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Crisis in Haiti; Will Scott Brown Run for President?
Aired January 23, 2010 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight the ultimate survival story, buried alive for nearly two weeks, our Christiane Amanpour, live in Haiti, with the amazing video of the rescue and the people who pulled it off.
Meet Mr. Brown, Massachusetts's new senator, the Republican version of Barack Obama? Is he the GOP's man come 2012?
Hanging by a threat, houses teetering on the edge, weather causing huge problems all across the country.
Singer John Legend joins us from Sundance.
Plus, we're live in Los Angeles at the awards show that usually spells victory or defeat at the Oscars.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for joining us tonight. I'm live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
We begin with really an amazing story of survival in Haiti. Just about six hours ago, a young man was pulled out alive from the ruins of a hotel where he worked. His name is Wismond Jean-Pierre. He is 24 years old, and he spent the past 12 days buried under tons of bricks, concrete and wood. The ordeal left him badly dehydrated, but somehow he escaped serious injury. Shortly after that dramatic rescue, I spoke with a doctor about how Jean-Pierre was able to live so long without food or water.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: How do you survive for 12 days because usually 12 days without food or water -- most people say it's pretty much impossible?
DR. PANCHALI DHAR, ANESTHESIOLOGIST: Well, the main thing, the human body can continue without food for days and weeks, but what the danger was, is not being able to drink water. Everyone has minimum fluid requirements on a daily basis, on an hourly basis, but when you're in that kind of heat, you need more water because you're perspiring and you are under rubble. So what happens is with no access to water your urine output decreases, and your kidneys begin to shutdown, because you want to conserve fluid in your body.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So, he is being watched very closely. Jean-Pierre is now receiving medical care. He was a clerk, as we said, at the hotel; when it collapsed in that quake, he in a trapped in small space that allowed him to move around just little bit. A French rescue team discovered him today. It took them about three hours to free him up.
Let's go live to the ground and CNN's Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour, she is in Port-au-Prince tonight. She has been speaking with the crew that rescued Wismond Jean-Pierre.
Christiane, what are you finding out?
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: Don, in fact I am with two members of the French rescue team that did discover Wismond Jean-Pierre in that hole after 11 days.
Captain Vincent Boichard and Lt. Colonel Christoph Renou, were part of the rescue team. And I'm going to ask you, first, how did you hear, how did you find out that there was somebody alive there?
LT. COL. CHRISTOPH RENOU, CHIEF OF OPS., FRENCH SEARCH & RESCUE: When we arrived there, we shout to have contact with the victims and after we are quiet and we hear him, and to locate him we used the radar, and radar pinging (ph) and we see that there is --
AMANPOUR: The radar blinked?
RENOU: Yes, blink.
AMANPOUR: We're going to show some pictures now, which are very dramatic from some of the photos and cameras that you took.
RENOU: Yes.
AMANPOUR: And you can see, in the hole - where the bottom, and then you can see Wismond coming out. So, you knocked and then you started shouting, and that's how you made contact?
RENOU: You know, to have the contact, and when we are unsure, we used radar to look at it, exactly, for the rescue team, after. And when we have got the contact, it's more easy to locate him. And we found him.
AMANPOUR: How do you think that he survived after 11 days? How does a person survive in a hole like that?
RENOU: Actually, after the rescue, we got a chance to get into the hole and have a look. We found out that he had access to cookies, beer and coke.
AMANPOUR: How is that possible?
RENOU: The building was a grocery shop. He was a very lucky man. Because he fell down on the food side of the grocery shop. He had access to food and coke and beer, so he could drink and eat. That's the main reason why he was in such good condition at the end.
AMANPOUR: Now, you also, as we were saying, pushed this camera in and you could see him coming out. Describe for us a little bit as we replay that video.
RENOU: Actually, we have a camera which is specially done, specifically done to get into small holes. So we can see, have contact, voice and image contact, with the victim. And we with that camera we can follow the operation and we can monitor what's going on, everything is going well, and the victim is OK. So on the other hand, the doctor can have a look and give advice on what to do with the victim.
AMANPOUR: So, we're actually still waiting to put that video on air, but I've seen it, and it is really dramatic. When you brought him out, or when he was brought out, why did you go back down into the hole?
RENOU: It's true, to do -it helps us to know how we can live and how we can stay alive in this hole. It is a very difficult to understand this position, to know if you can eat, if you can drink, and after when we search for other victims, we can observe differently, with the experience.
AMANPOUR So you have to go back down just to see for yourself exactly what that hole was?
RENOU: Yes, to photo graph the situation. After imagine the other position.
AMANPOUR: Now, you have done, the French team, along with other teams here, you have done a lot of rescues for the last 11 days, a lot of search and rescue. You, your team, has pulled out something like 15 people?
RENOU: Yes, correct.
AMANPOUR: Did you ever imagine you would pull somebody out this far afterwards, 11 days?
RENOU: Yes, and no. No, in the way that 11 days is pretty long after the earthquake. The chance to find somebody alive is very small. But experience shows that it's -- we can still expect, I would say a miracle, and I was -- the longest period was 15 days to find somebody still alive.
AMANPOUR: When was that?
RENOU: We had a chat with the experts a couple days ago, and this case was -the only think we have a chance to find somebody, and the answer was yes. But where? This is a big question. Because it is a question of chance.
LEMON: Hey, Christian, I want to ask a question to these guys, if you will?
AMANPOUR: Yes.
LEMON: After this many days it is becoming a recovery effort, now, it's gone from rescue to recovery effort. Since they've been doing things they've done like this, they have expertise in this, what do they think the chances are there are more people like this man still there? And how many more, and do they think that they're going to be able to get to them?
AMANPOUR: Precisely. Don Lemon, our anchor in Atlanta, wants to know if you think you have a chance to find any more people. Because the U.N. is now saying that's moving, it is transitioning from rescue to recovery. Obviously you hope to find more. Are you going out on more rescues tomorrow, the days after?
RENOU: Well, first of all, going for some search. But we are going to change our search for people -- it's less, I would say, proactive based on information to know where to go, and not to check every single building. But, yes, we could assume that there's some chance to find somebody within the next days. Transition will be conducted very smoothly.
AMANPOUR: Smoothly, slowly and according to what's on the ground.
RENOU: Absolutely. Absolutely, yes.
AMANPOUR: I was struck by the story, which was that the brothers of this man who was found, Wismond Jean-Pierre had really thought that for the last several days he was alive, or somebody was alive there, because they had heard him. And they couldn't get anybody to come and get him. Why that time between -- they saying they thought somebody was there, and you all come to get him?
RENOU: Actually, I have to say that the main reason why we could not go to that area, and any search rescue did not go to that area was for long, it was a question of security, because that area was not really secured over the last days. Now, it was possible to go.
AMANPOUR: So, now we have these pictures that you all took, these exclusive pictures that are on the air right now, so our viewers can see what pictures you took getting your camera into that hole. Tell us again how it happened?
RENOU: How it happened for getting down into the hole?
CAPT. VINCENT BOICHARD, CHIEF OF THE COMPANY: To help locate the victims we use firstly lights. Because when he sees the lights, it's automatic to go where the lights. And when we have got contact with the lights, the first time, we try to give them -- to give him water, it is the main action. And after we cut and then we withdraw the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the hole. And after, we --
AMANPOUR: You pulled him out?
BOICHARD: We pulled the man.
AMANPOUR: So looking at the pictures it looks like, wow, he was just there, you could pull him out. But this was lots of time before you put that camera in? RENOU: Actually, it took a total of four hours to get access to him and to pull him out. He could not get out by himself. We are to get one of our members, actually the girl.
AMANPOUR A woman, I saw a woman, yes.
RENOU: Because she was small, thin, so she was the only one able to get into the hole.
AMANPOUR: And she had to push him.
RENOU: And she was behind to push him and to help. And then you had some people out to pull him.
AMANPOUR: So, did you have to -- just what were you doing, pulling one piece of concrete after another? Or how did you actually get to that hole?
RENOU: We get it out, we have to remove pieces of concrete, of wood and everything. And we were quite quick in that case, we did not need it to cut, and all very, very easy to working to get that.
AMANPOUR: Not too heavy?
RENOU: Not too heavy. But the problem, we had pieces of wood were blocking the concrete, so he could not get out by himself. So, from outside, it was more easy.
AMANPOUR: All right. We're going to go throw this back to Don Lemon.
LEMON: Wow.
AMANPOUR: We're going to take a break and come back.
LEMON: Yes, Christiane, we are going to take a bit of a break. We want to stay with this Christiane, because this is so compelling. I'm not sure if you can see the video there, but boy this it is amazing.
Our Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour speaking, now, in Haiti, with two of the men who rescued this 24-year- old hotel clerk stuck there, trapped under the rubble for 12 days. Christiane is going to join me again, after the break. We're back in moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Exclusive video into CNN of a 24-year-old hotel clerk stuck under the rubble for 12 days. Our Christiane Amanpour is live now in Port-au-Prince. And she has been interviewing the rescuers. This is that exclusive video.
Christiane, just looking at that tight hole that that young man was in, from that part of it, to be honest, that would have killed me. I can't imagine being in that close a confines. AMANPOUR: Well, I absolutely agree with you, and I'm going to ask the rescuers actually, again, Lt. Colonel Renou, and Captain Boichard, who were among the rescue team to get this gentleman out.
How does somebody like that -- you've rescued many people now, what do they say about the claustrophobia, about what it feels to be in there, not knowing whether it's night or day? Not knowing how many days have passed. Whether they'll ever get out in that tiny space?
RENOU: Actually, we don't have precise information after such an operation because we take him away to the hospital, which is the most important. But what we are sure, before in such a situation, they develop a kind of energy to survive. And they are fighting for their life. I have not heard anything about claustrophobia since I - it is more about fight for life.
AMANPOUR: How lucky was it that he actually survived given that there were these aftershocks and some of them quite strong?
RENOU: He was definitely lucky, and it was due to the structure of the building, because it made like a vault, which protected and did not crash too much. He was trapped but the building did not crash.
AMANPOUR: He was trapped in an air bubble in a sort of a solid structure?
RENOU: Absolutely. That's why he was very lucky. Again, he was lucky because he was -he had access to food and liquids.
AMANPOUR: So, what liquids did he have access to?
RENOU: Coke and beer.
AMANPOUR: And beer?
RENOU: Yes, Guinness beer.
AMANPOUR: So, that probably -- maybe the smile on his face had a little bit to do with that?
RENOU: I'm sure it helps to make life easier.
AMANPOUR: Is this a miracle for you guys or are you so used to doing this work by now?
RENOU: It's a miracle. It is definitely a miracle. Especially 11 days after the earthquake. If we could compare, we could say that, especially today, because with the hole to get the man out, it's something really special. I would say for some of the guys, it's like being a father, getting a baby, it is really, whew!
AMANPOUR: Wow, like a father?
RENOU: Yes.
AMANPOUR: How do you feel now that it's over, you've got him, and he's out, how do you feel about what you did, about --?
BOICHARD: I think it's a very, very good day, because we have found someone alive. But tomorrow, we will start to find another, and this is our work, and we are professionals. We will start again.
AMANPOUR: Fantastic, gentlemen, thank you very much indeed.
Back to you, there, Don.
LEMON: All right. Christiane Amanpour, it's much more really than the earthquake, there's a lot to do with politics, and there's some big back stories here and I'm sure you'll be covering that tomorrow on your program.
AMANPOUR: That's right.
LEMON: Christiane Amanpour in Port-au-Prince. Christiane's weekly show, on international affairs, it airs Sunday 2:00 p.m. Eastern. She'll be live in Port-au-Prince for that.
It is a complete 180 now for dozens of Haitian orphans. They leave the devastation behind for new lives in the United States. We have the exclusive on that.
And President Obama probably wishes he had never heard of Scott Brown, but he may have more in common with the senator-elect than you think.
And some tense moments aboard a flight to Las Vegas today. You won't believe what one of the passengers is accused of doing.
Also, we want to know what's on your mind. Tell us about the stories you're seeing here, you're not seeing. We want you to go on to the social networking sites, we'll put your questions and comments on the air.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Let's talk now about the state of our nation. It's being called one of the great political upsets of all time. Republican Scott Brown came out of nowhere to win the Massachusetts Senate seat once held by party icon Ted Kennedy. It has turned the Senate upside down, Republicans now have confidence, Democrats, well, not so confident.
It has people comparing Brown to a man who knows something about big election victories.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON (voice over): A handsome, but little known state senator, a law school grad with an attractive wife, and two beautiful daughters. Sound familiar.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In no country on Earth is my story even possible. LEMON: It should, like President Obama, Scott Brown of Massachusetts was a little known state senator who dared to run for the U.S. Senate. And despite political odds, surprised everyone and won.
SCOTT BROWN, SENATOR-ELECT, (R-MA): If you had told me growing up that a guy who's mom was on welfare and parents that had some marital troubles, and I had some issues growing up, that a guy from Wrentham would be here standing before you and going to Washington, D.C., are you kidding me?
LEMON: Also like the president, Brown's win is historic. Not only does he replace the legendary Ted Kennedy, who held the seat for nearly 50 years, he's the first Republican elected to the Senate from Massachusetts in 38 years. So just hours after his victory, this question.
People like Barack Obama, JFK, they started eyeing the White House the day they were elected to the Senate. Do you think you're presidential timber?
BROWN: Listen, I don't want to be disrespectful, but I've had no sleep right now. I haven't even been down to Washington yet. And I don't want to say that's a silly question, but I'm so thankful for the support I received from everybody.
LEMON: When the president did call with congratulations, Brown, also a basketball player, issued a challenge.
BROWN: All kidding aside, I do have a basketball player daughter, I know you play hoop. I'd love to, you pick your best and I'll take Ayla and we'll play two on two.
LEMON: Brown's party is in need of a political star. The once- promising Sarah Palin no longer holds office, so Brown is poised to become the new face, and hope of the GOP leaving many to wonder if this seemingly Republican version of Barack Obama will end up running against him in 2012.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: It will be very interesting to see how that one plays out. And the election of Scott Brown effectively ends the Democrat's 60-seat super majority, which gave them the ability to overcome a Republican filibuster. That means comprehensive health care reform is dead. Here's how the two party leaders in the House reacted to the new political reality on Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R) MINORITY LEADER: This bill is dead. Republicans are not going to work off this monstrosity. There's not enough common ground.
NANCY PELOSI, (D) SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: We're not in a big rush. Pause, reflect on what our possibilities are, see what the support is in the caucus. We have to always go where we can build consensus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: As you can see, the GOP upset in Massachusetts has changed the political landscape in Washington. President Obama and the Democrats are scrambling to respond, make sure on Wednesday you watch CNN. Wednesday night to see the president deliver his State of the Union Address. It is his one-year anniversary, really, in office. Our prime time coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, that's on Wednesday night.
A shipping accident in Texas spills nearly half a million gallons of oil in Port Arthur .
And look at this, a fiery tanker crash shuts down the Long Island Expressway. Much more news just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We've been dealing with Haiti, but there's a lot of news to tell you about. We have several developing stories.
One of them, right now: A passenger on a United Airlines that allegedly tried to open a plane door in flight today. A United spokesman says it happened after the plane took off from Washington's Dulles Airport bound for Las Vegas. The plane was diverted to Denver, where authorities took the guy off the plane. No word yet on the charges. We are following that one.
Also a major cleanup underway right now in Port Arthur, Texas. A shipping accident sent 450,000 gallons of oil spilling into the water. This happened when a barge punched a whole in the starboard side of loaded oil tanker. The Coast Guard has deployed booms to contain the spill. And the port was evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported. Again, they're checking to figure out exactly how it happened, as well.
A deadly inferno on the Long Island Expressway today after a tanker carrying 11,000 gallons of gas just flipped over. A woman tells our affiliate News 12 New Jersey that the trunk appeared in her rearview mirror traveling fast. She was having car trouble and driving slowly. The truck wasn't able to avoid slamming right into her. She made it out alive, but the driver of the truck died.
Parts of California literally crumbling. This is Pacifica. Look at these pictures, where portions of a cliff really are broken off. The rain has basically eroded it. And buildings appear to be hanging, teetering on the edge there. It's a horrible situation as you can see. An apartment building really sitting right on the edge of that cliff. Good luck to them.
Jacqui Jeras, boy oh, boy, standing by in the weather center. What is going on?
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We've been telling you about the weather, really, just beating parts of the country causing problems. Look at this, it is a crumbling cliff in Pacifica, California, brought on by days of unrelenting rain. Our Jacqui Jeras is going to talk more about that.
But you can see the crews are drilling into the side of that to try to shore it up. And according to the affiliate out there, they said they're doing it to save two apartment buildings and a cliff to that. If you look at that, people won't have a place to live if it falls over. I'm sure those people have been moved out of their homes by now.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, I would think so. Although the rest of the evacuees have been allowed to go home. So, that is hundreds of people. So that is some good news. But I guess they are putting like, bars, like metal bars in there and trying to reinforce it with concrete a little bit.
LEMON: This all rain? This is an unusually high level of rain that they're getting?
JERAS: Oh, gosh, yes. You know the guy we were talking about, the photographer and I were talking about that song, you know, "It Never Rains In California"? That guy's never heard of El Nino.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: Of course, we could always use great weather. But whatever we're dealing with, nothing like the situation that's happening in Haiti, Jacqui. You see those pictures at the top of the show?
JERAS: I did.
LEMON: Thanks, Jacqui. We're going to look at them right now.
Exclusive video into CNN. I want you to check this out right now. It's a dramatic rescue in Port-Au-Prince. His name is Wizmajam Pier (ph). He was trapped nearly 12 full days in the rubble of the hotel where he worked.
Can you imagine being in there? Look at that, imagine how excited he was, once they finally got him out. Luckily for him, he was not seriously hurt, and had access to some food and drinking water during his confinement. And drink I should say, not exactly true if it was water during his confinement.
A French rescue team spent about three hours getting him out. Christiane Amanpour interviewed two of them live at the top of this broadcast.
It was known as one of Iraq's deadliest places for American troops. Today, U.S. Marines officially pulled out of Anbar Province, wrapping up a seven-year mission in the region. Some of the U.S. Army soldiers will remain posted in Anbar for now, but today's pull out is considered a big step in the complete U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.
Also in Iraq today, Vice President Joe Biden announced the Justice Department will appeal the dismissal of charges against five former Black Water security guards. Security contractors were guarding U.S. diplomats in Baghdad in 2007 when they opened fire in a crowded intersection killing 17 Iraqis. A federal judge throughout the manslaughter charges last month, saying prosecutors mishandled evidence and violated the guard's constitutional rights.
The Screen Actor's Guild awards are sag that's what they call them, are underway in Los Angeles right now. From the red carpet arrivals to the winners, we'll go live there for an update.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Sorry directors, we love you. Writers as well, everyone else behind the camera. Tonight it's all about the actors. Saluting actors in Los Angeles, it is the 16th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, and there she is. Kareen Winter is there live for us. Kareen, I hope you got some good stuff, who are the big stars?
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I did, you know, I always get the good scoop, Don. And this - you're right this award show is unlike any other, it's more personal, and you know it's peers recognizing each other. It really comes through in the atmosphere of the Screen Actor's Guild Awards just ended.
And there were so many big winners tonight, but let's focus a little bit on the TV category. I don't know how much you follow these shows, Don, but anyone who watches the Screen Actors Guild or any award show each season. They know that one of the big favorites on the TV end "30 Rock" they pretty much sweep the competition.
LEMON: Are you kidding me? That's my favorite show.
WYNTER: It's hilarious. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin they did great. They took home individual awards, but Don, you maybe surprised by this, OK, the best comedy category. It was the new show, the high school musical "Glee" that took home the top honors on that end.
Some people say that's a bit of a surprise. A big night for "Glee." and let's talk about film, and "Glorious Bastards" took home the night's biggest award for Best Cast and let's hear it for Sandra Bullock. She had a big night with the Golden Globe Awards, taking home best actress drama, and again tonight, the big winner in that category, the film category, Sandra Bullock winning again best actress in a film. So just a snapshot of some of tonight's big winners.
LEMON: Yes, that s great, you know, you see this signals at the top of the show. Signals, you know, who's going to win, lose or be nominated or whatever for the academy awards. It's an indicator for the academy awards, I'm happy for "30 Rock." I don't watch "Glee." I've seen a couple of episodes. I've got to get into that.
I'm actually not surprised by that, but listen, let's stick here with the small screen. Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, that's been a huge topic. Have people been talking about Conan?
WYNTER: Are you kidding me? It was the buzz on the red carper earlier today. People were candid. A lot of people really opening up on that, and Don, believe it or not, even stars of NBC shows like "The Office" take a listen to what some had to say regarding Conan's sudden departure and what could lie ahead. Listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED HELMS, ACTOR, NBC'S "THE OFFICE": Well, it's actually all my fault. No, I -- it's heartbreaking, because I feel like the network has sort of -- just hasn't quite handled it exactly right, and some hurt feelings and so forth.
But I'm not worried about Conan, I went on the show this week. I did a walk-on appearance this week, and had a chance to talk with him a little bit, and I feel like he's in a good place mentally, sort of Zen spirit about it. A lot of my friends are on the crew, and writers of that show, so I'm hopeful. Something good will come of all of it.
JENNA FISCHER, ACTRESS, NBC'S "THE OFFICE": I loved Steve -- Steve was on Conan's last episode. I thought that was really, really grand. I thought Conan's speech was really classy and I loved that he asked us not to be cynical. I think that was a really good message and really powerful thing to say with his last day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sad to see him go?
FISCHER: Very, I love Conan, I love doing his show. I'll be there wherever he lands.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WYNTER: And Don, whether you're team Conan or team Leno, a consensus I heard all night long was that, you know, Conan's going to be fine. You know he's getting a nice payout and that he will show up on another network, perhaps with a different show. Many people are staying tuned.
LEMON: Yes -- can't do that until September, but upwards of $40 million he's going to get. I think he'll be okay.
WYNTER: Yes.
LEMON: Thank you, Kareen. We really appreciate it.
WYNTER: Thanks, Don.
LEMON: Thank you. Good to see you and you know, speaking of films, you want to stay here. If public education gets an f, then the movie "Waiting for Superman" could be the cinematic dissertation as to why that is.
The movie is getting major kudos at the Sundance Film Festival. I talked earlier with singer, John Legend who recorded a song for the film, but before we got into that we talked about the song he sang on last night's help for Haiti now fund-raiser.
LEMON: So John, we know there's a huge tragedy happening in Haiti right now and you are very interested in that, but you took some time to go to Sundance to talk about this. Why is this so important to you?
JOHN LEGEND, SINGER: Even before the earthquake, there was a lot of suffering going on there. There's a lot of neglect by the international community there and certainly it's an urgent priority that we help Haiti and that's why I was at the telethon last night.
But, I feel like here in the United States, we still have a lot of people who are being denied opportunity and a big reason for that is a lack of access to a quality education. And this film, I feel like really explores that issue in depth and proposes some possible ways out for us, some ways for it. Great examples of schools that are working around the country and ideas we need to replicate around the country.
LEMON: How do you write a song for a movie about education?
LEGEND: Well, obviously, you don't want to get too heavy in the policy area when you're writing a song. You want to write something that's emotional, that's inspiring, that connects to the issue, but it doesn't feel too preachy. I really just tried to think about the kids when I was writing the song. I think about the kids in the film.
I got to see a lot of the clips from the film as I was writing the song. And they're really inspiring, their stories are inspiring, they're kind of gut-wrenching and frustrating at the same time as well because some of these kids are applying to lotteries to get into these great schools.
Some of the kids in the film don't win the lottery, they don't get into the schools that they're trying to get into, and they end up stuck in failing public schools. When I was writing the song, I was thinking about the plight of those kids and wanting to do something to, you know, plead their case, and my first line of the song is they await to plead their case, because I really felt like that's what the song was supposed to do.
LEMON: Most of the problems in the country or in the world can be solved through education. Everyone says knowledge is power. Is that one reason why you're so focused on this, and this is so important to you. Do you think it can take care of poverty?
LEGEND: At the route of poverty is a lack of access to education, lack of a way out, a lack of a way to break that cycle. And you empower people to break the cycle of poverty when you educate them. Otherwise, they don't have the power to do that. I feel like all the work I've done on poverty, I've seen that the education is a way out for a lot of these kids. We need to make sure they have that opportunity.
LEMON: So there are so many great movies out there, Avatar, a number of movies. It's expensive to go to a movie. Why should the viewer go to see this movie?
LEGEND: Well, I think -- first of all the stories are really interesting, you get to follow these kids that come from different backgrounds. They're all trying to have a better life than their parents had and then the issue so important and urgent for our time. I feel like not only will you be inspired and you learn a lot, but you'll really connect to it.
And I think you'll leave the film kind of heart broken for some of the kids, but also optimistic that we can make a difference, and there's something that can be done. So I believe it's definitely a film worth seeing.
LEMON: John Legend in Sundance talking about his film and Haiti. By the way, you know that Help for Haiti now fund-raiser telethon last night, $60 million, CNN was glad to be a part of that.
And tonight something new as we name our CNN Hero of the Week, rather than honoring one every day person who does something extraordinary to help others, we're taking a slight turn to recognize every day people helping each other. We simply could not ignore the courage and the resilience of the Haitian people. CNN Heroes salutes the survivors of the Haiti earthquake.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of the worst ever natural disasters in the western hemisphere, couldn't have chosen a more fragile target. Through it all, the Haitian people have rallied their strength and persevered.
People dig through rubble with their bare hands searching for trapped relatives and rescuing neighbors.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is she alive? Is she OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, she's OK. She's alive.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Survivors share food and water. And in random moments, high above the ruins, a new sound, hope.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not afraid, because God is with me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the midst of grave tragedy, the Haitian people remain hopeful. Embracing life and each other.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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LEMON: CNN has been on the ground in Haiti just since it happened, hours after the 7.0 quake nearly leveled parts of that country. And our Hala Gorani just arrived there in time for the dramatic rescue of a young man trapped for nearly 12 days in the rubble. She joins us now live from Port-Au-Prince. Having this very same conversation just last week with Soledad O'Brien. She had just got in there and said, "It was just unbelievable to see and to witness what's going on." What did you see?
HALA GORANI: Well, I was in the country three hours when we were sent to a location where we ended up covering the very unexpected rescue, 11 days after the quake hit Haiti, of a 24-year-old man. So, of course, it was pretty exceptional to be part of such a story. It's extremely rare for someone to come out alive under the rubble after 11 days.
The world record for staying alive under mounts and mounts of debris was 14 days. That was back in 1990. So very few people, Don, were expecting this to have a happy outcome, but in the end it did. And the circumstances of his capture, of his entombment, because that's what it ended up happening to him were also very interesting. It was just dumb luck, Don, he ended up stuck in a food and beverage aisle and had enough to eat and drink for 11 days.
LEMON: That's probably what kept him alive. Those circumstances were extraordinary, but when you look at -- I talked to Christiane about that. When you look at the confines, I mean, I'm a bit claustrophobic, I just -- I don't know. I think I would have probably lost it, you know being there.
Here's a question. These people obviously, they seem to be very, very resilient. How are they handling it, and do they believe that there's hope to find others like Mr. Jampier?
GORANI: Well, I mean, I think it's difficult to say now that anybody has high hopes of finding any more survivors. Of course, it's always possible. There are always cases such as the ones we witnessed today of people who are able to make it out alive.
Life, you know, has in some ways come back to normal here, just based on what I saw on my TV screen, in the same way you did. Based on the conversations I've had with my colleagues today. You don't see the kind of devastation in the streets, just yard after yard, block after block.
Although, that said, and it's important to know, Don, I was in a section of town that looked like it had been bombed. As I was talking on the phone to Fredricka Whitfield, I turned around and there was a corpse of a woman who was still there in full view.
LEMON: And you should know -
GORANI: You have to put things in perspective.
LEMON: Yes, you should know from covering wars who worked for international unit and just behind you, I mean, that's a tent city, setup. People are living outdoors in tents now. They're homeless, and there are hundreds of thousands of people who are homeless.
GORANI: You know, that's -- which true, what you said, that was very true is the resilience of people and how difficult it must be to be homeless, to have lost family members or at the very least know someone who's lost family members, everywhere there is the cloud hanging over the heads of people here, of loss and tragedy. To be able to face that with dignity and resilience is admirable, and that's I've witnessed at least in the few hours I've been here and what has struck me I think the most.
LEMON: Yes, it's amazing. Thank you so much. I love having this conversation. I don't know if we can get that video back, arrived just in time to witness that young man being rescued.
GORANI: You're seeing the young man. It's amazing. You know what's amazing. I have to give credit where credit is due. My colleague, Karl Penhaul saw the video and he said, you know, he's been waiting 11 days, and there you have a few more yards left. That's the video you see.
This is the first video we've seen from literally inside a hole. And it's filmed with beautiful colors and quality, you tend to forget the horrific circumstances that this person had to endure. It's unbelievable we were able to witness it. And we were able to finally report some good news.
LEMON: Thank you very much, take care of yourself, we'll talk to you soon.
You know, we've been talking a lot about the orphans, we had some good news finally about some orphans from Haiti when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
A smile after all the sad news you're hearing, here is your chance because out of the devastation in Haiti and on to new lives right here in the United States. Dozens of orphans touched down in Orlando, Florida just hours ago. And their new families were waiting with open arms. Our Martin Savidge was there too, and he has got the exclusive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE: At the Orlando-Sanford Airport, you wouldn't find this plane on any airline schedule or in any flight information screen, but it was the most anticipated flight of the day.
The military transport plane arrived from Port-Au -Prince carrying more than 80 Haitian orphans. Many of the anxious families from all across America have been waiting for this plane for years.
Like Katy Hansley, a single woman from Columbus, Ohio.
SAVIDGE: Are you ready to start a family?
KATY HANSLEY, ADOPTIVE PARENT: Absolutely, I have been waiting for a long time. Ready for a long time, at least 10 years.
SAVIDGE: The adoption process in Haiti is long and full of paperwork. When Katie started, Gracie was a baby. Now she's three. Then came the earthquake, suddenly instead of waiting for red tape, many families found themselves painfully waiting for word, any word.
HANSLEY: We're all so desperate to hear that our kids are safe, and that they're okay. And they have food and water.
SAVIDGE: Good news eventually arrived in a short phone call, but real relief didn't occur until CNN Soledad O'Brien managed to get to the orphanage in Haiti. But the first time families here could see their child was safe there.
Because of the disaster, the adoption process was put into high gear to get the children to their waiting families in the states, which brings us back to the tarmac in Florida.
Even though a parade of children were helped off the plane, there's no list of names. Before any family reunions, the children must go through hours of documentation. In baggage claim, there are soon to be moms and dads, once again can only wait.
LEMON: Smile. Martin Savidge joins us now by phone from Florida. Hey, Martin, it's been about six hours since that plane touched down. Any reunions yet?
SAVIDGE: I'm afraid to say, no, it hasn't happened. Officials came out a short while ago, and the process of that documentation is taking a lot longer than they originally anticipated. We may not see any reunions of children and families until sometime tomorrow. They have told the parents to go back to their homes or hotels, and they will ring them. These are dedicated would-be parents, they've just simply bedded down here in baggage claim, they believe it's definitely worth the wait.
LEMON: Martin Savidge, please keep us updated. We have so many of our viewers who are interested in children from there, and adoptions and orphans, thank you, Martin, OK?
SAVIDGE: You bet we will.
LEMON: Saying farewell to an R&B legend, the funeral of Teddy Pendergrass.
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Sad news to report tonight. A musical sex symbol, the man who provided the soundtrack for many a date night was laid to rest today in a private service in Philadelphia.
The final public farewell for R&B singer, Teddy Pendergrass was yesterday at the Tabernacle Baptist Church. Among his famous songs Love TKO, Turn off the Lights, and My Greatest Inspiration. The 59- year-old Pendergrass died from complications of colon cancer.
A lot of you have been weighing in on the social networking sites telling me what your favorite Teddy Pendergrass song is. Thank you so much for doing that. You know what, he may be gone, but the voice lives on.
I'm Don Lemon, I'll see you tomorrow night.
