER LAW.
IT'S NOW A GOOD LAW.
WHAT DOES THAT MAN IN PRECEDENT AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE SHELL VICTORY IN THE NETHERLANDS.
LANDMARK CASE.SENTIALLY THAT THE DUTCH COURT RULED THAT SHELE EMISSIONS BY 45 PERCENT TO 2019 LEVELS BY 2030.
AND I GUESS DO YOU FORESEE THIS BEING A SIGNIFICANT GAME CHANGER IF IT CAN BE UP SCALED, IF I COULD USE THE WORD, AROUND THEW?
THAT THE COURTS MIGHT PLAY A REALLY BIG PART WHERE THE THE TASK OR SUCCEEDING IN THE GOALS THEY SET?
WELL YES I DO.
SO YOU ARE RIGHT.
SHELL IS A REMARKABLE CASE BECAUSE THE COURT JUST DIDN'T S.
NUMBERS.ERS YOU GAVE ARE THE BUT WHAT THE 45% REDUCTION BY 2030 IN SHELL'S EMISSIONS MEANS WHEN YOU DRILL DOWN FURTHER EVE.
PERCENT REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS PETROL OF SHELL IN THEIR CARS.
NOW, IMAGINE THAT.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT BY 2030 SHELL WILL HAVE HAD TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE ITS BUSINESS.
THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS.
OF PETROL IT SELLS BY 45AMOUNT OTHER THINGS.EXAMPLE, AND DO NOW WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THAT IS THAT WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO CREATE AN ECOLOGICAL CHANGE THE WAY WE CO-THINGS.Y WE NEED TO GET OFF GET OFF FOSSIL FUELS.
AND BY THE GERMAN COURT SAYING YOU NEED TO HIT NET ZERO BY 2045 IN GERMANY.
THAT IS THE GERMAN ECONOMY HITTING NET ZERO BY 2045.
THIS IS SHELL REDUCING THE TAIL PIPE EMISSIONS EVEN BY 2030 BYT.
SO YOU BEGIN TO GET THESE REQUIREMENTS OF FUNDAMENTAL THINGS.TURING OF HOW WE DO CONFRONTATIONAL.THIS AS BEING I DON'T.
I'M A LITIGATOR.
I SEE THIS TYPE OF LITIGATION AD SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND WHAT IT DOES, THESE KIND OF RULINGS, THIS TYPE OF LITIGATION ALSO GIVES POWER TO THE GOOD PEOPLE IN ALL OF THESE GOVERNMENTS.
DO THE RIGHT THING.WHO WANT TO BECAUSE THEY ARE THERE.
AND THEY ARE OFTEN BEING OBSTRUCTED BY INCUMBENTS OF ONE.
AND THESE TYPES OF LEGAL RULINGS GIVE THEM THE SPACE THEY NEED.
OKAY.
SO YOU JUST RAISED OBVIOUSLY THE POLITICAL ISSUE AND YOU BASICALLY SAID YOU WANT TO GIVE POWER TO THE GOOD PEOPLE.
WHILE PEOPLE WILL START ARGUINGT AND PARTICULARLY IN THE UNITEDS.
OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE PUSHBACK AS TO WHETHER COURTS SHOULD OVERTURN OR INTERFERE WITH THE SO CALLED DEMOCRATIC WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
DO YOU SEE THAT EVER COMING INT?
IS THAT A LEGITIMATE ARGUMENT THAT THE COURTS WOULD I DON'T KNOW TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IF?
WELL, THAT'S ALWAYS AN ARGUMENT.
WHAT THE COURTS ARE DOING NOW I.
THEY ARE NOT MAKING IT UP.
SO IN THE SHELL CASE, THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE DUTY OF CARE IND.
AND THE GERMAN CASE THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE FUNDAMENTAL OF LAW OF GERMANY.
IN A CASE THAT IN WHICH WE -- THAT WE BROUGHT AS SHAREHOLDERS IN POLAND WE USED STANDARD CORPORATE LAW AND WE SAID YOU, THIS COMPANY INVESTING IN A COAL-FIRED POWER STATION, ARE VIOLATING YOUR DUTY OF CARE TO US AS SHAREHOLDERS BY MAKING WHAT'S IN FACT A BAD INVESTMENT.
SO ALL OF THESE CASES, AND THE COURT DWREED.
-- AGREED.
AND THE SHARE PRICE OF THE THEM.NY WENT UP AFTER WE BEAT NOW WHAT ALL OF THESE COURTS ARE CONSERVATIVE.ALLY STILL RATHER THEY ARE NOT MAKING IT UP.
THEY ARE NOT FANTASIZING, NOT TAKING CONTROL OF GOVERNMENTS BUT THEY ARE AS INTERPRETING THE LAW ACCORDING TO THE FACTS OF THE WORLD ON THE DAY THEY MAKE THE WORLD HA CHANGED.FACTS OF MINUTES AGO.RT SHOWED A FEW
YOU KNOW I WANT TO GO ALL TH- WHAT ACTIONS YOU TOOK AS A LAWYER DURING THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION WHERE THE FIRST CASE ON YOUR DESK IN THAT ERA WAS SUING THE ADMINISTRATION FOR FAILING TO ENFORCE THE CLEAN WATER ACT.
I GUESS I WANT TO KNOW HOW THAT CASE IMPACTED YOU AND THEN BECOME A LIFELONG DEDICATION TO.
WELL, I WAS A VERY YOUNG MAN.
AND WHAT THAT WORK DID WAS TO SHOW ME THAT IF YOU USED THE LAW AS A TOOL ON BEHALF OF, IN THIS CASE IT WAS CLEANING UP THE WATER, BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY TO CLEAN UP THE WATER FOR THEM, IT FIRST OF ALL.
AND THEN SECOND, YOU IN PERSONAL POSSIBLE THING. MOST REWARDING BECAUSE YOU SEE THAT THE LAW HAS CAPTURED WHAT SOCIETY NEEDS AT THAT MOMENT. LAW REFLECT WHAT I.
AND WHEN YOU COULD GO TO THE LAW AND FIND THE REMEDIES THAT YOU NEED FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE FACING SOCIETY IN THE MOMENT YOU ARE WORKING, BY THEN YOU ARE ACTIVE.THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE YOU ARE SATISFYING THE NEEDS OF.
TAKING CARE OF THE PLANET.D AND IT IS -- IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE COURTS SO IT IS NOT.
IT IS AN ARGUMENT YOU ARE OFFER ON BEHALF OF THE WIDER COMMUNITY.
INTEREST LITIGATION IS ABOUT.
ON THE CONTRACT.KING FOR MONEY IT IS DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OFEV.
AND IT IS REALLY FASCINATING.
I READ THE CLIENT EARTH IS NOW TRYING TO TEACH AND TRAIN ALONGSIDE, I GUESS, IT IS THE CHINESE SUPREME PEOPLE'S COURT TO TRAIN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYERST.
IN CHINA.
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
WELL IT IS AMAZING.
I MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WEST YOU ARE GOING TO BE TALKING TO WHO SAYS THEY HAVE GOOD NEWS.
BUT THIS IS GENUINELY GOOD NEWS.
I'VE STARTED WORKING THERE ABOU.
THE SUPREME COURT.O WORK WITH AND THEY HAVE -- SO THE CHINESE.
THEY GET, AS THEY PUT IT IN MY FIRST MEETING, THE SUPREME COURT COURT, THEY SAID OUR -- POLLUTED WATERS POLLUTED, SOIL POLLUTED WE SKEWED EVERYTHING UP BUT THIS IS INADVERTENT DISTINGUISH TRYING TO BRING UP THE LARGESTN.
PEOPLE FROM POVERTY.MILLION SUCCEEDED IN ALLEVIATING POVERTY BUT WE SCREWED UP THE ENVIRONMENT.
ENVIRONMENT.TO CLEAN UP THE COULD YOU HELP US.
FIRST HELP US WRITE A LAW WHICH, I DID TO LAW CHINESE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO SUE THOSE OF THE GOVERNMENT.ING SO I DID THAT AND WENT BACK TO THE TALK TO THE SECURITY AND -- SUPREME COURT.
THEY SAID WHAT DO YOU WANT TO D?
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN CHINA?
CREATED A GROUP OF 3,000 JUST ENVIRONMENT COURT JUDGES.
THAT IS AMAZING.
THE WORLD.IKE ANYTHING ELSE IN NOWHERE IN EUROPE.
NOT THE UNITED STATES.
OKAY.
AND I SAID THEY NEED TRAINING.
SO --
-- REALLY IS -- I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME BUT JUST TO SAY THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, PROGRESS BECAUSE CHINA BEING THE BIGGEST POLLUTER AND ALSO, YOU POWER PLANTS.G MORE COAL-FIRED THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND FASCINATING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
THANKS A LOT.
> WE'RE STAYING IN THE COURTROOM WITH OUR NEXT GUEST.
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHASE ABUDDI, ELECTED IN 2019 HIS AGGRESSIVE PLATFORM CENTERS ON ENDING MASS INCARCERATION AND CRIME.SING THE ROOT CAUSE OF TWO YEARS INTO HIS TENURE HE'S NOW FACING A RECALL EFFORT TO REMOVE HIM FROM OFFICE.
HERE HE IS SPEAKING TO MICHELLE MARTIN ABOUT RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME AND HOW THE JAILING OF HIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE.IS VIEW ON
THANKS CHRISTIANE.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US TODAY.
GREAT TO BE WITH YOU MICHELLE.
OBVIOUSLY EVERY COMMUNITY IS.
EVERY LOCAL HAS HIS ITS PARTICULARITIES.
NATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCE.TH A SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, CITY, TOWN, BIG CITY, SOMETHING PEOPLE WITH AND THAT.NTRY ARE DEALING THAT IS AN INCREASE IN HOMICIDES TIME WHEN LOT OF OTHER MAJORT A CRIMES HAVE DECLINED BUT LAST YEAR THROUGHOUT 2020 AND FIRST PART OF 2021, HOMICIDES ARE SPIKING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
MICHELLE THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY ENTIRE OFFICE THAN KEEPING SANF.
AND THAT IS PARTICULARLY TRUE SERIOUS AS HOMICIDES.THING AS THOSE ARE THE MOST SERIOUS CRIMES THAT WE PROSECUTE.
WE SECURED A CONVICTION IN THE MURDER CASE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
AND WE'RE DOING THE WORK EVERY DAY TO HOLD PEOPLE WHO COMMIT SERIOUS CRIMES ACCOUNTABLE AND TRAGICALLY AS YOU POINT OUT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OFTHS BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS WE'VE SEEN ININCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE.
AS MUCH AS WE'RE DOING HERE INS, WE'RE LUCKY THAT OUR HOMICIDES HAVE NOT INCREASED THE WAY THEYE COUNTRY AND OTHER BIG CITIES.
BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE HOMICIDE IS ONE TOO MANY.
-- ACTUALLY TRUE.
HOMICIDES HAVE SPIKED IN 2020.T.
-- SAN FRANCISCO PROPER BUT IN JUST LIKE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
FACTORS.TIFIED A COUPLE OF ONE.DON'T WE TAKE THEM ONE BY WHAT DO YOU THINK THE COVID-19P?
I THINK FOR ONE THING WE SEE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ANXIETYA.
AND THE VIOLENCE AND INTERRUPTION PROGRAMS THAT EFFECTIVE TO PREVENT VIOLENCEIN.
VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO AND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC A LOT OF THOSE PROGRAMS WERE SHUT DOWN OR ELECTRONIC. OR CONVERTED TO THAT MEANS PEOPLE WERE OUT IN THE STREETS.
THEY COULDN'T GO TO WORK.
THEY COULDN'T GO TO SCHOOL.
AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES SOMETIMES GET INT.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON -- HOW DOES -- IT IS NOT JUST HOW DOES?
BUT WHY DOES IT'S CIRCULATE.
-- ESCALATE.
REALITY THERE'S NEVER BEEN NEVER EASIER TO GET ACCESS TOGU.
YOUNG MEN WITH DIT PUT -- DISPUTES, FIFTY YEARS AGO THEY MIGHT HAVE NAIVES OR BASEBALL BATS.STS OR STILL CRIMINAL, STILL PROBLEMATIC BUT NOW EVERYBODY FIND A GUN.GRY CAN EASILY GO DUMPED MASSIVE NUMBERS,HO HAVE UNPRECEDENTED NUMBERS OF GUNS INCLUDING UNTRACEABLE GHOST GUNS ONTO THE TREAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROLIFERATION OF GUN VIOLENCE.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
BECAUSE 8 OUT OF 10 GUNS THET SEIZES TODAY ARE UNREGISTERED, UNSERIALIZED GHOST GUNS.
THAT WASN'T TRUE EVEN FIVE YEAR.
THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF AND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. NRA
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
-- POLICY AROUND GHOST GUNS?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
EXPLAIN THAT.
THE NR HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR DECADES TO UNDERMINE ANY EFFORT BY LOCAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF GUNS AND THE RESULT IS MORE GUNS ON THE STREET THAN ANY POINT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ANGRY, BEHAVING IRRATIONALLY OR HAVING ARGUMENTS OR DISPUTES WITH FRIENDS OR NEIGHBORS HAVE EASY ACCESS TO GUNS PEOPLE GET KILLED.
IN SAN FRANCISCO WE'RE BEING WAYS TO FIGHT BACK.TIVE IN OUR BACK ON THE GHOST GUN CAN PUSH MANUFACTURERS.
WE ROLLED OUT A GUN VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE WHO KNOW SOMEONE SHOULDN'T HAVE A GUN GET GUN AGAINST THAT INDIVIDUAL.DERS WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT NEW ONES FROMET AND CIRCULATING.
UPSETTING TO PEOPLE.E IT IS OBVIOUSLY IT IS DEADLY.
DEVASTATING.
SORT OF TRAUMATIC.
BUT EVEN IF FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING, OTHER PEOPLE FEEL THAT NOT ENOUGH IS BEINGDO.
SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHG ENOUGH.
100% AGREE WITH YOU MICHELLE.
WE NEED TO DO MORE.
UP. ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO STEP WE NEED TO GET MORE DWUNS OFFTH.
WE NEED TO PRESENT NEW ONES FROM HITTING THE STREET AND EVERY SINGLE USE OF A GUN ON THE STREET.
EVERY SINGLE GUN INJURY OR GUND.
AND IT IS ONE THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT, TO PROTECT AND TO HEAL.
THAT IS WHY WE'RE ALSO BEING SUPPORTING CRIME VICTIMS,O VICTIMS WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED BY GUN VIOLENCE OR OTHER VIOLENTCR.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO SIMPLY PROSECUTE AND HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE WHO CAUSE THE.
WE DO THAT.
WE SECURED A CONVICTION IN A MURDER THAT INVOLVED A GUN DURING THE COURSE OF A ROBBERY.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING VICTIM SERVICES.
BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT IT IS TRAUMATIC.
IT IS TRAUMATIC TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE HURT AND TRAUMATIZED, THEY GO ON TO COMMIT CRIMES AND HURT OTHER PEOPLE THEMSELVES.
WE'VE GOT TO BREAK THE CYCLE.
WHEN YOU SAY LAW ENFORCEMENTU MEAN?
I MEAN WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE AND CREATIVE IN HOW WE GET GUNS OFF THE STREET.
STOP AND SEARCH EVERY BLACK AND BROWN VAN THE WAY NEW YORK CITY DID FOR SO MANY YEARS.
WE NEED TO ALSO GO TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ILLEGAL GUN MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION IS NIPPED INTH.
WE NEED TO GO AFTER THE ABOUT REGULATION THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR GUN MANUFACTURERS TO.
INTO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE THEM.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHE INCARCERATION FOR EXAMPLE,SIZE TRYING TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT CREATING SORT OF THE WHAT'S CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE LEADINGT.
AS YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ALSO IN YOUR CITY ARE -- BELIEVE THESE PROGRESSIVE POLICIES, POLICIES CREATED A SENSE OF ANYTHINGGOES.
ANYTHING GOES.
THEY FEEL LIKE IT IS CREATED A SENSE OF WE WON'T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE SO THEREFORE WE WON'T BE TRYING TO GET AWAY WIT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY THAT.
IT IS NOT TRUE.
FOR HIMSELF.DATA AND IT SPEAKS MY FIERS YEAR OVERALL CRIME WAS.
AND NATION WILD YOU SEE THE CITIES THAT ARE CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICAN MAYORS THAT HAVE TRADITIONAL TOUGH ON CRIME PROSECUTORS ACTUALLY SAW GUN VIOLENCE GO MUCH AS MORE THAN OTHER CITIES CONTROLLED BY FORMER PROSECUTORS.
IN SAN FRANCISCO GUN VIOLENCE WENT UP -- AND BIG CITIES AROUND THE BAY WE'RE GOT A VERY TOUGH ON CRIMEE SKYROCKETED IN LAST YEAR.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT LOCAL POLICIES MADE BY REFORMERS.
THIS IS ABOUT EASY ACCESS TOGUNE BEING PENT UP IN THEIR HOMES AND HAVING NO WAY TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT'S PRODUCTIVE, NO.
MASSIVE INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT AND WEALTH INEQUALITY AND WE SEY IMPLEMENTING REFORM POLICIES.
AND YOU ARE AWARE THAT FOR SOME THIS TAKES ON AN ETHNIC HU.
RIGHT?
THE FACT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SANS IN WHICH THERE WERE A NUMBER OFN DESCENT LAST YEAR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FELT THAT WAS IN PART OF RESPONSE TO THE CONTEXTR ADMINISTRATION YOU KNEW REFERRING TO THE CORONAVIRUS IN.
BUT NEVERTHELESS THESE ARE SOME REALLY, AGAIN, DEEPLY DISTURBING WHEN YOU SEE ELDERS KNOCKED DOWN ON THE STREET AND THINGS OF THAE INCIDENTS GOT A LOT OF PLAY BOTH IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND ALSO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND FOR SOME IT JUST FEELS LIKE, I'M JUST GOING.
IT FEELS LIKE FOR SOME PEOPLE ARE READING THAT AS THESE PEOPLE DON'T MATTER AND OTHERS MATTER MORE, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH YOUR UMPS ON TRYING TO LESSEN THE IMPACT OF INCARCERATION.
HOW YOU DO YOU RESPOND?
MICHELLE. TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR SAN FRANCISCO IS PROUD OF OURDI.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE CITY AND COUNTRY AND 48 UNITED STATES THAT HAS THE BIGGESTATION -- ASIAN AMERICAN POPULATION.
WITH HAVE THE OLDIST CHINA UP TE STAND WITH AND STANDBY OUR COMMUNITIES.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY A VERYEN DISTURBING INCREASE IN HATE INCIDENTS AND HATE SPEECH.
OFFICE HAS DONE. THE WORK MY WE'VE GOT A DEDICATED HATE CRIMES PROSECUTOR WHO HANDLES EVERY SINGLE HATE CRIME INVESTIGATION THE POLICE BRINGS.
WE ALSO HAVE DONE A WIDE ARRAY OF TRAININGS TO HELP POLICE IN SAN FRANCISCO BETTER INVESTIGATE AND GATHER EVIDENCE THAT ALLOWS US TO PROSECUTE HATE CRIMES AND I CONVENED A MEETING WITH ALL OF ENSURE OUR OFFICES ARERNEYS TO COORDINATING EFFORTS TO PUSH VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WHETHER THEY BE ASIAN, WHETHER THEY BE LIMITED TO ENGLISH SPEAKING, WHETHER THEY BE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
YOU ARE ELECTED ON A PLATFORM OF DEEMPHASIZING INCARCERATION AND TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IMPLEMENTING OTHER STRATEGIES.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE IDEAS THAT YOU RAN ON AND THAT YOU BELIEVE IN ARE JUST NOT APPROPRIATE TO THIS MOMENT?
THIS MOMENT MORE THAN ANY MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY IS A MOMENT THAT CRIES OUT FOR INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE APPROACHES TO REDUCE CRIME AND BUILD SAFE COMMUNITIES.
WE SAW LAST YEAR THE RISE OF A MOVEMENT.BLACK LIVES MATTER A BIGGER GRASSROOTS SOCIAL MOVEMENT THAN THIS COUNTRY EVER.
AND IT WAS A MOVEMENT CALLINGOUE APPROACHES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVE AND PROTECT THOSERN TO COMMUNITIES.
DOING IN SAN FRANCISCO.WE'RE WE'RE LEADING THE WAY IN POLICE.
IN EQUAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW AND MAKING SURE NO ONE IS SERVING TIME FOR A CRIME THEYDI.
AND -- SO MANY OTHER WAYS THAT EFFECTIVE DATA-DRIVEN,DGE OF ROOT-CAUSE FOCUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE ENFORCEMENT.
PEOPLE ARGUE THAT PART OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE -- THE -- THE CONSEQUENCE -- NOT THE CONSEQUENCE, THE COROLLARY TO THOSE SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS IS A DAMAGING OF MORALE AMONGLA.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARGUE, AND S ARGUMENT, THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT JUST ISN'T STEPPING UP TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU THINK THEY THEY ARE UNDER ATTACK.USE MORALT DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY MIRTT?
I THINK ITS BEEN A VERY ENFORCEMENT. MONTHS FOR LAW FOR ALL OF US.
SOCIAL LIVES, PROFESSIONAL LIVE.
INCREASED SCRUTINY OF POLICE AN.
WE'RE BEING HELD TO AN EXTREMELY HIGH STANDARD AND ONE I KNOW MOST OF THE HARD WORKING NUMBERS DEPARTMENT ARE EAGER TO MEET.
WE'RE READY TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND READY TO MEET THES VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS SET FOR US.
LET ME JUST ASK -- WELL, AGAIN UNIQUE TO CALIFORNIA, PRETTY UNIQUE AMONG SORT OF -- AMONG GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS IS THAE OPPORTUNITY -- GIVES CITIZENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECALL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
YOU ARE AT PRESIDENT THE SUBJEC.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT'S ABOUT?
WE SEE A VIRUS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LEFT US WITH.
IT IS NOT JUST A CORONAVIRUS.
BUT WE SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY A VIRUS OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKETS REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE WILL OFT.
WE SEE ABOUT 30% OF THIS COUNTRY REFUSING TO ACCEPT THAT BIDENWO.
HERE IN CALIFORNIA WE SEE REPUBLICAN OPERATIVES USING A RECALL TO TRY AND UNDO THE ELECTION OF GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM AND ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WE'VE GOT ABOUT 70 DIFFERENT RECALL EFFORTS UNDERW, DISSATISFIED FOLKS WHO SIMPLY CAN'T ACCEPT THE OUTCOME OF THE.
IMPORTANT.E'RE DOING IS TOO WE WILL NOT BE DETARD.
BUILDING POLICIES AND MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFE AND STRONG INS.
I KNOW YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FUNDING THE RECALL EFFORT AGAINST YOU ARE SILICON VALLEY HEAVYWEIGHTS AND I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK THAT MEANS?
WE KNOW THAT THE SILICON VALLEY VENTURE CAPITAL COMMUNITY THE TECH COMMUNITY IN SAN FRANCISCO IS AS DIVERSE AS ANY OTHER AREA OF BUSINESS OR GOVERNMENT AND WE SEE SOME FOLKS WHO ARE ULTRA CONSERVATIVE WHO REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS WHO BELIEVE THAT EVERY IN A CAGE FUNDING THIS RECALL.
WRITING CHECKS FOR 50,000, $75,000 EACH AND THAT IS NOT WHAT I BELIEVE AND THAT IS NOT WHAT I KNOW THE MAJORITY OF BELIEVE.IN THE TECH INDUSTRY SUPPORTERS ARE ALSO IN THE TECH.
OUR FOLKS, OUR VOLUNTEERS, FOLKR PEOPLE COMING HOME FROM JOBS OR PRISON ALSO LEADSERS IN THE TECK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN TECH TO CREATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY WHETHER WITH SURVEILLANCE OR RISK ASSESSMENT ALGORITHMS WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND SAFER THERE ARE THOSE WHO WANT TO EXPLOIT TRAGEDY, UNDERMINE AND GO BACK TO A ERA THOSE FOLKS.BE DISTRACTED BY
THAT IS PRETTY STRONG WORDS.
RACISM? PEOPLE MOTIVATED BY DONORS BEHIND IT ARE.E MAJOR I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHERS MOTIVATED IN DIFFERENT THINGS.
PEOPLE ARE SCARED.
THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATIOE ARE SCARED, ESPECIALLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA SO PEOPLE ARE BEING MISLED SPREADING DISINFORMATION AND, ATTEMPTING TO UNDO THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO.
AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH YOURO BACKGROUND ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.
YOU BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'TYO.
COME TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM KIND OF A DIFFERENT PLACE THAT . KNOW IF YOU LIKE THIS TERM, KIND SIXTIES.ICAL RADICALS IN THE THROUGHOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD.D COULD YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE ABOUT HOW OR WHETHER THAT EXPERIENCE INFORMS YOUR APPROACH TO POLICING AND TO LAW ENFORCEMENT?
YOU KNOW LIKE THE MAJORITY OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERH AN INCARCERATED.
THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS HAVE AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY CURRENTLY OR FORMALLY INCARCERATED SO I HAVE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THISST COUNTRY AND IT IS A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS WHEN WE AS A COUNTRY, THE LAND OF THE FREE LEAD THEWO.
MY EARLIEST MEMORIES ARE GOING PARENTS.TES JUST TO SEE MYD TO GIVE THEM A HUG.
I'VE NOW BEEN VISITING MY FATHE.
SO THAT EXPERIENCE OF SEEING UP.
OF BEING DIRECTLY IMPACT BY THIS COUNTRY'S APPROACH TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE HAS ABSOLUTELY SHAPED MY LIFE AND MY PERSPECTIVE THAT I BRING TO THE WORK AS PROSECUTOR.
I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE LIVED IT AND I'VE SEEP IT PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY THAT OUR OLD APPROACH TO LOCKING AS MANY PEOPLE UP FOR MAKE US SAFE.SSIBLE DOES NOT IT IS NOT HUMANE.
IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE AND E IT DOES NOT HONOR OR DIGNIFY TH.
HOW DO YOU PERSUADE PEOPLE THAT YOUR APPROACH IS CORRECT WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE EXPERIENCE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE USE TO THIS.
PEOPLE AND THEN THERE IS THE BA.
AND THEN HOW YOU PERSUADE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THAT INTERESTED IN THE HUMANITY OF INCARCERATED CORRECT?THAT YOUR APPROACH IS THAT.O YOU PERSUADE THEM OF
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE DO IT.
WE DO THE HARD WORK OF BUILDING SAFE COMMUNITIES OF IMPLEMENTING POLICIES THAT PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECOND WE POINT OUT THAT THE WORLD IS COMPLICATED AND NUANCED AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE PROSECUTING IN SAN FRANCISCO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE THEMSELVES BEEN VICTIMS OF.
IN SAN FRANCISCO, 75% OF PEOPLE, MENTAL ILL OR BOTH.
IF WE CAN GET AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THOSE CRIMES RATHER THAN CURING SOMEONE OF MENTAL ILLNESS WE WILL ALL BE SAFER AND HAVE -- MORE MONEY TO INVESTIGATION IN THINGS THAT VALUES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MICHELLE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT TIME.
NEW APPROACH, THAT IS IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.
YOU CAN ALWAYS CATCH US ONLINE, ON OUR POD CAST AND ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA.
JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.
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AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.