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President Bush at Maryland Church to Talk About AIDS; Predators at the Gym?; High Cost of Keeping Warm; Will Amanda Knox Stay in Italian Jail?

Aired November 30, 2007 - 11:00   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: AIDS, it kills millions of people every year. It sentences millions more to a life of anguish, fear and heartbreak. Now the world pauses to reflect. This morning, the White House unfurled a huge red ribbon to mark World AIDS Day tomorrow. Minutes from now we are going to be hearing from President Bush. He will discuss AIDS live right here in the NEWSROOM.
The numbers are staggering. More than 33 million people in the world are living with HIV, 2.5 million of those cases came this year. AIDS is expected to kill more than two million people in 2007. The vast majority of people living with HIV are living in Africa. In North America, the number of people infected with HIV is about 1.3 million.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The president and Mrs. Bush are at a Maryland church this morning to talk about AIDS.

CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the White House.

And Kathleen, you know, I want to ask the question, maybe the answer is obvious, why the focus on AIDS today by the president? We are going to hear from the president in just a few moments.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, Tony, it is because of World AIDS Day, which is December 1st, falls on a Saturday, but the president wanted to certainly focus on the real -- this has been a real initiative for his White House, trying to get help out around the world to people who are suffering from HIV and AIDS, and certainly people in the United States. Obviously this large red ribbon which you can see hanging in front of the White House is a very powerful symbol. The White House put it up early this morning.

It's going to be hanging here for two days. It's some 28 feet long, 8 feet wide. Also, any visitors to the White House tomorrow will be receiving small red ribbon stickers and a card with HIV-AIDS facts.

Now, as you mentioned, the first lady and the president about 20 minutes ago began meeting in Mount Airy, Maryland, at the Calvary United Methodist Church with a number of people who have been engaged in the United States and abroad with fighting AIDS. We're talking about faith-based organizations and nonprofit organizations as well.

And the president -- again, this has been quite an important initiative for him. Back in May, he asked Congress, in fact, to double the amount, up to $30 billion that the U.S. would be spending in its overseas initiatives over the next five years.

The president will be talking about that this morning when he wraps up his meeting. He will be praising the contributions that faith-based groups make, and he will also be pointing out how the money that the U.S. is spending around the world is helping some 1.3 million people in 15 countries -- Tony.

HARRIS: CNN's Kathleen Koch for us this morning.

Kathleen, great to see you. Thanks.

KOCH: You bet.

(NEWSBREAK)

COLLINS: A shocking discovery at the gym -- 20 convicted sex offenders, all members of a Michigan YMCA.

The story now from Anne Schieber with affiliate WOOD.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNE SCHIEBER, REPORTER, WOOD (voice over): The Muskegon Family YMCA says it has never had a problem with predators, but there have been concerns at other Ys. And so it was their Muskegon Y's insurance company that suggested the Y check to see if any of its 7,000 members are on the state's sex offender registry.

DWAYNE SEWARD, MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, YMCA: Well, we were surprised. We didn't think there would be -- you know, maybe you would have one or two sex offenders, but we did have 20.

SCHIEBER: And these weren't casual offenders. Most involve the second-highest level of offenses, including coercion, sexual contact, and victims between 13 and 16. When the Y discovered that, it passed a new policy. If you are on the list, you need not apply, and if you are a member, you need to quit.

SEWARD: We don't want the bad people being tempted there. Some of these people have impulse controls that has them do bad things.

SCHIEBER: The risk at health clubs can be especially acute. Members mingle in less than their finest in locker rooms. Kids under 16 not in a program have to be with a parent, but it's not always easy.

Like for this member when he brings his grandchildren.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of the problems I have is a granddaughter. And I have to take her in the -- there's been things where we had to take the girls into the -- and that's always crossed my mind.

SCHIEBER: The registry contains a wide variety of offenders. There has been some question even about its accuracy. For that, the Y is planning an appeal process, but for now the Y is standing behind its new policy.

SEWARD: I, for one, as a parent, I'm very happy that my children don't have to worry about sex offenders being around the Y.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Want to get you some information just into the CNN NEWSROOM now.

According to The Associated Press, Roger B. Smith -- he led General Motors Corporation in the 1980s -- has died. He was 82 years old.

You may remember a little bit about him. One of those things is he was the subject of Michael Moore's documentary called "Roger & Me."

Once again, he died in the Detroit area. He had led General Motors back in the 1980s. Actually retired in July of 1990, but Roger B. Smith has died, according to The Associated Press. He was 82 years old.

Deal or no deal? Striking Hollywood writers are asking for a few days to think about a new contract offer.

Producers and Hollywood studios say they're offering the writers millions of dollars more for work shown on the Internet. The Writers Guild asked for a break in talks until Tuesday while they consider their options. But the Guild called on members to keep picketing.

And striking writers rally against a talk show host. They've converged on NBC Studios last night to protest Carson Daly. His show, "Last Call," is the first late-night talk show to restart production. Daly says he still supports the striking writers, but he doesn't want to see his entire staff and crew lose their jobs.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: She can't have her cake and eat her home, too. A woman squeezed by high heating costs, you know she's not alone.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Heat your home or buy Christmas presents? That's a choice for some Americans. They face it as winter approaches.

More now on the high cost of keeping warm. We want to go live to New York and senior correspondent Allan Chernoff.

This is a scary time of year for some people.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Heidi. And that really is the choice confronting one senior citizen we interviewed, because at today's prices, it's going to be very, very expensive keeping the house warm this winter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CHERNOFF (voice over): Down the back stairs and in the basement is where 72-year-old retired postal worker Carol Smith now finds her home's money pit, a heating oil tank. At today's price, it will cost $900 to fill.

(on camera): What was your first reaction when you heard how much the price has gone up this year?

CAROL SMITH, HOMEOWNER: My first reaction was shock. I said I can't believe that this is going on. And so then I said, well, then I have to figure out how to make the payments.

CHERNOFF (voice over): Carol is lowering her thermostat, driving less, economizing on holiday presents for her grandchildren. And at the market, she's cutting back on what she calls luxuries like ice- cream and cake.

SMITH: It is scary. It is scary. And sometimes I worry at night. When I go to bed, I say, oh my goodness, I have to keep making plans and keep coming up with ideas of what to do.

CHERNOFF (on camera): This could be a very expensive winter for homeowners in northern states. Carol's supplier, National Fuel Oil, has raised the price of heating oil to a record $3.25 a gallon. An increase of 50 percent from last winter.

(voice over): Even at that price, the company says, its profit margin is squeezed because the cost of oil has soared this year. Hard to explain to angry customers.

BOB AYARS, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL FUEL OIL: They don't understand and I don't blame them. I feel for them.

CHERNOFF (on camera): How hard is it for you to tell your customers what the price is this year?

AYARS: Well, it makes you -- it makes you not want to answer the phone sometimes.

CHERNOFF (voice over): Some of National's low-income customers will be getting a free delivery of heating oil donated by Venezuela's Citgo, which provides an opportunity for Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to gain political mileage at the expense of the United States. But the nonprofit behind the programs says it's still worthwhile.

JOSEPH KENNEDY, PRESIDENT, CITIZENS ENERGY: I don't know how an awful lot of low-income people are going to get through this winter.

CHERNOFF: Last year, Carol Smith received a free delivery, and again this winter, she is counting on the same, enough free oil for two weeks so she can afford to keep her home heated through the winter.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHERNOFF: Citizens Energy has asked U.S. oil companies to participate in its program, but not one of those companies has agreed to do so -- Heidi.

COLLINS: You've got to wonder what U.S. oil companies are saying, if anything, about this, because they're -- you know, forever there's been this argument that it's a business to run an oil company and to refine oil. It's capitalism, and then there's the another argument that says, jeez, we have people like that who aren't going to be able to afford it.

CHERNOFF: Well, certainly there are charitable donations. All of these companies do make charitable donations, but they're not joining this program.

In fact, a lot of the major oil programs told us that they support the government's low-income home energy assistance program. That's also a way that low-income folks can get some money to heat their home this is winter. But you know what? The oil companies aren't paying for that. We are, the taxpayers, and also, that program, the core funding for that program has been cut by 25 percent for this fiscal year.

COLLINS: All right. We'll be following that story.

CNN Senior Correspondent Allan Chernoff live from New York.

Thank you, Allan.

HARRIS: A health crisis for African-Americans, mind-boggling numbers on HIV and AIDS. One man's personal fight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right. Let's drill down on some numbers here.

Thirteen percent of the population, but 49 percent of the new diagnoses of HIV and AIDS in the United States. It is a crisis -- no other way to put it -- in the black community.

Phil Wilson is founder of the Black AIDS Institute, and he joins us from Los Angeles. And he's got a personal fight that we're going to talk about as well.

Phil, great to see you. Thanks for your time this morning. Thanks for getting up.

PHIL WILSON, FOUNDER, BLACK AIDS INSTITUTE: My pleasure. Glad to be with you.

HARRIS: Phil, let's do some work here. Let's drill down.

Why has the AIDS epidemic gotten not better, but worse, in the black community?

WILSON: Well, you know, first of all, in the beginning everyone thought that AIDS was a gay disease. Black folks included. And as a result, we decided it wasn't our problem. It wasn't something that we had to pay attention to. Then that was exacerbated by the stigma associated with the disease, so then we are afraid to talk about it. And so now we're at a place where nearly 50 percent of the estimated 1.2 million Americans living with HIV or AIDS are black, 54 percent of the new AIDS cases in this country are black.

Now, among men, 40 percent of the new AIDS cases are black. Among women, 65 percent of the new cases are black.

HARRIS: All right. This is outrageous.

WILSON: You know? Among adolescents, among teenagers, 70 percent of the new cases, Tony, are black.

HARRIS: OK.

WILSON: AIDS in America today is a black disease.

HARRIS: OK. All right. Now let's -- let's -- so what do we do? What do we do?

WILSON: Well, first and foremost, we have to take responsibility and ownership of the AIDS epidemic. We continue to pretend that it's someone else's problem.

You know, there is a role for the government to play, and, quite frankly, our government isn't doing as good a job fighting the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. as it should. There's a role for corporations to play. There's a role for foundations to play.

And, quite frankly, as the epidemic has gotten darker and darker and darker over time, those who were at the front of fighting the AIDS epidemic have pulled out. But at the end of the day, you know, if they don't do what we think they should do or...

HARRIS: There you go.

WILSON: ... quite frankly, morally they should do, we still have to save ourselves.

HARRIS: I know where you're driving at. All right. Let's drill down on that. Let's leave the government out of this for a second. All right?

I mean, we have to at some point be talking about a huge -- and I'll use your term -- a black mobilization effort. Explain what that looks like, what it feels like.

WILSON: It means that any institution that wants to call themselves a black institution in America...

HARRIS: Such as? Such as? Come on, come on. Such as?

WILSON: Such as the NAACP, or the Urban League, or Rainbow/Push or 100 Black Men, or the National Council of Negro Women, or the National Coalition of 100 Black Men... HARRIS: Terrific.

WILSON: ... all of those organizations have to have HIV and AIDS at the top of their agenda.

This is a disease that's decimating us. It's a health issue. It's a human rights issue. It's a social justice issue. It's an urban renewal issue.

HARRIS: And it's not at the top of the agenda for those organizations why?

WILSON: Well, it's not -- it has not been at the top of the organizations, A, because they have not understood the magnitude of the epidemic in our communities, and, B, there has been some resistance because the perception that those people, them people, these other people got AIDS. And quite frankly, Tony, today, as evidenced by the new data out from Washington, D.C., it is our problem full stop.

Eighty percent of the new AIDS cases in Washington, D.C., are black. You know? And so no matter how you look at it, if you are a black leader by any stripe, AIDS has got to be on your agenda. If you're a black person, AIDS is impacting you personally whether you understand it or not.

HARRIS: Hey, it impacts you personally. How long have you been living with HIV and AIDS? How long?

WILSON: I have been living with HIV for 26 years now. Basically my entire adult life.

I have had HIV so long I don't remember what it was like not to have HIV. I have had full-blown AIDS for 15 years now.

I'm alive today for a few reasons. One, I have the love and support of family and friends.

HARRIS: Yes.

WILSON: Stigma matters. The fact that my family has stood with me, my friends have stood with me, I'm alive today.

HARRIS: Yes. Phil...

WILSON: Number two...

HARRIS: Yes?

WILSON: I have access to medical care. You know, AIDS is no longer the automatic death sentence it once was, and yet black people are not utilizing care.

HARRIS: Phil, and I have heard this time and time again in interviews for this day, access to care is so important.

Phil, great to see you. Thanks for your time.

WILSON: Good to see you as well, Tony.

HARRIS: That was on point. Thank you.

COLLINS: Well, it's 1:00 in the morning. Four kids in a cold car. Seems dad is in a hot situation.

You'll be surprised about this one. We'll tell you in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Here we go, just about the bottom of the hour. Welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM for getaway day Friday.

I'm Tony Harris.

COLLINS: Hi there, everybody.

I'm Heidi Collins.

An American student a suspect in her British roommate's death. Today a court will decide whether Amanda Knox stays in an Italian jail.

CNN's Alessio Vinci reports from Rome.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice over): Italian MP Osvaldo Napri (ph) met Amanda Knox during a tour of the prison. He was not allowed to discuss the ongoing case, but he says Amanda was serene during their 10-minute encounter behind these walls.

"I found in front of me a girl with a very honest smile, sweet," he says. "I found before me a girl extremely sensitive and well- behaved. It seemed to me that when she answered my questions, she seemed happy to be able to say things and to be able to live this moment of her life with dignity and serenity."

VINCI: Napoli said Amanda told him she spends most of her time, riding, reading, and exercising. He described Amanda's cell as a bright room four by five meters, about 13 feet by 17 feet. She shares it with three other inmates, two Italian and one Bolivian. One of them, he says, acts as sort of a big mama to Amanda. Her bed is the first one on the left entering the cell. The MP saw a book and a letter Amanda had just received from a friend which she said she was about to answer.

She has access to a small but well-equipped kitchen and a shower. And shares a desk and a television set. She doesn't read the newspapers because she doesn't want to be influenced and doesn't want to see how the newspapers are treating her, he says. And when on television, they talk about her case, the older lady. The one acting as the big mama turns off the television or changes channel because she doesn't want to hear what they say about her.

Amanda told Napoli that she prays a lot. She and her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito are awaiting for a court to decide on Friday whether they will have to remain in jail until the end of the investigation. Prosecutors have placed both of them at the site of the crime the night of the murder. Something they both deny.

And there are two other suspects. Bar owner Patrick Lumumba freed from prison for lack of evidence, but prosecutors say still a suspect. And Hermann Guede who remains in custody in Germany after Italian police found his fingerprints and DNA at the crime scene. All four deny killing the British student.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: The Michael Vick dog-fighting case, two of his co- defendants in federal court for sentencing this morning. Quanis Phillips, that seems on the right there, ordered to serve 21 months in prison. For now, Peace gets 18 months. Each faced up to five years. Both had agreed to testify against Vick, who bank rolled the Virginia operation. Vick faces federal sentencing in a couple weeks. He and his co-defendants also face state charges.

So, you think you had a tough week at work? Wait until you see this. Keep your eye on the clerk. It's a robber right there diving across the counter of her Pennsylvania shop. He pushed the woman to the ground, as you can see here, and eventually forced her to open a cash drawer. Police are searching for him now. No word on how much money the bad guy got away with here.

COLLINS: Kids left in a car outside a strip club. The youngest, a 3-month-old baby in a car seat. Dad allegedly left the infant and three other young children in a near-freezing car while he went to the Taboo Topless Cabaret. He was in there for at least an hour before Tulsa police dragged him out and put the cuffs on him. The children were placed with Human Services officials.

A Grinch stole a Christmas tree. A long-needled pine gone from a family's front yard. It was chopped down and hauled off during the night leaving only that sad stump. The thief, even taking the time to take off the Christmas lights first. An Oregon family says they planted the pine ten years ago, and it had grown 15 to 20 feet tall.

HARRIS: In a week CNN will honor six people who are making an extraordinary difference in the lives of others. These heroes were nominated by you. We received more than 7,000 nominations in all. With then, narrowed the list to 18 finalists. The three, you're about to meet her. Saving lives every day on three different continents. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANN MCGEE, HERO: Every day we get a call, and it's another child with another disease. My name is Ann McGee, and my organization has provided over 50,000 life-saving flights to six children in every state and 22 countries. We actually purchase airline tickets through the generosity and big hearts of Americans all across the country. Orlando to Houston, Phoenix to Houston. They send us donations, and we in turn use those donations to purchase tickets.

The typical child that we would help would be a child with a very rare disease who cannot get the treatment he needs in his hometown. Jessica Linley (ph) is a little girl. We have been flying her since she was a baby in her mother's arms. And Jessica has a disease called arthrogryposis, and arthrogryposis causes children's hands and feet to become deformed and not work properly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You don't need my driver's license?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. Are you ready to do this thing?

UNIDENTIFIED MOTHER: We've been able to fix things that doctor said were unfixable. She's able to walk and run and do things like other children. And without Ann McGee and Miracle Flights, we would have had to take the first answer that we got, and not get the second opinion, which was from the doctors who truly know about her condition.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on. This is wonderful, wonderful. I'm so happy for you. That's wonderful.

MCGEE: I get to get up every day and make a difference in the life of these sick children. I'm the luckiest person in the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE, HERO: That's good. You see the way people are leaving and the poverty that is around and lack of knowledge. Communities, families are broken. It's just so devastating. My dreams for this area are a very efficient health care that treats the people. My name is Peter and I started Mama Maria Clinic in Muhuru Bay, Kenya. After my parents died, the expectation of the people and what they encouraged me to do was to drop out of school and do fishing on the lake and support my siblings.

I felt that I wanted to do something here, even to come into the U.S. Then just become part of my responsibility. I want to create a completely different kind of environment that delivers a lot of good. The whole idea was to treat people and uplift the social status of people. We first started this clinic, this kind of medication was not available. My path that led me to where I am right now, it's unbelievable. Touching people's lives like that and knowing that people are getting treated makes me really happy.

S. RAMAKRISHAN, HERO: We want to empower the challenged persons so that they should know the opportunities available to them. I'm S. Ramakrishan. I am helping the physically challenged persons in India. God has given me an opportunity to think about the needy people. So, I am thankful to God in that way. Otherwise, I might not have thought about all these things. The home for the disable children started with three kids and now we have 60 children in the home. And more than 80 students have gone out after getting rehabilitation. Now, they are getting employment opportunities and some of them are studying at a college. Some of them are working in our institution. Whenever we see people with the disability, we try to motivate them and we try to get them a job opportunities.

We are doing our service. We are doing our duty, that's all. All are heroes of the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: On December 6th at 9:00 eastern, Christian Amanpour and Anderson Cooper will co-host the live broadcast, where they will announce the six honorees.

COLLINS: A big scandal, a giant apology. A sumo wrestler pro throws himself on the mercy of his fans.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: A breaking news just in to CNN. We're getting word from an Italian news agency that the American student, you know her as Amanda Knox, an Italian court has decided to hold her, has decided that she will be held right now, and she and her boyfriend were in court today for a hearing to decide whether the two can continue to be detained by police investigating the death of British student Meredith Kercher. That decision coming in just moments ago. We want to get that to you right here in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Quickly, we want to take you directly to Mt. Airy, Maryland where President Bush is commemorating World AIDS Day. Let's listen for a moment.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ...his job is to make sure that America's great compassion is effective and widespread. That the goals we have set are met, and Mr. Ambassador, you are doing a fine job, and I want to thank you very much for serving.

I also want to thank Pastor Dennis Yoakam (ph), the pastor of this church. And Dennis, I want to thank you for your hospitality. It's not easy to host the president and all those who follow the president. I want to thank the members of your church who have so graciously made our stay here so comfortable.

I really want to thank the people standing behind me for not only joining Laura and me in discussions, but for serving as such powerful examples of the human spirit. Behind me are folks who understand that the scourge of HIV AIDS can be mitigated and that people's lives can be improved. They have seen hopelessness and have seen hope.

People who are willing to act on the universal call to love a neighbor. People here come from obviously different backgrounds and different denominations, yet they share this timeless calling to heal the sick and comfort the lonely. And their stories are incredibly inspirational and touching.

I appreciate the fact that they live out their faith just like hundreds of thousands of other people do who are involved with the HIV AIDS crisis, and in so living out they're faith, they better our world. World AIDS day is both a day of sadness and a day of hope. We remember with sadness all those lost to AIDS. We mourn their lives cut short, their dreams of future denied.

We ask for God's blessings on the loved ones they have left behind. We also mark this day with hope. For the improving prospects of those living with the virus, for the unprecedented number of infections being prevented, and for new progress toward eradicating this disease. Above all, we dedicate ourselves to a great purpose. We will turn the tide against HIV AIDS once and for all.

According to the most recent estimates by the United Nations, more than 33 million people around the world live with HIV. They are mothers, they are fathers, brothers and sisters, friends and teachers, and each day some 5,700 lose their life. When Americans witness this suffering, they feel a duty to respond. Some are motivated by conscience and a conviction that America should use its great influence to be a force for good. Many others are driven by faith, by the call to love your neighbor as yourself even when that neighbor may live on the other side of the world.

The spirit of brotherhood and generosity has long-defined our country, and over the past six years we have rallied that spirit in the fight against HIV AIDS. Here at home, we've taken new measures to increase HIV AIDS testing and expand treatment, and improve care. We've worked with health care providers to make voluntary HIV screening a routine part of medical care so all-Americans can know their status. We worked with Congress to renew the Ryan White Care Act, which helps HIV AIDS patients receive life-saving drugs.

Overseas, the scope of this challenge is much longer, much larger. And this nation is responding. In 2003, I proposed the emergency plan for aids relief, a five-year $15 billion initiative to expand prevention, treatment, and care in the most heavily affected countries. Congress approved the plan with bipartisan support. I want our fellow citizens to think about what this means. Every year American taxpayers send billions of their hard-earned dollars overseas to save the lives of people they have never met.

In return for this extraordinary generosity, Americans expect results. So the emergency plan includes specific measurable targets for progress. It demands honesty and accountability for all those involved. It puts local partners in the lead because they know the needs of their people best. With this strategy, we have pioneered a new model for public health, and so far the results have been striking.

Five years ago only 50,000 people with AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa were receiving anti-retroviral drugs. Today, thanks to the emergency plan and to the generosity of the American taxpayer. That number is nearly 1.4 million. Think about that. Over a five-year period of time, the number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa has increased from 50,000 people to 1.4 million. Thanks to the American taxpayer.

Around the world, another 6.7 million people with HIV AIDS have received compassionate care including 2.7 million orphans and vulnerable children. Tens of millions have received prevention messages based on a proven principles of ABC, which is abstinence, be faithful, and use condoms. The money that you have spent is being spent wisely and saving lives. Some call this remarkable success. I call it a good start.

So, we have worked with the private sector and G-8 nations to increase their commitments. This may I propose to double our nation's initial pledge to $30 billion over the next five years. These American funds will help us support treatment for nearly 2.5 million people. Prevent more than 12 million new infections, and support care for 12 million people, including more than 5 million orphans and vulnerable children.

Now the time has come for the United States Congress to act again. I'm confident they will, and I call on the Congress to show America's leadership by reauthorizing the emergency plan and doubling our commitment to this urgent cause. One reason for the effectiveness of our efforts is the leading role of faith-based organizations.

Last summer, volunteers from this church traveled to Namibia to serve at a home for AIDS orphans. Think about that. People from this part of Maryland took upon themselves to travel to a far away land to help orphans, to say we love you, to inspire through their compassion.

With me today is a fellow named Chris Dominick from the McClain Bible Church. He briefed Laura and me and the others on the training that he had received in order to go to Zambia tomorrow. Faith-based groups like these are the foot soldiers in the armies of compassion. They are changing behavior by changing hearts, and they are helping to defeat this epidemic one soul at a time. This morning, I also met a woman named Martha Chulifia (ph). Afraid you left. Eight years ago, she established Litutab (ph) Memorial Center in Zambia to honor her husband who had died of AIDS.

Today, the center partners with the emergency plan and faith- based caregivers to serve more 150 patients. Martha hosted Laura and Jena on their recent trip to Africa, and they listened to a choir of orphans who had received loving care at the center. The children sang these inspiring words, "God, you are really there, when I pray, when I cry, when I am ill. You are there." Stories like these bring pride to our country, and they should bring something more.

When we support nations seeking to replace chaos and despair with progress and hope, we reduce the appeal of extremism. When we replace despair with progress, when we replace hopelessness with hope, we add to the security of our nation. As well, we make friends who will always remember that America stood with them in their hour of need.

The new relationships that America has forged in Africa are a high priority for our nation. I'm pleased to announce that Laura and I will travel to sub-Sahara Africa early next year. I look forward to seeing the results of America's generosity and to assure our friends that they have a steady partner in the United States of America.

The scriptures tell us I have set before you life and death. Therefore, choose life. All who wage the battle against AIDS have made the choice for life. Because of their compassion and courage, millions who once saw the disease as a death sentence, now look to the future with hope. This World AIDS Day is a day of importance because it's a day we resolve to continue the work of healing and redemption. It's a day to strive for the day when the scourge of AIDS is a part of history. Laura and I are honored to be here with you all.

May God bless your work and God bless those who suffer from HIV AIDS. May God continue to bless our country. Thank you.

COLLINS: So, there you have President Bush speaking, and, of course, the First Lady by his side there, marking World AIDS Day at Mt. Airy, Maryland at the Calvary United Methodist Church. They've just met with a group of people there behind the president. These are all people who are helping in the fight against AIDS, including people from NGOS and working in AIDS-afflicted countries.

So, there you have it. President Bush marking World AIDS Day. Much more to come on World AIDS Day tomorrow when many different commemorations take place.

HARRIS: When we come back, a moment with our Ali Velshi that you won't quite believe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my goodness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: So, Heidi, did you see this, this morning with Ali?

COLLINS: I did.

HARRIS: Were you shocked?

COLLINS: No.

HARRIS: You weren't, not at all?

COLLINS: No.

HARRIS: So, I guess this is the story. Veronica was doing her segment on viral videos. She picks up on the web, some interesting provocative stuff and then there's this video that she found of this couple that was getting married. They're doing a traditional dance, and then they stop.

The music plays, and this is Ali Velshi dancing to "Baby Got Back" right here. Maybe, we should have put a little bit of the music onto it to put him in time and rhythm or something. But "Baby Got Back" from Sir Mix-a-Lot and there he is, Ali Velshi with all the wrong moves! Doctor, please, don't hurt him, hammer, don't hurt him. Slow it down. Slow it down, Ali. COLLINS: Hey, by the way, I don't know if they're going to put that on the podcast or not, but for just a little while after worlds, when we are finish with this program, we always record the podcast and you can download that 24/7. Checkout the podcast, available, there it is, once again, on your iPod, cnn.com/podcast. Meanwhile, CNN NEWSROOM continues just one hour from now. A lot of big stories developing today.

HARRIS: You're (INAUDIBLE) news happening across the globe and here at home. I'm Tony Harris.

COLLINS: And I'm Heidi Collins. We'll see you on Monday everybody.

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