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Black Friday Bonanza; U.S. and South Korea Prepare for Drills; Turkey Day Football; Don't Rack Up Holiday Debt, CNN Hero Battles Sex Slavery
Aired November 26, 2010 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Well, good luck to all of you as you hit the stores this Black Friday.
I'm Fredricka Whitfield. I'll see you throughout the weekend.
Tony Harris up next with more of the NEWSROOM.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Try not to end up battered and bruised on Black Friday.
WHITFIELD: Right. Exactly.
HARRIS: Just -- yes, just --
WHITFIELD: Just play it safe. You know? Be polite.
HARRIS: Easy does it. Be polite.
WHITFIELD: Be happy about the holidays.
HARRIS: Don't worry.
WHITFIELD: No fighting over the parking spaces.
HARRIS: Don't worry, don't hurry. There you go.
Fred, take care. Great weekend.
WHITFIELD: All right. Have a good one.
HARRIS: Let's get going.
Live from Studio 7 at CNN world headquarters, the news and information you need for this Friday, the 26th of November.
Doorbuster deals, blockbuster bargains. Shoppers at the stores hoping to cash in on the hot items. The Black Friday bonanza is on.
From shopping and spending, to America's dirty little secret, debt, we will talk with a money coach about how to dig your way out and get control of your finances.
And she fights to save young girls from sex traffickers. CNN's Hero of the Year tells me who inspired here, from her own mother to Mother Teresa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANURADHA KOIRALA, CNN HERO OF THE YEAR: Well, Mother Teresa also personally knew me very well. So I thought, if the both of them were there, they would have been very happy about this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Those stories and your comments, right here, right now in the CNN NEWSROOM.
So, the stores are open, the lines are long. The holiday shopping season shifts into overdrive. One hundred thirty-eight million people expected to shop on this Black Friday.
Some stores got an early start. Kicking off deals last night, retailers are hoping to rev up sales after two lackluster seasons. The National Retail Federation predicts a 2.3 percent increase in holiday sales, so we're talking, what, flat-screen TVs, gaming consoles, iPads, iPods, electronics are among the hottest Black Friday items.
And our Marty Savidge has been handling and, in some cases, mishandling all of them at a Best Buy here in Atlanta.
Marty, good to see you. Here's a question. Are shoppers finding the deals they're looking for?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think they are, Tony. You know, when we got here this morning, people -- hundreds were already in line. It was very dark, very miserable and, sure enough, a fight broke out, which I'm right in the middle of.
HARRIS: Yes.
SAVIDGE: This is the newest game. This is from Xbox Kinect.
Jason's pounding on me.
Jason, what do you think of this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think the game looks like a lot of fun. You know, you're not using a controller.
SAVIDGE: Yes. And you're beating the living daylights out of me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the moment.
SAVIDGE: How are you spending this year?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm spending less. I mean, times are tough. I haven't lost my job, fortunately, but there's definitely cuts, there's other issues. You just have to try to get the most out of your money. SAVIDGE: Right, which is what a lot of people are doing. Thank you, Jason (ph).
Want to show you this here as we make our way over to another department, Tony. Follow along with us.
HARRIS: Absolutely.
SAVIDGE: This, by the way -- these are another hot topics. These are the e-Readers. You know, the video games are always popular, but the e-Readers are somewhat newer, and it seems that they're really at the top of everybody's list.
And then, the tried and true favorite, computers. In fact, computers have been the hottest sellers although they've been out for a long time. Lots of specials.
And Ann (ph) over here, we want to join you real quick. Hello, Ann (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.
SAVIDGE: How are you doing this morning?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good. How are you?
SAVIDGE: I'm not bad. What time did you start?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Probably about a half hour ago.
SAVIDGE: A half hour ago. Can you believe that, Tony?
HARRIS: No.
SAVIDGE: She slept in. Doesn't she know the Black Friday routine? There were people at 5:00 a.m.
So are you finding any deals?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we're finding a few deals. We're looking for a computer today, so --
SAVIDGE: How is this year's holiday shopping going to compare with last?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That, I'm not really sure. I don't shop too much on Black Friday because I usually have to work, but the crowds aren't too bad right now.
SAVIDGE: Are you going to spend more or spend less?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Probably more, yes.
SAVIDGE: All right. Good to hear. All right. Thank you very much, Ann (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
SAVIDGE: A lot of people actually have been saying they're going to spend a little bit more. Jason (ph), who was here, was a bit nervous. And a lot of people are paying cash. At least that's what they're telling us, which is also an interesting sign. They don't want to get those after-holiday bills, so some people say they actually saved up for Black Friday.
The crowds are down now. They were pretty heavy earlier in the day. And again, as we point out, the electronics, they just always seem to be a perennial favorite -- Tony.
HARRIS: Yes. Boy, it's the truth.
SAVIDGE: And I can have a rematch.
HARRIS: Yes, absolutely. It's the truth. It's item one, two, three and four on the Christmas list from my kids, and so I've got to get out there to that Best Buy where you are, Marty. It's great to see you, as always. Thank you so much.
Macy's in New York -- let's take that trip -- opened its doors at 4:00 a.m. Seven thousand people were lined up waiting to get in.
Poppy Harlow of CNNMoney.com was there. She has some tips on how to shop smart this season.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM CORRESPONDENT: A lot of people that we spoke with are coming for the novelties. Sure, some are picking up deals, but we want to tell people, especially if your budget is tight, there are some things that you need to pay attention to. And we'll show you what we're talking about, because you may be enticed by the deals to go in the stores.
First of all, what you want to think is -- make a list. Make a list of everything you're spending. Don't be fooled, also, by coupons. You're going to get a lot of coupons for Black Friday and going forward.
These deals are going to continue, Fred, as you know into the holidays. Remember, starting today is that beginning of that critical shopping season for retailers. It goes until December 27th.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: The two Koreas are closer to the brink of war. That warning from North Korea as the U.S. and South Korea get set to start joint military exercises this weekend. The drills follow Tuesday's shelling of a South Korean island by the communist North. The attack killed four South Koreans and injured 15. Pentagon Correspondent Chris Lawrence is joining us now.
Chris, here's my question for you. How is a clearly belligerent North Korea expected to react to the drill?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, in some ways, it appears they already have reacted, you know, in sort of -- in preview of this drill coming up.
Just today, what were observed on the North Korean mainland were wisps of smoke, and artillery fire was heard on the North Korean mainland, near that island, the South Korean island that was artillery-shelled just a few days ago. It appears to be, from observers, that this was some sort of North Korean artillery test. Again, just another sort of provocative action, you know, coming very shortly after this last one.
Even now, it seems to be even more provocative when you understand that the U.S. commander of military forces there in that area was actually on that island touring some of the damage when this fresh artillery shelling was heard. Nothing landed, but, again, it's just another sort of act by North Korea.
And in terms of response, you know, when you look at what's happening in South Korea now, they fired the defense minister, there was a plan to cut the size of the marine corp. That's been scrapped. Instead, they're going to bolster some of their ground forces in that area. And most importantly, probably, they're going to completely revise their rules of engagement to sort of up the stakes in terms of their response next time this happens.
HARRIS: OK. And Chris, anything, an official sound from anyone, talking about what's scheduled to happen beginning tomorrow?
LAWRENCE: Well, we know that Sunday, the -- we know that the USS George Washington is already on its way. It's a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It's surrounded by a small fleet of ships.
There's going to be about 7,000 American sailors taking part in this training exercise with the South Koreans. And, you know, I spoke with one expert who said the fact that the South Koreans have responded calmly up to this point is no guarantee they will down the road.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICTOR CHA, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: When you shell another country with artillery, you are truly pushing the envelope. And again, sooner or later, the South Koreans are going to have to respond. What is at stake for South Korea is, of course, much larger than simply a military altercation with the North, because every time the North provokes, it causes the stock market to drop in South Korea, it affects concerns about the safety of Seoul as both an investment hub and as a tourist destination, and as a host for global mega-events.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: So, again, bottom line, 7,000 American sailors, a U.S. aircraft carrier, all moving into that area for training exercises starting Sunday. No idea how North Korea is going to react to this, this time -- Tony.
HARRIS: I know you will be watching it closely for us.
Our Chris Lawrence at the Pentagon for us.
Thanks, Chris.
A woman in North Carolina is alive today because of this fast- acting 3-year-old. We will hear her 911 call.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Let's go "Cross Country" right now, stories our affiliates from across the nation are covering for us today.
North Carolina, our first stop. A 3-year-old girl is being hailed a hero. She called 911 after her mother collapsed. Listen to little Sereniti Dixon's life-saving call.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: Emergency Services. Can I help you?
SERENITI DIXON, 3-YEAR-OLD WHO CALLED 911: My mommy's stuck on the floor.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
DIXON: I saved my mommy's life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Wow. The toddler even opened the door to let the paramedics in.
In Nevada, second stop here, former Hollywood madam and reality TV star Heidi Fleiss escaped unharmed after her home caught fire yesterday just outside of Las Vegas.
And a big finish at the Turkey Trot Race. This is in Cleveland, Ohio. A runner proposed to his girlfriend moments after crossing the finish line.
How nice is that?
He dropped to one knee with the ring, while wearing a T-shirt that read, "Will you marry me, Katie?"
Of course she said yes.
It is Black Friday, and you're watching TV. But are you at home or in the store?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So, just how many of you will be shopping today? The National Retail Federation estimates 138 million people will be at stores and at malls today for Black Friday.
(BUSINESS REPORT)
HARRIS: All right. Still to come, the Turkey Trot in Dallas didn't go so well for the boys. My man -- where is he -- "Easy" Ed Lavandera, saw his team lose to the Saints on turkey day.
Yes. Yes. It was no laughing matter for you yesterday, Ed.
We will talk to Ed. It's "Big Play" time, next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK. For those of you who plopped on the couch for a little post-dinner game-watching, you know the Cowboys and Saints, boy, that was a terrific game yesterday.
Ed Lavandera took his drumstick to the game with him.
Hey, Ed, tell us about that stadium. That's a fabulous looking stadium. I know it cost a gazillion dollars, but what is it like to watch a ballgame in there?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know what? I tell all my friends it's like the biggest nightclub in America. That has very little to do with football.
It's just a giant nightclub. There's lounges and bars, and people dressed as beautiful as they can possibly be. It was a good game, and it was a brutal way to kind of end Thanksgiving for us here.
HARRIS: OK. So tell us about the big play in that game. It looked like the Cowboys were on their way, Roy Williams, with the ball in his hands, for what would -- a score that would put the game away. And what happened?
LAVANDERA: Well, I'm going to tell you a little secret about what I think happened, Tony. This has not been reported anywhere.
I was at the game, invited by some friends, some very dear friends who have one of those end zone suites. So I was living large yesterday, Tony, at the game.
HARRIS: Yes.
LAVANDERA: And Roy Williams was right there, was running right toward me. Right toward me.
He went to the University of Texas, as I did. I've got the "Hook 'em Horns" flashed at him. He's running right toward me. I think he's going to do, like, the Lambeau leap. And then out of nowhere, that Saints guy comes in. I don't know who it was.
HARRIS: That Jenkins guy.
LAVANDERA: Jenkins, that guy -- and stole the ball from him. And I couldn't believe it. But I kept thinking that Roy Williams could see me flashing the "Hook 'em Horns" sign at him, and I'm hoping I wasn't the one that distracted him.
HARRIS: You distracted him. That's the deal.
LAVANDERA: Oh, no, no, no.
HARRIS: But wait a minute.
LAVANDERA: I might be making that up.
HARRIS: Yes. Yes. It was also a day where you saw your beloved Longhorns essentially cement the first losing season in, what, a decade or something, right?
LAVANDERA: 1997, Tony. 1997.
HARRIS: Yes.
LAVANDERA: You know, this is what happens. And no one worse to do this to.
I don't know if you guys follow Roland Martin and myself in the Twitter world, but Roland and I have had this tradition for several years where we just talk an endless amount of smack. We've done it on e-mail for years, but this year, we kind of went public and put it out there on our tweets.
HARRIS: Sure. Sure.
LAVANDERA: Man, that guy can talk a lot of smack. It just real, really gets old.
HARRIS: Well, what happened to your team this year? Come on.
LAVANDERA: I don't know. Tony, it's hard to imagine that less than a year ago, I was sitting there in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena watching these guys play for the national championship. And now we're at this.
So big changes in store for my Longhorns, I think, in the off- season. We'll see. It was brutal.
But you know what? As I like to say, that even when we lose, we get to stay in Austin while the Longhorns and the Aggies have got to drive back to College Station.
HARRIS: Will you watch the Iron Bowl today? Will you watch the big Auburn-Alabama game today? LAVANDERA: Look, I'm not a big fan of, actually, Alabama, since they beat us in the Rose Bowl. I don't really have much to do with Auburn.
But for those of us who have nothing to do with Alabama, look, TCU is just down the road here from our offices. They're watching closely. If you hate the BCS, you're probably rooting for Alabama.
Right? Is that the way this works today?
HARRIS: Look at Ed Lavandera bringing it on sports from Texas.
Ed, it's great to see you as always, man.
LAVANDERA: All right, Tony. Good talking to you.
HARRIS: And you were a tweeting fool about this today, Ed.
Ed, Happy Thanksgiving weekend to you, sir. Good to see you.
LAVANDERA: I've got no Aggie friends out there in the Twitter world.
HARRIS: Absolutely not.
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, why wait in line this holiday season when you can shop online? Our Sandra Endo will point you towards some of the best deals on the Web.
We're back in a moment. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Oh, what a day. The shoppers were up before the sun for this morning's Black Friday rush, but if you want to stay clear of the stampede, look at this. Look at this.
If you want to avoid that, Sandra Endo has some tips for shopping from the comfort of your home computer.
Sandy, what do you have for us?
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Avoid the crowds, but all the traffic is on those virtual highways, Tony. People are streaming online to get those deals, and there are a ton of bargains out there.
Take a look at this, because so many stores are offering a ton of deals online. Eighty percent of retailers are offering special online deals this Black Friday.
And you can go to sites like this one where you can really comparison shop. A site like this offers your links to several different stores so you can really find that item you're looking for and see the prices of what different stores are offering.
Also, if you're in social media, Facebook, Twitter, they offer their followers special discounts as well online, and you want to make sure, though, you shop online and be safe about it. Be smart.
Look out for those restocking fees. You want to make sure if you have return something to get your full refund and not have to pay some of those fees.
HARRIS: Yes.
ENDO: Also, don't shop using public Wi-Fi. Make sure you're using a secured connection.
Don't wire money to pay. Make sure you use your credit card, not your debit card.
And beware of those social network URLs. You want to make sure you're actually accessing a viable link, not something that links you to something else.
So, some safety tips there. And I think that, personally, the best thing about online shopping is that when I buy your gift, Tony, online, that I can ship it right to you, it will get there my Christmas all gift-wrapped. I don't have to carry around with me until the next time I see you.
HARRIS: Big smile. Big, big smile.
You know what? Great, great tips.
Let's put that on the blog page, CNN.com/Tony.
Great tips. We will see you next hour, Sandy. Appreciate it. Thank you.
ENDO: You got it.
HARRIS: And, you know, there are some move you just can't buy online. We're going to show you a breakdancing boy genius. You won't believe it.
We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Nice. OK, with all those holiday bargains, you might be tempted to spend a little bit too much. To help you avoid that, we are focusing on America's dirty little secret here. We're talking about debt.
Our guest has written several books on personal finance, including her latest "Perfect Credit: 7 Steps to a Great Credit Rating." Lynette Khalfani-Cox, the money coach, is with us. She's on Skype from Jeffersonville, Vermont.
Lynette, it is good to see you. Thanks for taking some time out of your schedule this weekend to talk to us.
You know, let me start here with you. You're going to give us in just a couple of moments here, tips on how to avoid stacking up debt over the next six weeks or so, but my understanding is that you racked up over $100,000 in debt.
First of all, how did you do that?
LYNETTE KHALFANI-COX, THE MONEY COACH: And how did I get out of it, that's the --
(CROSSTALK)
KHALFANI-COX: You know, Tony, really like a lot of people are about to do this holiday shopping season, I was just a classic overspender. You know, I've actually written a book about this called "Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom."
It was almost 10 years ago, back in 2001, I had $100,000 in credit card debt. Fortunately, I paid it off in three years, never missed a single payment. But you know what? A lot of people who are overspenders or poor money managers can definitely drive themselves into debt.
There's another group of people, though, who also get into debt because of circumstances. Things like divorce, downsizing or death in the family happens to them as well.
HARRIS: Yes, that makes sense.
So, don't want to spend the next 12 months paying of the next six weeks, so give us some strategies.
One of the things you say is make a new year's resolution to say not to sabotage yourself while shopping. Explain that for us.
KHALFANI-COX: That's right. I really think that all the folks who are going to be making new year's resolutions January 1st should let that new year's resolution start today, Black Friday, or even for some people, yesterday on Thanksgiving.
A lot of resolutions are related to fixing one's finances -- getting out of debt, saving more money, sticking to a budget -- or to weight, people who want to lose pounds in the new year. But this six- week period before January 1st is the time when people do the single most damage to themselves, packing on the pounds and overspending.
So, if you start right now, and think about ways you can reduce overspending, reduce your debt, you'll give yourself a head start and you won't sabotage your efforts to get ahead in 2011.
HARRIS: Lynette, that's terrific.
I want to get to one more, which I think is really one of the best tips here, before we run out of time. You say, if you're going to the malls, take a budget, a buddy and a stopwatch. KHALFANI-COX: That's right. Those three things can help you to avoid overspending and going into debt.
Listen, here's your budget. It's your preset limit of what you can afford to spend in cash without having to whip out that plastic and put yourself ultimately in a plastic prison.
The buddy you're going to bring along to keep you accountable. That's the person who's going to remind you about your preset limit and take you out of the mall, Tony, if necessary, drag you kicking and screaming to say, that's it, you've hit your preset limit.
And then, of course, that stopwatch is an audible reminder for you. I found that so many people who go shopping, especially this time of year, they not only lose track of how much they spend, they lose all track of time. And so when you're closing out the stores constantly and spending hours upon hours upon hours shopping, you can do some serious damage and you can wind up in debt. So that stopwatch, just set it for an hour, maybe two maximum and when it rings, that's your reminder, it's time to go.
HARRIS: You totally rock this segment. Good stuff, Lynette. Good to see you, as always. Happy holidays to you.
KHALFANI-COX: Thank you. Same to you.
HARRIS: One man says quote, "Black Friday symbolizes the most absurd, the most sinful. It is consumerism at its worst." Reverend Billy from the Church of Life After Shopping is preaching for you not to spend your money on things you don't need. Our Deb Feyerick talks to him right here on CNN NEWSROOM at 1:00 Eastern.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Let's end the holiday on a good, good note.
Video that you've got to see this morning. Check this out, you've probably seen break dancing moves like the ones this guy's working on, right? Pretty doggone impressive stuff, right? But now watch him getting worked by this 8-year-old pop and lock prodigy.
Now that's how it's done. Have some!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A teenager decides he wants to live life to its fullest after a devastating brain tumor diagnosis. Here's Dr. Sanjay Gupta with "The Human Factor."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Seventeen year-old Zach Lederer is a high school football player in Ellicott City, Maryland. He's loved sports for years, but he's no ordinary player. He was just 11 years old when his entire world came crashing down.
ZACH LEDERER, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER: I started experiencing terrible, terrible headaches like nothing I've ever felt -- I had headaches before but these were just unreal.
GUPTA: Migraines, his parents assumed, but an MRI found a brain tumor the size of a large walnut. Zach was rushed to Johns Hopkins Hospital; the diagnosis there was devastating.
CHRISTINE LEDERER, ZACH'S MOTHER: That our son was not going to make it. That he had a very short time and he was going to take a big turn for the worse probably that night.
GUPTA: But Zach hung on, he overcame incredible odds. He had four brain operations in one week, was put in a medically induced coma and had radiation therapy to shrink the tumor. He then spent three months hospitalized and in rehab.
Z. LEDERER: You know, here I'm 11 years old wearing diapers and relearning how to walk.
GUPTA: A small piece of the tumor is still there. Doctors think it's dead and slowly disintegrating.
But Zach never let any of this stop him from pursuing his dream of playing high school football. After three years as team manager, the coach talked about getting him in for one play. But Zach, now a senior, wanted to play on a regular basis; he's a running back.
Z. LEDERER: I just wanted to prove to everyone that any obstacle's able to be overcome, even something as big as a brain tumor.
GUPTA: His parents agreed to let him play and now he wears a special helmet with 18 shock absorbers. His parent's main concern is not concussion, it's damaging the shunts still inside his brain.
But Zach refuses to live his life in a bubble.
Z. LEDERER: It's not about never getting knocked down, it's about getting back up. And so, the fact that I did get back up and I have become what I am and done everything that I would dream of doing, I think I'm all better because of it.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Now here is a woman who is a true hero.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANURADHA KOIRALA, CNN 2010 HERO OF THE YEAR: Please try to respect the youth and do something for the youth, they are the ones who are going to build our next generation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: What this petite woman from Nepal is going to save an entire generation of girls. She is our CNN Hero of the Year. She is absolutely unbelievable and you will meet her next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: CNN's Hero of the Year, Anuradha Koirala, she is a petite woman from Nepal with a big heart who has rescued thousands of girls, 12,000 to be exact, from sex slavery.
Watch as one woman turns so many lives around.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE )
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): I was taken to Puna and I was sold. I was maybe 9 or 10 years old at the time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): In the beginning, I was forced and sent to four or five different men.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): I had to do it. If I didn't they shocked and tortured me with electricity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): In one day, I had to service 25 to 35 men. But I survived. Rather than being in hell, I have come to heaven.
KOIRALA: She went to India. No, you don't know who took her. Now, she's traumatized. She's pregnant, also and she was taken to India, so she doesn't -- she cannot see anything.
The innocent children who have come back with, you know, broken legs, with HIV positive when they're 14, 13, which is very sad. They're still child, you see.
Nepal becomes a safe haven for them. It becomes a home, their own place where they can now stay, work and be happy and enjoy the rest of their life.
They call me Diju (ph), that means the elder sister. So they have belief in me. I'm very proud of that, that the children, really believe in me.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP (chanting/translated): Trafficking of sisters and daughters, let's stop it!
KOIRALA: We are doing awareness programs in the villages. You go from door to door campaigning.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): The traffickers will say, "Oh, she has lipstick, this is a flirty one, we can take her and sell her."
KOIRALA: When the trafficker comes, he never says, I'm going to take your child and make her a prostitute. He comes and says, there is a big job in the city. (translated): What if the workers trick you into going with them and they sell you?
(speaking): We have message for everyone. So we are trying to educate all of them and say that trafficking is inhuman.
Just imagine what would happen if your daughter was standing there and if your daughter was there, what would you do? How would you fight? So you have to join hands. You have to take each child as your daughter.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): Even if we dedicated our life service to her, it wouldn't be enough in return for what she has given us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): My mother only gave me birth. Anuradha gave me everything else.
KOIRALA: I want a society free of human trafficking. I hope I will make it happen one day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: If anyone can make it happen, that woman can. I spoke with Anuradha after she won the CNN Hero of the Year award. That interview is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Boy, I absolutely love this performance. I want to show it to you in its entirety. Music powerhouse John Legend, you simply must see his performance at CNN's "HEROES: AN ALL-STAR PERFORMANCE." We will bring it to you in its entirety next hour. It is such good stuff.
Plus, the miracle at sea. Three teenage boys found alive after missing for 50 days. We will look at what they did to survive.
That's at the top of the hour, CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Her work in Nepal means everything to tens of thousands of young girls lured from poor villages into a life of sexual slavery. Anuradha Koirala took away this year's CNN Hero of the Year Award and check for $100,000 for her cause. I spoke with her about what the inspires the intense work she does for these young girls.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: The moment after you hear your name read off as the CNN hero of the year, what was your first thought?
KOIRALA: The first thing I thought was about my children at home. And I thought about everybody was dear to me and I thought, I wish everybody was there. And I remembered personally, from the (INAUDIBLE), I had remembered two person. One, my mother. One, Mother Teresa, whose footsteps -- I'm trying to do a little bit of what she was trying to do.
So I remember these people and said because you both of them -- my mother, obviously, she made me so big and raised me, but Mother Teresa also knew my personally well. So I thought if both of them were there, they would have been very happy about it.
HARRIS: That's terrific.
Talk to us about what it is you're able to do for a young girl who you've rescued from one of these brothels. And they come to you emotionally destroyed, what is that you do for them?
KOIRALA: We first, when they come, the next day, we try to ask them who were their traffickers, who had taken them. And sometimes they definitely give us the right address. And if it is in the city of Kathmandu or nearby, we start immediately looking for the trafficker, because as you know, traffickers may rent this room, and if he says of girl, he may change the room. But we make sometimes these people are also foolish. They don't change the place.
So when we go we catch hold of them and we bring them and hand them over to -- the police goes with us, and we hand them over to the police and the case goes in the court. So when the case goes in the court, the girl is very, very satisfied if she gets hold of the trafficker.
And then, after that, we start doing counseling to her. And because the cases in the court takes about one to one to one and a half year, so she cannot go back to her village because she has to be present in the court. Otherwise, the case becomes hostile.
So during that period, we give them different kind of development training, skill level of training. We do not do not the stereotype, we are doing different types. Now we are doing electricity repairing, then we are doing carpentry, we are doing horticulture (ph), we are doing bakery, we are doing housekeeping, all a new type of trainings they are giving to the girls because these girls are very -- very few of them have gone to school, say about 3 percent goes to school, otherwise no one has gone to school.
HARRIS: In your acceptance speech, you are pleading for an end to trafficking. What ultimately will it take for you to sort of realize that dream?
KOIRALA: Everybody knows, when all get united, when all of us get united -- and this is the right time, I think, when there is a big ascension of the global attention of sex trafficking, if all, from all sectors, if we get if we get -- if we really, really get together we can make a difference and we can really stop it.
HARRIS: Anuradha, it's great to you, congratulations.
KOIRALA: Thank you.
HARRIS: And we love the work that you're doing, and I hope you get everything you want out of it and that you can get the help that you need in ending trafficking.
You're terrific, and congratulations on being the CNN hero of the year.
KOIRALA: Thank you. Thank you, thank you.
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