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Storms Threaten Gulf Coast; U.S. Advances in World Cup; Protests Staged at G-8 and G-20 Meetings

Aired June 26, 2010 - 10:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. Welcome to this CNN Saturday morning, live to you this morning from New Orleans. It's 9:00 where I am here in New Orleans, 10:00 eastern time back in Atlanta.

We've got several big stories we are covering, including all eyes on a storm, a major storm, major in that it's the first of the Atlantic hurricane season and also because of where it's headed. Some fear that possibly it could affect what's happening here in the Gulf. Reynolds Wolf keeping an eye on that, and Kate Bolduan keeping an eye on the health of the former vice president Dick Cheney this morning.

We'll start with Reynolds. Let me say good morning to you.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. And I wish I had better news for you, T.J. But it appears this storm is going to be crossing the Yucatan Peninsula and possibly moving into the Gulf of Mexico. And then we get a couple different models showing potential paths where the storm may be headed.

We'll talk more about that in just a few moments. That is just a short moment away.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And former Vice President Dick Cheney is back in the hospital. We'll have much more on that coming up. But first, let's take a quick look at the headlines, shall we?

Checking your top stories, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has made a lot of people mad with her latest comments about immigration. She says most illegal immigrants cross the border to smuggle drugs and that drug cartels have taken control of human trafficking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JAN BREWER, (R) ARIZONA: We all know that the majority of the people that are coming to Arizona and trespassing are now becoming drug mules. They're coming across our borders in huge numbers. The drug cartels have taken control of the immigration, illegal trespassing that we are seeing in the state of Arizona and that it's coming through and going to all of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: But a labor union representing 20,000 border patrol agents says those comments don't mesh with reality, they say. The governor insists she's right.

And Kellogg's is voluntarily recalling four of its popular breakfast cereals due to an odd flavor and smell coming from the liner of the package. The recall applies to some 28 million boxes of corn pops, honey smacks, apple jacks, and fruit loops.

The company says the potential for serious health problems is low -- good news -- but admits some have complained of diarrhea or nausea.

And the troubled carmaker Toyota is troubled once again, has another issue and another recall. this one for its high end Lexus car line, specifically the 2010 HS-250H vehicles. Government crash tests showed the cars spilled too much gasoline, though Toyota says its own tests did not show the problem. Toyota says it is working on the problem.

So let's get an update on the condition of former vice president Dick Cheney. He's in a Washington hospital today after complaining to doctors that he wasn't feeling well. We go to Sandra Endo Washington for the latest. Sandra, how is the former vice president doing?

SANDRA ENDO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a good question, Kate. I just got off the phone with a hospital spokesperson who says they can't release any information because of patient privacy laws, so very little information coming out this morning as to how the former vice president is feeling.

What we do know is that the 69-year-old has suffered a lot of heart problems in the past, multiple heart attacks since he was only 37 years old. And the most recent one was just this past February when he underwent a mild heart attack and later was tested for that.

We know that in 1988 he underwent a quadruple bypass surgery. Since then he's had two artery clearing angioplasties. And we know he is fitted for a special pacemaker he's wearing that has since helped his heart condition.

But what we know right now is only that he was admitted yesterday into the hospital because he wasn't feeling well. It's unclear at this point if it has anything to do with any heart-related problems. Kate?

BOLDUAN: And a good point to make. Thanks, Sandra. We'll be checking back with you. You have to be careful with the privacy laws with those hospitals. Thanks so much. Sandra Endo from Washington. T.J.?

HOLMES: All right, back here in New Orleans now all eyes on a storm. The storm's name is tropical storm Alex. It has formed. It's still a bit away from the Gulf, but concerns are, here we are in hurricane season, and now we have this first named storm of the season, concerns about how it might affect the Gulf and the disaster response.

The track right now doesn't have it directly coming towards the oil, directly toward Louisiana but still it could have adverse effects. We'll be getting into that.

Also the Obama administration meanwhile appealing to a judge's decision that effectively blocks the president's six-month moratorium on offshore oil drilling. Following district judge Martin Feldman's ruling the government sent in some attorneys now asking the court to stay the judge's order.

So the back and forth continues right now over this deep water drilling moratorium.

Meanwhile the first named storm, again, of the Atlantic hurricane season could pose a problem for the oil recovery efforts. Everyone keeping an eye on this thing right now, tropical storm Alex. It could be bound, could be for the spill area. We don't know for sure right now. The models don't necessarily have it. The official forecast doesn't necessarily have it coming directly for this area, but still could have an effect.

Last night on CNN's "AC 360" Florida Senator Bill Nelson voiced the concern that many people here in the Gulf have.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As we head into full blown hurricane season, how concerned are you that this may really be the first of many disruptions to the oil spill response and the cleanup?

SEN. BILL NELSON, (D) FLORIDA: Well, the greatest nightmare with this storm approaching is that it takes this oil on the surface of the Gulf and blows it over the barrier islands into the bays and the estuaries. And that is where you really get the enormous destruction because it's just very difficult to clean up those pristine bays.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: He's talking about the greatest fear there. The greatest fear is not being realized just yet.

Let's check in with Reynolds Wolf. Reynolds, you've been keeping your eye on this thing since we got on the air this morning since really about 60 minutes before we got on the air when we heard officially it did become a tropical storm. So just in the past several hours I know things have changed.

So where are we now about the official forecast about where this thing might go?

WOLF: The storm happens to be right now still in the western Caribbean. You take a look at the planet here. The pinpoint of the storm, I would say right here due east of the Yucatan. Let's try this icon. There we go.

But the problem we have with the storm like this that makes it maddening is you've got a spinning, rotating storm on a spinning planet and galaxy moving over a fluid and there are all kinds of components that can come together and really affect the development and where the intensity of the storm may be.

Let me show you something else we have here. If we can expand this just a bit let's try our luck with this image. The latest path we have from the National Hurricane Center is simply this. There's the line, bringing it right over the Yucatan peninsula as we get into Monday. Winds of 35 miles an hour gusting to 45 as we get into Tuesday it is expected.

But then it will pop over into this body of water, this is called the Bay of Campeche. Then it may move into the Gulf of Mexico where it is going to run headlong into very warm water and minimal shear, being the strong winds aloft.

You have strong shear that can rip the structure of the storm apart and weaken it and kill it all together but with minimal shear there is a very strong possibility the storm may become stronger. The forecast brings it as Thursday morning, 2:00 a.m., with winds of 70 miles per hour and gusts up to 85.

Keep in mind, when we reach that threshold point of 74 miles per hour, this is no long ear tropical storm but a hurricane.

Now, the question is where exactly is it going to go in this big area? You'll notice this area that happens to be shaded in white. That is your cone of uncertainty. Well, there is a chance the storm could veer off more to the north, perhaps to the south. It could die out all together.

Again, there is a lot that can happen over the next 12 to 24 hours. The most crucial period is going to be when it's over the Yucatan Peninsula because it's going to be away from its primary power source, that warm ocean water. That's going to be the kicker. We should have a much better handle on this as you get into Monday and certainly into Tuesday as to where it may be headed.

But I can tell you, T.J., that when it comes to the Gulf of Mexico and these storms it comes to where the oil happens to be at this time. It's almost like getting a pebble and throwing it into a reflecting pond. There will be some effect. It just depends at this time how dramatic that effect could be. It all depends where the storm is headed.

Let's send it back you to.

HOLMES: Like you said, best case scenario, it dies out and doesn't keep going. But besides that scenario the best case scenario for where it would go as far as affecting the oil, where would that be?

WOLF: Great question. The thing that we do not want with this storm is we don't want the storm to actually get closer to -- let's say if the oil slick happens to be in this area, let me draw this out. T.J., I don't know if you can see it from where you happen to be but the viewers at home certainly can.

If you had a perfect scenario first thing would be the storm would die out or for the storm to go well to the west. Now, if the storm were to actually come close to the oil it would be better to go right over the area as opposed to just a little bit farther off to the west.

You go a little further west it is the eastern side of the storm, the northeast-southeast quadrant that happened to be the strongest especially the northeast where you have the strongest winds and that's where the water would begin to pile up and where it could actually push this, force this closer to shore.

This has a both good and bad effect. Good thing would be with the stronger wave action it could break up some of that emulsified oil. The problem is at the same time it brings it closer to the shoreline, exactly where we don't want it to be.

HOLMES: Not a lot of great options, but still important to know which way it goes. Reynolds, we appreciate the breakdown. Thank you so much. We'll hand it over to Kate now and have more from New Orleans in a moment.

BOLDUAN: Thanks so much, T.J.

Looking north of us to Canada, President Obama and other world leaders are in Canada for the weekend's G-8 and G-20 summits. The president says the meetings are a key part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the global economy.

Chief business correspondent Ali Velshi is live in Toronto with the breakdown of both summits joining us once again. Thanks so much, Ali. It's going to be a pretty difficult, near impossible thing for you to sum this up for me, but why should Americans be watching what is going on in Canada this weekend? Why should people care about these summits?

ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, here's the thing. This has not been a U.S. recession but a worldwide recession. It's been long, difficult for people. So the issue here is at G-8 and G-20, basically countries are going to be comparing their approaches, coming in here saying our system is going to work best for getting us out of this situation.

And those systems are very different. The one we've adopted in the United States is that until consumers, through better employment, through better housing prices, get back in the game and start spending, the government is spending on their behalf.

But that is not a universally accepted way of solving this problem. In Europe, for instance, in the U.K. and Germany, they're taking a different approach -- increased taxes. That often slows people down from spending -- austerity measures, cutting back on programs.

The U.S. doesn't like that approach. Europe says that's the approach it needs. Canada has a different approach. Emerging countries have different approaches. So basically this is a get together of world leaders, finance ministers, and central banks between the G-8 and the G-20 to say here's what's working for us. Do we want to share these ways or go our separate ways? It looks like they're going to come away saying not the same solution works for everybody. We'll do different things to try and get out of this economic crisis, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Interesting. We'll have to wait to see if they get on the same page, but it doesn't look likely as you are saying. I also find it interesting that the summits are being held in Canada, because, as you were mentioning to me, it seems that Canada's banking system relatively speaking seems to be quite strong, right?

VELSHI: Yes. That's interesting. Often the host country often has a disproportionate influence, and on the United States Canada does have that. Canadian cities look like American cities. We buy the same things and speak the same language.

But the reality this is according to the world economic forum this is the strongest banking system in the world. The U.S. is somewhere in the 40s. Why? Banks can't take the risks in Canada they can in the U.S. They can't loan money to people and then sell those loans to third or fourth parties. So the bank has a very specific interest in how you're doing in terms of paying your mortgage.

More importantly there is no mortgage interest deduction in Canada. There is no encouragement by the government to get into debt to buy a house and yet home ownership rates are the same in Canada as in the U.S.

So part of this exercise at G-8 and G-20 is looking at other systems and saying can we adopt some of the things other systems adopt, and Canada's more conservative banking system might be something for the world and the United States to be looking very carefully at, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Trading some best practices possibly but very difficult to implement, I'm sure.

VELSHI: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Our chief business correspondent Ali Velshi, thanks for joining us. Great having you.

VELSHI: My pleasure.

BOLDUAN: Taking a look at security. Security at the G-20 summit in Canada is tight. The meeting of world finance ministers and banking governors has drawn many protesters to Toronto, and while most of the protests are peaceful police have clashed with some demonstrators.

Our Jeanne Meserve is live in Toronto with that side of the story. Jeanne, have the clashes been intense? Has anyone been arrested? Have the clashes been intense? What's the situation? JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Police tell us since things got under way protest-wise last Friday there have been 32 arrests. There also have been a couple of bomb scares, one this morning at the international media center. It turned out to be a reporter's unattended bag. It was nothing.

But the protests are getting larger. Yesterday there was a big rally at a park here and it involved people who were fascists and communists and animal rights activists and indigenous people. And after they rallied, they marched.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: It started out like a festival or maybe a sporting event. There were cheerleaders, marching bands, balloons, and even those horns made famous at the World Cup.

But in the heart of downtown Toronto, a sharp shift in tone. Police and marchers faced off and scuffled several times. One woman was hustled away. The angry crowd hurled insults and pushed forward, and police threw a few punches. Jessie Freeston says the police were unhappy he videotaped the entire encounter.

JESSE FREESTON, DEMONSTRATOR: They pushed me a little bit and then punched me in the face twice.

MESERVE: The police lifted the front wheels of their bikes to create a buffer. Their lines were reinforced. But there was another confrontation further along the route. The crowd responded.

(CHANTING)

MESERVE: The chant "Billion Dollar Bullies," a reference to the steep summit security price tag.

But as the march progressed, tempers cooled. The police presence lessened, and the party spirit returned.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: The integrated security units had no comment on those confrontations between police and protesters, but they say they've gotten no complaints about police behavior from members of the public. We are expecting more demonstrations on streets like this later today, but it's unclear how the weather might impact turnout. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Unfortunately you're going to be in the middle of it all. Thanks so much, Jeanne, our homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve live in Toronto. Thanks so much.

The U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan could make history as the first justice in four decades to sit on the court without ever serving as a judge, no judicial experience. Or will she? Straight ahead our political correspondent shares a new poll about the nominee's chances. Plus, it's do-or-die time for the U.S. team in the World Cup, and you can expect millions here in America to watch it all in just a few hours.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Checking your top stories now. Former vice president Dick Cheney is undergoing tests at George Washington University hospital this morning. The 69-year-old has a history of heart trouble although there is no official explanation for his admittance to the hospital this time other than that he wasn't feeling well.

Police in southern California estimate they seized as much as $45 million in illegal drugs Wednesday when they stopped a tractor trailer for a traffic violation. Deputies say they were soon tipped off by the overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from the big rig. The truck's driver is in jail on a $5 million bond.

And yesterday on the one-year anniversary of his son's death, Joe Jackson, father of Michael Jackson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Conrad Murray, the late singer's personal doctor.

And the countdown is on as the U.S. gets ready to face the team that brought their last World Cup games to an end. We're live in South Africa with a preview of today's big matchup with Ghana right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back to this CNN Saturday morning. The place is like New Orleans right now where I am live, could use a break right about now, and New Orleans as well going to take a break this afternoon around 2:30 eastern time because everybody is going to be sitting around a TV to watch team USA.

This is the real deal now. No more group stage, no more you can tie and move on. No, you win or you go home. Alex Thomas is there in Johannesburg at a preview of today's game. Ghana, an interesting matchup for a number of reasons, one of which, there is a revenge factor here, Alex, in this game for the U.S.

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: There certainly is. The United States seemed to be a bit up and down when it comes to these football or soccer World Cups, T.J. The one before last in 2002 they got to the quarterfinals, a good performance by them, but four years ago in Germany they did not get out of the group stages, and one of the reasons for that was a defeat against Ghana. And that's the team they're facing up to about an hour and a half drive away from here in Johannesburg.

I've been speaking to the CNN team on the ground there, and they say that although we're still hours away from kickoff, the atmosphere is slowly starting to build.

I know because I was at the United States' last group match how important the fans factor was for the Americans. All the players and the coach said after their last gasp victory over Algeria with that goal in the dying minutes when the fans were banging on the side of the bus as it pulled up to the stadium it really gave them a boost.

We saw the pictures of U.S. fans throughout America back home watching and cheering when that Donovan goal went in. That's going to be an important factor as is the revenge factor. The United States could have too much for Ghana. They're better with every game it seems.

But Ghana will have pride at stake. They are the only African nation left in this tournament after the group stages. And remember, this is the first World Cup to be held on African soil.

HOLMES: An interesting point there, Alex, in that, yes, there were six teams from Africa who were in it. Only one moved on. That's Ghana. Of course the continent, Africa, is all cheering for this team now, the team from Ghana. But also you made an interesting point earlier. A lot of Africans have a reason to cheer for the U.S. as well.

THOMAS: Well, you're right. The safe assumption is that now the host nation, South Africa has gone out, everyone would transfer their loyalties to Ghana, the sole remaining African representative.

Not necessarily the case, though. Speaking to lots of fans in Rustenberg where America is playing today they also played their first group game there against England. Fans were supporting England because they watch the English premier league on the telly.

And they also like the United States because they think Barack Obama is cool. So whatever the reasons, fans are supporting all sorts of teams, the USA will not be short of supporters when they kickoff against Ghana in around four hours' time.

HOLMES: Well, no shortage of supporters certainly here in the U.S. You enjoy the view from where you are, Alex. We appreciate you this morning and we'll check in with you throughout. Again, the game coming up 2:30 eastern time today, the USA versus Ghana. You win or you go home.

Kate, let me hand this back over to you in the studio in Atlanta.

BOLDUAN: Thanks, T.J.

The Gulf oil disaster continues to have a financial impact on fishermen all across the area. Straight ahead two seafood restaurant owners share their poignant stories.

And our Reynolds Wolf is tracking some severe weather. Reynolds, can you give us a little preview?

WOLF: Absolutely. Take a look at this and you'll notice -- we refer to it as our spaghetti model. This is just a conglomeration of computer models that are going to give us an idea hopefully of where the storm may be headed. We'll have more in a few moments.

You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: White House officials are confident that Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan will earn high marks at her Senate confirmation hearings that begin Monday even though she has no judicial experience and has served in two democratic administrations.

But a new poll tells a different story. Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser joins us live. Thanks for joining us, Paul. So getting right into it, Paul, do Americans think Kagan should be confirmed?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well let's take a look at the numbers from a CNN national survey. We asked just that. We asked, do you think the Senate should vote to confirm Elena Kagan? You can see right now 44 percent saying yes, Kate, but that is down ten points from last month when the president, when Barack Obama nominated Kagan to serve on the high court.

There's a slight uptick in no. So where is it coming from? Our polling director says mostly from women and Democrats who are going to the unsure number at the bottom. You can see it's fallen from 11 percent in May to 17 percent now. Kate?

BOLDUAN: These are all very interesting numbers. But how does that compare to how Americans felt about now Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the eve of her confirmation hearings about a year ago?

STEINHAUSER: This is interesting. The numbers are pretty similar. We took a poll last June just before those confirmation hearings began and about 47 percent so very close to what you're seeing with Kagan now, 47 percent back then said yes that Sotomayor should be confirmed.

Of course, she was. The confirmation hearings were held last July and there was a vote in early August to confirm her to the high court. Kate?

BOLDUAN: One thing people are always interested in, what are going to be the atmospherics in these hearing rooms? There's a lot of that. So what do Americans think the hearings will be like come Monday?

STEINHAUSER: I guess they've got low expectations. That's what our poll suggests. We asked just that. And six of 10 people, 61 percent we questioned said they think these hearings, which begin on Monday, could evolve into a major fight between the democratic and Republican parties in that Senate confirmation hearing. Only 37 percent say it's going to be a relatively easy process.

I guess to the viewers, stay tuned to see if the predictions come true.

BOLDUAN: A hyper-partisan atmosphere that will probably be bleeding into this hearing come Monday. Thank you so much. Our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser. Thanks, Paul.

STEINHAUSER: Thanks.

BOLDUAN: Stay with us and we'll be right back after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Bottom of the hour here now.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: Also, we know the seafood industry is a lifeline for so many here, but especially for 80 percent of the Vietnamese Americans living in the Gulf region. There are language and cultural barriers that have complicated the whole oil disaster for these communities.

Thi Van Le and his daughter Jennifer Le run a seafood business, a crab manufacturing business in Biloxi, Mississippi, kind enough to join me here this morning. Thank you for joining me. I talked to you about the language barrier. That's why you're here to translate for your dad.

But first of all the business, itself, your dad and you told me that your business is going to go away when?

THI VAN LE, JENNIFER LE SEAFOOD, BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI: Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

HOLMES: Again, he's saying by tomorrow the business is going to go away. Why?

JENNIFER LE, JENNIFER LE SEAFOOD, BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI: Because all the waters in Biloxi and also New Orleans where we get our crabs will be closed also. So without our main supply we can't run a business at all.

HOLMES: How long have you been in business?

JENNIFER LE: For about 11 years.

HOLMES: It's strange to know that -- it's one thing when business starts getting bad but he knows tomorrow is going to be the day that this is going to be over.

JENNIFER LE: He says he's going to shut down.

HOLMES: What are you going to do now? You don't have to translate. You have no idea.

JENNIFER LE: Ever since he came here all he's been doing is shrimping. And he started a business doing crab, and everything has been based on seafood. So without seafood, he really doesn't have anything at all.

HOLMES: So I know he said he's gotten a couple BP checks, a couple of them. I guess that helps a little bit, but what are the plans for the future now? What do you do if you know your business is going to shut down? Where do you go from here?

JENNIFER LE: He said that he doesn't really know what other career he could really be successful in. And he is saying that he gets money from BP but that doesn't -- that's not enough.

HOLMES: And again, these were two checks. We've been hearing about, he's gotten two I believe. How much were those checks?

JENNIFER LE: It's just once a month, also $5,000.

HOLMES: What about employees? I know he had a couple employees or several employees. What happens to them?

JENNIFER LE: They also have to sign up for a claim, which they only get $1,000 a month.

HOLMES: And he has already laid off many of those workers?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

HOLMES: It was 11 and he's down to how many now?

JENNIFER LE: He is only down to two, but then eventually by tomorrow it's -- we're not hiring.

HOLMES: By tomorrow they're not hiring.

Well, at this point I guess the question for you, you're kind of translating, but what is this like for you, your dad, who you're seeing go through, I mean, years of working hard in this industry, now you know the day you're going to have to shut a business down and you know your dad, this is all he knows to do. What is it like for you to see your dad going through this? You're a young college student.

JENNIFER LE: Yes. It's very stressful because I really don't know what to do. I mean, I would like to help him, but all his job was based on seafood. I mean, everything was based on the waters, and now it's just gone.

HOLMES: Well, again, Thi and his daughter Jennifer Le. Well, good luck to you and so many others in this area. We are -- I mean, it is heart wrenching to hear some of these stories but to know it's what you've been doing literally since you came to this country and taken away from you like that.

We appreciate you spending your time and sharing the story with our audience. Good luck to you.

THI VAN LE: Thank you.

HOLMES: Thank you so much.

We've been hearing so many stories and every story is the same but quite frankly they're all a little different as well. You are literally hearing that it's gone. The people who have been supplying him, the waters are going to be shut down. They can't get the crab to supply to him. There is no more for him. There is nothing else. We appreciate him sharing that story with us.

The Gulf coast residents not just worried about livelihoods. They are worried about now a weather system of all things now. A tropical storm is on its way shall the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. The big question is how exactly is that going to affect all of the oil cleanup efforts? We'll be talking about that this morning.

Also, folks are joining hands literally to protest offshore drilling and promote clean energy. We'll find out how far Hands across the Sand can actually reach. Stay with us here on this CNN Saturday morning live from New Orleans.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: A simple message here -- say no to offshore oil drilling and say yes to clean energy. What's the best way to get everybody to listen? How about tens of thousands of people gathering on beaches in 20 countries and literally joining hands?

That's the plan today. The man with the plan, Dave Rauschkolb. He joins us now, founder of the Hands across the Sand movement. He's a restaurant owner in seaside, Florida. Dave, this sounds like a pretty hefty venture here. Tell us how this is supposed to work. You literally want people to join hands across beaches across the world.

DAVE RAUSCHKOLB, "HANDS ACROSS THE SAND": That's right. You asked how far the reach is. Actually it's 35 countries across the world. In America alone in all 50 states we have 800 events taking place in each time zone today at noon. And people are going to be joining hands and creating human lines in the sand championing clean energy and renewables.

HOLMES: Now, what is the message? You're getting your message out here to us and telling us about it. What's the symbolism if you will and just powerful imagery of seeing people standing on beaches holding hands?

RAUSCHKOLB: It is a simple, powerful image. And really the message is to send a strong message to President Obama and Congress.

As a matter of fact, any American can today go to hands across the sand.org and there is a button they can click on and send a letter to Congress and the president. In Florida they can do the same to get a permanent ban put on the ballot this November. So it's a very important message.

And I believe that Americans need to stand together not just as conservatives and liberals or as Republicans and Democrats but as Americans. We need to stand together and take our energy future back from the grip of the oil industry. The oil industry has way too much influence in this country. HOLMES: And I think I heard you correctly there. You'd like people to actually join in and try to get something on the ballot to ban offshore drilling?

RAUSCHKOLB: In Florida. But in the national instance there is a letter on the Web site they can send President Obama and Congress. We want to lift -- we want to keep the ban in place for offshore oil drilling in the waters of the nation. And certainly I believe that the ban on deepwater drilling should stay in place as well.

We need to steer our country toward clean energy and renewables. This is an opportunity of national and global importance and I really believe we've got to send that message. Increasing offshore oil drilling is a folly for our nation.

HOLMES: Now, Dave, of course you know a lot of people listening to you including some people right here in New Orleans where I stand along the Gulf who are being adversely affected by this oil spill will still tell you, there are so many jobs tied into this, and it really is as much a part of this area, of the Gulf, as shrimping is and so many other seafood related industries.

What do you say to those folks who say this is a part of what we do as well? We don't need this to go away. We need these jobs. We need this industry.

RAUSCHKOLB: Do I think for a minute that they're going to stop drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? No. There are 4,000 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and those jobs are going to probably continue for certain.

It's the deepwater drilling that's dangerous. Not only did this accident just happen, this disaster just happen recently, but ten months ago off the coast of Australia, the same thing. We had a blowout. There was a subsequent fire. And it took them three months to cap that well as well.

So there's a problem, Houston. There is an issue here that there's a recent disaster that is just the same as this and they shouldn't be drilling in deep water any longer.

HOLMES: All right, Dave, we appreciate you spending time with us this morning. We certainly are going to keep an eye out for the event today. Again, a powerful picture to see people standing on beaches literally holding hands. Thank you for spending time with us. Good luck.

RAUSCHKOLB: Join hands, America. Thank you.

HOLMES: All right, you hear it there. A lot of people on a lot of sides of this issue really taking an opportunity. Some people call it taking advantage, other people call it taking an opportunity we have now with this whole Gulf oil disaster to maybe make some changes and draw some attention to some of the serious things going on out there.

A lot of people maybe didn't even know about deepwater drilling until now. We certainly know about it now. Kate, we'll continue our coverage here live in New Orleans, but for now back over to you in the studio.

BOLDUAN: You're doing great stuff down there. Thanks so much, T.J.

Everyday people making interest free loans to entrepreneurs an ocean and continent away -- it's called micro-lending. We'll show you how it works. It's interesting. Stay with us.

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BOLDUAN: Small scale loans making a huge difference. Micro lending is working wonders in some developing nations, and anyone can be a lender. Our tech expert Katie Linendoll is in New York and has the nuts and bolts of this one and how technology is helping.

So, Katie, how is technology helping with this concept of micro lending especially since it's happening often in developing countries, you know, on the other side of the world?

KATIE LINENDOLL, TECH EXPERT: Right. I think a lot of people hear the word "micro-lending." We've heard it before but it's kind of a hard concept to wrap your head around. I want you to understand that micro-lending is a nontraditional way of getting funding to aspiring entrepreneurs using a network of lenders. And it's actually really cool.

Whether you are, you know, a guy that's starting a roofing company in the United States or whether you are a cattle raiser over in Costa Rica and you have no assets and you have no credit, this now gives you a chance to build up your dream and really start your own business.

And I want to focus on kiva.org. It started in 2005 and since then they have loaned over $143 million in small loans. What's remarkable about the site is you can go on, and for a donor it's incredibly beneficial because you can see the profiles of each individual, and whether it's an individual in Cambodia that needs a sewing machine for $700 you don't have to donate the $700.

You can donate as little as $25 and see collectively around the globe everyone else that is pitching in. This is a global effort to empower the poor.

And I want to make one thing very clear. These are individuals especially in developing nations that don't want a donation. They don't want to be a charitable cause. They just need to get their feet off the ground. So it's really a great asset and great website to get people building and empowering the poor and the impoverished.

And again, Kiva.com has donated $143 million in loans and they have a kickback rate as a lender. This is good karma, 98 percent. So you're almost guaranteed to get the dollars that you put in right back.

BOLDUAN: $143 million of loans, is that what you said?

LINENDOLL: Yes.

BOLDUAN: That's just amazing.

LINENDOLL: It is remarkable.

BOLDUAN: That is remarkable.

LINENDOLL: I think there is room too for growth. We haven't seen a lot of micro lending here in the states, but with the state of the economy there is certainly room for improvement. Actually on sites like kiva.com we're seeing a turnaround. If you are in the states and need a little hope and you don't have assets and credit to go to a bank for a loan, the turn-around time is an average of six days.

I think, you know, we should look to these kinds of resources and better understand micro lending as a whole.

BOLDUAN: That's great information to get out there. Katie Linendoll, thank you so much for joining us today and giving us that information.

LINENDOLL: Thanks.

BOLDUAN: So first it was the Gulf oil spill, and now this. Fishermen along the Gulf of Mexico are keeping an eye on the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. The latest on tropical storm Alex is coming up at 11:00.

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HOLMES: Back here live now in New Orleans, I want to introduce you to a hero. For millions of American teenagers out there it has been the season, prom season, you've seen a lot of kids out there dressed up on Friday and Saturday nights.

But for me the kids that are actually battling life-threatening illness, attending prom is beyond their strength quite frankly and also their comfort zone. This week's CNN hero can help.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Losing my hair was worse than hearing I had cancer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You like it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So pretty.

Living with a life-threatening illness, I am a whole new person. You just wonder if this could be your last day.

FRED SCARF, CNN HERO: Large here, small here. Just put medium on the floor. My best friend passed away when we were in high school, and one of the things we really wanted to do was attend prom together and we never had a chance to do it. I remember her charm, how funny she was, how optimistic she was. I just knew I had to do something.

My name is Fred Scarf and I organize proms for teens who may not live long enough to attend their own.

These battles go on for years and this is like they're continually running a marathon and you're never going to get a break. Prom is a milestone and captures kids' imagination, and they can put on a tux and just kind of have a night off and be themselves.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I definitely feel a difference. It's so great to just have a good time and let loose.

SCARF: We're going to get them all in the same place by the end of the night which literally is on the dance floor and figuratively would be just enjoying themselves.

By the way, I hope you don't mind I'm stealing all your girls right now.

She would say oh, my gosh, Fred and just laugh and hit me. I think she'd be very proud.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Fred Scarf's work has made prom dreams come true for more than 400 teenagers with health challenges. And to see one young woman getting ready for her big night or to nominate someone you think is changing the world go to CNN heroes.com.

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