Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Charities Brace For Tough Holiday Donation Season; Christian- Inspired Video Games; Colombian Volcano May Erupt Soon;

Aired November 25, 2005 - 11:30   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: "Now in the News," hybrid vehicles may have higher taxes on the horizon. That's right. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is suggesting ways to finance rebuilding roadways. The suggestions include billing drivers for miles driven, indexing the federal gas tax for inflation, and a hybrid tax. That hybrid tax would ensure that all drivers pay for improvements, no matter how much they spend on fuel.
Last call should be harder to find in England with relaxed drinking laws now in effect. Many pubs are now allowed to stay open later, and some even pouring pints 24 hours of day. The government hopes to stop the flood of intoxicated people hitting the streets after the previous 11 p.m. closing time. The verdict is still out on that one.

Look at this, British soccer legend George Best has died. The 59-year-old former Manchester United star had been hospitalized since early October, suffering from infections. His condition worsened last week requiring him to be placed on a life support machine.

In New York, a gust of wind may be to blame for this mishap during yesterday's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Look at it right there. The highlighted area shows a float cable getting caught on a Times Square lamppost, yes, right there, causing the fixture to fall. Two sisters were hit by the falling light. They were treated and released from the hospital.

His real name is Maurice Chase. But for the poor and homeless of Los Angeles, the priest is better known as Father Dollar Bill. And the good priest did not disappoint those who were all-too familiar of his thanksgiving tradition of handing out dollar bills to the downtrodden. Father Chase doled out 15,000 singles yesterday in one of a number of charitable causes throughout Southern California.

Well, charities across the country are bracing for a tougher holiday season when it comes to donations. That may be in large part to the outpouring of financial support already given to victims of Hurricane Katrina and South Asia's deadly tsunami just after Christmas last year, generated millions of donated dollars.

But both tragedies may now figure into what some are calling charitable fatigue among would be benefactors, many of whom are just simply tapped out. The Reverend Larry Snyder from Catholic Charities USA, joins us live from Washington to talk about this.

As we mentioned, Father Larry, Tsunami, Katrina. Are people going through what is called donor fatigue?

REV. LARRY SNYDER, CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA: Well, I think that's something that certainly we're all very concerned about. But it's also a little too early to tell. We did a holiday survey, which we do every year, to kind of take the temperature of what our agencies are seeing this time of year. And that survey told us that three out of four agencies are, in fact, being asked to provide additional -- to respond to additional needs this year.

And those needs are everything from food to housing to higher utility bills. And it's interesting. It's the kind of thing that the people we are seeing, the populations are seniors, their families. But especially it's the group we call the working poor, people who are working, but they're not making enough to make ends meet.

NGUYEN: Yes, we're looking at the list right now of those, 69 percent say they're going to need an increase in the need for making rent or mortgage payments. Also as you mentioned for food, temporary housing. A lot of that probably has to do with Katrina victims. And also on here, for prescription medicine assistance. You're seeing a greater need for that, too, this year?

SNYDER: Yes. And that would be primarily with seniors, but not totally with seniors. And I think what we see is people, then, having to make very difficult choices. It's, are they going to pay the gas bill? Or are they going to buy their prescription? Are they going to put food on the table for their children? Which are very difficult decisions for folks.

NGUYEN: Well, let me ask you this, is it because people are simply tapped out? Or is it because of these other factors? You mentioned just a couple of them. The high cost of fuel. The high cost of heating homes. That's really taking some of the money away from what they would have otherwise given to charities.

SNYDER: Well, I think that, as you have mentioned, people have been very generous this year, with the tsunami, then with the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast. And of course, now, with this season of goodwill where we try to remember those in our midst who are living on the edges, who need our help. And I think we've seen an incredible response from the people of this country to the folks who were victimized by the tsunami, and those who are experiencing the effects of the hurricanes.

So, I am confident that, you know, we've entered this season of goodwill. Yesterday, we gathered with families and friends to really focus more on what is most important in our lives. And as we go through the month of December, I think this is going to be something that's going to motivate people to continue the high level of giving.

It's -- you know, it's not an accident that most non-profits who are in the human service field actually get most of their donations in the month of December.

NGUYEN: Right. And I think this is a staggering number, 75 percent of your agencies say it will be more difficult to meet the needs this time of year. And as we all know, poverty doesn't take a holiday.

SNYDER: That's exactly right.

NGUYEN: Goodness, all right. Well, best of look to you. And for those who are thinking about it, what's your message to them? How are you urging them to give one more time this year?

SNYDER: Well, my message is that we don't forget the folks who are in our own communities that -- who need our help, like I say, because they're at the edge. And I think one of the challenges I would give would be to the media, that there have been incredible stories, some of them heroic and others just simple acts of kindness that have come about after the disasters but also now at this time of year.

And boy, if we could have just one of those stories at each broadcast, I think it would do a lot to motivate people to do their part as well.

NGUYEN: We will see what we can do. Reverend Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, best of luck to you.

SNYDER: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Christianity has already claimed a significant share of the popular music market. Now, video games could be next. Some programs are drawing on scripture to create a new genre of action- packed games.

CNN Boston bureau chief Dan Lothian has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Sixteen-year-old Vincent Trillich can't get enough of his computers games. There is plenty of action, drama, adventure, but it's not what you'd expect.

VINCENT TRILLICH, TEEN VIDEO GAMER: Some of those games where there is blood flying everywhere, these aren't those kind of games.

LOTHIAN: "Catechumen" and "Ominous Horizons" are religious games that Vincent's mother not only approves up, but also plays.

PAT TRILLICH, PARENT: When I'm buying games I want games that I wouldn't mind playing and that I have no compunction against allowing my son to play.

LOTHIAN: In "Catechumen" the player defeats the forces of evil to rescue captured Christians from Roman soldiers.

The Trillich family from Grosse Point Park, Michigan, is not unique. Controversial violent video games have left some parents asking for something different.

(on camera): Now a new generation of Christian programmers is answering the call, delivering a product with cutting-edge action and a Christian message that they hope will also appeal to the mainstream.

PETER CHURNESS, GAME DEVELOPER: We've been very careful to make sure the game is not preachy and it's not cheesy, as well. It's going to be a fun game to play.

LOTHIAN: Churness' fantasy role-playing game, called "Orion," is due out next year. Other companies are rolling out similar product, too. Aki Sugawara, who covered this issue for Game Pro magazine, says unlike religious games of the past, the quality of these new titles is on par with some mainstream games.

AKI SUGAWARA, GAME PRO MAGAZINE: It was really surprising to see that Christian games are starting to catch up.

LOTHIAN: And while not glorifying violence, some of these games do feature guns and deaths and explosions. Programmers say the context is spiritual warfare, often ripped from the pages of the Bible. It's a small industry now, but some believe could soon explode, a growing movement aimed at the same audience that embraced the mega blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ".

CHURNESS: We do believe that there is a spiritual hunger out there for spiritually themed products.

LOTHIAN: Experts say it's too early to tell if these religious games will be embraced by the masses, but back in Michigan, the Trillich family is sold.

V. TRILLICH: They seem like normal games.

LOTHIAN: But in tune with their values.

Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: A volcano in Colombia has begun erupting. Now, a small village is covered in ash and soot. We're going to have a live report from Colombia on how serious this eruption really is and how serious it could be for the residents there. Stay with us for that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM: Get out the plastic and deck the malls. Cnn.com has your holiday how-to when it comes to shopping. 'Tis the season to find that perfect holiday gift, right? Well, if the idea of playing St. Nick this year has you feeling a little lost, this holiday gift guide may point you in the right direction.

Just Click on who the gift is for, what type of gift you want to give, and the price range. Once you've found the perfect present, break out the ribbon and the wrapping paper. No need to worry if you've two left thumbs, this guide explores the secrets of gift- wrapping, bow-making and proper package packing.

And even though Thanksgiving is over, there is still time to talk turkey. If you're wondering why it is we pop champagne on New Year's or carve a bird on Thanksgiving, this interactive tells all. And it is all online at cnn.com/shopping.

From the .comdesk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Here are other stories making news overseas this morning. Italy is trying to thaw out from a heavy snowfall. Look at this. As you can see, the white stuff proved problematic for many tourists. In fact, large amounts of snow actually prompted major road closures. Central and southern Italy got hit very hard. But you must admit, it is pretty, at least if you don't have to drive in it.

In Belgium, talk about cool, this sculpted ice world opened in the historic city of Bruges exactly one calendar month before Christmas. That is so pretty. About 20 ice carvers from France to Finland worked to create this winter wonderland, literally. The ice palace closes a week after New Year's.

Medical news in the "Daily Dose" for you right now. Vietnam reports the first outbreak of bird flu in chickens in the southern Mekong Delta. Now the virus has now spread across 20 provinces since October. Farmers have slaughtered a million chickens, meanwhile, a man suspected of having bird flu left a quarantine unit at a hospital. A newspaper says villagers are trying to persuade him to return.

And it's enough to give a French winemaker a hangover. Yes, that's right, a report from the French government is urging a warning label for wine, much like the one cigarettes carry. The government is considering the step to help curb alcoholism. One proposed warning would read, and I'm quoting here, alcohol consumption is endangering your health. Of course, several medical studies in recent years tout the health benefits of wine. So you decide.

Your "Daily Dose" of health and medical news is always just a click away. Logon to cnn.com/health, 24/7. You'll find health headlines, special reports, and a medical library.

Authorities along the border of Colombia and Ecuador are closely monitoring a volcano for further signs of eruption. Now yesterday it sent up a column of smoke and ash. CNN's Karl Penhaul joins us now by phone from the village Pasto, which is about a dozen miles from the volcano.

At this point, are you bracing yourself for an eruption?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what the authorities here are saying, what the volcano experts have said after an overflight in the early hours this morning, is they are still on alert. They dropped the alert back down to level two, which is -- in their terms, it means that an eruption could happen within days.

Now the volcano is behind me as we speak. It's a little bit hazy. It's a little difficult to say exactly what's going on there. But what we can see from our position is a huge plume of smoke periodically puffing out of that volcano. And what the experts are telling us is that underneath, there's lava bubbling under. And they also say that there's another rift.

They say that there's a risk of pyroclastic flows, that in layman's terms means a cloud of boiling, boiling, hot vapor that could roll down the sides of that volcano any minute. And there the need to get the people out from the surrounding villages fast -- Betty.

NGUYEN: I understand some people have already evacuated. But there are some holdouts like farmers in the area. They just don't want to leave their crops. What's being done about them?

PENHAUL: That's correct. We're told that so far, after yesterday morning's eruption, which came before dawn, about 5,000 people hastily evacuated from some of the seven villages around the volcano. And also from one of the northern neighborhoods, the city of Pasto. Now that's a city of 500,000 people.

But there are still about 5,000 people in some of the smaller villages who are classed at immediate risk. And some of them, we've heard, are saying that simply they will not move because they're used to living in the shadow of danger they say, and they prefer to make pagan-style offerings to the volcano, rather than move down into some of the hostile out of harm's way, Betty.

NGUYEN: And, Karl, we're looking at the volcano behind you. You can see it's a little hazy there. But as for the smoke and the people who are evacuating, where are they going? Because we understand schools are even closed in the area.

PENHAUL: Schools and universities were closed yesterday. And some of the commercial sites (ph) were also cancelled into this city of Pasto. That because there were heavy of clouds of ash hanging in the air. That ash has begun to settle. But as far as evacuees are concerned, they're being moved to a series of 11 hostels, both in rural areas and also in the urban areas. In the countryside, those hostels consist of large tent cities. And in the city here, hardened structures, concrete structures -- Betty.

NGUYEN: We'll keep a watch. Karl Penhaul, stay safe. Thank you.

And of course, we're going to have a check of the weather and business. That is coming up right here on LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: I'm Betty Nguyen. International news is up next. So you definitely want to stay tuned for "YOUR WORLD TODAY" with Michael Holmes and Zain Verjee. That's after a quick break.

(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