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CNN Live At Daybreak

Live 8 Concert to Draw Attention to African Plight; High Speed Chase Ends at Phoenix Airport

Aired July 01, 2005 - 05:30   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.
CAROL COSTELLO, CO-HOST: And good morning to you. Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK. Coming up in the next 30 minutes, 10 concerts worldwide tomorrow, but will the world's leaders be watching?

And later, a lot of hype and a lot of dollars. How "War of the Worlds" did on its opening day.

But first, now in the news.

In the Middle East, the Israeli soldiers stormed a Gaza hotel and expelled Jewish extremists. The raid targeted right-wing protesters opposed to Israel's plan to withdraw from Gaza next month. After the raid, Israel lifted its order limiting access to Gaza.

Confidential notes. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan set a Tuesday deadline for Security Council members to voice any objections to his plan to hand over meeting notes on Iraq's oil-for-food program. And independent committee is investigating alleged corruption in the $64 billion program.

Designs for the five finalists for the 9/11 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, go on display today. Shanksville, of course, is where the fourth hijacked plane crashed. The designs will be displayed in Somerset, 10 miles from the crash site.

"TIME" magazine says it will provide subpoenaed records to a grand jury. The grand jury is trying to find out who leaked the name of a covert CIA operative to the media. "TIME" is a unit of CNN parent company Time Warner.

To the forecast center now and Chad. Good morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Happy Fourth of July weekend.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST/CO-HOST: Happy Canada Day for the folks up there, as well.

COSTELLO: Definitely. Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome. COSTELLO: Shameless plug time again. Don't forget -- this is very important -- you can view more CNN reports online. Just visit CNN.com, click on "watch" and check out some of the most popular stories.

In the news this morning, it's being billed as the biggest musical event in history. The Live 8 concert gets underway tomorrow in cities all around the world, all designed to raise awareness to poverty in Africa and to pressure world leaders to help fight it.

CNN's Christiane Amanpour joins us live from London with more. Good morning.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

And of course, one of the biggest concerts, if not the biggest, will be here in London tomorrow afternoon, with star headliners like Madonna, ColdPlay, U2, Paul McCartney. But they're not here to raise money for Africa like they did 20 years ago in Live Aid.

It's about, as you say, raising awareness and raising the pressure, turning up the heat on the world's richest leaders, who will be meeting in Scotland next week, to get them to finally commit to what they've agreed to. And that is to try to half extreme poverty by the year 2015. And when we're talking about extreme poverty, it's the kind of poverty that kills, the kind of poverty that means people live on less than $1 a day and every day struggle between life and death.

The president of the G-8, who's put this at the top of the agenda for next week, is Tony Blair, the British prime minister. And I sat down with him yesterday, and I asked him about how England, other European countries, other G-8 countries and especially the United States would do when it came to meeting its commitments to actually raising the percentage of the budget that goes to foreign aid.

Right now, the U.S. budget is quite low in term of foreign aid. This is what Prime Minister Blair said about his meeting with President Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: What I would ask him to do and hope that he will be able to do is increase significantly the amount of aid that's going to Africa. I mean, he's doubled it already. I would like to see, effectively, a doubling of the amount of money that America is paying, because I think that, tied to the proper ways of using that money, things like education and dealing with the killer diseases, to water, sanitation and infrastructure, it -- the proof is there, it can make a real difference.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: So Prime Minister Blair says, as you heard, the proof is there it can make a difference. He said that, in fact, the investment that rich nations are being asked to make is not massive, in his words. And he said it would not make our countries poor, the citizens in our countries poor.

What we're talking about, he says, is raising the percentage of foreign aid to 0.7 percent, and that is 70 cents on every $100. Right now, America gives about 16 cents on every $100, Europe around 30 to 40 cents. So they're just talking about raising it to 70 cents on every $100 in terms of giving money for foreign aid and really trying to tackle what they call a perfect storm of extreme poverty and try to actually make -- make a difference and break the back of that kind of killer poverty -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, it is interesting, Christiane, because President Bush just pledged yesterday another $1.2 billion in aid to fight malaria in Africa. And he's vowing to double total aid to the continent by 2010. So I'm just wondering if it -- is it the celebrities' push that -- that's pushing leaders to contribute more, or is it Tony Blair?

AMANPOUR: Well, it's a bit of both, but what's interesting is you heard Tony Blair. The president, of course, has raised the amount of aid in terms of money that is being sent to Africa from the previous administration, for instance.

But what they're talking about is a structural adjustment, to adjust the kind of -- as I said, the budget that rich countries provide in foreign aid, to adjust the kind of -- attacking this problem not by handouts any more but by really attacking it from the very ground level. In other words, attacking water, poverty, hunger, disease, such as malaria, all at once, education, so that it makes a real difference, rather than a drip, drip, drip of foreign aid.

So what Prime Minister Blair and, for instance, the U.N. Millennium Project, which we've been following, is saying is that we've got to change the way we address Africa. It can't anymore be handouts. It must be a full structural adjustment.

COSTELLO: Christiane Amanpour, live from London this morning.

Bob Geldof and rocker Bono of U2 say they've been overwhelmed by the response so far of rich nations. And let's go beyond the sound bite for more on their take on their concerts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BONO, MUSICIAN: Live Aid, the original Live Aid 20 years ago, was about charity. You know, we offered our hands and our pockets. This is not about charity. This is about justice. This is about people getting out on the streets, tuning in, being educated about what their tax dollars can achieve in -- in the impoverished continent of Africa and elsewhere.

BOB GELDOF, MUSICIAN: If you told us four months ago that there will be a result in London from the G-7 finance ministers of 100 percent cancellation of debt for the world's poorest countries, we would have said it's not going to happen. If you'd have said two weeks ago the Europeans are going to -- are going to double aid and then within two weeks the American president would announce a doubling of aid, so that we arrive at the goal that we set with the Commission for Africa of a doubling of aid for Africa, $25 billion by 2010.

We're almost there, Wolf. We're within $2 billion. And I think we can knock that off in Gleneagles. If that happens, frankly, I'm a bit dismayed. I've just been on the phone with Bono, and we're sort of going, you know, "Is this happening?"

Live 8 the concert in Philadelphia and the other eight cities around the world on Saturday is actually the final push now. It's no longer the startup engine like I thought it was going to have to be. It's the final push to the G-8 summit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Tokyo will be the first Live 8 show of the day. Toronto -- Toronto's show will end the day. And of course, this is a good time to bring us back to our e-mail question of the morning.

MYERS: Actually, it's in Barry up there in Toronto. I'll tell you what, in the -- some of the folks in Toronto are upset about how much traffic this is going to bring, so there you go. Question of the day, Live 8: will the concerts bring change to Africa? Some pretty cynical responses this morning.

"Great for Africa. Now what about Asia?" says Fabi (ph) in South Carolina.

And from Terrence (ph), "I do not think much can be accomplished for Africa's recovery, because the world is just too racist to be concerned. The whole world cares nothing for Africa and the African continent and never will. It makes no sense. I don't think it will ever be accomplished in the U.S. in this manner, and the U.S. is too stingy to help and too indifferent to Africa to care."

"The problems in Africa will never be solved. Africa has been exploited for centuries by the western world. By keeping Africa destabilized and in poverty allows America and the European companies and countries and governments to keep raping Africa for its natural resources." That's from Sean (ph).

And from Lisa in Virginia, "Live 8 is a wonderful organization that can bring attention once again to the plight of those living in such adverse conditions in Africa. A change can truly only come if the government is willing to help improve conditions in this country, as well."

COSTELLO: I think people are missing a component, though. I mean, the governments of the countries within Africa have to get their stuff together, right?

MYERS: Well, true.

COSTELLO: There's a lot of corruption there. A lot of people say, you know, you give money you don't know where it goes. And the United States is concerned about that, as well.

MYERS: Isn't that always the case? Ninety-five percent ends up places that it shouldn't be? Let's hope this does not happen this time.

COSTELLO: Well, they're doing it another way, so let's see what happens.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, more on why Tony Blair thinks we can make a difference in Africa. But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In this morning's "Security Watch," a suspect is in custody after a high-speed chase through metro Phoenix that ended at Sky Harbor Airport. As CNN's Rusty Dornin reports, police used restraint in their efforts to stop the driver, but it was still one wild ride.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The vehicle has made its way onto I-17.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By the time we see suspect Damian Holmes driving what police say was a stolen pickup, Phoenix police had backed off chasing him by car. Police said they were trying to prevent a dangerous high speed accident, but that didn't stop the suspect from erratic driving.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Running every red light throughout the Phoenix city limits. At some point, almost hitting a pedestrian.

DORNIN: A police helicopter chased him to the airport, where he disappeared for a time inside the parking structure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just have to wait and see if he comes out the other end.

DORNIN: He did, and headed out on the runway. He raced by not just one but several planes that were moving on the tarmac. A police motorcycle chases him, but then the officer spins out and crashes. When the suspect hit the active runway, the police made up their minds.

SGT. RANDY FORCE, PHOENIX POLICE: The decision was made to stop that vehicle through any means necessary. Two Phoenix police officers fired upon that vehicle with their service weapons after it crashed through the gate.

DORNIN: That didn't stop Holmes. He kept going, fence and all. It took two police cars as battering rams to bring the truck to a stop. Holmes was slightly injured in the final crash but not by police gunfire.

FORCE: The shots did not stop the vehicle. They did not strike the driver. Fortunately, our motor officer did not sustain serious injury.

DORNIN: Airport runways were shut down for less than 10 minutes. This was not the first time a police chase ended up on the Sky Harbor Airport runway. In November of 2003, a suspect also crashed through a fence at the airfield.

Airport officials claim since September 11, 2001, perimeter fences and barriers have been beefed up for security. But the spokesperson added, quote, "In this case, it was a very large truck." They say they will investigate this incident to see if more improvements should be made.

Rusty Dornin, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

A new book is out about Deep Throat by "The Washington Post" reporter Bob Woodward. He says Mark Felt did a legal dance in 1976 when he was directly asked under oath if he was the infamous source. According to "USA Today," the book, titled "The Secret Man: The Story of Watergate's Deep Throat," says Felt hastily withdrew his denial when a Justice Department official reminded him he was under oath.

Felt was being questioned by a grand jury at the time. No one figured it out then, but as you know, back in May, the 80-year-old former FBI official admitted he was, indeed, Deep Throat.

Still to come on DAYBREAK...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLAIR: There's a lot more we've got to do. I totally agree. But I don't think we should ignore the fact that if we manage to do that this year, it's a big step forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: That is what we are talking about this morning. Ending poverty in Africa, a big challenge, but Tony Blair, Bob Geldof and Bono and a slew of others believe it can be done. Your e-mails, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Gwen Stefani, one of the performers at the G-8 concerts this weekend. Anywhere between two and five billion people are expected to watch this huge concert to benefit Africa, although organizers are mostly hoping to influence just eight people.

But as CNN European political editor Robin Oakley reports, one world leader is already on board.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLAIR: They're always, you know, setting... ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: Politics is showbiz. Showbiz is politics. On the eve of the world leaders' meeting he'll host, Tony Blair wasn't positive with advisers. He was with Bob Geldof on MTV and appealing to those who will be listening to, and performing in, the Live 8 concerts.

BOB GELDOF, MUSICIAN: ... pornography of poverty.

OAKLEY: Geldof was a member of Blair's Africa commission and gave a concise summary of his blueprint.

GELDOF: And it says debt trade and aid in exchange for the Africans coming to the party with good governance.

OAKLEY: And the alternative?

GELDOF: And plan B, is that we continue to watch the carnival of death every night on our television screens forever in full, glorious color, in stereophonic sound, the better to indulge in the pornography of poverty. Not my world.

OAKLEY: Africa, said the prime minister, was a passion that had helped bring him into politics. And he had no regrets about making it the prime focus of his summit.

BLAIR: There are scores of children that have died, preventably, in Africa. There's about 30,000 kids that die every single day of famine or disease or conflict. It's preventable, and I think that's a pretty powerful moral reason for acting in respect of Africa.

OAKLEY: Mr. Blair hopes the G-8 will cut Africa's debts, double the continent's aid, and give Africans justice in trade. But will the summit do enough to satisfy those demanding that poverty be made history?

BLAIR: If what you say to me is there's a lot more we've got to do, I totally agree. But I don't think we should ignore the fact that, if we manage to do that this year, it's a big step forward.

OAKLEY: For Mr. Blair, there's a risk in focusing so strongly on Africa. Polls show many Britons skeptical the aid money reaches the right quarters.

But there's a chance, too, of winning back supporters he lost over Iraq.

JOHN RENTOUL, BLAIR BIOGRAPHER: The sort of people who are impressed with warm words over Africa are precisely the same group of people who hate Tony Blair so much because of the war.

OAKLEY: Yes, it's a convenient cause, say commentators.

RENTOUL: But that's not to say that it's not sincere, as well.

OAKLEY: Tony Blair was once an aspiring rock musician himself, playing in a band called The Ugly Rumors. He understands the value of celebrity endorsements. And the backing of Bob Geldof and Bono won't do him any harm. The British prime minister may also calculate that a shove from Live 8 is just what G-8 needs.

Robin Oakley, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And that brings us to our e-mail question of the day.

MYERS: It certainly does. What do you think this Live 8 thing is going to do? Do you think it's going to do anything? Is there going to be any change to Africa? You can still e-mail us at Daybreak@CNN.com.

I've got one from Andrew in Las Vegas: "I think the whole reason for getting people to join organizations, as opposed to sending money, is that the world has changed so dramatically since U.S. Aid for Africa. Information is just now as powerful as money. With e-mails, blogs, et cetera you have a larger interactive audience, and that can get things done and moving quicker. If you were just to amass money, somebody could probably lose it or use it for other things. Hopefully, the awareness will generate a continuous response, and this will turn and create work and action toward help Africa -- helping Africa.

And from Benjamin in Montpelier, "It's hard to say how much effect the concerts will have on their cause. Many people will go or tune into the concert just to hear the music. But in fact, it's all intention. It's being done for charity. If one person is influenced to make a difference, then it's worth it. Personally, I've done what I can, but I think the fact that Pink Floyd is reuniting should show the world that this is an important issue" -- Carol.

COSTELLO: That's right. They put aside their differences, because this is something bigger than them.

MYERS: And where'd that one go? I had one, a good one here from Lisa. No, that's not it. From Lisa, here: "Live 8 is a wonderful organization that can bring attention once again to the plight of those living in such adverse conditions. Let's please make this work." Lisa.

COSTELLO: We'll be watching this weekend. Thank you, Chad.

On the next hour of DAYBREAK, it's a big weekend for a biking legend and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. Today Nike is unveiling Lance's knew "LiveStrong" line. And tomorrow the Tour De France begins. Can he win for the seventh consecutive year? We'll take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Bright in here. Entertainment headlines for you this morning.

"War of the Worlds" took in over $21 million on its first day in American theaters. The alien invasion thriller marks the biggest opening day ever for a Tom Cruise movie. Movie ticket sales have been down for 18 weeks straight in American theaters.

Michael Jackson's gone a long way to relax. He's in the Gulf Arab nation of Bahrain on a private visit for a few days. A spokesman for the government says Jackson is a friend of the royal family. Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges last month.

He may have lost the top spot, but "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice is having his share of luck. The singer married his hometown girlfriend two weeks ago. That's reported to "People" magazine. Also, his latest single, "Inside Your Heaven," is at No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart.

You can get more entertainment news every night on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." That's at 7 p.m. Eastern on Headline News.

And the next hour of DAYBREAK starts in 30 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is Friday, July 1 and U.S. Marines in Iraq are mourning their own. Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, one week after the deadliest day for American females serving in Iraq, those fallen heroes are being remembered.

Also ahead, just back from Gitmo, we'll hear from a reporter who spent more time than most at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

And 10 cities, dozens of bands, one common cause. It's Live 8 weekend. We'll take you to the scene of the American stage.

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