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Libyan Opposition Leader: Strikes Continue; Nuclear Threat Level Raised in Japan; Libya Declares Immediate Cease Fire; Nuclear Threat Level Raised; Super Moon to Raise Tides, Woes for Japan; Olympian Dives Into New Role; Stories of Survival, Search for Loved Ones

Aired March 18, 2011 - 11:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux.

I want to get you up to speed for Friday, March 18th.

Fast-moving developments out of Libya. The Gadhafi regime raced to head off a military attack today by offering a cease-fire to the rebels.

Joining us now on the phone is a member of the opposition Provincial Council.

And this is essentially what is taking place on the ground. Tell us -- you are in eastern Libya now. Are you seeing a cease-fire or are you seeing explosions?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am a member of the local Provisional Council in Misrata. Misrata is on the west of Libya, east of Tripoli, 200 kilometers.

It is the last -- our last stronghold here on the coast, on the west side. This murderous dictator is trying to take Misrata today at all costs. He started bombing the city last night at 2:00, random shelling of the city.

MALVEAUX: And sir, what are you seeing now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At least three kilometers from the center of the city, and bombs -- shells landed near my home. And he entered the city from three way ways -- from the west, the east -- the west and the southwest with tanks and heavy artillery. And they started shelling the city randomly. And he's shelling the city as we speak. I want to go closer to the window so maybe you can hear some gunfire and some shells.

This murderous dictator is saying that he has declared a cease- fire. He should let the international media come to Misrata and see for themselves that he is lying and he is buying time. He has lied to the world for 42 years, and please don't believe him now.

MALVEAUX: And sir, if you can -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a political and war maneuver that should be dismissed by the West, and this murderous dictator should be bombed into submission and taken to the court.

MALVEAUX: Sir, if you can, you said that perhaps there's some noises that we can hear from your phone if you get close to the window. If you are safe and you can do that, we would like to hear what is taking place on the ground where you are. If we cannot hear it, can you describe for us what you are seeing outside your window?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll do my best. I am going to the window and I can hear the gunfire in the distance. I see the smoke.

Our city is in smoke. Misrata is burning. Misrata is burning now.

What cease-fire is he talking about? This guy should be bombed into submission and taken to court.

MALVEAUX: What are you seeing outside your window, sir? Can you tell us, can you describe for us what you are seeing or hearing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I am inside the medical center. I see the medical staff outside in a hectic situation.

They're coming, the wounded, inside. They're planning to organize the crowd.

I see a body of a martyr being carried away now to his family. We have 16 civilian casualties today. We have about 12 casualties from the fighters. And the situation is very desperate in the medical center where I am now regarding medical supplies, and the whole medical center has been walled around by the injuries and by the wounded, and people are on the floor now.

MALVEAUX: Sir, are you afraid? Are you safe from where you are? Can you describe where you are and what is around you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am just off the town center in the medical center. A shell landed across the road from us, in the hotel across the road. The hotel was destroyed. About two or three shells landed there. And it is hectic.

We hear news of one of the medical centers on the outskirts being bombed. And it's really a horrible situation we find ourselves in with this murderous dictator, and we will not settle for anything less than his head now. He should be taken to court and tried. And if he dares to take the international media that is now Tripoli to Misrata, he should do so right now.

MALVEAUX: We want to thank you very much. We're not going to mention your name on air. We will protect your identity.

This is an opposition leader, someone who is on the ground there in Misrata, who says despite Gadhafi's call for some sort of cease- fire, it is anything but there, where he is, from his vantage point. I want to bring in our CNN's Arwa Damon. She's on the phone from eastern Libya. This is where the rebels are controlling an area.

And Arwa, we had just heard from this individual on the ground. He is part of the council there, the opposition forces. And he believe this is simply a ploy from Gadhafi, because he's hearing explosions, he's seeing people being fired upon.

What is taking place where you are?

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Suzanne, that is very much in tune of exactly what we've been hearing from opposition members here in the eastern part of the country.

We were just at a checkpoint outside of the city of Ajdabiya, some 30 miles outside of it. It was as far as we could go because of the heavy fighting that was taking place inside that city.

We could constantly, even after the cease-fire was announced here, hear the sound of explosions coming across. Fighters coming across, talking to us about the heavy casualties that were taking place inside.

We saw a number of ambulances going in. We saw one coming out with a wounded fighter.

And about an hour after that cease-fire was declared, we saw a stream of fighters and ambulances barreling down the highway, away from Ajdabiya. They, too, telling us about the intense and heavy fighting. One ambulance worker saying that they were not even able to reach the dead or the wounded to be able to either evacuate them or get them any sort of basic help.

One man we spoke to, a fighter on the side of the road, also saying the same thing that we heard from that individual in Misrata. They do not believe Gadhafi. He's a liar. He's been lying to them for decades, they say. And they only believe that this declaration of a cease-fire is some sort of a trick, a ploy, because they do believe that he is intent, as long as he stays in power, to massacre everyone who has been standing against him -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And Arwa, what are they going to do now? They don't believe Gadhafi, they don't believe in the cease-fire. Will they continue to fight?

DAMON: Yes, they absolutely will continue to fight. Everybody around us, on very high alert, still expecting the worst.

They are regrouping. We've actually been seeing them, militarily speaking, to progress slightly.

At that checkpoint that we were at, we saw them armed with their personal assault weapons, anti-aircraft machineguns. They had a tank. They appeared to be well-positioned.

One fighter who we had actually met a while back, who initially looked very green on the battlefield, now appearing much more poised, much more seasoned. All of them vowing that they're going to take this, they're going to have to take this to the very end. Because they say at the end of the day, Gadhafi is not a man who they can negotiate with because they don't trust him. They believe that he will do everything within his means to stay in power.

That being said, there has also been a certain level of disappointment at the fact that the U.N. passed this resolution last night, and yet it is still to be implemented on the ground. People pointing out that there's still civilian casualties taking place.

MALVEAUX: OK. Arwa, thank you very much. Please be safe.

We want to give you a chance to "Talk Back" on this issue, the no-fly zone in Libya.

Our Carol Costello is joining us to talk about this.

And we know the U.N. Security Council saying look, we're going to take an active measure here, an active step in Libya. Somewhat of a surprise, I think. I wonder how people are feeling about that.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Especially since the United States is going to take a lead role in the enforcement of that no-fly zone. The U.S. is going to be heavily involved militarily.

So, finally help for the Libyan rebels after a month of hand- wringing. The international community finally said, OK, we will help you.

The U.N. Security Council has voted to impose a no-fly zone over Libya so Moammar Gadhafi cannot use warplanes to kill his own people. France and Britain say they will join in military air strikes against Libya, and it won't be long until the United States is involved.

And as Secretary of Defense Gates said, it won't be a walk in a park. Enforcing a no-fly zone amounts to war, as in blowing up Libyan targets on the ground like Libya's air defenses..

Libyan rebels are saying to themselves it's about time. Just a couple of weeks ago, rebels were making real progress.

Today, Gadhafi seems to have the upper hand. A witness in the rebel-held town of Misrata just told us that despite the talk of a Gadhafi-ordered cease-fire today, there is no cease-fire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fighting and bombing is going on right now. This murderous dictator talks about cease-fire. He is lying. He is a lying war criminal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The rebel spokesperson told me and told Suzanne just moments ago it didn't have to come to this if the international community would have acted sooner.

Now, the question today -- and it is our "Talk Back" question -- Does the no-fly zone come too late for Libya?

Write to me on Facebook.com/CarolCNN, and I'll read your answers later this hour.

MALVEAUX: A lot of people are asking questions, how soon can the international community get this no-fly zone up and running and in place here? And that's going to be one of those critical questions, whether or not it's too late, yes?

COSTELLO: Right. And some people say that at least Britain and France will have warplanes in there by this weekend, but we don't know. As far as when the United States' role will begin, we don't know that either.

MALVEAUX: The next 24, 48 hours seems rather critical.

COSTELLO: Definitely so.

MALVEAUX: OK. Thank you, Carol. Appreciate it.

COSTELLO: Sure.

MALVEAUX: Well, today marks one week since an earthquake and tsunami slammed Japan, and we're still getting new video from the day of the disaster. A man -- if you check this out -- was driving along the coastal highway last Friday when the tsunami jumped the seawall, swamped his car. His car floated into a parking lot, but he managed to get to safety.

Well, Japan's nuclear agency today raised the Fukushima disaster to crisis level 5, on a 1 to 7 scale. This puts the disaster on par with the Three Mile Island nuclear accident in the United States back in 1979. But it is still below the Chernobyl disaster, which topped the scale at level 7.

Well, crews are using helicopters, fire trucks to pour tons of water on the nuclear plant for a second day now. Now, while they try to cool the plant, electricians are trying to hook up a new mile-long power line. They hope to bring the cooling systems for two reactors back on line.

Well, people who fled the coast ahead of the tsunami are beginning to trickle back. They gasped -- I mean, you can imagine when they see what is left of their homes. Even an emotional paralysis seems to set in for some.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HIDEMITSU ICHIKAWA, TSUNAMI VICTIM (through translator): I have no words to express my feelings. I lost my mind. We will have to start from zero.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Here's a look at what's ahead "On the Rundown."

First, new iReport video from the moment the earthquake hit Japan one week ago.

Also, many people returning home for the first time only to find that there is nothing left.

Plus, the basics needed after a disaster, all in one box. A CNN Hero takes his shelter box to Japan.

And finally, stories of hope and heartbreak from the earthquake zone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): My wife, my son's family, and four grandchildren, I lost them all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Japan's Nuclear Safety Agency today says that the crisis at its Fukushima plant is now considered a level 5. That is up from level 4.

Well, we want to put that into some perspective. The Chernobyl accident rated a level 7. That is the highest. The accident at Three Mile Island, that was a 5.

At the plant today, crews continued to douse one of the reactors with water in an effort to cool it down and prevent a meltdown.

Well, I want to get some perspective now on the latest developments, the effort to contain this nuclear crisis. Gary Was is a professor of nuclear engineering and radiological services at the University of Michigan.

Thank you for joining us this afternoon.

Clearly, when you take a look at the situation that's happening in Japan, and you see it's now being raised, the level here, what kind of threat do you think that poses to the Japanese people now?

PROF. GARY WAS, NUCLEAR ENGINEERING & RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES: Well, I think that rise in the level of the severity is an indication of just the extent of the problem. It didn't occur overnight. It takes time to figure out what has happened at the site. And rating it at a level that's equivalent to Three Mile Island is probably appropriate.

MALVEAUX: What does that mean for the people there?

WAS: Well, there are two parts to that scale. It involves damage to the actual reactor facility such as the fuel, and also radiation releases. And so the radiation releases are at a level where it merited this level 5, and puts it on par with the Three Mile Island accident.

MALVEAUX: What needs to happen today? When you hear that they are still trying to cool these rods using water, seawater, does that concern you, does that worry you? What needs to happen?

WAS: Sure. The most important thing that can happen is to bring power back to the facility. If they can get electrical power, then they can get the pumps running to cool the reactor and to cool the spent fuel pools. They're cooling the reactor pretty well now with seawater, and those seem to be stabilizing. Right now the attention is on the spent fuel pools, where it's less of a stable situation, and trying to keep water in those pools and keep the fuel rods under water is their main objective.

MALVEAUX: Short term, what can the Japanese people do to protect themselves from this radiation that we are seeing?

WAS: Just the advice that's been given in the past. There's a perimeter that's been set up. The authorities say stay behind that perimeter, and take guidance in terms of how they can protect themselves with staying in the house and the like.

MALVEAUX: And finally, Professor, I just want to draw down on this point here, which is the fact that we do not expect any kind of radiation of any significance to come here to the United States or the West Coast. Is that your understanding, as well?

WAS: That's my understanding. The dilution factor is just so high, that the likelihood of there being any significant impact to individuals in the U.S. is remote.

MALVEAUX: Professor, thank you very much.

WAS: My pleasure.

MALVEAUX: Appreciate it.

Well, the world prepares for military action against Libya's dictator. He reacts, calling for a cease-fire. But witnesses say that he is still attacking his own people. Former assistant secretary of state Jamie Rubin joins me to give us a bit of perspective.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Protests in Yemen turned into a bloodbath. Medical officials say at least 33 people were killed and more than 100 hurt in clashes between tens of thousands of anti-government protesters and security forces. It happened outside Sana'a University.

An Interior Ministry official said the casualties came from both sides. Yemen has been wracked by weeks of unrest, with thousands protesting government corruption and the lack of political freedom.

In Bahrain, security forces have just demolished the Pearl Roundabout that's been ground zero for that country's massive anti- government demonstrations. Humanitarian groups and several governments have strongly criticized Bahrain's rulers for their brutal crackdown against protesters. The streets of Manama are quiet today.

Well, we are getting reports of explosions now in rebel- controlled eastern Libya. Now, that is despite Moammar Gadhafi's call today for a halt to military action. Libya's cease-fire announcement was a direct result of a new U.N. resolution offering a no-fly zone and the use of force to protect civilians in Libya.

Well, our CNN's Nic Robertson, he's in Tripoli, and he has just attended a news conference with the foreign minister.

And Nic, we are getting reports, we've been talking to people on the ground who say there is no cease-fire, that this is some sort of ploy, and that there are actually explosions in Misrata.

You've been to this government press conference. What do they say?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're saying the opposite. They are saying that they have to comply by this U.N. resolution, that they will comply by it, they applaud some parts of it, that there will be an immediate cease-fire, a cessation in military activities. They said they would respect the safety and sanctity of civilians, respect their human rights, provide humanitarian aid where and when it was needed.

This doesn't measure up to what we're hearing coming in from just 120 miles away from the capital. We're not able to independently go to Misrata and verify the reports of shelling there, but they also match the reports of shelling that we're getting from Ajdabiya, further to the east, as well, where Gadhafi's army is arrayed outside of both sides of the city there.

So what we're hearing in the capital at this press conference, it completely flies in the face of what we're hearing coming from other parts of the country. I think perhaps the most telling thing about this press conference was the demeanor of the foreign minister.

When I first arrived here three weeks ago, I was almost immediately called to his office, and I got a very robust denunciation of the international community, of their position. Now, this was a government minister feeling strong and firm three weeks a ago.

This man today had his head buried in his notebook, was reading, not engaging in eye contact with the audience of several dozens of journalists. And at the very end of it, a senior government official who came into the side of the meeting literally closed it down after the statement and told him he had to finish right there.

So, I think it's a clear indication we're not able to even verbally probe, never mind -- with the foreign minister -- never mind get out on the ground and see the facts on the ground. So the government has got one messages that it's putting out over the airwaves to the international community, but it appears something else is going on, on the ground right now -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And Nic, from what I'm hearing from you, from the demeanor of the foreign minister there, that official, it almost seems like he doesn't even believe what he's saying.

ROBERTSON: You get the impression that he doesn't really want to be out there. This is, I think, the second press conference he's given to a group of journalists. The last one, he seemed to be in two minds about whether he wanted to appear, took some questions, and then stormed off when he didn't want to answer any more questions.

This one -- this was not a man who came in and gave a powerful testimony of the government's position. This is not a man who convinced anyone there that he thoroughly believed and upheld everything that he was saying.

This was a man who really looked like he was going through the motions of reading a statement. There is probably more to this than we're aware of, but this is how it looked to us here.

MALVEAUX: Well, thank you, Nic. We appreciate your perspective, your on-the-ground perspective, firsthand look from the Libyan government, the officials there.

We're going to be talking to Jamie Rubin after this break about what his take on all of this is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: So what can we expect next in Libya? Former assistant secretary of state Jamie Rubin joins us live from New York.

And Jamie, you heard what our own Nic Robertson said on the ground there, that even the Libyan officials don't even seem to believe their own words when they say, oh, everything's going to be OK, we've got this cease-fire going on. We've got reports from our Arwa Damon and others on the ground in Misrata and in eastern Libyan saying they're hearing explosions.

What do you think Gadhafi is up to?

JAMIE RUBIN, FMR. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, I think that Gadhafi is smart enough to know that our own intelligence capabilities, regardless of the on-the-phone reports that you've been getting, will tell Western governments whether or not the Libyans are engaged in a cease-fire or not. So, within the next few hours, Western governments, others, are going to decide, OK, this either is or it isn't a cease-fire.

Right how it doesn't seem like one. And they're going to initiate some form of action to impose a no-fly zone and prevent Gadhafi's forces from taking additional territories.

Because of that, I kind of have the feeling that Gadhafi realizes that now is the moment that he's going to have to pull back a little bit. There may be some last-minute actions. And I would be surprised if he continued a full-fledge assault all the way to Benghazi and dared the international community to stop him. He's fairly deft, fairly adept, and I think what we're seeing now is this beginning of this rather painful process which is international verification of U.N. Security Council resolutions which require some arbiter, some international arbiter, to say whether there is a cease-fire or not.

MALVEAUX: Right. So how much time -- Jamie, you worked at the State Department -- how much time should the international community give Gadhafi? How much time should the Obama administration give Gadhafi to prove that either he is serious about a cease-fire or, forget the cease-fire, we're going with the no-fly zone option?

RUBIN: I think probably the rest of today, tonight. In Libya, if the forces he has under his control don't stop firing and conducting artillery other attacks, I think that will be that and the administration and others will go forward with their plans such as they are.

The really hard question, Suzanne, is to impose a no-fly zone, Secretary of Defense Gates has said requires the attack on Gadhafi's air defenses. And so, what if tomorrow or the next day there really is a cease fire and we have to decide how do impose this no-fly zone, will we then initiate air attacks against his air defenses? That's really a tricky one.

It may be that the confusion will be such in clear cease fire and the international community will go about its business of implementing this resolution with air attacks, a no-fly zone and other steps to ease the humanitarian crisis.

But we're in the murky phase, which is the first few hours or days after a resolution has passed and a dictator like this reacts.

MALVEAUX: Sure. And, Jamie, in light of the fact that we're in this murky phase, President Obama is going to be making a statement this afternoon. We've been told he's going to be addressing the American people, clearly the rest of the world, about what should happen next in the state of Libya.

What can the Obama administration do now? What should be his message?

RUBIN: Well, I think it's extremely important that the president speak to the country, because right now without any real preparation of the American people, the U.N. Security Council has authorized military action.

And behind the scenes, obviously, there's a lot of discussion. The British, the French have told their people they're going to participate in this action. Up till today, there's been almost no indication from the Obama administration that they support and would want to participate in a military operation here.

So having been skeptical, having been doubtful about the value of this for recent weeks, I think the president has to make a persuasive case that we've looked through all the difficult questions, we've asked them, we've answered them and that this no-fly zone, these air attacks to stop Gadhafi from taking over Benghazi are a limited military operation that involves American forces but doesn't suck us into a long-term civil war in a third Muslim country, which has been something they've wanted to avoid.

I think it's a case that can be made. Let's face it, you know, we have the Arab League, we have the U.N. Security Council, we have our allies. It doesn't appear that this is going to require overwhelming American participation.

MALVEAUX: All right, Jamie Rubin, thank you for your perspective, appreciate it.

A senior White House official is telling CNN, as we had mentioned, that President Obama plans to make remarks on the Libyan crisis, that is going to happen this afternoon. We haven't been given a time yet for the president's statement, but we're certainly going to bring to you as soon as it happens.

Japan's nuclear agency today raised the level of the crisis at its Fukushima plant from four to five, putting it on par with Three Mile Island. Crews continue to try to douse one of the reactors with water. They hope to connect a power source to a cooling system today.

Our CNN's Stan Grant, he is tracking those develops from Tokyo.

Stan, give us a sense, has this been any progress here today in making that happen?

STAN GRANT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's such a mixed signal, Suzanne, because there has been this watering process and we've also had reports from the nuclear agency here that some of the reactors are reasonably stable, but then we get this upgrading of the nuclear event scale. It goes from one to seven. Chernobyl, which was a catastrophe, is at seven. Five they're now calling this event here along with Three Mile Island.

Now, what five basically means is an event of wider consequences. It also normally indicates some severe damage to the reactor core itself and the possibility of a greater impact on the population.

So that does present an issue. After a week why is it getting worse? Well, they can't get in there and cool the reactors. That's basically the problem here. That's why they're trying to get more water into these reactors to try to get them to a level where they can actually get in, assess the situation and then bring it down, but all the while the fear that rather than improving, it's actually getting worse. And with this upgrading today, it raises the doubt in people's minds about if or when it's going to get better -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: So what are they doing, Stan? How are they responding to this?

Now that you've risen the level from four to five, it suggests that perhaps they're in more danger than they were before and things are getting worse. How are the Japanese responding? GRANT: What it indicates is that they've had these rogue events or these usual events over the past few days -- the fires, the explosions, the radiation peaking and dropping -- and that's why they've moved to a five. It's an indication of the type of events they've been through.

What can they do as a response? Well, look at what they've exhausted so far. The initial power supply didn't work. The backup power supply didn't work. They're trying to pour seawater in there and that was creating problems and we were getting hydrogen explosions. Now they're trying to push, pump water from trucks, drop water from the air. It's all about getting as much water in there to cool this down.

And all the while they are working on an external power source. They want to hook up generators, hope those generators can kick start the cooling system and that would give them an even greater chance of really reducing the heat in the reactors -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Stan.

Well, what's inside these boxes could help thousands of earthquake victims in northern Japan survive.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Dozens of relief groups are in Japan, they're trying to get aid to where it's most needed. Among them, Shelter Box. It distributes boxes of vital survival gear including blankets, cooking equipment, tents that can house up to ten people. Its founder, Tom Henderson, was honored as a CNN Hero in 2008.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATION CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): As thousands flee northern Japan, there are tens of thousands left behind. They need food, they need water, they need shelter. That's why CNN Hero Tom Henderson and his Shelter Box team are going in.

We spoke to Tom via Skype.

TOM HENDERSON, SHELTER BOX: We'll have first people on the ground within 24 hours. What they're finding is exactly what you've seen. It's just horrific.

O'BRIEN: Since 2001, Tom's organization, Shelter Box, has delivered more than 100,000 boxes of lifesaving aid to victims of disaster all over the world.

HENDERSON: Every disaster is unusual. This is particularly so because of that nuclear problem that's unfolding.

Clean water is becoming a problem as will food very shortly.

O'BRIEN: Each Shelter Box contains items critical to survival after a disaster.

HENDERSON: We've got 400 to 600 on the ground all ready there. We've committed up to 5,000 boxes, if they're required.

O'BRIEN: Just as it was last year in Haiti, Tom Henderson's Shelter Box is again on the front lines, ready to assist in recovery efforts and provide much needed aid to a country in crisis.

HENDERSON: What keeps us going is very simple. It's that need, that desperate need to help people as quickly as we can.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: To learn more about Shelter Box or to donate to its relief work, visit CNNHeros.com.

Well, a new concern for tsunami-battered Japan. A super moon will raise tide levels this weekend. We're going to find out what that means.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: We have just learned that President Obama is going to be making a statement at the White House from the East Room at 2:00 Eastern about the state of Libya. We had told you before we expected a statement this afternoon, now we're learning more details. At 2:00 in the East Room is when that statement is going to come.

We're also following another story, obviously, that is Japan. Along Japan's northeast coast, it's hard to believe that the devastation of last week's tsunami. If you take a look at it, you're talking about coastal villages wiped out; ports, harbors flattened; ships tossed on shore just like toys. Ports handling as much as 7 percent of Japan's industrial output sustained much of the damage and losses now are in the billions, billions of dollars.

But to make things worse, matters worse for Japan, tides are going to be bigger this weekend because of what's known as a super moon.

Our Reynolds Wolf is here with us.

Reynolds, I don't know what a super moon is. Tell us what that is and how is that going to impact what we see in Japan is this.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It sounds pretty daunting, doesn't it? I mean, hearing --

MALVEAUX: A super moon.

WOLF: Exactly.

MALVEAUX: Sure.

WOLF: But what it really does is is it kind of exacerbates the tides. It can make a high tide higher, a lower tide even lower. But first and foremost, one of the big issues that we happen to have in Japan is plain and simple, you have a high tide advisory where much of the shore along the northeast corner of the country is lower, in some places as much as eight feet lower. And with that on-shore flow and of course with the super moon, it's going to enhance some of that surf. And, in fact, we've already had some flooding.

In fact, take a look at some of these images. I'm going to expand this one for you. This is not from the tsunami, the flooding you happen to see in this town. This town is Ishinomaki, this is basically from the tide coming in and flooding some of the streets.

Here's another shot that we have. Again, you're not going to notice much in terms of damage from the earthquake or from the ensuing tsunami, this is just from the tide coming this.

Now how does this thing work? Well, let's go to this animation that's going to give you an idea of how all of this comes together. What happens is we have -- this is referred to as a Cregian (ph) moon, the moon passes within 200,000 miles of the Earth, which is still a pretty great distance away.

And the moon has a lopsided elliptical orbit. This is the closest it has been to the Earth since about 1993. What that's going to mean for you just trying to see this, it's going to appear about 14 percent wider, 30 percent brighter and as we mentioned, it's going to really enhance the tides -- high tides will be higher, low tides are going to lower.

And if you miss out on the possibility of seeing this, fear not, you'll have another shot next super moon November 14th of 2016.

OK, there you go.

MALVEAUX: All right, thank you, Reynolds.

WOLF: You bet.

MALVEAUX: Well, each week, we take a look at people who have accomplished extraordinary things. In this week's "Human Factor," CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta focuses on a former Olympic champ who has returned to his sport in a new role.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four gold medals, one silver, 5 world championships, and 47 national titles. Greg Louganis is one of the best divers ever. Still, he doesn't think of diving defines him.

GREG LOUGANIS, OLYMPIC CHAMPION: I started performing on stage when I was three and sinking, dancing, gymnastics, acrobatics. And then diving, you know, diving is what everybody knows me from, but that was just another stage for me.

GUPTA: He stunned fans during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games when he hit his head on the diving board. The next day, he won a gold medal.

Louganis retired in 1998. Years later, the world learned he was HIV positive and had been the victim of abuse. Yet for him, none of this ranks as the biggest thing he had to overcome in his life.

LOUGANIS: Probably the biggest obstacle for me, I would have to say my shyness.

GUPTA: He says while diving gave him credibility and a platform to be heard, what he's most proud of is it writing his book, "Breaking the Surface."

LOUGANIS: When I was on book tour, people were coming to me and saying, you saved my life. Whether it be coming out about my HIV status, getting out of an abusive relationship, dealing with my sexuality, you know, there were so many things that I shared in the book that I guess gave other people strength.

GUPTA: Now more than 20 years after retiring from diving, Louganis is back; this time as a coach. And Coach Louganis emphasizes starting with the basic fundamentals like dance, acrobatics, gymnastics, like did he, before ever attempting the difficult dives.

LOUGANIS: My advice to that kid is be better than me.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

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MALVEAUX: Louganis says that he believes mental attitude and physical activity are key to living with HIV. And he says that activity allows the body to process and metabolize medications a little bit easier.

Well, the United Nations imposes a no-fly zone on Libya. Libya calls a cease-fire, but rebels on the ground tell us that they are still being bombed. So we have a question for you in our "Talk Back" segment: Does the no-fly zone come too late for Libya?

Write us on Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Carol Costello, she's going to be here with some of your answers.

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MALVEAUX: Here is your chance to "Talk Back" on Libya. The U.N. has approved a no-fly zone over the country, but a Libyan rebel spokesman tells us that Gadhafi's forces are still bombing a rebel- held city.

So Carol Costello, she joins us with responses on the "Talk Back" question of the day.

COSTELLO: A lot of people are asking this very question of, you know, public officials, the State Department, the Pentagon, et cetera, et cetera. But we're asking the viewers.

The "Talk Back" question today: Does the no-fly zone come too late for Libya?

This from Sarah, she says, "It's a shame that this many have had to die before we decide to do something. I'm sick of people saying we have our own problems. The problems of their war-torn world are insurmountable compared to ours."

This from Angela, "I think that because the world, including the Arab neighbors, support this it can work."

This from Linda, "P.S.: America always picks up the tab and we will be paying for this. I just hope not with Americans lives."

And this from Stefano, "Carol, as a European transplanted in the United States for many years, I still don't understand why United States always takes so long to intervene in case of crisis (see Kosovo). It is too late, but not too late."

Please continue the conversation, Facebook.com/CarolCNN, and I'll be back in about 15 minutes or so.

MALVEAUX: Thanks.

And we talked to Jamie Rubin, and he said it's a matter of taking a look at just what happens the next couple hours.

COSTELLO: But what's the end game? I know Secretary of State Clinton was asked that a couple hours ago. And is it we have to see Libya leader Moammar Gadhafi leave the country? Does the violence have to stop? I mean, what is the end game?

MALVEAUX: And you wonder what the opposition is going to say on the ground? What do they want? They want him out, but that might not happen either.

COSTELLO: Right, and there's no discernible government to put in place. So a lot of problems there.

MALVEAUX: All right, Carol, thanks. We're looking forward to hearing from our viewers.

Even in the middle of a disaster zone, we're finding some amazing stories of survival.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The doctor say this is helps ease some of the suffering. The baby has given him hope. He says no matter what happens, people must keep walking ahead.

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MALVEAUX: As the people of Japan try to make sense of the disaster, they are finding some hope in stories of survival.

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UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the midst of all the sorrow and destruction, a baby boy is born to a doctor and his young wife in Minamisanriku. The water from the tsunami rose to the fourth floor of the hospital; two-thirds of the staff and patients are now missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The doctor say this is helps ease some of the suffering. The baby has given him hope. He says no matter what happens, people must keep walking ahead and look forward.

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: But there is still much hardship and pain. Kinichi Suzuki (ph) is a volunteer firefighter, he returns to his house in Kamaichi for the first time.

KINICHI SUZUKI, SURVIVOR (through translator): My wife, my four grandchildren, I lost them all.

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Others look for their loved ones, including this couple. They search for their son who worked at the post office.

For the survivors in the hardest hit areas, new worries. Food is running out, grocery stores can't restock their shelves.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): This man says he has nothing to sell anymore and he apologizes to customers who have come to the store.

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: In Ofunato, the U.S. Marines land a helicopter bringing food and other supplies.

UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Food. Food.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For us?

UNIDENTIFIED MARINE: Everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This is an unexpected flight coming, so I'm really surprised about it. I do appreciate their coming. I almost cried.

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Here at this evacuation center in Minamisanriku, they still wait for help. Eighty percent of the evacuees here over the age of 65, only one doctor to care for them. His patients suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): My blood pressure has shot up and I forgot my medicine.

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: He is rationing the little bit of medicine they have, but it's running out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We can't last another three days. They are distributing drugs, but you know, so far I haven't gotten any yet.

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