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CNN Live Sunday
Interview with Charlie Goldberg, Dale Maderos; Interview with Michaela Angela Davis
Aired January 16, 2005 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sibila Vargas coming to you live from the red carpet at the 62nd annual Golden Globe Awards. I'll have all the highlights later on.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Also, age is no barrier for some people doing their part to keep America safe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get to see people, talk to people. And they're so appreciative of us being out here especially at our age.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you mean at your age? You guys are young.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know why you mention that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: These two may be an unexpected terror-fighting team, but they get the job done. We'll talk to them a little bit later.
Hello, and welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I am Fredricka Whitfield. Let's check the headlines!
Amid tight security, Iraqi's interim prime minister Ayad Allawi campaigned at Baghdad University today. While Allawi was hand-picked by Washington to serve as Iraq's interim leader he must get majority support in the upcoming national election to win the job.
Back in this country, a state of emergency has been declared in 7 Southern California counties. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made the declaration after a series of storms triggered mudslides and flash floods that killed 10 people. Authorities say it could take days to tally up the damage.
Searchers have recovered the body of one of the five people believed missing after a massive avalanche near Park City, Utah. The body found is that of a 20-year-old snowboarder. Crews are continuing to comb the snowpack, searching for more bodies.
Final preparations under way to secure Thursday's inauguration of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Several thousand members of the armed forces rehearsed on the National Mall this morning. CNN's Brian Todd looks at the security measures in place for the first presidential inauguration since the 9/11 attacks. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the streets, in the air, on the water: many who travel in and around the nation's capital this week will be watched.
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Our goal is that any attempt in the part of anyone or any group to disrupt the inaugural will be repeled by multiple layers of security.
TODD: Layers, including some 6,000 officers from dozens of law enforcement agencies. Huge sections of the city will be shut down to traffic. Air space severely restricted for private aircraft. But commercial planes will be able to take off and land normally even during the swearing-in.
Limousines will be watched closely, since a recent federal threat assessment said al Qaeda has previously looked at using them as mobile bombs.
From bomb-sniffing dogs to heavily armed Coast Guard boats speeding along the Potomac and mobile stations with tracking capability, nothing is left to chance for this first post-9/11 inauguration. But officials say they still need the public's help.
CHIEF POLLY HANSON, D.C. METRO TRANSIT POLICE: I don't think I'm saying we're going to do it all ourselves. It's our responsibility and you just go ahead and read a book and fall asleep. You've got to be engaged with us. You've got to be paying attention, because that's the only way we're going to work together to try to prevent or mitigate.
TODD: To that end, Secret Service officials tell CNN they went to every hotel and business along the parade route, laid out security parameters with managers and made sure they briefed customers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the most extensive ticket redesign in inaugural history.
TODD: Sunday's rehearsals for the inaugural parade, every bit as meticulous.
(on camera): Why did thousands of military personnel wake up at 3:00 a.m. and deploy at 4:00 a.m. to come down here and practice for much of the day? Because precision is key. Officials in charge of the parade tell us that along with the military, thousands of civilians will be taking part. And their movements have to be coordinated down to the minute and the step.
(voice-over): Officials say they time the steps of military and civilian marchers to calculate how long it takes them to travel a certain distance.
Protesters are also micromanaged. This year for the first time, a group of anti-war demonstrators will have their own officially sanctioned bleacher section along the parade route. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. Find out what's being done to keep America safe. CNN special series of reports on defending America begins tomorrow night at 7:00 on Eastern.
And you can expect discussions about the upcoming elections in Iraq to be centerpieces this week as the president takes his second oath of office. CNN's Elaine Quijano has details from the White House now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRSEPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush spent the weekend working on his inaugural address one, aides say, will emphasize freedom and the president's vision of spreading democracy world wide.
Part of that focus now? Iraq.
But as aides continue an apparent move to lower expectations, they're painting a picture of uncertainty for that country's January 30 elections.
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: We don't know if exactly how that will come out when it comes out to the a security environment two weeks from now. But what we do know, the fact there is going to be an election two weeks from day is an incredible achievement for the Iraqi people.
QUIJANO: The White House has faced a host of criticism. Among them, that the U.S. was wrong about weapons of mass destruction, and that the Iraqi army should not have been disbanded.
In an interview with the Washington Post the president was asked why no one in the administration has been held accountable for perceived missteps on Iraq policy? The president answered quote, "we had an accountability moment, and that's called the 2004 election. And the American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq, and they looked at the 2 candidates, and they chose me."
But some Democrats flatly dismiss that.
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: I reject that this election was a mandate for the president to continue our involvement in Iraq.
SEN. CARL LEVIN, (D) MICHIGAN: Well, I think the American people obviously reelected him, that doesn't mean they agree with all of his policies relative to Iraq, or all of the ways in which the Iraq war has been fought. QUIJANO: And while a new Time poll shows a majority of Americans, 53 percent, approve of how the president is handling his job, when it comes to Iraq, 56 percent disapprove of his handling of the situation.
But the president is standing by his actions, expressing no regret about removing Saddam Hussein from power. At the same time, administration officials stress, the elections are just the beginning of what they hope will be democracy taking route in the region.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO: And while officials say the elections will not be perfect, they also emphasize they believe just holding the electionss at all is a sign of progress -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Elaine Quijano at the White House, thank you.
Well, 2 week before the January 30 vote in Iraq, candidates are campaigning under heavy security. Some are even remaining anonymous trying to stay alive until election day. The U.S. military is firming up plans to protect voters from insurgent attacks. Here's CNN's Jeff Koinange.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. troops on a mission to the win hearts and minds. Alpha Company of the 1st Calvary distributing medical and school supplies in a suburb south of Baghdad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
KOINANGE: And along with this humanitarian gesture, they hand out election leaflets as of their goal to help bring democracy here after decade of dictatorship.
LT. ANDREW FORNEY, 1ST CALVARY DIVISION, U.S. ARMY: The Iraqis don't have a full sense of democracy. In the sense of what it means to vote, that their vote counts. And what it means to have elected officials.
KOINANGE: One of the candidates? Ayad Allawi, the interim prime minister, was heavily guard as he campaigned at Baghdad University Sunday. An example of what is a low-key rare political campaign being held with a backdrop of insurgent violence.
Some 50 million Iraqis world wide are eligible to vote. Newspapers here are printing a detailed walkthrough of what to do when voters go to the 5,500 polling cities on election day.
But along with instructions on how to vote, there is a curfew in place. And a national holiday has been scheduled around election day, to keep vehicles off the streets. Security cordons will be set up around all polling centers. And there will be a restriction around all vehicle movement around the country.
More than 100,000 Iraqi security forces will be on patrol. And another 150,000 U.S. troops out of sight, but close enough to deploy in case of any trouble: muscle behind the will to have the elections take place.
BRIG. GEN. CARTER HAM, COMMANDER TASK FORCE OLYMPIA: It's not going to be easy, but it will be done.
KOINANGE: Despite continuing attacks and assassinations aimed at disrupting the elections, many groups and parties remain undeterred. Like the National Consensus Alliance, a mostly Shiite Group, they submitted a list of 45 candidates, but not before stressing the road to democracy is taking a toll on the people.
AZIZ AL-TAT, NATIONAL CONSENSUS ALLIANCE: We do have a serious challenge of terrorism in Iraq, and we feel that the Iraqi citizen is paying a dear price and a heavy tax of the blood of its children, women, and men.
KOINANGE: Some, mostly Sunni dominated parties or coalitions have pulled out of the elections, although some in the government downplay what others see as a rift along religious, ethnic, or tribal lines.
MUFFEAQ EL-RUBAIE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISERThis is not a competition between Sunnis and Shiites. This is not a competition between Arab and Kurd, this is between Democratic forces of Iraq and anti-Democratic forces of Iraq.
KOINANGE (on camera): Barely two weeks to go before the country is in a total lockdown, stepped up security and widespread uncertainty rule. Iraq will be governed by measures more identified more with a country identified as war than a nation going to the polls.
Jeff Koinange, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: In a weekend of widespread Middle East violence, the Israeli militant reports killing 8 Palestinians in 3 locations. Palestinians report 2 other deaths from Israeli shellings in Southern Gaza.
Following Palestinian attacks that killed 6 Israelis in Gaza Thursday, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon is directing his forces to conduct anti-terror operations against Palestinians quote, "without restrictions."
His statement comes the day after Palestinian authority president Mahmoud Abbas took the oath of office. Abbas also heads the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which today called on militants to end violent attacks against Israelis. Abbas faces a dilemma, his predecessor Yasser Arafat never solved how to placate either Israel or Palestinian militants enough to make peace possible. CNN's Ben Wedeman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Militants from Gaza's main factions posed before their latest joint attack in a video released by Hamas. The attack on the main commercial crossing into Gaza, which left 6 Israelis dead Thursday night. That attack, and Israel's subsequent suspension of all contacts with the Palestinian authority, have thrown Mahmoud Abbas' leadership into a deep cries. The pressure is on, to reign in the militants, or give up any hope of reviving peace talks.
Abbas is set to come to Gaza to convince the militants to halt those attacks. Hamas says a cease-fire just isn't on the cards.
MUSHIN AL-MASHI, HAMAS SPOKESMAN: It would weaken the Palestinian position, and represent a surrender to the Zionist military machine.
WEDEMAN: Says this Hamas spokesman.
Abbas can expect a somewhat more sympathetic hearing from the Aqsa Martyrs Brigade affiliated with his own Fatah movement. But they appear willing to go only so far.
ABU MAHMOUD, AL-AQSA MARTYRS BRIGAE: "We were ready to cease- fire," says this spokesman, then adding, "on the condition that Israel for its part ceases fire."
WEDEMAN: That appears unlikely. Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon accuses Mahmoud Abbas of not lifting a finger since the death of Yasser Arafat against the militants, and has authorizeed the army to increase its operations in Gaza.
Near one of the flash points outside of Gaza City, Hamas gunman have taken positions in the civilian neighborhood. These masked men don't speak the carefully wade words of their spokesmen.
We don't owe Mahmoud Abbas or his group anything, says this gunman.
They're eager to show off their latest weaponry. A homemade grenade launcher. No word of cease-fire here.
(on camera): Caught between Israel's demands for a crack downs on the militants. And the militants' obvious determination to carry on the fight, Mahmoud Abbas is in an excruciatingly difficult position. The options few, the dangers many. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Gaza.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, think you know the face of Homeland Security? We'll introduce you to two unlikely members of one community's watch dog unwhit when we come right back.
And then...
Do hip-hop videos denigrate women? One magazine strikes up conversation to help find some balance between entertainment and responsibility.
And they're "Desperate Housewives," but will one of them walk away a Golden Globe? A preview from Beverly Hills when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Homeland security officials have put a number of measures in place to make America safer post-9/11: increase patrols on U.S. borders, at the ports and in airports.
Our John Zarrella introduce us to a team of seniors proving you can make a difference at any age.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For Charlie Goldberg and Dale Maderos, this is about doing what's right, about being what so many of us are not, involved.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: See they cleaned up a lot of the paint.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank goodness for that. That paint can cause a lot of problems.
ZARRELLA: Charlie and Dale are members of Delray Beach, Florida's Homefront Security Unit, a unique counterterrorism team started by the police in the wake of 9/11. It's made up entirely of volunteer senior citizens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's all locked up, right Dale?
ZARRELLA: In all, there are 14 of them on patrol 5 days a week. Charlie and Dale are working the 9:00 to noon shift today. At city hall...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, good morning.
ZARRELLA: ...they check every room, every cubicle. Their job? Simply to keep an eye out. If anything or anyone looks suspicious, report it.
At the city tennis center they, inspect under the bleachers.
CHARLIE GOLDBERG, DELRAY BEACH HOMEFRONT SECURITY: Yes, we are doing a great service for everybody. Being the eyes and ears of the police department.
ZARRELLA: This is one of 4 stops they'll make this morning. DALE MEDEROS, DELRAY BEACH HOMEFRONT SECURITY: I get to see people, talk to people. And they're so appreciative of us being out here especially at our age.
ZARRELLA (on camera): What do you mean at your age? You guys are young.
GOLDBERG: I don't know why you mention that.
ZARRELLA (voice-over): Charlie is 82. Dale will turn 78 in March. Each took a bioterrorism course before going on patrol.
There's nothing frivolous about what they do, or that they are constant reminders. For reasons that have never been fully explained, perhaps believing they could keep a low profile here, 9 of the September 11 hijackers lived in Delray Beach. Ask officer Skip Brown about the value of the patrols.
SKIP BROWN, DELRAY BEACH POLICE: Every time I call, every time I ask, they're there. Extra eyes and ears, that's what we're looking for. Do they make a difference? I feel that they do. I don't think that they will ever know what they deterred out there or what could have been. Do we have anymore in the city? I don't know.
ZARRELLA: Both Charlie Goldberg and Dale Maderos plan to be on the beat for a long time.
MADEROS: As long as I can walk, talk, and tell the truth.
ZARRELLA: After all, it's all about doing what's right.
John Zarrella, CNN, Delray Beach, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, now that you've seen them in action, let's get up close with Charlie Goldberg and Dale Maderos, both are joining us from West Palm Beach, Florida to talk about Homeland Security and their patrols.
Good to see both of you all.
MADEROS: Thank you for letting us be here.
WHITFIELD: Well Dale, let me begin with you. There are 14 of you all who have volunteered to do this, patrolling 5 days a week. What got you involved?
MADEROS: Well right after 9/11, I was up north in the northwest, and I couldn't believe that that had happened. So I immediately packed up, and came back down home. And I tried so hard to get involved with other places where they could use me. And for some reason or another, they didn't have anyplace except the police department. And when Skip Brown started this 9/11 thing, the Homefront, I asked if I could join and he said yes. And I've been so grateful to him ever since. WHITFIELD: And so Charlie, what do you suppose you and Dale bring to the table that perhaps the police force is unable to do? And why it's so vital to have you all as volunteers to be involved to take this process a step further?
GOLDBERG: Well, the police department really doesn't have the time to do that besides all of their other duties. So we feel that we're the eyes and ears of the police department.
What we do, we go through all of the city places that are, more people there that could happen and we want to make sure that nothing happens.
WHITFIELD: Can you give me some examples? We heard in the piece that officer Skip Brown was saying that you all are able to be the eyes and ears that they're unable to be. Can you cite some examples of how you think you all were able to see something or detect something that perhaps police were unable to do?
GOLDBERG: Well, yes, because we have the time when we walk around to really investigate and look at everything securely. We make sure everything is where it belongs. If it's out of place, if there's something strange, we'll ask who's in charge, if it should be there? If it's been there for a long time and if they know anything about it, we'll call the police and let them check it out. We don't touch anything, we're allowed to check anything. If we think it's suspicious, we call, they come and check it out.
WHITFIELD: OK. And Dale, you all don't make arrests. And you're not armed either, right? So what is it that you feel helps you feel empowered in your own community?
MADEROS: Well, I think what we're doing is putting everybody on the alert. A lot of the people since 9/11 have gotten a little blase about what happened. And so we're there for people to see us and let them know that we are there to remind them about 9/11.
We do an awful lot of work in the city departments and the government buildings and there's a lot of people there that have forgotten or don't know about it anymore. We check out doors that are supposed to be closed and are open, we check out back places, alleys, anything that will hide or be different than what it was before.
WHITIFELD: And now that you guys have perhaps led by example, you might be encouraging some other communities to follow suit. Dale Maderos and Charlie Goldberg, thanks so much for joining us from West Palm Beach.
MADEROS: Thank you.
GOLDBERG: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Well, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. And beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern all next week, CNN will bring why you a special series of reports focusing on defending America. Well, have you ever thought about being part of a medical study? There are pros and cons. And Dr. Bill will join us a little bit later to teach us about each.
And then the Golden Globes start in just a few hours from now and Sabila Vargas is live from Beverly Hills with the scoop when we come back back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Rap and hip-hop, along with their increasing popularity, an increasing trend to push the boundaries when it comes to sex and the depiction of women.
Both the lyrics and videos are raw. And some people are beginning to say enough. Essence magazine is taking the discussion public with a year-long campaign called "Take Back the Music."
Earlier this week I talked with executive editor Machaela Angela Davis. I asked her if Essence is getting both positive and negative feedback for what it is calling the hypersexuality of the betrayal of women especially African-American women.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELA ANGELA DAVIS, ESSENCE MAGAZINE: So far the support has been overwhelmingly -- the response has been overwhelmingly supportive. There have been so many men, women, children, all ages, all races feeling concerned, and we've just opened up the conversation in a very safe but a very directed way.
WHITFIELD: And when you say supportive, supportive of the notion of this conversation or supportive of the images being portrayed.
DAVIS: Supportive of the conversation. I think that across the board, even though we have do have varying degrees of concern, everyone's really concerned. Everyone that has responded to us has been a voice of concern about the disproportionate images that objectify women, particularly black women, particularly young women of color.
So the support has really been in the name of the campaign, in the name of finding some balance in the way that we're portrayed in mainstream pop urban media.
WHITFIELD: So what do you then do with this dialogue? Is the objective to put the owness on someone? Whether it's the industry? Whether it's the artist? Whether it's the women who are allowing themselves to be portrayed this way in some of these videos?
DAVIS: Well, Essence has a really rich history in inspiring, educating and empowering women, and black women particularly. So that's really the heart of this program. It's more like an intervention as if we had a loved one that has a problem that we have to address. So we're not pointing any fingers, we're not taking up any picket signs, we're not targeting any artist or any particular record company or executive. However, we are going to direct our readers to take action that they will be able to follow in the magazine and on the Web site and how to inspire, educate and empower themselves to make a change.
WHITFIELD: All right. Michaela, let's examine some of the responses that you have already received in your first issue. And this coming from a student, a senior at Spellman College.
Moya Bailey writes, "for black women especially, there are not as many choices out there to counteract the video images. I think it's deliberate."
She believes that this is intentional. These images. Is it an issue of intent or is it an issue of acceptance?
DAVIS: Well, you know, it's a very complicated issue. And we really -- we really know that. And a lot of folks come from very different angles. And Spellman College, as you may have known or maybe some of your audience knows, took a real stand in disinviting Nelly to a concert that they had scheduled, because of a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) video.
And some people come from a very political point of view, a historical point of view. They think that it may be some conspiracy theoresies. Some people are very emotional about it. So we respect Moya's point of view, however, there's no data that shows that it's really deliberate or a conspiracy.
However, we're clear that it's mostly black women that are shown in this light. We are clear that it's mostly young women of color. We are clear that it is targeted who these images, who these objectified women are.
WHITFIELD: And Michaela, but of we run out of time. You have really heard from quite a variety of people in this issue. The artist Ludacris says that the women dancers are mostly to blame and he puts it this way, "I don't mean to depict women in a certain why. The ones who want to shake what their momma gave them are going to do that whether they're in the videos or not."
And then you metioned Nelly, the artist. He puts it this way, "I respect women and I'm not a misogynist. I'm an artist. Hip hop videos are art and entertainment. Videos tell stories, some are violet, some are sexy, some are fun, some are serious. As for how women are shown in the videos, I don't have problem with it because it is entertainment."
So these artist at least in particular are saying that the women who are involved are just as guilty as those who are producing or directing these videos.
DAVIS: Well, you know, that's a very elementary point of view, and particularly coming from young men and that's really who enjoys most of these images to say things like that. Certainly there's always been a small number of women, strippers exotic dancers in the culture, black, white, whatever. And so what we have a problem with is that it's such a narrow view of women of color.
Certainly there are some women that have been doing that. However, there are no other images to balance that in the video culture, which is not as controlled as other art forms. Certainly there are films. Certainly there are works of art in galleries and museums which are controlled kind of environment. The environment in which something is set really sets the tone, and any child can turn on the TV and see this.
WHITFIELD: Bottom of the hour now. Here's what's happening now in the news. Thousands of military personnel descended on Washington today. All there for dress rehearsal of Thursday's inaugural parade. A stand-in was used in for President Bush. During the actual inauguration, security will be even tighter. Police are planning to shut down more than 100 blocks for the event.
Iraq's interim prime minister Ayad Allawi is seeking the youth vote. He campaigned in Baghdad University and told students, he had just allocated $100 million for education grants and scholarships. The Iraqi and U.S. officials insist the country's elections will be held January 30th despite escalating insurgent violence.
And relief is on the way for several Californian counties hit hard by last week's storms. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in seven more counties. Those communities will now be eligible for state relief funds.
America is remembering the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther king weekend. The King Center in Atlanta is commemorating the 40th anniversary of his acceptance of the Noble Peace Prize. Yesterday, in an interview with talk show host, Tava Smiley, Coretta Scott King reminisced about her marriage. Hundreds of people filled the historic Embonese Baptist Church to listen in. And in Columbus Georgia yesterday, the Reverend Jesse Jackson was among 8,000 people to honor Dr. King's legacy and to remember the 2003 shooting death of an unarmed African-American man by a deputy.
And tomorrow night CNN "News Night" is running Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech" in its entirety. That's tomorrow at 10:00 Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.
Still standing after nature nature's fury, coming up it is what some are calling the biggest miracle of all. This is one tsunami survival story you haven't seen. You will on the other side of this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: In tsunami-ravaged Indonesia, heart-breaking news today. Indonesian officials are adding another 5,000 victims to the death toll. The casualties are from the village of Callan on the northwestern coast of the island of Sumatra. Bells followed by silence in Australia today as thousands remembered the victims of the tsunami disaster, the country is marking a national day of mourning. Flags are at half-staff. Other tributes included prayer services and concerts and surfing ceremonies at Bondi Beach, where surfers and swimmers performed a ring of remembrance.
In London, a special mass for the tsunami victims and the bereaved was held at Westminster Cathedral today. British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife joined those paying tribute. England's Roman Catholic Cardinal said he wanted the victims to know that their sorrow is shared by all humankind.
Across the battered Indonesia landscape many Moslem mosques are still standing in places where other structures were devastated or obliterated by the deadly waters. Churches and mosques remain shining beacons of hope. Are they a testament of the power of faith or perhaps just good construction? Our Atika Shubert reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Amid the devastation, all along the coast you see them, black minarets standing tall in a muddy wasteland, silver domes gleaming in the opened air. Aceh's mosque left untouched by this disaster. Often the only buildings left standing. In a land of devowed religion, particularly Islam, these have become much more than places of worship. Some are famous, Aceh's great mosque still white and a sea of debris and death. An image of Aceh's will to survive.
Some serve as shelters, makeshift homes, a place for survivors to get food, clean water, clothing and information. Others stand empty, the faithful killed or missing, a lonely reminder of what once was. Just meters from the ocean, this mosque should not have survived. Yet here it is. Was it simply better built? Do the high arcs and the pillars divide the water allowing the giant wave to simply pass through? Or is it as many Acehianese believe, something else?
The Lagoey (ph) Mosque is small it used to serve 600 villagers in this seaside community. Only 200 survived. Every single home destroyed, the mosque still stands, barely. In the last two days, survivors have returned. Living off of relief aid they, used donated cloths to clean the floor, dresses and skirts. When everything else is destroyed, the village head explains, they need a places to pray.
All the houses of god were saved he tells us, seeing the mosque still standing amid all of this destruction only increases my faith and I think everyone else here feels the same. The reasons why these mosques survived, hardly matters anymore. Their standing pillars have become the foundation for a new life in Aceh. Atika Shubert, CNN, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And we're going to Hollywood next because tonight it's Golden Globes' time. Who is best actor or actress? More importantly to some, who is best dressed? Sabila Vargas with a live report when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: In just a few hours, Hollywood's biggest stars hit the red carpet for the 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards. The awards are handed out by the Hollywood Forum Press Association for achievements in film and television. Our own Sabila Vargas is live from Beverly Hills with the scoop on the top nominees. And don't you look lovely, Sabila.
SABILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, thank you very much! I try, you know? But, Fred, it just seemed like yesterday I was out covering the Emmy Awards live for you guys, and once again, here we are, Hollywood celebrating its biggest and brightest celebrities. I am excited, but not nearly as excited as the folks behind me here who will have a bird's-eye view of all the celebrities that will be walking down this red carpet.
Thirty thousand square feet of red carpet has been rolled out, and in just a matter of minute, Hollywood's a-list celebrities will be walking down and some of them with a chance of going home with the gold.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Howard Hughes.
VARGAS (voice over): Leo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And only you, young squire.
VARGAS: And Johnny.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't bother me again.
VARGAS: Nicole and Renee. When the Hollywood Foreign Press throws an award show, they make room for big stars. This year is no different.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was America's first legitimate billionaire.
VARGAS: Dicapriio's nod came from playing aviation pioneer Howard Hughes. In fact everyone of the nominees for best actor drama plays a real-life person.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why don't we come back to my place? I have wine, cheese, music, whatever.
VARGAS: It wasn't a bio-pick but an original story that earned the most Golden Globe nominations. That is "Sideways" with seven including one for best musical and comedy and another for co-star Virginia Madsen.
VIRGINIA MADSEN, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS NOM: I didn't dare hope that it would really happen.
VARGAS: Amongst others "Sideways" will face-off with "Ray." A film that earned Jamie Foxx one of his three acting nods. A new record for the Globes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do what do you, baby, yes.
VARGAS: Among film's leading female contenders, Nicole Kidman for "Birth."
NICOLE KIDMAN, BEST ACTRESS NOMINEE: Closes people to discuss it.
VARGAS: Hillary Swank received two nom nation while Uma Thurman and Renee Zellweger were each nominated a second time for a repeat performance. Meanwhile, it was the women of Wisteria Lane that dominated the television categories.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't mean anything, it was just sex.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right!
VARGAS: "Desperate Housewives" grabbed five nods in all including three for best actress in a comedy series and one for best supporting actress. A major comeback for the ABC network which also snagged the best drama nomination for "Lost." "Lost" entirely in the shuffle were the final seasons of veteran shows "Friends" and "Frazier" but not the case for HBO's "Sex and the City." If was topped -- was tapped for best comedy and best actress for Sara Jessica Parker.
SARA JESSICA PARKER: This is going to be fun!
VARGAS (on camera): Well, will it be "Sideways" that take home the gold or will it be Mr. Jamie Foxx with three nominations? Will he be the one that we're talking about tomorrow? We'll find out all of those answers later, Fredricka. But I will keep you posted as much as I can.
WHITFIELD: With a shot times three, you would think he will walk away with at least one.
VARGASL Absolutely. He deserves it.
WHITFIELD: Yes, I think so. When might you and others there on the red carpet start seeing some of the stars line the red carpet? Are we yet hours away or minutes away?
VARGAS: No, we're about an hour away, I would say. So a minute, a minute's, hours, it's all relative. We should see. Some of the big stars will probably be out closer to two hours. But then you'll have other stars which will start coming in a little earlier.
WHITFIELD: All right, Sabila Vargas in Beverly Hills, thank you so much with the Golden Globe coverage. And of course that'll be dominating a lot of the evening coverage. Carol Lin is here with a preview of "CNN Live Sunday." So maybe just in time for your show, some of the big stars will start rolling down - or maybe not rolling down, but walking, they don't roll. CAROL LIN, CNN CORESSPONDENT: Depending on what they had for cocktail, maybe. That will be exciting to see. I always love to see the big names coming out. We also have an interesting story of -- CNN came across a medical billing story, $45,000 for a nose bleed to be treated. It turns out, they looked at their medical billing they were paying for everything from the toilet paper to the drapes in the room.
So I'm going to be interviewing a medical billing expert to talk about what you should be looking for. All right? Also at 10:00 tonight in our prime-time show, we have an exclusive interview with army specialist Charles Graner's parents. His mother is saying that he is an American hero and she's been getting letters from people saying the case about the man who is convicted of abusing, photographing, torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
WHITFIELD: She has said that it's wrong that her son is being portrayed as a monster. He's anything but in her view.
LIN: A mother's point of view, exactly but I'm going to be speaking with her and his father and their attorney at 10:00 Eastern tonight.
WHITFIELD: All right look forward to that Carol.
LIN: thanks Fred.
WHITFIELD: Well, looking to lower your phone bills perhaps? You may want to answer consider a new service that uses the Internet to make your calls instead of traditional phone lines. It's a technology that could end up saving you big bucks as CNN's Ali Velshi reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know that I'm calling you from my computer?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Banking consultant Allen Cohen is on the phone all the time. He says voice over Internet protocol or voip for short, saves more than $1,000 a year compared to using a traditional land line phone.
ALLEN COHEN, VOIP USER: It's got lots of neat features in terms of able to forward my calls to my cell phone, to my computer. So I never miss important calls.
VELSHI: Cohen is one of more than 1 million voip users, with millions more to come in the next few years. To use it you need a high-speed Internet connection. You make and receive calls using a regular phone. The people you call and those who call you don't need any special equipment. And generally won't be able to tell the difference.
BRIAN CLARK, TECH ENTHUSIASTS NETWORK: Voice over IP or Internet protocol is another way for you to communicate that basically uses the Internet instead of regular phone lines. So you can communicate via your high-speed broadband service. VELSHI: For a flat fee, voip allows you to make unlimited local and long distance phone calls. Oversea's calls do cost more but probably not as much as you are used to paying. A full service package includes caller ID, voice mail, call waiting and other features. It ranges in costs, but tops out at $40 bucks a month. In addition to what you pay for your broadband connection. And wherever Allen is, his Voip number is too. It's as simple as plugging in, and Allen got to the choose his area code. You can be in St. Louis with a Beverly Hills' number. It's not all good, though, if your Internet service goes down, your Voip will stop working too.
"Consumer Reports" recommends keeping a basically land line connection if you get Voip until all the bugs are worked out. Their biggest concern if the power goes out, you're out of luck. One provider I offering a 16-hour battery backup system. Those like Cohen, the downsides are worth it.
COHEN: As the consumer, I'm in power.
VELSHI: Ali Velshi, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, let's ring up Dr. Bill Lloyd and what's on tap today, doc?
DR. BILL LLOYD: Fredricka, when you're looking for a medical cure or some extra pocket money you might think about volunteering for a clinical research study. The ins and outs in our living well segment when CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: well, it's time for "Living Well." They seem to be everywhere these days, come-ons to enroll in a clinical research study. Well, how do you find a legitimate trial, and what should you know before you sign up? For answers week, turn to our Dr. Bill Lloyd, professor at the University of California. Good to see you Dr. Bill.
LLOYD: Hi Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: There is a lot to choose from, isn't there? Why even have these clinical studies? Why volunteer for them?
LLOYD: Well, medical studies advance medical knowledge. They help doctors determines if new pills make a difference, if they are actually better than existing medications, they also help determine the safety level of the medication, how much they need to take and if there are any side effects. You're right the offers are everywhere. During the break, I was looking in a local paper and there is even an offer from my old medical school.
WHITFIELD: Hm, well what do you do in order to research some legitimate programs? Do you need to have a serious medical ailment or problem yourself? LLOYD: Well, you can always start by asking your doctor, and it's important if you're going to volunteer for a clinical study, that you choose one that's safe. These studies should be reviewed and by making it safe for you and for others, valid scientific information can be gathered. Here's some tips to look for, to make sure that you're involved in a safe clinical study.
The project design itself should be reviewed by what they call an IRB. You should get a copy of that review. You should always understand what project is intending to do. There should be very thorough informed consent as to how the study is being performed. What your roll is in it, and your ability to get out of the study if you don't like what's going on.
The study should be continuously monitored, so you may have repeat physical examinations or blood tests to determine if the medication is working, and at every step of a clinical study, your personal privacy should be protected. If there's any doubt about your privacy, you should go elsewhere.
WHITFIELD: And whether it comes to new medicines, new devices how risky is it for volunteers to participate?
LLOYD: Well, it shouldn't be risky. Again, if they choose a study that's already been reviewed and there is evidence that this protocol has gone before what they call an institutional review board, usually at a local hospital, medical school, or institute, then there are very formal guidelines that exists to keep participants, volunteers safe in those clinical studies.
WHITFIELD: Are there certain warning signs you need to look out for?
LLOYD: Well, you know, whenever there are big signs, there is always big money involved. Before you get involved any n anything that requires you it take four of these eight times a day you might want to check things out. If you are getting involved in any study that requests any kind of up-front payment, that's not the way it's supposed to be.
If you determined that any kind of financial conflict, between the doctors running your study and the drug company, for example, you might want to participate in somebody else's study. Who's making money on this discovery? If there is any concerns about poor oversight, is anybody checking on you? Is anybody asking for lab tests? Is anybody bringing you back for a repeat examination? Those are important warning signs.
And again, if there is any unusual restrictions, if you sense pressure that you can't quit the study anytime you want, you've chosen the wrong group. And finally, if there is any concerns about inadequate disclosure, where unanswered questions persist about where's the money trail? What are you going to do with in information? And who's looking out for my privacy, once again, look around for suddenly other volunteer clinical study. WHITFIELD: And outside of the warning signs there, can be real advantages though, right because you're being exposed as a volunteer to some cutting-edge medicines or treatments.
LLOYD: Well, of course, they call this the study or trial effect. And people who are ill that want to participate in a clinical study hope that this new cutting cutting-edge medicine will make them better. All right? But it doesn't always work that way. Are there two large studies in the past year that looked at clinical studies, and sadly, there is no improved health benefit from volunteering from one of these clinical studies, but nonetheless, it's vital that people participate to advance our understanding of science, medicine, and medications.
WHITFIELD: Dr. Bill Lloyd, thanks so much. Great advice.
LLOYD: Talk to you again soon.
WHITFIELD: That will do it for us, but before we go, we want to say good-bye to a good friend and an exceptional co-worker. Alison Layman. Alison is leaving CNN. Hello Alison. Good-bye, Alison, after almost ten years from day to day, new shows, she's been covering to political news shows to special coverage of many big events over the last decade. Alison has been an invaluable part of the CNN tapestry both in and out of the control room. Let's ask Alison, that's what we always want to say, well now apparently we'll not be able to say that too much anymore. Alison, best wishes to you, but we're hoping that you're hating your new job so that maybe you can find your way back! Good luck to you.
Well, two weeks to go before elections in Iraq. And interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi was campaigning at Baghdad University today. Iraqi and U.S. officials are working on plans to secure the country for the election. And vow not to delay the vote on CNN's "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer today, White House spokesman Dan Bartlett said the election is an important first step despite the tough security situation in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN BARTLETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is an important step for the Iraqi people. This step on January 30th will allow for the Iraqi people to elect an assembly. That assembly will then elect or appoint a leadership, then a constitutional process, in which the people will be able to vote in the constitutional process comes forward.
Then after that we get to vote, they get to vote on a permanent government. A year from now. So this is a critical first step. The security environment is tough, no question about it. We'll do everything we can to help achieve the best possible scenario in order for as many people as possible to vote. But we do know millions of Iraqi people want to vote and we will find ways to get them to the polls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: More headlines after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 16, 2005 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sibila Vargas coming to you live from the red carpet at the 62nd annual Golden Globe Awards. I'll have all the highlights later on.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Also, age is no barrier for some people doing their part to keep America safe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get to see people, talk to people. And they're so appreciative of us being out here especially at our age.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you mean at your age? You guys are young.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know why you mention that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: These two may be an unexpected terror-fighting team, but they get the job done. We'll talk to them a little bit later.
Hello, and welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I am Fredricka Whitfield. Let's check the headlines!
Amid tight security, Iraqi's interim prime minister Ayad Allawi campaigned at Baghdad University today. While Allawi was hand-picked by Washington to serve as Iraq's interim leader he must get majority support in the upcoming national election to win the job.
Back in this country, a state of emergency has been declared in 7 Southern California counties. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made the declaration after a series of storms triggered mudslides and flash floods that killed 10 people. Authorities say it could take days to tally up the damage.
Searchers have recovered the body of one of the five people believed missing after a massive avalanche near Park City, Utah. The body found is that of a 20-year-old snowboarder. Crews are continuing to comb the snowpack, searching for more bodies.
Final preparations under way to secure Thursday's inauguration of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Several thousand members of the armed forces rehearsed on the National Mall this morning. CNN's Brian Todd looks at the security measures in place for the first presidential inauguration since the 9/11 attacks. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the streets, in the air, on the water: many who travel in and around the nation's capital this week will be watched.
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Our goal is that any attempt in the part of anyone or any group to disrupt the inaugural will be repeled by multiple layers of security.
TODD: Layers, including some 6,000 officers from dozens of law enforcement agencies. Huge sections of the city will be shut down to traffic. Air space severely restricted for private aircraft. But commercial planes will be able to take off and land normally even during the swearing-in.
Limousines will be watched closely, since a recent federal threat assessment said al Qaeda has previously looked at using them as mobile bombs.
From bomb-sniffing dogs to heavily armed Coast Guard boats speeding along the Potomac and mobile stations with tracking capability, nothing is left to chance for this first post-9/11 inauguration. But officials say they still need the public's help.
CHIEF POLLY HANSON, D.C. METRO TRANSIT POLICE: I don't think I'm saying we're going to do it all ourselves. It's our responsibility and you just go ahead and read a book and fall asleep. You've got to be engaged with us. You've got to be paying attention, because that's the only way we're going to work together to try to prevent or mitigate.
TODD: To that end, Secret Service officials tell CNN they went to every hotel and business along the parade route, laid out security parameters with managers and made sure they briefed customers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the most extensive ticket redesign in inaugural history.
TODD: Sunday's rehearsals for the inaugural parade, every bit as meticulous.
(on camera): Why did thousands of military personnel wake up at 3:00 a.m. and deploy at 4:00 a.m. to come down here and practice for much of the day? Because precision is key. Officials in charge of the parade tell us that along with the military, thousands of civilians will be taking part. And their movements have to be coordinated down to the minute and the step.
(voice-over): Officials say they time the steps of military and civilian marchers to calculate how long it takes them to travel a certain distance.
Protesters are also micromanaged. This year for the first time, a group of anti-war demonstrators will have their own officially sanctioned bleacher section along the parade route. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. Find out what's being done to keep America safe. CNN special series of reports on defending America begins tomorrow night at 7:00 on Eastern.
And you can expect discussions about the upcoming elections in Iraq to be centerpieces this week as the president takes his second oath of office. CNN's Elaine Quijano has details from the White House now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRSEPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush spent the weekend working on his inaugural address one, aides say, will emphasize freedom and the president's vision of spreading democracy world wide.
Part of that focus now? Iraq.
But as aides continue an apparent move to lower expectations, they're painting a picture of uncertainty for that country's January 30 elections.
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: We don't know if exactly how that will come out when it comes out to the a security environment two weeks from now. But what we do know, the fact there is going to be an election two weeks from day is an incredible achievement for the Iraqi people.
QUIJANO: The White House has faced a host of criticism. Among them, that the U.S. was wrong about weapons of mass destruction, and that the Iraqi army should not have been disbanded.
In an interview with the Washington Post the president was asked why no one in the administration has been held accountable for perceived missteps on Iraq policy? The president answered quote, "we had an accountability moment, and that's called the 2004 election. And the American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq, and they looked at the 2 candidates, and they chose me."
But some Democrats flatly dismiss that.
SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: I reject that this election was a mandate for the president to continue our involvement in Iraq.
SEN. CARL LEVIN, (D) MICHIGAN: Well, I think the American people obviously reelected him, that doesn't mean they agree with all of his policies relative to Iraq, or all of the ways in which the Iraq war has been fought. QUIJANO: And while a new Time poll shows a majority of Americans, 53 percent, approve of how the president is handling his job, when it comes to Iraq, 56 percent disapprove of his handling of the situation.
But the president is standing by his actions, expressing no regret about removing Saddam Hussein from power. At the same time, administration officials stress, the elections are just the beginning of what they hope will be democracy taking route in the region.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUIJANO: And while officials say the elections will not be perfect, they also emphasize they believe just holding the electionss at all is a sign of progress -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Elaine Quijano at the White House, thank you.
Well, 2 week before the January 30 vote in Iraq, candidates are campaigning under heavy security. Some are even remaining anonymous trying to stay alive until election day. The U.S. military is firming up plans to protect voters from insurgent attacks. Here's CNN's Jeff Koinange.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. troops on a mission to the win hearts and minds. Alpha Company of the 1st Calvary distributing medical and school supplies in a suburb south of Baghdad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
KOINANGE: And along with this humanitarian gesture, they hand out election leaflets as of their goal to help bring democracy here after decade of dictatorship.
LT. ANDREW FORNEY, 1ST CALVARY DIVISION, U.S. ARMY: The Iraqis don't have a full sense of democracy. In the sense of what it means to vote, that their vote counts. And what it means to have elected officials.
KOINANGE: One of the candidates? Ayad Allawi, the interim prime minister, was heavily guard as he campaigned at Baghdad University Sunday. An example of what is a low-key rare political campaign being held with a backdrop of insurgent violence.
Some 50 million Iraqis world wide are eligible to vote. Newspapers here are printing a detailed walkthrough of what to do when voters go to the 5,500 polling cities on election day.
But along with instructions on how to vote, there is a curfew in place. And a national holiday has been scheduled around election day, to keep vehicles off the streets. Security cordons will be set up around all polling centers. And there will be a restriction around all vehicle movement around the country.
More than 100,000 Iraqi security forces will be on patrol. And another 150,000 U.S. troops out of sight, but close enough to deploy in case of any trouble: muscle behind the will to have the elections take place.
BRIG. GEN. CARTER HAM, COMMANDER TASK FORCE OLYMPIA: It's not going to be easy, but it will be done.
KOINANGE: Despite continuing attacks and assassinations aimed at disrupting the elections, many groups and parties remain undeterred. Like the National Consensus Alliance, a mostly Shiite Group, they submitted a list of 45 candidates, but not before stressing the road to democracy is taking a toll on the people.
AZIZ AL-TAT, NATIONAL CONSENSUS ALLIANCE: We do have a serious challenge of terrorism in Iraq, and we feel that the Iraqi citizen is paying a dear price and a heavy tax of the blood of its children, women, and men.
KOINANGE: Some, mostly Sunni dominated parties or coalitions have pulled out of the elections, although some in the government downplay what others see as a rift along religious, ethnic, or tribal lines.
MUFFEAQ EL-RUBAIE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISERThis is not a competition between Sunnis and Shiites. This is not a competition between Arab and Kurd, this is between Democratic forces of Iraq and anti-Democratic forces of Iraq.
KOINANGE (on camera): Barely two weeks to go before the country is in a total lockdown, stepped up security and widespread uncertainty rule. Iraq will be governed by measures more identified more with a country identified as war than a nation going to the polls.
Jeff Koinange, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: In a weekend of widespread Middle East violence, the Israeli militant reports killing 8 Palestinians in 3 locations. Palestinians report 2 other deaths from Israeli shellings in Southern Gaza.
Following Palestinian attacks that killed 6 Israelis in Gaza Thursday, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon is directing his forces to conduct anti-terror operations against Palestinians quote, "without restrictions."
His statement comes the day after Palestinian authority president Mahmoud Abbas took the oath of office. Abbas also heads the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which today called on militants to end violent attacks against Israelis. Abbas faces a dilemma, his predecessor Yasser Arafat never solved how to placate either Israel or Palestinian militants enough to make peace possible. CNN's Ben Wedeman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Militants from Gaza's main factions posed before their latest joint attack in a video released by Hamas. The attack on the main commercial crossing into Gaza, which left 6 Israelis dead Thursday night. That attack, and Israel's subsequent suspension of all contacts with the Palestinian authority, have thrown Mahmoud Abbas' leadership into a deep cries. The pressure is on, to reign in the militants, or give up any hope of reviving peace talks.
Abbas is set to come to Gaza to convince the militants to halt those attacks. Hamas says a cease-fire just isn't on the cards.
MUSHIN AL-MASHI, HAMAS SPOKESMAN: It would weaken the Palestinian position, and represent a surrender to the Zionist military machine.
WEDEMAN: Says this Hamas spokesman.
Abbas can expect a somewhat more sympathetic hearing from the Aqsa Martyrs Brigade affiliated with his own Fatah movement. But they appear willing to go only so far.
ABU MAHMOUD, AL-AQSA MARTYRS BRIGAE: "We were ready to cease- fire," says this spokesman, then adding, "on the condition that Israel for its part ceases fire."
WEDEMAN: That appears unlikely. Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon accuses Mahmoud Abbas of not lifting a finger since the death of Yasser Arafat against the militants, and has authorizeed the army to increase its operations in Gaza.
Near one of the flash points outside of Gaza City, Hamas gunman have taken positions in the civilian neighborhood. These masked men don't speak the carefully wade words of their spokesmen.
We don't owe Mahmoud Abbas or his group anything, says this gunman.
They're eager to show off their latest weaponry. A homemade grenade launcher. No word of cease-fire here.
(on camera): Caught between Israel's demands for a crack downs on the militants. And the militants' obvious determination to carry on the fight, Mahmoud Abbas is in an excruciatingly difficult position. The options few, the dangers many. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Gaza.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, think you know the face of Homeland Security? We'll introduce you to two unlikely members of one community's watch dog unwhit when we come right back.
And then...
Do hip-hop videos denigrate women? One magazine strikes up conversation to help find some balance between entertainment and responsibility.
And they're "Desperate Housewives," but will one of them walk away a Golden Globe? A preview from Beverly Hills when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Homeland security officials have put a number of measures in place to make America safer post-9/11: increase patrols on U.S. borders, at the ports and in airports.
Our John Zarrella introduce us to a team of seniors proving you can make a difference at any age.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For Charlie Goldberg and Dale Maderos, this is about doing what's right, about being what so many of us are not, involved.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: See they cleaned up a lot of the paint.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank goodness for that. That paint can cause a lot of problems.
ZARRELLA: Charlie and Dale are members of Delray Beach, Florida's Homefront Security Unit, a unique counterterrorism team started by the police in the wake of 9/11. It's made up entirely of volunteer senior citizens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's all locked up, right Dale?
ZARRELLA: In all, there are 14 of them on patrol 5 days a week. Charlie and Dale are working the 9:00 to noon shift today. At city hall...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, good morning.
ZARRELLA: ...they check every room, every cubicle. Their job? Simply to keep an eye out. If anything or anyone looks suspicious, report it.
At the city tennis center they, inspect under the bleachers.
CHARLIE GOLDBERG, DELRAY BEACH HOMEFRONT SECURITY: Yes, we are doing a great service for everybody. Being the eyes and ears of the police department.
ZARRELLA: This is one of 4 stops they'll make this morning. DALE MEDEROS, DELRAY BEACH HOMEFRONT SECURITY: I get to see people, talk to people. And they're so appreciative of us being out here especially at our age.
ZARRELLA (on camera): What do you mean at your age? You guys are young.
GOLDBERG: I don't know why you mention that.
ZARRELLA (voice-over): Charlie is 82. Dale will turn 78 in March. Each took a bioterrorism course before going on patrol.
There's nothing frivolous about what they do, or that they are constant reminders. For reasons that have never been fully explained, perhaps believing they could keep a low profile here, 9 of the September 11 hijackers lived in Delray Beach. Ask officer Skip Brown about the value of the patrols.
SKIP BROWN, DELRAY BEACH POLICE: Every time I call, every time I ask, they're there. Extra eyes and ears, that's what we're looking for. Do they make a difference? I feel that they do. I don't think that they will ever know what they deterred out there or what could have been. Do we have anymore in the city? I don't know.
ZARRELLA: Both Charlie Goldberg and Dale Maderos plan to be on the beat for a long time.
MADEROS: As long as I can walk, talk, and tell the truth.
ZARRELLA: After all, it's all about doing what's right.
John Zarrella, CNN, Delray Beach, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, now that you've seen them in action, let's get up close with Charlie Goldberg and Dale Maderos, both are joining us from West Palm Beach, Florida to talk about Homeland Security and their patrols.
Good to see both of you all.
MADEROS: Thank you for letting us be here.
WHITFIELD: Well Dale, let me begin with you. There are 14 of you all who have volunteered to do this, patrolling 5 days a week. What got you involved?
MADEROS: Well right after 9/11, I was up north in the northwest, and I couldn't believe that that had happened. So I immediately packed up, and came back down home. And I tried so hard to get involved with other places where they could use me. And for some reason or another, they didn't have anyplace except the police department. And when Skip Brown started this 9/11 thing, the Homefront, I asked if I could join and he said yes. And I've been so grateful to him ever since. WHITFIELD: And so Charlie, what do you suppose you and Dale bring to the table that perhaps the police force is unable to do? And why it's so vital to have you all as volunteers to be involved to take this process a step further?
GOLDBERG: Well, the police department really doesn't have the time to do that besides all of their other duties. So we feel that we're the eyes and ears of the police department.
What we do, we go through all of the city places that are, more people there that could happen and we want to make sure that nothing happens.
WHITFIELD: Can you give me some examples? We heard in the piece that officer Skip Brown was saying that you all are able to be the eyes and ears that they're unable to be. Can you cite some examples of how you think you all were able to see something or detect something that perhaps police were unable to do?
GOLDBERG: Well, yes, because we have the time when we walk around to really investigate and look at everything securely. We make sure everything is where it belongs. If it's out of place, if there's something strange, we'll ask who's in charge, if it should be there? If it's been there for a long time and if they know anything about it, we'll call the police and let them check it out. We don't touch anything, we're allowed to check anything. If we think it's suspicious, we call, they come and check it out.
WHITFIELD: OK. And Dale, you all don't make arrests. And you're not armed either, right? So what is it that you feel helps you feel empowered in your own community?
MADEROS: Well, I think what we're doing is putting everybody on the alert. A lot of the people since 9/11 have gotten a little blase about what happened. And so we're there for people to see us and let them know that we are there to remind them about 9/11.
We do an awful lot of work in the city departments and the government buildings and there's a lot of people there that have forgotten or don't know about it anymore. We check out doors that are supposed to be closed and are open, we check out back places, alleys, anything that will hide or be different than what it was before.
WHITIFELD: And now that you guys have perhaps led by example, you might be encouraging some other communities to follow suit. Dale Maderos and Charlie Goldberg, thanks so much for joining us from West Palm Beach.
MADEROS: Thank you.
GOLDBERG: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Well, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security. And beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern all next week, CNN will bring why you a special series of reports focusing on defending America. Well, have you ever thought about being part of a medical study? There are pros and cons. And Dr. Bill will join us a little bit later to teach us about each.
And then the Golden Globes start in just a few hours from now and Sabila Vargas is live from Beverly Hills with the scoop when we come back back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Rap and hip-hop, along with their increasing popularity, an increasing trend to push the boundaries when it comes to sex and the depiction of women.
Both the lyrics and videos are raw. And some people are beginning to say enough. Essence magazine is taking the discussion public with a year-long campaign called "Take Back the Music."
Earlier this week I talked with executive editor Machaela Angela Davis. I asked her if Essence is getting both positive and negative feedback for what it is calling the hypersexuality of the betrayal of women especially African-American women.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELA ANGELA DAVIS, ESSENCE MAGAZINE: So far the support has been overwhelmingly -- the response has been overwhelmingly supportive. There have been so many men, women, children, all ages, all races feeling concerned, and we've just opened up the conversation in a very safe but a very directed way.
WHITFIELD: And when you say supportive, supportive of the notion of this conversation or supportive of the images being portrayed.
DAVIS: Supportive of the conversation. I think that across the board, even though we have do have varying degrees of concern, everyone's really concerned. Everyone that has responded to us has been a voice of concern about the disproportionate images that objectify women, particularly black women, particularly young women of color.
So the support has really been in the name of the campaign, in the name of finding some balance in the way that we're portrayed in mainstream pop urban media.
WHITFIELD: So what do you then do with this dialogue? Is the objective to put the owness on someone? Whether it's the industry? Whether it's the artist? Whether it's the women who are allowing themselves to be portrayed this way in some of these videos?
DAVIS: Well, Essence has a really rich history in inspiring, educating and empowering women, and black women particularly. So that's really the heart of this program. It's more like an intervention as if we had a loved one that has a problem that we have to address. So we're not pointing any fingers, we're not taking up any picket signs, we're not targeting any artist or any particular record company or executive. However, we are going to direct our readers to take action that they will be able to follow in the magazine and on the Web site and how to inspire, educate and empower themselves to make a change.
WHITFIELD: All right. Michaela, let's examine some of the responses that you have already received in your first issue. And this coming from a student, a senior at Spellman College.
Moya Bailey writes, "for black women especially, there are not as many choices out there to counteract the video images. I think it's deliberate."
She believes that this is intentional. These images. Is it an issue of intent or is it an issue of acceptance?
DAVIS: Well, you know, it's a very complicated issue. And we really -- we really know that. And a lot of folks come from very different angles. And Spellman College, as you may have known or maybe some of your audience knows, took a real stand in disinviting Nelly to a concert that they had scheduled, because of a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) video.
And some people come from a very political point of view, a historical point of view. They think that it may be some conspiracy theoresies. Some people are very emotional about it. So we respect Moya's point of view, however, there's no data that shows that it's really deliberate or a conspiracy.
However, we're clear that it's mostly black women that are shown in this light. We are clear that it's mostly young women of color. We are clear that it is targeted who these images, who these objectified women are.
WHITFIELD: And Michaela, but of we run out of time. You have really heard from quite a variety of people in this issue. The artist Ludacris says that the women dancers are mostly to blame and he puts it this way, "I don't mean to depict women in a certain why. The ones who want to shake what their momma gave them are going to do that whether they're in the videos or not."
And then you metioned Nelly, the artist. He puts it this way, "I respect women and I'm not a misogynist. I'm an artist. Hip hop videos are art and entertainment. Videos tell stories, some are violet, some are sexy, some are fun, some are serious. As for how women are shown in the videos, I don't have problem with it because it is entertainment."
So these artist at least in particular are saying that the women who are involved are just as guilty as those who are producing or directing these videos.
DAVIS: Well, you know, that's a very elementary point of view, and particularly coming from young men and that's really who enjoys most of these images to say things like that. Certainly there's always been a small number of women, strippers exotic dancers in the culture, black, white, whatever. And so what we have a problem with is that it's such a narrow view of women of color.
Certainly there are some women that have been doing that. However, there are no other images to balance that in the video culture, which is not as controlled as other art forms. Certainly there are films. Certainly there are works of art in galleries and museums which are controlled kind of environment. The environment in which something is set really sets the tone, and any child can turn on the TV and see this.
WHITFIELD: Bottom of the hour now. Here's what's happening now in the news. Thousands of military personnel descended on Washington today. All there for dress rehearsal of Thursday's inaugural parade. A stand-in was used in for President Bush. During the actual inauguration, security will be even tighter. Police are planning to shut down more than 100 blocks for the event.
Iraq's interim prime minister Ayad Allawi is seeking the youth vote. He campaigned in Baghdad University and told students, he had just allocated $100 million for education grants and scholarships. The Iraqi and U.S. officials insist the country's elections will be held January 30th despite escalating insurgent violence.
And relief is on the way for several Californian counties hit hard by last week's storms. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in seven more counties. Those communities will now be eligible for state relief funds.
America is remembering the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther king weekend. The King Center in Atlanta is commemorating the 40th anniversary of his acceptance of the Noble Peace Prize. Yesterday, in an interview with talk show host, Tava Smiley, Coretta Scott King reminisced about her marriage. Hundreds of people filled the historic Embonese Baptist Church to listen in. And in Columbus Georgia yesterday, the Reverend Jesse Jackson was among 8,000 people to honor Dr. King's legacy and to remember the 2003 shooting death of an unarmed African-American man by a deputy.
And tomorrow night CNN "News Night" is running Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech" in its entirety. That's tomorrow at 10:00 Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.
Still standing after nature nature's fury, coming up it is what some are calling the biggest miracle of all. This is one tsunami survival story you haven't seen. You will on the other side of this break.
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WHITFIELD: In tsunami-ravaged Indonesia, heart-breaking news today. Indonesian officials are adding another 5,000 victims to the death toll. The casualties are from the village of Callan on the northwestern coast of the island of Sumatra. Bells followed by silence in Australia today as thousands remembered the victims of the tsunami disaster, the country is marking a national day of mourning. Flags are at half-staff. Other tributes included prayer services and concerts and surfing ceremonies at Bondi Beach, where surfers and swimmers performed a ring of remembrance.
In London, a special mass for the tsunami victims and the bereaved was held at Westminster Cathedral today. British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife joined those paying tribute. England's Roman Catholic Cardinal said he wanted the victims to know that their sorrow is shared by all humankind.
Across the battered Indonesia landscape many Moslem mosques are still standing in places where other structures were devastated or obliterated by the deadly waters. Churches and mosques remain shining beacons of hope. Are they a testament of the power of faith or perhaps just good construction? Our Atika Shubert reports.
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ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Amid the devastation, all along the coast you see them, black minarets standing tall in a muddy wasteland, silver domes gleaming in the opened air. Aceh's mosque left untouched by this disaster. Often the only buildings left standing. In a land of devowed religion, particularly Islam, these have become much more than places of worship. Some are famous, Aceh's great mosque still white and a sea of debris and death. An image of Aceh's will to survive.
Some serve as shelters, makeshift homes, a place for survivors to get food, clean water, clothing and information. Others stand empty, the faithful killed or missing, a lonely reminder of what once was. Just meters from the ocean, this mosque should not have survived. Yet here it is. Was it simply better built? Do the high arcs and the pillars divide the water allowing the giant wave to simply pass through? Or is it as many Acehianese believe, something else?
The Lagoey (ph) Mosque is small it used to serve 600 villagers in this seaside community. Only 200 survived. Every single home destroyed, the mosque still stands, barely. In the last two days, survivors have returned. Living off of relief aid they, used donated cloths to clean the floor, dresses and skirts. When everything else is destroyed, the village head explains, they need a places to pray.
All the houses of god were saved he tells us, seeing the mosque still standing amid all of this destruction only increases my faith and I think everyone else here feels the same. The reasons why these mosques survived, hardly matters anymore. Their standing pillars have become the foundation for a new life in Aceh. Atika Shubert, CNN, Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
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WHITFIELD: And we're going to Hollywood next because tonight it's Golden Globes' time. Who is best actor or actress? More importantly to some, who is best dressed? Sabila Vargas with a live report when we come right back.
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WHITFIELD: In just a few hours, Hollywood's biggest stars hit the red carpet for the 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards. The awards are handed out by the Hollywood Forum Press Association for achievements in film and television. Our own Sabila Vargas is live from Beverly Hills with the scoop on the top nominees. And don't you look lovely, Sabila.
SABILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, thank you very much! I try, you know? But, Fred, it just seemed like yesterday I was out covering the Emmy Awards live for you guys, and once again, here we are, Hollywood celebrating its biggest and brightest celebrities. I am excited, but not nearly as excited as the folks behind me here who will have a bird's-eye view of all the celebrities that will be walking down this red carpet.
Thirty thousand square feet of red carpet has been rolled out, and in just a matter of minute, Hollywood's a-list celebrities will be walking down and some of them with a chance of going home with the gold.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Howard Hughes.
VARGAS (voice over): Leo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And only you, young squire.
VARGAS: And Johnny.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't bother me again.
VARGAS: Nicole and Renee. When the Hollywood Foreign Press throws an award show, they make room for big stars. This year is no different.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was America's first legitimate billionaire.
VARGAS: Dicapriio's nod came from playing aviation pioneer Howard Hughes. In fact everyone of the nominees for best actor drama plays a real-life person.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why don't we come back to my place? I have wine, cheese, music, whatever.
VARGAS: It wasn't a bio-pick but an original story that earned the most Golden Globe nominations. That is "Sideways" with seven including one for best musical and comedy and another for co-star Virginia Madsen.
VIRGINIA MADSEN, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS NOM: I didn't dare hope that it would really happen.
VARGAS: Amongst others "Sideways" will face-off with "Ray." A film that earned Jamie Foxx one of his three acting nods. A new record for the Globes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do what do you, baby, yes.
VARGAS: Among film's leading female contenders, Nicole Kidman for "Birth."
NICOLE KIDMAN, BEST ACTRESS NOMINEE: Closes people to discuss it.
VARGAS: Hillary Swank received two nom nation while Uma Thurman and Renee Zellweger were each nominated a second time for a repeat performance. Meanwhile, it was the women of Wisteria Lane that dominated the television categories.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't mean anything, it was just sex.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right!
VARGAS: "Desperate Housewives" grabbed five nods in all including three for best actress in a comedy series and one for best supporting actress. A major comeback for the ABC network which also snagged the best drama nomination for "Lost." "Lost" entirely in the shuffle were the final seasons of veteran shows "Friends" and "Frazier" but not the case for HBO's "Sex and the City." If was topped -- was tapped for best comedy and best actress for Sara Jessica Parker.
SARA JESSICA PARKER: This is going to be fun!
VARGAS (on camera): Well, will it be "Sideways" that take home the gold or will it be Mr. Jamie Foxx with three nominations? Will he be the one that we're talking about tomorrow? We'll find out all of those answers later, Fredricka. But I will keep you posted as much as I can.
WHITFIELD: With a shot times three, you would think he will walk away with at least one.
VARGASL Absolutely. He deserves it.
WHITFIELD: Yes, I think so. When might you and others there on the red carpet start seeing some of the stars line the red carpet? Are we yet hours away or minutes away?
VARGAS: No, we're about an hour away, I would say. So a minute, a minute's, hours, it's all relative. We should see. Some of the big stars will probably be out closer to two hours. But then you'll have other stars which will start coming in a little earlier.
WHITFIELD: All right, Sabila Vargas in Beverly Hills, thank you so much with the Golden Globe coverage. And of course that'll be dominating a lot of the evening coverage. Carol Lin is here with a preview of "CNN Live Sunday." So maybe just in time for your show, some of the big stars will start rolling down - or maybe not rolling down, but walking, they don't roll. CAROL LIN, CNN CORESSPONDENT: Depending on what they had for cocktail, maybe. That will be exciting to see. I always love to see the big names coming out. We also have an interesting story of -- CNN came across a medical billing story, $45,000 for a nose bleed to be treated. It turns out, they looked at their medical billing they were paying for everything from the toilet paper to the drapes in the room.
So I'm going to be interviewing a medical billing expert to talk about what you should be looking for. All right? Also at 10:00 tonight in our prime-time show, we have an exclusive interview with army specialist Charles Graner's parents. His mother is saying that he is an American hero and she's been getting letters from people saying the case about the man who is convicted of abusing, photographing, torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
WHITFIELD: She has said that it's wrong that her son is being portrayed as a monster. He's anything but in her view.
LIN: A mother's point of view, exactly but I'm going to be speaking with her and his father and their attorney at 10:00 Eastern tonight.
WHITFIELD: All right look forward to that Carol.
LIN: thanks Fred.
WHITFIELD: Well, looking to lower your phone bills perhaps? You may want to answer consider a new service that uses the Internet to make your calls instead of traditional phone lines. It's a technology that could end up saving you big bucks as CNN's Ali Velshi reports.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know that I'm calling you from my computer?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Banking consultant Allen Cohen is on the phone all the time. He says voice over Internet protocol or voip for short, saves more than $1,000 a year compared to using a traditional land line phone.
ALLEN COHEN, VOIP USER: It's got lots of neat features in terms of able to forward my calls to my cell phone, to my computer. So I never miss important calls.
VELSHI: Cohen is one of more than 1 million voip users, with millions more to come in the next few years. To use it you need a high-speed Internet connection. You make and receive calls using a regular phone. The people you call and those who call you don't need any special equipment. And generally won't be able to tell the difference.
BRIAN CLARK, TECH ENTHUSIASTS NETWORK: Voice over IP or Internet protocol is another way for you to communicate that basically uses the Internet instead of regular phone lines. So you can communicate via your high-speed broadband service. VELSHI: For a flat fee, voip allows you to make unlimited local and long distance phone calls. Oversea's calls do cost more but probably not as much as you are used to paying. A full service package includes caller ID, voice mail, call waiting and other features. It ranges in costs, but tops out at $40 bucks a month. In addition to what you pay for your broadband connection. And wherever Allen is, his Voip number is too. It's as simple as plugging in, and Allen got to the choose his area code. You can be in St. Louis with a Beverly Hills' number. It's not all good, though, if your Internet service goes down, your Voip will stop working too.
"Consumer Reports" recommends keeping a basically land line connection if you get Voip until all the bugs are worked out. Their biggest concern if the power goes out, you're out of luck. One provider I offering a 16-hour battery backup system. Those like Cohen, the downsides are worth it.
COHEN: As the consumer, I'm in power.
VELSHI: Ali Velshi, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, let's ring up Dr. Bill Lloyd and what's on tap today, doc?
DR. BILL LLOYD: Fredricka, when you're looking for a medical cure or some extra pocket money you might think about volunteering for a clinical research study. The ins and outs in our living well segment when CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues.
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WHITFIELD: well, it's time for "Living Well." They seem to be everywhere these days, come-ons to enroll in a clinical research study. Well, how do you find a legitimate trial, and what should you know before you sign up? For answers week, turn to our Dr. Bill Lloyd, professor at the University of California. Good to see you Dr. Bill.
LLOYD: Hi Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: There is a lot to choose from, isn't there? Why even have these clinical studies? Why volunteer for them?
LLOYD: Well, medical studies advance medical knowledge. They help doctors determines if new pills make a difference, if they are actually better than existing medications, they also help determine the safety level of the medication, how much they need to take and if there are any side effects. You're right the offers are everywhere. During the break, I was looking in a local paper and there is even an offer from my old medical school.
WHITFIELD: Hm, well what do you do in order to research some legitimate programs? Do you need to have a serious medical ailment or problem yourself? LLOYD: Well, you can always start by asking your doctor, and it's important if you're going to volunteer for a clinical study, that you choose one that's safe. These studies should be reviewed and by making it safe for you and for others, valid scientific information can be gathered. Here's some tips to look for, to make sure that you're involved in a safe clinical study.
The project design itself should be reviewed by what they call an IRB. You should get a copy of that review. You should always understand what project is intending to do. There should be very thorough informed consent as to how the study is being performed. What your roll is in it, and your ability to get out of the study if you don't like what's going on.
The study should be continuously monitored, so you may have repeat physical examinations or blood tests to determine if the medication is working, and at every step of a clinical study, your personal privacy should be protected. If there's any doubt about your privacy, you should go elsewhere.
WHITFIELD: And whether it comes to new medicines, new devices how risky is it for volunteers to participate?
LLOYD: Well, it shouldn't be risky. Again, if they choose a study that's already been reviewed and there is evidence that this protocol has gone before what they call an institutional review board, usually at a local hospital, medical school, or institute, then there are very formal guidelines that exists to keep participants, volunteers safe in those clinical studies.
WHITFIELD: Are there certain warning signs you need to look out for?
LLOYD: Well, you know, whenever there are big signs, there is always big money involved. Before you get involved any n anything that requires you it take four of these eight times a day you might want to check things out. If you are getting involved in any study that requests any kind of up-front payment, that's not the way it's supposed to be.
If you determined that any kind of financial conflict, between the doctors running your study and the drug company, for example, you might want to participate in somebody else's study. Who's making money on this discovery? If there is any concerns about poor oversight, is anybody checking on you? Is anybody asking for lab tests? Is anybody bringing you back for a repeat examination? Those are important warning signs.
And again, if there is any unusual restrictions, if you sense pressure that you can't quit the study anytime you want, you've chosen the wrong group. And finally, if there is any concerns about inadequate disclosure, where unanswered questions persist about where's the money trail? What are you going to do with in information? And who's looking out for my privacy, once again, look around for suddenly other volunteer clinical study. WHITFIELD: And outside of the warning signs there, can be real advantages though, right because you're being exposed as a volunteer to some cutting-edge medicines or treatments.
LLOYD: Well, of course, they call this the study or trial effect. And people who are ill that want to participate in a clinical study hope that this new cutting cutting-edge medicine will make them better. All right? But it doesn't always work that way. Are there two large studies in the past year that looked at clinical studies, and sadly, there is no improved health benefit from volunteering from one of these clinical studies, but nonetheless, it's vital that people participate to advance our understanding of science, medicine, and medications.
WHITFIELD: Dr. Bill Lloyd, thanks so much. Great advice.
LLOYD: Talk to you again soon.
WHITFIELD: That will do it for us, but before we go, we want to say good-bye to a good friend and an exceptional co-worker. Alison Layman. Alison is leaving CNN. Hello Alison. Good-bye, Alison, after almost ten years from day to day, new shows, she's been covering to political news shows to special coverage of many big events over the last decade. Alison has been an invaluable part of the CNN tapestry both in and out of the control room. Let's ask Alison, that's what we always want to say, well now apparently we'll not be able to say that too much anymore. Alison, best wishes to you, but we're hoping that you're hating your new job so that maybe you can find your way back! Good luck to you.
Well, two weeks to go before elections in Iraq. And interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi was campaigning at Baghdad University today. Iraqi and U.S. officials are working on plans to secure the country for the election. And vow not to delay the vote on CNN's "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer today, White House spokesman Dan Bartlett said the election is an important first step despite the tough security situation in Iraq.
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DAN BARTLETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is an important step for the Iraqi people. This step on January 30th will allow for the Iraqi people to elect an assembly. That assembly will then elect or appoint a leadership, then a constitutional process, in which the people will be able to vote in the constitutional process comes forward.
Then after that we get to vote, they get to vote on a permanent government. A year from now. So this is a critical first step. The security environment is tough, no question about it. We'll do everything we can to help achieve the best possible scenario in order for as many people as possible to vote. But we do know millions of Iraqi people want to vote and we will find ways to get them to the polls.
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WHITFIELD: More headlines after this.
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