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No Clemency for Death Row Inmate; Former Afghanistan President Assassinated; 'App' Economy Creating Jobs; SeaWorld Hearing; The Help Desk; Talk Back Question; Solar Power Saves Millions

Aired September 20, 2011 - 12:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour. I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Want to get you up to speed.

A former Afghan president who was leading the country's Peace Council was assassinated today. A bomb exploded at the home of Burhanuddin Rabbani. I believe we have that right. As the Peace Council leader, Rabbani's job was to negotiate with the Taliban and bring them into the political process.

Well, despite doubts raised by witnesses and the lack of DNA evidence, the state of Georgia is moving ahead with plans to execute Troy Davis tomorrow. A jury convicted him of killing a Savannah police officer back in 1989.

Well, today, the five members of Georgia's Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency. Davis has no legal appeals left. Celebrities, politicians, including former president Jimmy Carter, Pope Benedict, urged clemency. Amnesty International says allowing a man to be sent to death under an enormous cloud of doubt is an outrageous affront to justice.

The U.S. is working furiously behind the scenes to head off a vote at the United Nations on Palestinian statehood. The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, says that he's going to present the request to the Security Council on Friday. Well, Israel and the U.S. want Palestinian statehood through negotiations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: The only way to a two-state solution, which is what we support and want to see happen, is through negotiations. And no matter what does or doesn't happen this week, it will not produce the kind of outcome that everyone is hoping for. So we're going to stay very much engaged and focused.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The Obama administration has told the Palestinians it will veto any statehood measure in the Security Council.

Well, Libyan fighters say that they are planning a massive attack to take the city of Bani Walid. It is one of the few cities still head by forces fighting for Moammar Gadhafi. (CHANTING)

MALVEAUX: Celebrations, not fighting, as rebels rolled into the town of Sabha today. A CNN crew with the rebels say that they met little resistance. In New York today, President Obama said the U.N. was a force for change.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When the old regime unleashed a campaign of terror, threatening to roll back the democratic tide sweeping the region, we acted as United Nations and we acted swiftly. Broadening sanctions, imposing an arms embargo, the United States led the effort to pass a historic resolution at the Security Council authorizing all necessary measures to protect the Libyan people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: That U.N. action led NATO to launch military strikes on Gadhafi's forces.

Well, it is now OK to ask or tell. As of today, gays and lesbians can serve openly in the U.S. military. The rollback of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" became official at midnight. Some 14,000 servicemen and women have been kicked out of the military since 1993 because they are gay. Well, some would like to come back in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL ALMY, APPLYING TO RE-ENLIST IN AIR FORCE: Obviously, I've had a five-year gap at this point in my career, so nothing is going to fully repair the damage that has been done to my career. But I'm hoping that I can just at least get back in there where I left off, resume my career.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEREMY JOHNSON, APPLYING TO RE-ENLIST IN NAVY: I'll be honest, I've talked to people who wanted to go back in, and they started to make the phone calls to recruiters and found out that their set of circumstances just wouldn't allow it. And there's letdown. I mean, you can hear it in their voice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The Pentagon says most every person in the military has been through an intensive training program for the policy that replaces "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Well, this got overlooked in President Obama's new proposal to cut $3 trillion in the debt, but it is in there. It is a lifeline for the U.S. Postal Service to avoid collapse. Now, it gives the service quick access to cash, postpones a huge payment to a retirement fund. The president would also let the Postal Service bypass regulators and raise postage prices, and end Saturday mail delivery.

We want to note the death of Dolores Hope at the age of 102. Her marriage to entertainer Bob Hope endured for seven decades, unheard of in Hollywood today. We congratulate them.

Dolores Hope was a singer and an actress in her own right. She gave up her career to raise the couple's four children. Bob Hope died in 2003 at age 100.

A closer look now at the case of a Georgia death row inmate that has attracted worldwide attention. Troy Davis is set to die by lethal injection tomorrow night.

Now, he was convicted of killing police officer Mark MacPhail 22 years ago. The Board of Pardons and Paroles today denied clemency for Davis, and his supporters say there is too much doubt, too little evidence. But the mother of Officer MacPhail says Davis supporters, they just don't know the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNE MACPHAIL, MURDERED OFFICER'S MOTHER: About 99 percent have absolutely no idea who Troy Davis is or who Mark MacPhail was. They are just following their belief not to have the death penalty. They don't even know what it's all about.

They're just there because they have been following what they believe in. So I do not take that personally. Everybody can believe what they want to. But they do not know the truth and everything that was involved at that day when Mark was killed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: One of Davis' supporters is the Reverend Raphael Warnock. He is pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church here in Atlanta, and he joins us.

Reverend Warnock, thank you very much for being here.

I want you to take a moment, if you would, just to respond to the comment that we just listened to, Officer MacPhail's mother, that she believes that you have a right to want to save Davis, but that you just don't have it right, you don't have the facts right.

REV. RAPHAEL WARNOCK, PASTOR, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH: Thank you so much, Suzanne.

First of all, let me say that we are very saddened and shocked by the decision made by the Board of Pardons and Paroles. I'm a pastor, and so I can certainly empathize with the pain that the MacPhail family must be feeling. Mrs. MacPhail is in a place that no one would want to be, in which she had to bury her child. But it's not just those of us who are advocating who are saying that the state of Georgia got this wrong.

Seven of the nine witnesses in the trial are saying that this is the wrong decision. These men and women, at great peril to themselves, signed affidavits and went to court and said that, I told you a story 22 years ago. Many of them said that they were coerced by the police, that that was not the true story.

And they went to tell the truth, and they had nothing to gain. And I think people ought to ask themselves, why would they come and change this story not one, not five, but seven of nine witnesses? That's why this case has been riddled with so much doubt and has been paused on so many occasions. Our justice system just didn't find the wherewithal to do the right thing.

MALVEAUX: And Reverend, I understand you have a rather close relationship with the family, that you met with the family today, and that you even spoke -- you met with Troy Davis yesterday. Can you give us a sense of what the family is going through right now and what this young man, Troy Davis, is going through?

WARNOCK: Sure. I met with Troy Davis on death row yesterday. We prayed together. We recited Psalm 23 together.

His faith is strong. He maintains his innocence, and he is not bitter.

He is continuing to believe that somehow, some good might come out of this. And he said that regardless of the outcome, he's victorious.

This is an incredible family. They've continued to fight the good fight over these last 22 years, while at the same time understanding and trying to express their concern for the MacPhail family as well.

MALVEAUX: And Reverend, does Troy Davis realize that he is set to die, that there are no other options now?

WARNOCK: Well, we're not conceding the point that there are no other options. In fact, we call on the Board of Pardons and Paroles to reverse their decision.

They have the authority. They have the power to do so. A matter of fact, we call on everyone who has a role to play in this execution to stand on behalf of what's right.

The district attorney down in Chatham County, Mr. Larry Chisolm, could ask the judge of the Superior Court to vacate the execution warrant. We would call on him to do so, particularly since he shared with me and others that were he trying this case today, it would not be a death case, and yet here we are.

MALVEAUX: OK.

WARNOCK: I'm not sure how the Board of Pardons and Paroles has come to this decision, but we would ask them to reverse it. MALVEAUX: OK. Well, Reverend, thank you for your time. We'll be following this case. Certainly, there's a matter of time involved in here, some 30-something hours, to determine how all of this unfolds.

And we appreciate your time today. Thank you very much, Reverend.

WARNOCK: We keep fighting the good fight. Thank you.

MALVEAUX: Sure.

I want to go to Islamabad, Pakistan. That is where our Nick Paton Walsh is. We've been following a developing -- a breaking story here about a very important individual inside of Afghanistan who has been assassinated today, who was key to the negotiations that are taking place between the U.S., the international force, and the Taliban there.

Nick, bring us up to speed. Tell us who this individual was and what happened.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Burhanuddin Rabbani was head of the Peace Council. They were in charge of trying to find Taliban who were willing to negotiate some kind of settlement with NATO. Something NATO badly wants, but many question, frankly -- because NATO clearly telegraph when they are leaving -- how many in the Taliban really want a negotiated peace.

What happened today was there were two loud blasts in the most secure heart of Kabul at the house of this man, Mr. Rabbani. It appears that two Taliban who were coming to meet him, according to Kabul police, for some kind of peace meeting or negotiation had in fact -- one of them hidden a device inside his turban. That device was detonated, killing Mr. Rabbani, a huge blow for any beginning of a peace process in Afghanistan, and also injuring another key aide to President Karzai, Mr. Stanikzai (ph).

Now, this is an absolutely vital psychological blow to many Afghans still recovering from days ago, an attack in the center of Kabul on ISAF headquarters and the U.S. Embassy, and now seeing key figures in the Karzai administration being assassinated in their own homes -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And Nick, I understand -- I was at that attack when they attacked the U.S. Embassy just last week -- and the individuals, the Taliban involved in that. There were five who were wearing burqas disguised as women to avoid the security at the checkpoint, and they took the burqas off and then brandished weapons.

You said something similar, that this individual, they believe, the suspect, had a turban on and weapon that was concealed by that. Is that right?

WALSH: Absolutely. And obviously, the burqa is a full-length female gown disguising most of the face and body. The turban, obviously a head dress.

And we understand from a police official that within that turban, there was a bomb which apparently detonated, causing the death of Mr. Rabbani. A turban is something that is respected in Afghan culture and not normally searched by security guards. And there are suggestions that perhaps Mr. Rabbani's security may not have as thoroughly searched Taliban coming to meet for a peace talk as they may have searched other people -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: It certainly seems to be an effective tactic that they're using now.

Nick, thank you very much. We're going to get back to you as you have more details on that story, but it only underscores that the tremendous challenges that they are facing there in Afghanistan and the Taliban, and their desire to conduct these attacks that have huge psychological impact on the community and how they feel about their safety and peace in that region.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Here's a chance to "Choose the News." Text "22360" for the story that you would like to see.

Text "1" for coastal smuggling. Homeland security is dealing with a new threat on the California coast. We're in the air, on the ground, with federal agents to see what new challenges they are facing.

Text "2" for the Casey Anthony impact, the reason some experts think that Casey Anthony's not guilty verdict will have a direct impact on jurors in the manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor.

And text "3" for solar schools, schools getting a lesson in sunlight, saving more than a billion dollars. We're going to take a look at how that works.

You can vote by texting "22360." Text "1" for "Coastal Smuggling"; "2" for "The Casey Anthony Impact"; or "3" for "Solar Schools."

The winning story is going to air later this hour.

Well, President Obama revealed his plan to save $3 trillion over the next 10 years when he released his debt reduction plan. That happened yesterday. Well, about half that money is going to come from higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Now, Republican leaders quickly called it class warfare.

So here's your chance to "Talk Back." Carol is with us, Carol Costello, with today's question.

And, you know, some people are thinking, really? What does that mean, class warfare? The president said it's not class warfare, he says it's math.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, he says it's math. But does it have a secret political meaning? We'll get into that.

So, the question this morning for you: Is a higher tax on millionaires class warfare? Of course that depends. Republicans think President Obama is a modern-day Robin Hood wielding his bully pulpit to pit the rich against the poor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: He comes out today and starts demonizing the very people who are responsible for innovation, the very people who are responsible for economic growth, who are responsible for job creation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Democrats say, oh, come on, if there's a war, the middle class has already lost. If you need any proof, the wage gap is growing ever wider, tax rates are the lowest they've been since the 1970s, and the rich aren't exactly creating jobs, at least on American soil.

As for President Obama, he wants to tax millionaires more. He says that's not class warfare, it's math.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I reject the idea that asking a hedge fund manager to pay the same tax rate as a plumber or a teacher is class warfare. I think it's just the right thing to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: What is class warfare anyway? Well, it's a term made famous made by that influential socialist Karl Marx. In short, Marx describes class warfare as when the lowly worker rises against the wealthy class who exploited him, making those rich people pay.

So, the "Talk Back" question today: Is a higher tax on millionaires class warfare?

Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your responses later this hour.

MALVEAUX: Carol, I thought it was interesting the president noted a plumber. Remember "Joe the Plumber" during the campaign, when he --

COSTELLO: Spread the wealth.

MALVEAUX: -- so many problems trying to prove that he could relate to the working class? And now this idea that he's picking on the upper class, really interesting, huh? He's come quite a ways. COSTELLO: Actually, that's -- in modern times, you know, 2008, during that election, that's where that kind of thing was born, because you're right, "Joe the Plumber" accosted the president near Toledo, Ohio, and said, hey, wait a minute, don't you want to spread the wealth? And President Obama was of course letting those -- wanted to let those Bush tax cuts expire. And that's what they were arguing about.

And President Obama said, well, maybe it's better if a lot of people had money in their pockets. And then "Joe the Plumber" said spread the wealth, and you know where it went from there.

MALVEAUX: Yes. OK. Well, we'll see how folks feel about this one. Thanks again.

COSTELLO: Sure.

MALVEAUX: Boosting the economy, creating jobs, there's actually an app for it. There are actually a lot of them.

Alison Kosik, she's at the New York Stock Exchange.

Alison, tell us about them, huh?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there are a lot of apps.

You know, when you stop to think about it, when you download those apps, yes, think about it, there are actually people who have to come up with those ideas. So, there was a study put out by the University of Maryland finding that these apps are actually juicing the economy.

It shows that 182,000 jobs have actually been added because of apps. I'll tell you what, not bad in an economic that's barely moving at this point.

And guess who the study credits? It credits Facebook, because Facebook allows anybody to make an app, so these new companies popped up just to do that.

There are also these support companies that came up as well, these businesses that supply app developers. Did you know that even clicking "like" can help boost another business?

So you see this kind of ripple effect happening, that this app- making is really a growing field, especially since these apps wind up directing business towards other retailers and online services. A little bright spot in the tough jobs area -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Thanks pretty cool, Alison.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

MALVEAUX: Well, imagine having to listen to Moammar Gadhafi give his theories on everything from the Kennedy assassination to the origins of swine flu for an hour and a half. Well, stranger things have happened at the United Nations General Assembly. We're going to take a look back at some highlights.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: So President Obama is focused on the world's hot spots today. He's at the U.N. General Assembly, and the president met earlier with the leader of Libya's new government. He followed up with a speech praising the international community's success in helping the people of Libya overthrow Moammar Gadhafi.

Afghanistan is also on the president's agenda. He met today with Afghan -- he's going to be meeting -- or met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This comes just as we're getting news that a former Afghan president who had been leading peace efforts with the Taliban was killed today in an attack in his Kabul home.

Well, President Obama and Karzai will likely discuss the very sensitive issue of U.S. money that is actually going to Afghan militants. It's one of the topics that I pressed the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, about during my interview with him last week in Kabul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: What can you say to Americans who know that there are billions of dollars that are meant to go to aid to Afghans that are going to the Taliban?

PRES. HAMID KARZAI, AFGHANISTAN: Terrible. Terrible. And we have voiced ourselves many times of this issue.

MALVEAUX: Can you do anything about it?

KARZAI: There's nothing I can do about it. It's not in my hands. It's not in the Afghans' hands. It's the United States and our allies who have to stop this.

MALVEAUX: Nothing that your government can do to help stop it?

KARZAI: No. Well, we have been demanding to stop it.

For example, in security firms, we began to work with the United States and Britain and other countries almost six years ago, intensely, and with a lot of difference of opinion on that. They didn't agree with us. They still don't agree with us.

But we are adamant in asking for an end to the presence of privacy security firms in Afghanistan. Not only that they cause corruption, these practices by our allies in Afghanistan, they prevent the growth of the Afghan state and its institutions.

MALVEAUX: Is there anything President Obama can do that he's not doing?

KARZAI: President Obama can decisively (ph), with his own colleagues and government officials, on facts that they have now to bring an end to the presence of security companies to these contracts that are going to a few individuals, and repeatedly, and to bring about greater transparency.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: The U.N. General Assembly is meeting all this week, and if the past is any guide, the event could be filled with totally unpredictable moments.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): It's a meeting of minds and personalities. Since its founding in 1945, the United Nations has always been center stage for global grandstanding.

Who could forget former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's 2009 appearance? Just the question of where to put the guy was the center of controversy.

Gadhafi wanted to set up his tent and stay there instead of at a hotel. Ultimately, Donald Trump let him set up camp on his property in New Jersey.

When it was his turn to talk, he held his audience hostage to a rambling hour and 36 minute speech, touching on everything from swine flu to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King.

MOAMMAR GADHAFI, LIBYAN LEADER (through translator): Wrong. This should not be called the Security Council. It should be called the "Terror Council."

MALVEAUX: And Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked a walkout at the U.N. by questioning the Holocaust and implying that 9/11 was an inside job.

PRES. MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, IRAN (through translator): It is proposed that the United Nations set up an independent fact-finding group for the event of September 11th.

MALVEAUX: And Venezuela's Hugo Chavez once used the stage to take aim at the leader of the free world, calling President George W. Bush "The Devil."

PRES. HUGO CHAVEZ, VENEZUELA (through translator): Today the devil came here, right here. Right here. And it smells of sulfur still today.

MALVEAUX: One thing is for certain, whenever delegates from 193 different nations come together, there's sure to be political theater and some drama.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Yes, we'll be looking for that drama. The big topics at this week's sixty-fifth meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, the rebuilding of Libya and Palestinian quest for statehood.

Well, gays and lesbians can now serve openly in the U.S. military. We'll trace the steps from the beginnings of the ban to the end of "don't ask, don't tell."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Starting today, the policy that banned gays from serving openly in the military is now history. The official repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" is a turning point for the Pentagon and a victory for advocates of gay rights. The group that pushed for the repeal says more than 14,000 people were kicked out of the military under "don't ask, don't tell." Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence traces the steps from the beginning of the ban to the end of the policy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the tale of soldiers and sailors, politics and presidents. It begins in 1950 when President Harry Truman signs into law the uniform code of military justice, making sodomy itself a crime.

Years later under President Ronald Reagan, the Pentagon issues a directives stating that "Homosexuality is incompatible with military service." End of story until candidate Bill Clinton promises to lift the ban. His election sparks congressional hearing, and in 1993 a compromise emerges between Senate Republicans and the new president.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Joint Chiefs of Staffs have agreed to remove the question regarding one's sexual orientation from future versions of the enlistment application, and it will not be asked in the interim.

LAWRENCE: In other words, the military won't ask if you are gay, but you can't tell anyone.

Ten years later, the nation is at war and nearly 10,000 troops have been killed out for violating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The government accountability finds the Pentagon spent nearly $100 million to replace them, although the Supreme Court effectively upholds the ban in 2006, all the Democratic candidates for president oppose it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you think it's time to get rid of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the U.S. military, raise your hands.

All of you agree on this.

LAWRENCE: After President Barack Obama is sworn in, more than 1,000 high-ranking officers sign a letter urging him to keep the policy in place. Others argue being gay didn't hurt military readiness. JUSTIN ELZIE, RETIRED U.S. MARINE: I went on a ship in the tight spaces and I went out in the field as a platoon sergeant in the fox holes with my marines. And at the end of the day, at some points, it would almost became a laughable issue between all of us.

LAWRENCE: And the chairman of the joint chiefs takes a side.

ADM. MIKE MULLEN, JOINT CHIEFS, CHAIRMAN: It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do.

LAWRENCE: The Pentagon begins a comprehensive review of the policy, including a major survey to hear what troops and their families think. But the review is preempted by a federal judge who rules "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" unconstitutional. That triggers a chaotic legal fight and raises the possibility that the courts might overtake Congress. So, even with some service chiefs testifying that it's still too soon --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would not recommend going forward at this time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My recommendation would be this is a bad time.

LAWRENCE: A lame duck Congress in its last days under full Democratic control passes the repeal. And President Obama signs it into law.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Chris Lawrence is joining us live. Chris, very good piece there. Where does the military go from here now in terms of providing service members with benefits who have same sex-partners?

LAWRENCE: Great question, Suzanne. You know, gays and lesbians will be able to designate anyone to be their beneficiary under life insurance or their caregiver in a Wounded Warrior program. But remember, the federal government does not recognize gay marriage, which means the military can't.

But the military incentivizes marriages. Married troops get paid more. They have access to better, larger more private housing. Gay troops will not be able to take advantage of that. Also, their partners probably will have no access to their pensions or probably even health care plans.

And it raises some really sticky situations going forward such as what happens if a gay couple is married in a state that recognizes their marriage but the military moves them to another state where they don't and they lose certain benefits? Do they have the right to sue or bring a suit to recover those? There are all kinds of huge questions out there that the military will have to grapple with for the months and even years to come.

MALVEAUX: Seems like there's a lot to sort out there. Chris, thank you very much. Appreciate your report.

A new study that says there is a strong link between diabetes and Alzheimer's. Dr. Sanjay Gupta will explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: There's a new study that says people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is live at the United Nations where just for the second in the U.N's history, there's actually a health issue on the general assembly's agenda.

And Sanjay, I'll get to that in a minute. But tell us about the link we're learning between diabetes and dementia.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's been some concern for some time that diabetes because of the glucose levels in the blood being too high for too long could be toxic to blood vessels, potentially toxic to the central nervous system. That's been speculated for some time and could lead to the type of dementia that's associated with multiple small strokes.

What they are talking about in this study, Suzanne, is this idea that this was people over the age of 60, who had diabetes -- if they had diabetes were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's type disease within 15 years as compared to nondiabetics. They are almost likely to develop every other type of dementia as well, so there appears to be a pretty strong relationship here.

Suzanne, the concern is, as you probably heard, by the year 2020, it is expected that half of American adults will either have diabetes or prediabetes. And when you look at links like this, it makes it that much more significant.

MALVEAUX: Absolutely. Sanjay, I understand you're there at the United Nations because there's an effort that's being made to really call attention to some very important diseases impacting people across country - across the world, rather. Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

GUPTA: Well, yes, we don't typically think about chronic diseases or noncommunicable diseases in the developing world. But by virtue of this meeting and lots of discussions taking place here behind me, that's going to change, I think. Ban Ki-moon came out and said - the secretary-general came out said three out of five deaths that are occurring anywhere on the planet today are due to noncommunicable diseases, noninfectious diseases.

Last time they talked about global health was ten years ago, Suzanne. To your point, and at that time, they were talking primarily about HIV/AIDS. There's been a lot of success there. That issue is not completely addressed, but they are saying what have we learned from that particular issue, and how do we apply it to some of these more chronic diseases? That's the point here.

MALVEAUX: Really important point. Thank you very much, Sanjay. Appreciate it.

Well, this scene at Sea World traumatizing guests potentially for years. Watching in horror as a killer whale pulls its trainer into the water and drowns her. A hearing continues today to determine if Sea World dropped the ball.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: A hearing continues in Florida today on whether or not SeaWorld did enough to protect one of its trainers. Guests and trainers watched in horror as Dawn Brancheau drowned last year when she was pulled under water by a 22 foot, 12,000 pound killer whale that had killed before. Our Randi Kaye has been following the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You're looking at video of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau. A tourist taped this. It was just moments before the 12,000 pound killer whale, called Tilikum, took the veteran trainer into his mouth and dove under water. Brancheau sways from side to side. He follows. She splashes him with buckets of water and feeds him fish. A reward for playing along. Then suddenly, his behavior seemed to change. The wife of the tourist who took this video described what happened on NBC.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He grabbed her by the head and, in a very hard thrust, she went down. And I screamed. And she screamed. And then I started yelling to the other trainer, because he wasn't looking. I said, he just took her down. He took her down.

KAYE: Look closely at this video. You can see Brancheau's long pony tail swinging back and forth. But it may not have looked attractive to the six-ton killer whale until she got closer. The man who trained her says she made a fatal mistake.

THAD LACINAK, FORMER HEAD TRAINER, SEAWORLD: I think she made a mistake by putting her -- and allowing herself to be that close to his mouth and laying down. That's a pretty vulnerable position to be in with an animal like him. So I think even if Dawn was sitting here with me, right now, she would tell you that that was a mistake that she made.

KAYE (on camera): Remember, Tilikum had killed before. In 1991, he and two other whales dragged a trainer, who had fallen into their pool, under water at a park in British Columbia. Thad Lacinak says that's why SeaWorld was more cautious with him. Trainers were not allowed to swim with Tilikum.

LACINAK: He's not used to people being in the water. He was laying there looking at her. She was rubbing him down. And all of a sudden the pony tail was there.

KAYE (voice-over): On this video, you can see what he's talking about. Brancheau is on a shelf that slides out into the pool, laying in about four inches of water, right next to the 22-foot long orca.

LACINAK: Te probably drifted there. He probably grabbed it and then pulled her in, and then went, whoa, I've got her in the water.

KAYE (on camera): Lacinak, who has worked with whiles for more than three decades, says he's convinced, at least in the beginning, that Tilikum had no idea he was doing anything wrong or hurting his trainer. He says Brancheau understandably panicked and that trauma only got the killer whale even more excited.

KAYE (voice-over): The medical examiner says Dawn Brancheau likely died from multiple traumatic injuries and drowning.

LACINAK: I constantly remind trainers, never get comfortable, totally comfortable, with the animals.

KAYE: He says there's a reason these whales are called killer whales and what they may think is a game can be fatal.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited and fined SeaWorld Orlando $75,000 following that drowning. SeaWorld is appealing. The judge is hearing from more witnesses today.

Well, you've been sounding off on today's "Talk Back" question. And we asked, is a higher tax on millionaires class warfare? Well, Nick says, "it's not class warfare. It's only common sense." Carol Costello is back with more of your responses.

But first, here's some free money advice from the CNN "Help Desk."

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Well, time now for "The Help Desk," where we get answers to your financial questions. Joining me this hour, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, the founder of the financial advice blog askthemoneycoach.com, and Stacy Francis. She's a certified financial planner and president of Francis Financial.

Ladies, thank you for being here.

Lynnette, first question comes from Danny. Danny may go into foreclosure, but here's his issue. He's got an IRA with the same bank that holds the note to his home. So he's wondering, if he does go into foreclosure, if the bank is going to be able to get into his IRA if he falls short of what he owes on the house.

LYNNETTE KHALFANI-COX, FOUNDER, ASKTHEMONEYCOACH.COM: Sorry to hear about the perspective foreclosure for Danny. That's the bad news. The good news is that, no, the bank likely will not be able to touch that IRA because, under federal law, up to a million dollars worth of your IRA assets are protected from creditors. Income derived from your IRA is not protected. So if you're drawing income, some creditors may be able to make claims on that.

HARLOW: Sure.

KHALFANI-COX: But generally speaking, I wouldn't expect that to happen in this case. And chances are, since he's going into foreclosure, he probably doesn't have more than a million dollars sitting in that account.

HARLOW: Right. Right. Well, thank you.

And Stacy, this question is interesting. Someone who has $150,000 to invest. Not bad. They're asking what the lowest risk, low cost way is to invest and get 5 to 6 percent. I wish Treasuries were yielding that right now, but that's just not the case.

STACY FRANCIS, PRESIDENT, FRANCIS FINANCIAL: Well, I'll tell you, if I could find a way -- a low risk, risk free way to get 5 to 6 percent, I could really retire. Poppy, you could come with me.

HARLOW: Yes.

FRANCIS: We'll go move to the Bahamas right now. Unfortunately, there's no risk free or extremely low risk asset that you're going to be able to get 5 to 6 percent. Instead what we would say is, create a diversified portfolio mostly made up of high quality bonds. If you are in a high tax bracket, maybe some municipals. But, unfortunately, there's no magic bullet here.

HARLOW: Not right now. Not right now. Those were old times.

FRANCIS: Yes.

HARLOW: Thank you, guys, so much.

If you've got a question you want answered, just send us an e- mail any time to cnnhelpdesk@cnn.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: We're getting a lot of responses to today's "Talk Back" question. We asked, is a higher tax on millionaires class warfare? Well, Carol Costello, she joins us.

Carol, this was a winner. You have a ton of people responding to this one, yes?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think we have around 500 responses.

MALVEAUX: Wow.

COSTELLO: So, yes, people are very passionate about this question. Is a higher tax on millionaires class warfare?

This from Barbara. "Of course not. Was it class warfare when they got their congressman to enact all those loopholes in the first place?"

This from Cliff. "Class warfare? Perhaps. Is shipping jobs overseas class warfare? Is taxing the rich at the lowest rate in over 40 years class warfare? Is their rate in increase in income compared to the poor tax warfare? Call it what you want the rich are getting richer and the middle class are going the way of the dinosaur." This from Melody. "I'm 20 years old and even I know that this is a very socialistic idea. It's wrong. The millionaires are millionaires because they worked hard and earned their money. So now we punish them for being richer than us by taking their money?"

This from Michael. Constantly calling for affluent people to pay their fair share is class warfare. It demonizes people who have made it in this country and it's cynical pandering to lower income people for votes."

And this from Terry. "It's only class warfare if the class is being singled out. It's time they pay their fair share like the rest of us have been doing all this time and stop complaining. It's supposed to be 'we the people'."

Please, keep the conversation going, facebook.com/carolcnn. And thanks, as always, for your comments.

Suzanne will be back right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: You voted. We listened. Here is your "Choose The News" winner. Some California school districts having money problems, well, they're turning to the sun for a solution. Our CNN's Casey Wian explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Solar panels going up on a carport at Byrd Middle School. The Los Angeles Unified School District plans to install solar power at 59 facilities by the end of next year to reduce its more than $100 million annual energy bill.

MONICA GARCIA, LAUSD BOARD PRESIDENT: We'll be able to save $114 million over the next 20 years. What that means to me is, that's dollars going to facilities and more dollars going to kids.

WIAN: Garcia says her district has lost $2 billion in state fund cutbacks over the past two years and laid off 10,000 employees. But it does have voter approved bond money available for capital improvement projects. It's using some of that to invest in solar power, banking on energy cost reductions to free up general fund money for things like teacher salaries.

GARCIA: Kids are coming to board members to tell us, you know how much energy we waste? Kids are coming to board members to say, why don't we have solar panels on all the campuses?

WIAN (on camera): Next month these solar panels will be providing electricity at this Los Angeles middle school. Schools are benefitting from a sharp drop in the price of solar panels thanks in part to increased competition from Chinese manufacturers. That's good for school budgets, but a big challenge for the U.S. solar industry.

WIAN (voice-over): Three U.S. solar manufacturers filed for bankruptcy last month. Some U.S. companies are thriving. SunPower is installing more than 90 solar power systems at California schools this year. State and federal incentives help schools finance the projects.

BILL KELLY, SUNPOWER: Schools are capitalizing on that. And one of the ways that they're capitalizing on that is borrowing money at very low interest rates and investing in solar with that borrowed money. And then, in turn, they're getting savings from the solar projects, which pay back that investment and then some.

WIAN: Ten thousand solar panels are going in at five schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. It expects to save $1 million to $2 million the first year, a small fraction of the district's budget, but a savings that will grow over the life of the project.

TERRY KOEHNE, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, SAN RAMON VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: It saved our community money, it saved our school district money in a time in which we desperately need it, and it also helps us to reduce the carbon footprint. So, in our mind, this is a no brainer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIAN: Casey Wian, CNN, Los Angeles.

MALVEAUX: Well, if your choice didn't win or you just want to check out the runners up, I'll have links to them on my page at Facebook.com/SuzanneCNN. CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Randi Kaye. Hey, Randi.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Suzanne, have a great day. Thank you very much.