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Possible ADHD-Pesticide Link; Business Hoping Tourism Will Pick up on Gulf Coast; Cost of the War on Drugs
Aired May 17, 2010 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: New video of President Obama signing the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act. It is named for the "Wall Street Journal" reporter killed by terrorists in Pakistan, in 2002. It is designed to spotlight increasing acts of violence against reporters and provide more protections for a free press around the world. You can see Marianne Pearl there to the President's right, and her son, Danny Pear, and Marianne's son, Adam. Signing taking place just a short time ago.
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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN in 60 seconds.
BP says its latest attempt to shut down the massive oil spill is working, but they're not capturing all of it. Researchers will collect water samples this week to help determine whether the spill might threaten the East Coast.
The Supreme Court rules the federal government has the power to indefinitely keep some sex offenders behind bars after serving their sentences.
GM makes money in the last quarter, the first time in nearly three years.
In Thailand, thousands refused to leave the streets in Bangkok despite government orders.
In Europe, severe delays after airports were closed overnight because of an ash cloud from a volcano in Iceland.
The Roman Catholic Church is changing its legal tactics in cases of priest sexual abuse in the U.S.
The Rhode Island high school that fired all its teachers strikes a tentative deal to rehire them.
It's one of the last spacewalks for astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis.
The new Miss USA is an Arab-American woman from Michigan. Rima Fakih was crowned last night.
This is CNN in 60 seconds.
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HARRIS: And hello again, everyone. I'm Tony Harris in the CNN NEWSROOM, where anything can happen.
Here are some of the real people caught up in today's big stories.
A father searching for answers after his 7-year-old daughter is shot and killed by police during a raid.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was asleep, and they came through the door shooting, throwing flash grenades, firing at my baby, and shot and killed her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Cleaning up the oil spill and clearing up some misconceptions about the Gulf Coast. A plea for your help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You ever been to a beach this empty this time of year?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Especially on a beautiful day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's still the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast. And we really want people to know that we're open for business and we need their support.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: You're online right now, and we are too. Josh Levs is following the top stories trending on the Internet -- Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, I told you, the ode to the minivan is the new online sensation. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): I roll hard through the streets and the cul-de-sac, proud parent of an honor roll student.
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LEVS: What this is and how it just might be helping this troubled automaker, I got that for you, Tony, this hour.
HARRIS: Oh boy. All right.
Let's get started with our lead story.
One of the most common behavioral disorders found in kids today, ADHD. But what causes it? A study published in the "Journal of Pediatrics" has a hunch. Researchers found a strong association between the hyperactivity disorder and a common pesticide.
Here she is, our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, to help us sort through the report.
Elizabeth, what pesticide, first of all, are we talking about?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: They're called organophosphates. And they're everywhere. This is a very commonly used pesticide.
And what's interesting is this is the first time that they've actually found in a big study like this a link between pesticides and ADHD, because many people have always wondered, why do kids get ADHD? What they found in the study is that the kids who took in large levels, really high levels of organophosphates, of this pesticide, were twice as likely to get ADHD.
Now, I want to read -- the pesticide community, the folks who make pesticides --
HARRIS: Have a response, sure.
COHEN: -- they obviously have something to say about this. Yes, they do.
They say, "More research is needed to ascertain if there really is a direct link between exposure between organophosphates/pesticides and ADHD. When used according to the label, the EPA has determined that it is safe."
And so, this is not definitive, to say by any means. But it's interesting, the first time they sort of found something like this.
HARRIS: So, we're parents, right? So what do we do? How do we make sure our kids aren't exposed even to these trace amounts?
COHEN: Right. We all want to make sure that our kids are safe as possible. And luckily, there are things that you can do here. It would be hard to get rid of organophosphates at all in your child's diet, but here are two things that you can do to get them at as low a level as humanly possible.
First of all, buy organic. That's going to help get down the amount of organophosphates they're eating. And the other thing you could do is, which I think most people do anyhow, is to clean your produce before you eat it.
HARRIS: Oh yes. Oh yes.
COHEN: Even just rinsing with water does help. And there are some other techniques that other people espouse that even just rinsing with water definitely does something to get rid of some of the pesticide residue.
HARRIS: So, later this how, I'm really interested in the story you're going to be reporting on for us. You're going to be back with the results of a study that looks at the possible connections between cell phones and brain tumors?
COHEN: That's right, cell phones and brain cancer. Everyone's been waiting for this study for years and years. It's the biggest ever, and I'll be back to talk about what it found.
HARRIS: All right. I can't wait. All right, Elizabeth. See you then.
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is working on a special investigation about the health of our communities and our children. "Toxic America" is a two-night television event. On Wednesday, June 2nd, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, Sanjay will take us to one of the most toxic towns in the United States. The next night, he will reveal toxic chemicals you may be exposed to. What Sanjay found is eye-opening, and you want to miss it.
To the oil spill now, and progress being reported.
BP says it is collecting more than one-fifth of the oil that has been gushing into the Gulf of Mexico for almost a month now. Engineers have inserted a mile-long tube into the blown-out well. They say it is funneling more than 1,000 barrels of crude into a tanker ship.
The next step in stopping the oil flow is a so-called top kill procedure in which a large amount of mud is inserted into the wellbore. BP's chief operating officer tells CNN why this option wasn't tried earlier.
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DOUG SUTTLES, COO FOR EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION, BP: We don't want to take any action that could actually cause the situation to get worse. So we had to do a lot of diagnostics to make sure that in doing the top kill, or the junk shot options, that somehow we couldn't make the rate go up.
Unfortunately, that's taken quite a bit of time, but we've now got most of that data. We have the world's best experts looking at this option, and we've actually got most of the equipment on site now.
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HARRIS: Businesses along the Gulf want you to know the coast is not polluted. They're hoping tourism will actually pick up.
Our Reynolds Wolf has the view from Biloxi, Mississippi.
We have a couple of specials today.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I just want to let you all know we have a couple of specials today.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): At Shaggy's Harbor Bar & Grill in Pass Christian, Mississippi, you would never know there is a threat of oil looming in the Gulf. Island music, drinks at the bar, families enjoying steamed crab claws.
General manager Michael Dyson is even interviewing a potential hire.
MICHAEL DYSON, GENERAL MANAGER, SHAGGY'S: I think it's basically normal. I mean, just reading the paper and hearing about all these horror stories and what's going on with the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and, you know, it's much ado about nothing.
WOLF: It's not just oil booms offshore. Business is also booming.
DYSON: Our season doesn't officially start until about a week before Memorial Day. And we kind of got a head start with all the people coming down wanting to help with the disaster.
WOLF: The Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce says tourism is down.
KIMBERLY NASTASI, CEO, GULF COAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: It's kind of bittersweet. The tourists really have been affected. They've been canceling their trips. They are concerned about coming down here.
On the same hand. we have had some people come down that were maybe planning to come down maybe a little bit later, saying they want to experience it before something does happen.
WOLF: In Gulfport, no obvious signs of tourism. White sand beaches are deserted except for Jeff Rose and his family who traveled from Illinois to meet a new grandbaby.
(on camera): You have the whole beach to yourself.
JEFF ROSE, TOURIST: I know. It's nice.
WOLF: Have you ever been to a beach this empty this time of year?
ROSE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
ROSE: Especially on a beautiful day.
WOLF (voice-over): Tourists wouldn't have any problem finding a spot on the beach or on a jet ski.
JAYSON BANDY, JET BLAST: Everything's been kind of slow, not much action, not many people.
WOLF: Thirteen miles east, most visitors to Biloxi are here for the casinos. This one, ironically named Boomtown. The Chamber of Commerce is trying hard to fight perceptions.
NASTASI: It's still the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast, and we really want people to know that we're open for business and we need their support.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you guys want to order anything else right now?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, go ahead. I want to get a half a dozen oysters.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
WOLF: The view from Shaggy's on the harbor is picturesque for now. But will it last?
DYSON: Running a restaurant, I always have a backup plan for everything, that "what if" instance. And I would hope to think a company that was worth $65 billion would have a backup plan for the "What if this disaster happens?"
WOLF (on camera): Well, the latest from the state of Mississippi is the water's fine for now. They have been testing the water offshore and they've been not only testing vegetations on the barrier islands, but they've also been using tissue samples of crabs they have been able to catch.
And so far, there have been no traces of oil along the coast or on those barrier islands. So, for the time being, so far, so good.
Reynolds Wolf, CNN, Biloxi, Mississippi.
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HARRIS: Well, the United States has spent $1 trillion in the war on drugs. What do we have to show for it? Is it working? We're digging deeper.
First, though, our "Random Moment" in 90 seconds.
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HARRIS: We're talking about a double-dose of doggie tricks. It is today's "Random Moment." Have a look.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you do a six?
(BARKING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
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HARRIS: You know, it sounds like ordinary barking to us. But Sidney's (ph) owner says the Australian shepherd is actually counting to 10. It seems she counts to get a doggy treat. Sidney (ph) plans to learn her colors soon.
This next gang will bring out the 8-year-old in all of us.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This video is of my silly dog, which he does -- which he hears a fart machine.
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HARRIS: All right. You are hearing what you think you're hearing. The dog, well, he just can't figure out where it's coming from, or that he's just become a "Random Moment of the Day."
Oh, man.
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HARRIS: You know, it started during the Nixon administration. Forty years and $1 trillion later, what has been achieved?
An Associated Press report will talk about that. It talks about it in great detail.
President Obama will meet with his Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderon. They will likely talk about drug-related violence along the border, which Mexico says the U.S. is partly responsible for.
Ines Ferre has been looking into the impact of the drug war.
Ines, let's get started here. And guide me through here. I think we've put together some slides -- well, maybe we haven't -- that will help us tell the story.
Let's talk about the impact.
INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK. Well, let's talk about how much has been spent so far, Tony.
You said it, $1 trillion over the last 40 years. The AP did an analysis on how much the U.S. has spent and what kind of things that the U.S. has spent this on. And this has been on things like arrests, like law enforcement, the fight against gangs in countries like Colombia, for example. All sorts of things that they've spent this money on over the years, including, also, the campaign, the "Just Say No" campaign. Now, the drug war really started when President Nixon, in 1970, signed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. You had hippies smoking pot, you had them dropping acid, heroin use, all sorts of things. So, Nixon said, OK, we have to put a stop to this, and he had an annual budget of $100 million. That's much less than what it is today, Tony, even when you adjust it for inflation.
HARRIS: Boy. OK.
I'm just going through some of the slides here. The drug war's impact, $10 billion budgeted for interdiction and law enforcement. Correct?
FERRE: That's right. So that means everything from arresting people to border patrol. That's $10 billion.
But you also have $5.5 billion that's going to be used for treatment and prevention. And what some people are saying is, is that this is what's really needed, is this kind of comprehensive approach, where you're not just dealing with the drug dealer, but you also are attacking the problem at the addiction level.
HARRIS: OK. Ines, appreciate it. Thank you.
I think we're putting together something that's pretty comprehensive on all of this later in the week. And you're going to help us with that coverage. And we'll see you later in the week on that.
FERRE: That's right.
HARRIS: Thanks, Ines.
So, who are the guys supplying the drugs and planning how to get them across the border?
Our Josh Levs up next with a look at some of the key players.
We're back in a moment.
But first, let's get to our top stories.
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HARRIS: So, a news hound whose paper went belly up kept his nose for a good story and a good deal. Now it is paying off big-time.
Our Tom Foreman, on board the CNN Express, catches up with him in New Mexico and finds out how he is now helping "Build up America" one sentence at a time.
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TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A bit more than a year ago, M.E. Sprengelmeyer had every reason to give up on the economy, the West, and especially newspapers.
M.E. SPRENGELMEYER, "GUADALUPE COUNTY COMMUNICATOR": We just walked around the whole day with tears in our eyes.
FOREMAN: After 10 years of reporting for Denver's "Rocky Mountain News," he and his colleagues were shocked to find it shutting down.
SPRENGELMEYER: That was a special place, and it was a damn good newspaper.
FOREMAN: But rather than retreat, he charged straight down to his home state of New Mexico, an unusual choice, perhaps, as a place to rebuild a career. The economy here has been struggling with steep job losses in mining, manufacturing, construction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's dead. Nothing really going on.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would say it is very hard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You could find one, but it's going to be tough.
FOREMAN: But in the little town of Santa Rosa, Sprengelmeyer found a newspaper for sale. And with every last dollar he had, he bought it.
(on camera): Was this a wise decision?
SPRENGELMEYER: It was the best thing I ever did. Best thing I ever did.
FOREMAN (voice-over): He says that because no matter what he is covering each day, he and his small staff are making a go of it. While other papers are dramatically cutting their costs, Sprengelmeyer increased his staff payroll by 40 percent, adding more pages, more photos, more stories.
He killed the paper's Web site, arguing that it hurts street sales. And through all of that he rebuilt the paper's relationship with its readers.
SPRENGELMEYER: The community hangs on every story. The community hangs on every cartoon.
FOREMAN: So now when he lampoons a local tourist attraction, a famous diving hole, even business folks who rely on it for a living seem to enjoy the joke.
SPRENGELMEYER: You like the cartoon?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like it. I'm going to keep one of these.
FOREMAN: It's tough work. One night a week, he drives 100 miles each way to pick up his papers from a printer. And many more nights, he and his staff work far into the darkness, all to keep expenses down and quality up.
SPRENGELMEYER: Those things the readers don't notice, but what they sure as heck notice is that a lot of these big city newspapers are getting thinner and thinner and thinner.
FOREMAN: While his paper is getting thicker and the result: subscriptions, street sales and advertising are all up, up, up.
SPRENGELMEYER: This is the big lesson that you can apply to any paper in the country. It's working here because I am spending more, not less.
FOREMAN: And because while other papers are folding all over, here everyone knows every morning, M.E. Sprengelmeyer and his team will be back on the beat.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN: For this fellow, it really comes down to just a simple equation -- stick to your core business, provide quality, invest in it, work hard, and you can build up in all sorts of unexpected places -- Tony.
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HARRIS: One trillion dollars spent fighting the drug war, but who are the key players pulling all the strings across our border?
Josh Levs joining me again.
And we're talking about some really, really bad guys, aren't we?
LEVS: Absolutely. I mean, they're causing problems throughout the United States and throughout Mexico. And we're talking about the presence of drugs and narcoterrorism.
What I want to start off with is a report that was prepared for Congress. Before we get to some of these faces, look at this map.
Can you zoom way in for me?
Take a look here. The major cartels in Mexico are broken down for you right here on this realistic (ph) map.
Now, I'll tell you something, the cartels keep moving. But as you go in, look at that. You've got the Juarez cartel right here, Tijuana, over in Tijuana. Obviously the Gulf cartel here. And then Federation, which is basically a conglomeration of various cartels. And when you take a look at Mexico and you take a look at the size of these egg shapes, I mean, clearly, you're talking about the vast majority of the country in which you have huge numbers.
Also, I want to show you something from our State Department. Look at this. They have a running list here of the people who are wanted as key figures in the drug war. And you don't need to see their faces yet, but look at this. Every time you see a red "X," it's someone who's deceased or captured. So, this list is constantly updated at the State Department. And what we are seeing is that various branches of the federal government here in the U.S. are working hard to try to combat that.
Now, let's go through some of the major figures that we hear a lot about. And you're going to be seeing these faces more and more and more.
You know what/ Let's start over here, actually, because we keep talking about Mexico a lot. But one thing we don't hear is more about South America, right?
HARRIS: Yes.
LEVS: FARC is one of these agencies out there that has really caught up with a lot of these. This is Victor Julio Suarez Rojas, one of the major figures that you hear about in this.
Let's go through a few more. We can go over to Mexico.
Heriberto Lazcano, and he's with the Gulf cartel.
Let's go through a couple more.
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, he is believed to be with the Juarez cartel.
And I think we've got a couple more here.
Ignacio Coronel-Violarael (ph).
All these people are some of the most common faces you're going to see on most wanted lists here in this country, also in Mexico. He is believed to be with the Sinaloa cartel. And they're pretty sure he is one of the organizers of it.
And Colombia. I know you want to talk Colombia.
HARRIS: Well, yes. And we had a person from FARC on this list. And that's essentially a group that's based in Colombia.
LEVS: That's right.
HARRIS: But we know the work that was done in the '80s and '90s to interdict drugs and drug trafficking in Colombia, right? But the reality is, is that a lot of that activity simply moved. A lot of the bad guys moved to Mexico.
LEVS: Right, north.
HARRIS: Correct? LEVS: Moved to Mexico, yes. I mean, look, you've had all the problems in Mexico that are contributing toward this. You also have people who continue to be in Colombia, those associated with FARC, like we saw earlier, those not believed necessarily associated with FARC, but nevertheless, to be either at least drug lords, in some cases caught up with serious narcoterrorism.
This is Maximiliano Bonilla-Orozco. Again, these names keep popping up all the time because what you're seeing are a lot of these players getting more and more power as authorities search for them, try to capture them, or even kill them.
HARRIS: And we're pointing to this now as we look ahead to the meeting between President Obama and Mexico President Felipe Calderon on Wednesday, I believe.
LEVS: And look, what everyone wants to see is finally some real major advancement that helps protect the United States, helps stop those flow of weapons and the flow of drugs, and deals with the problems that are south of the border, all the way down to Colombia, or working its way north into Mexico. No matter where it is, the problem affects all of us in the hemisphere.
HARRIS: Good stuff. Thank you, Josh.
LEVS: You bet.
HARRIS: All right. The debate over cell phones and brain cancer -- here we go again. Find out the results of a new long-term study.
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HARRIS: Key U.S. Senate primaries tomorrow in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Let's focus on Arkansas right now. And CNN's senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash, she is in Little Rock.
Dana, great to see you.
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you, too, Tony.
HARRIS: Why is Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln, now, she is in trouble. Maybe you can explain to us why she's in such trouble.
BASH: Very similar reasons that senators and members in the House are in trouble in both parties across the country. It mirrors it very well here in Arkansas. She is basically an incumbent. She's been in the Senate for two terms. And she is a moderate Democrat. So her immediate challenge is a Democratic primary, which, of course, is tomorrow.
And it's very interesting in that this is a conservative state by and large. So her Democratic challenger -- who, by the way, is going to come here. That's why we're here. We're at a restaurant in Little Rock, in a short while -- he is not necessarily challenging her as a staunch liberal at all. It wouldn't work here in this state. But he is challenging her as an outsider and as somebody saying that she is somebody who has been in Washington too long and that it is time for a change. Sound familiar?
HARRIS: Yes.
BASH: Listen to some of the ads that he's running.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Blanche Lincoln took $1 million from Wall Street, then voted for the $700 billion bailout.
CROWD: Why, Blanche Lincoln.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unemployment's at a 26-year high. And the national debt? $14 trillion.
CROWD: Why, Blanche Lincoln?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, a Republican front group is spending millions --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Dana, that's very interesting. I guess I should add here that just because you're in a tight race doesn't mean you're going to lose the race. So how is Blanche Lincoln sort of defending herself at the anger at incumbents?
BASH: She is doing what incumbents (INAUDIBLE) the only thing incumbents can do and that's to say that she (INAUDIBLE) for people in Arkansas. She - I was with her on the stump yesterday and I talked to her and her whole argument is that she is chairman of the Agriculture Committee, which is something that Arkansans shouldn't want to give up because farmers are a big deal here in this state. And she's (INAUDIBLE) in the Senate, but she is also fighting, she claims, against Wall Street. And she's using her perch as chairman of the Agriculture Committee to try to reform Wall Street. And she does have a bill that is before the Senate, or legislation that's before the Senate, as we speak.
But I asked her, how are you making that argument against -- for yourself when sometimes the anger and the disappointment at Washington isn't really specific and maybe isn't even logical when it comes to trying to get rid of incumbents? Listen to our exchange.
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BASH: In this anti-Washington move that America is in, and that people in Arkansas are in, I mean do you think that you're really penetrating with the specifics? Do they hear the specifics? And can that overcome the anger that may not be logical, but it's just anger that's directed at you because you're a senator?
SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN; (D) ARKANSAS: Well, I think anger is directed at not getting results and standing in the way of moving our country forward. And I don't see myself as doing that. I see myself as a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, Tony, her most immediate challenge is tomorrow, the primary. She is going to have to break 50 percent in order to avoid a runoff. Even she isn't sure if she's going to do that. So there could be a runoff that could delay this into June. Even if she gets that, she's going to have a very, very tough race in the general election against whoever her Republican opponent will be.
HARRIS: Boy, it sounds like it. All right. Our senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash in Little Rock, Arkansas, site of an important primary tomorrow.
Thank you, Dana.
We've heard the talk on both sides about whether cell phones and the use of cell phones can lead to brain cancer. Now a long-awaited study has been released. Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joining us once again with the details.
And, Elizabeth, some conclusions from the study.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: All right, Tony, well, I'm going to be honest here, some of the conclusions are mush.
HARRIS: OK.
COHEN: And so I am going to try and make it as unmushy as possible.
First of all, huge study. Europe, Israel, other sites around the world. Biggest study ever like this. And what they found is that, overall, people who talk on cell phones a lot do not have a higher risk of getting brain cancer. So that's good.
However, when they specifically looked at one type of tumor, called gliomas, folks who talked on cell phones a lot had a 40 percent increased chance of getting brain cancer.
And what was especially of concern is that there was a higher risk of getting these tumors in the frontal lobe. You can see it's yellow here. And here's, you know, here's someone's ear. So it's pretty clear, you know, that there would be a concern because that's where you hold your phone.
So, the bottom line here is that the jury is still out. But there are - you know, and some people will tell you, oh, don't worry about it and other scientists will tell you, look, there's - this is -- we need longer-term studies before we can really say, hey, don't worry about it.
HARRIS: Yes, got you. So what can people do? What can each and every one of us do to reduce radiation exposure?
COHEN: Right. While the scientists are still studying this, there's a very simple thing you can do. And that's the good news part of this story. I brought along a little prop.
HARRIS: What did you bring? Hey.
COHEN: It's just headphones, right?
HARRIS: Show and tell.
COHEN: I mean you just plug them into your phone. You know, they're very inexpensive.
HARRIS: Yes.
COHEN: They're not a big deal. They're sold everywhere. That allows you to distance the phone from your body. So instead of doing this, you're doing this. You could use a Bluetooth earpiece. You could use a speakerphone. But it's so easy to do this. And, of course, while you're driving, you should be doing this for other reasons, so you don't hit people, right?
HARRIS: Absolutely. Absolutely.
So I know there has to be some kind of response from the cell phone industry.
COHEN: Right. Let's take a look at what they have to say. They had this response. "The Interphone Study," the name of this study, the "authors stated that there were suggestions of an increased risk of glioma," which is what I was just talking about, "at the highest exposure levels," among people who use the phones the most, "but biases and errors prevent a causal connection."
So they're saying what a lot of scientists are saying, which is, that this study isn't perfect and you can't absolutely make a connection between these gliomas and cell phone use.
HARRIS: OK, I can't let you go before I ask you if there was anything in the findings of this study discussing cell phone use and children.
COHEN: You know what, there wasn't. And that's actually a big problem. I was speaking with the chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society and he said, look, when I see a five-year-old on the telephone, I get really nervous because we don't know what it means to have a phone up to your ear starting at age five. And so children really haven't been studied. And that's definitely the next step here because, you know, Tony, you and I haven't been using cell phone since childhood but, you know, our kids have. And so that's what really needs to be studied next.
HARRIS: Oh, yes. And these are developing brains.
COHEN: That's right. Exactly.
HARRIS: OK. All right, Elizabeth, appreciate it. Thank you.
COHEN: Thanks. HARRIS: Ted Turner on the disaster still unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TED TURNER, CNN FOUNDER: I'm just wondering if God's telling us he doesn't want us to drill offshore, because it sure is setting back offshore drilling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Leaking crude revs up the drive for greener, cleaner energy.
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HARRIS: Of course, cnn.com, cnnmoney.com, your source for financial news. It is the best financial website on the web right now, cnnmoney.com. And you can see the lead story, "stocks falter as euro weakens." The euro falls to a four-year low. Still concerns about the European Union getting its financial house in order, bailing out Greece and making sure the banks are stable in that system.
Better than three hours into the trading day and it's a bad day all around for stocks. Triple-digit losses now down 129 points. Let me check. The Nasdaq is down 25 points.
You know, CNN founder, Ted Turner, is weighing in now on the oil leak in the Gulf. CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow sat down with the man who has been called the mouth of the south.
A lot of us around here like his renegade spirit, Poppy, but did he live up to that nickname?
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Yes. He did, Tony. We certainly do. I mean this is a man we can thank for our jobs, the founder of CNN.
HARRIS: Yes.
HARLOW: But he's an avid environmentalist. He's been pushing for more wind power, more solar power, saying get rid of oil and coal. We sat down in Washington and he was very, very candid talking about all that in the wake of the massive oil spill that is still ongoing in the Gulf. Take a listen to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: Talking about the ongoing oil spill, spilling thousands and thousands of gallons into the Gulf of Mexico right now.
TED TURNER, CNN FOUNDER: Millions.
HARLOW: It could be millions. How does that make this debate even more immediate? I mean, you look -- they cannot plug the hole. It's been over 20 days. We're trying to send, you know, people to Mars, and we can't plug the hole. TURNER: Sad. It's sad. You know, I'm not a real religious person, but I'm somewhat religious. And I'm just wondering if God's telling us he doesn't want us to drill offshore, because it sure is setting back offshore drilling. And right before that, we had that coal mine disaster in West Virginia where we lost 29 miners. And last week -- or two days ago, the Chinese lost 29 miners, too, in another mine disaster over in China. It seems like there's one over there every week.
And maybe, you know, the Lord's tired of having the mountains of West Virginia, the tops knocked off of them so they can get more coal. I think maybe we ought to just leave the coal in the ground and go with solar and wind power and geothermal where it's applicable.
HARLOW: So possibly God's work in a way?
TURNER: Well, it could be. He's sending us a message.
HARLOW: Talk to us about - I mean you support nuclear energy.
TURNER: I like wind and solar better, but I'd rather - I'd sure rather see a nuclear plant than I would a coal-burning plant.
HARLOW: Why?
TURNER: Because it's cleaner.
HARLOW: It is cleaner?
TURNER: Even with coal, you know you're going to get killed. And with nuclear, you have a chance of getting killed. But at least you have a chance of not getting killed either.
HARLOW: Most people don't say it that way. That's an interesting way to say it.
TURNER: Well, that's the way I see it.
HARLOW: That's the way you see it.
TURNER: Give me nuclear over coal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: And as you heard, Tony, he said give me nuclear over coal.
HARRIS: Yes.
HARLOW: But, again, he's really pushing wind and solar. He's building the largest solar insulation in this country right now, teaming up with Atlanta-based Southern (ph) company. A big power generator out there. So he's certainly putting his money where his mouth is, Tony.
HARRIS: Well, one quick one here. HARLOW: Sure.
HARRIS: What did Mr. Turner have to say about energy reform as it's taking shape in Washington?
HARLOW: Sure. I mean he was so candid on this. He said, listen, we have no energy policy in this country at all. We're the biggest consumers of energy, the biggest polluters, and this is the most complex issue he thinks the U.S. government has ever had to deal with, Tony, and that's why he said, we haven't really made progress. Right? We have energy bills. One through the House, sitting on the Senate waiting for a vote. We can't get an agreement made.
HARRIS: Right.
HARLOW: He said it's so complex, it's the most needed issue. He wanted to see President Obama tackle this, Tony, before health care. That didn't happen.
HARRIS: Wow.
HARLOW: He's hoping something will happen now, though, in Washington on this one. A lot more from Ted Turner, candid as ever, right, Tony?
HARRIS: Yes, absolutely. All right, Poppy, good stuff. Appreciate it. Thank you. Good to see you.
HARLOW: You got it.
HARRIS: A couple of astronauts are tinkering outside the International Space Station right now. We will tell you what they're up to.
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HARRIS: OK, are these live pictures, Jen Cook (ph)? Our executive producer, Jennifer Cook, loves the shuttle story. Loves it. So here we go.
Yes you do love it.
On the fourth day of the shuttle Atlantis mission, we get the first space walk. Two astronauts are installing backup communications equipment on the International Space Station and a work platform on a station robot. They're more than, what, half way through the six and a half hour walk. Two more space walks are planned before Atlantis undocks and heads home.
The Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street" was recorded 39 years ago, and the group still has a huge following.
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LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": How do you account for the longevity of The Stones as a success? MICK JAGGER, SINGER: Well, I think The Stones are very lucky. You always need a lot of luck. And I think that they were in the right place at the right time. And they'll - and I - we, you know, quite - when we worked, we worked very hard. So and I think so you need all those things. You know, it's no good just being hard working. There's lots of people who are hard working. But you've got to be hard working on your game and be lucky.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: CNN's Larry King snags a rare interview with a rock icon. The rest of Larry's conversation with Mick Jagger in a prime time exclusive. That's tomorrow night at 9:00 Eastern only on CNN.
How about this? YouTube hits 2 billion views a day. Two billion. And you don't want to miss the minivan rap. It's what's hot.
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HARRIS: I can't believe this. All right. Josh says this is a hit.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a hit.
HARRIS: This rap hit on the mini van.
LEVS: A million in days (ph).
HARRIS: Really?
LEVS: Yes.
HARRIS: And then you've got something about Britney -
LEVS: Something about Britney.
HARRIS: And Ashton Kutcher.
LEVS: Yes, well, it makes me really happy (ph).
HARRIS: It's what's hot. All right, Josh, take it away.
LEVS: All right. Well let's start off with this new hot video featuring the least likely vehicle to be extolled in a rap.
HARRIS: Right.
LEVS: Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (rapping): There's no mother/father swearing -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (rapping): Straight owning (ph) bake sales with my cupcake skills. I'm better with the money, so I handle the bills. And I always buy in bulk, ain't afraid of no spills.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Oh, that is good.
LEVS: It's called the minivan rap. Now, I'll just tell you what's going on. This is from Toyota company. And, you know, in a way, it's interesting because they're also changing the subject from everything Toyota's been through.
HARRIS: Right.
LEVS: So while millions of people are looking at this and obviously having a lot of fun with this whole idea of the rapping about the life of a minivan suburban couple, it's also, once they pay all the money to create a video like this, from that point forward, it's free advertising.
HARRIS: Right. Right.
LEVS: And people are watching it like crazy online. We're talking about it. But millions of people already looking at it online. That's just the beginning of what I've got going for you today.
HARRIS: You can't push a minivan on 20 tunes (ph), though, I'm just saying.
LEVS: OK.
HARRIS: OK.
LEVS: Now maybe your speed is a little more Britney than that. I don't know. Are you a little more into Britney's music?
HARRIS: Oh, yes, yes, yes. Yes, yes, yes.
LEVS: This is interesting. I mean there's a Twitter race going on right now.
HARRIS: OK.
LEVS: So these two are both on the edge. Ashton Kutcher, the king of Twitter, and Britney, basically the queen of Twitter, are on the verge of getting 5 million followers. A little while back they were at this, 4.9 basically and 4.9.
HARRIS: How does this start? Does Ashton just sort of decide he wants to challenge someone on Twitter and it's game's on? How does this happen?
LEVS: That's what happened to us in which -
HARRIS: Oh, is that what happened?
LEVS: Well, early on. But in this case, he actually just has tons of followers and so does she. (INAUDIBLE).
HARRIS: Yes. Oh, OK. OK. LEVS: And so right now we're keeping an eye on that to see who is going to hit the 5 million mark first.
And before we go, I've got to show you the thing about YouTube, which you just teased before the break.
HARRIS: Right.
LEVS: This is unbelievable, Tony. On their five-year mark -
HARRIS: Yes. Yes.
LEVS: I have to read this over and over to believe it.
HARRIS: Yes.
LEVS: Guess how many -- they have 2 billion views a day. This is their website celebrating their fifth anniversary.
HARRIS: That's amazing.
LEVS: And you can click on all sorts of videos. Two billion views a day, 24 hours of video uploaded every minute, 45 million home page impressions every day. It would take you 1,700 years to watch all the videos on YouTube right now.
HARRIS: All right. How quickly can we get back to the minivan rap?
LEVS: Oh, we can just load it up again.
HARRIS: Can we load that up again?
LEVS: (INAUDIBLE). Yes, plus we've got it down here too.
HARRIS: That there. I think we ought to just go to break on this.
LEVS: All right, let's do it.
HARRIS: Let's do it.
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HARRIS: You know, for more than 20 years, Homeboy Industries has been at the forefront of stopping gang violence in Los Angeles, turning lives around by giving jobs to former gang members. Last week, crushing financial problems forced the largest anti-gang program in the country to lay off most of its employees. Some 300 people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a perfect storm of terribleness. I couldn't sleep with the prospect of what was coming down. And it was unavoidable at this point.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've done everything for us. (INAUDIBLE). I became a man here at Homeboys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There isn't plan "b," "c" or "d" when it comes to a gang member wanting to redirect his or her life. We are it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After more than two decades of employing, providing hope to ex-gang members, felons and recovering drug addicts, Homeboy Industries, the largest anti-gang program in the nation, handed pink slips to 300 employees.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They opened their doors to me and I hope they still stay open because we're subjected to helping over 12,000 gang members a year. And, mind you, we're a nonprofit organization that helps people for free.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have five businesses. Homeboy Silk Screen, Homebody Homegrown Merchandise, Homeboy Cafe, the solar panel training program where enemies work side by side with each other.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you understand what I'm talking about?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put it on thick so we don't have to do the second coat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been doing this for 23 years. The first five years were marked by pretty intense and pervasive demonizing of this population. And then demonizing of me for helping them. If we were to invest in them rather than just try to incarcerate our way out of this problem, that's a sensible way to go. Do I regret hiring anybody here? Not a single person.
JOCELYN ESPARZA, LAID OFF EMPLOYEE/EX-GANG MEMBER: I was only 14 years old when I got into just the Homeboy Industries. And, you know, I came - I was taking (ph) off (ph) my tattoos and Father G (ph) hired me on the spot. You know, he gave me a job. And, it felt good, you know, waking up in the morning. It felt like it gave me this responsibility that I never had, you know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I got out, I finally said to myself, I'm tired of going to prison, I'm tired of hearing my last name. They say, here, we'll love you until you can love yourself.
ESPARZA: People don't give second chances. Father G gave me a third chance. And now, you know, it's going great, you know. I'm not gang related no more. I'm going to leave my (INAUDIBLE) to Father G. I'm not leaving him, you know. He didn't leave me when I needed him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's an idea that's taken root in the world that there just might be lives out there that might matter less than other lives. And that's been in part what a place like this is hard to fund. Because we're not there yet.
ESPARZA: You know, I don't know how my kids are going to turn out to be. We want to keep this place open for the new generation to come.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not suspending our services, because we got all these people who say we're going to continue to offer them. And hope that somebody will rescue us as they might a Warhol or the Hollywood sign or a puppy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These tears are of fear and sadness, but they're also of happiness. Of the life that I lived because of you, G (ph), and because of my family here. So I love all of you guys.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Wow. Strong stuff.
CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Richard Lui in for Ali Velshi.
