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President Donald Trump Slams Obama's Campaigning For Biden; Lebanon's New Leader Looks Familiar; CNN Speaks To Former Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam; India Sees Sharp Rise In Child Forced Labor; Melinda Gates Praises India's Investment In Women; Strong Divide Between Donald Trump And Joe Biden On Energy Policy. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 22, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, this hour what's old is new again. Lebanon a country in some ways on its knees, desperate for change, the
prime minister who resigned during last year's corruption protests once again in the top job.
Meanwhile, in America a former leader reminding us of less chaotic days President Barack Obama in the 2020 race spotlights. Well, it was a speech
that everyone was waiting for it seemed, Former President Barack Obama hitting the campaign trail to deliver an often incredulous and blistering
account of his successor's first four years in office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Look, I get that this president wants full credit for the economy he inherited and zero blame for
the pandemic that he ignored. But do you know what the job doesn't work that way. Tweeting at the television doesn't fix things. Making stuff up
doesn't make people's lives better. You've got to have a plan. You've got to put in the work.
I never thought Donald Trump would embrace my vision or continue my policies, but I did hope for the sake of the country that he might show
some interest in taking the job seriously. But it hasn't happened. He hasn't shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself
and his friends or treating the presidency like a reality show that he can use to get attention.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, this of course just 12 days out from an election that could send shock waves around the world. It's also ahead of tonight's final
Presidential Debate in Nashville, Tennessee, where COVID-19 will likely take center stage, much to Donald Trump's dismay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All you hear is COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID. COVID, COVID, COVID. That's all they put on pause they
want to scare the hell out of everyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: With all due respect, Mr. President, it should scare the hell out of everyone. More than 200,000 Americans have lost their lives to this
virus. Cases in all but one U.S. state are heading in the wrong direction. A reality check Obama was quick to make.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Just yesterday when asked if he would do anything differently Trump said, not much, really? Not much? Nothing you can think of that could have
helped some people keep their loved ones alive?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Obama went on to encourage young voters to get out and cast their ballots. He touted Joe Biden's message of hope and painted a picture
of a calm Biden-Harris future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: And with Joe and Kamala at the helm you're not going to have to think about the crazy things they said every day. And that's worth a lot.
You're not going to have to argue about them every day. It just won't be so exhausting. You might be able to have a Thanksgiving dinner without having
an argument.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the former president's first stump speech was delivered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the state is one of the biggest prizes on the
battleground map, holding 20 Electoral College votes. According to the latest CNN Poll Joe Biden is leading by 10 percentage points there. Will
having Obama on the trail improve that? Here is Mr. Trump's take on the subject.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: President Obama is campaigning for sleepy Joe Biden and I said, huh, that's good news or bad news? Tell me, are you saying it's good or it's
bad. Well, I guess it's bad. No, it's good. There was nobody that campaigned harder for crooked Hillary Clinton than Obama, right? He was all
over the place. But the only one unhappy than crooked Hillary that night was Barack Hussein Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: Well, regardless the #bringbackobama is now trending. Before you ask, no, he can't run for president again. Well, my next guess says, and I
quote, superman is back in the building. Van Jones is a CNN Political Commentator; he served as Special Adviser to President Obama. It's good to
have you with us, sir.
The Obama factor on full display last night, a scathing speech but you have to ask whether he is a little too late to this race. What impact do you
believe his appearances will have?
VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Very, very powerful. Listen, you have to understand - you have to hold Obama back until now otherwise it looks
like he's overshadowing both Harris and Biden, you know, Barack Obama is a megastar. He is a star among stars.
If he never gave another political speech his name alone is going to be known for 100 years. So you have to hold him back. Let Biden and let Harris
establish themselves and then you bring in the bombers. We have real problems at the base of this party that we don't talk about enough.
There is a section of people on the one hand that are just so disaffected. They just feel that nothing is ever going to work for them. Obama was
speaking to them in the speech. He wasn't just beating up on Trump; he was also sneaking in some medicine for the base.
Listen, you are not going to make it perfect by voting but you can make it better who said that over and over again. Also you have got a bunch of
people on the far left who feel again that they didn't get Bernie Sanders or they didn't get Elizabeth Warren. They're not sure they should
participate.
He was calling them back in by saying you can't abandon all these people who are suffering right now. So he gets the attention for the incredible
blistering attacks and he just took Trump to the wood shed, he just took him, just took him to the wood chopper.
But he's going into places where you have some people who are holding back frankly in the black community as well and he can talk to those people and
bring them back into the fold and he is doing that beautifully while also putting Trump on defensive.
ANDERSON: Yes, that's interesting. All right, well, I just want to play you a political ad from Utah from two Governors who are running against each
other. Just have a listen to this.
JONES: Yep.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And while I think you should vote for me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, but really you should vote for me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are some things we both agree on. We can debate issues without degrading each other's character. We can disagree without
hating each other.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And win or lose in Utah, we work together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: Beautiful.
ANDERSON: And there are those--
JONES: Beautiful.
ANDERSON: --who say that they wish they were seeing more of that. That Biden continuing to call for unity on the campaign trail, but America's
current divide is not just exclusive to D.C., is it? Are the American people truly ready to heal the wounds that have been caused, do you think?
JONES: It depends on the size of the victory. If Trump squeaks by and we have four more years of Trump, I think it's going to be very, very
difficult for liberals to accept that because they're going to be pointing to Russian interference, they're going to be pointing to voter suppression,
they are going to be pointing to all kind of things.
If Biden squeaks by I don't think you're going to see Trump just go quietly into the night, you are going to hear from him and his base saying you know
the mail-in voter fraud, et cetera. But if either side scores a true landslide, if you are looking at a, you know, 400 Electoral College, you
only need 270.
If Biden is sitting there after all the court, you know, dust clears and everything is said and he's got 400 Electoral College votes and the
Democrats have the Senate, that will be such a thorough repudiation of the worst in the Republican Party that I think you're going to see people then
looking for ways to come together.
But you've got to have to have a decisive win and it's very hard in such a divided country to have a decisive win. I think, if either side wins
decisively then I think you may get there.
ANDERSON: Let's do the math, shall we? Because this is a tight race in the majority of the battleground maps that we've been looking at. At this point
with 12 days to go what is your advice to the Biden Campaign? I'm not asking you to advise the Donald Trump Campaign because I know that's not
something you would be willing to do, but what do you expect him to do?
JONES: Yes, my view of the Biden Campaign is stay disciplined. This is a turnout race at this point. You have a lot of African American, Latino,
Latina forces that still need money. They need support to get the turnout to happen. Data doesn't vote, polls don't vote, human beings have to walk
out the door in the middle of the pandemic, leave their kids someplace and stand in long lines.
Who is bringing the pizza? Who is watching the kids? Focus on the details and the mechanics of the turnout game.
[11:10:00]
JONES: On the Trump side I think he's got to understand that he is scaring the zebras out of people who want to vote for him. I'm hearing from
conservatives that want to vote for him, but he is not talking about the stuff they care about. He is not talking about the economy. He is not even
talking about the taxes. He is talking about Fauci and picking fights with random people.
So, if I were Trump has the ability to get disciplined at the end, last time he got disciplined at the end, the Comey report came out and he was
able to squeak by. He's picking the wrong parts of the playbook from last time. He remembers the fire and Brimstone; he forgets he got silent near
the end last time. He needs to take his own playbook seriously or he is going to have a big problem in a couple weeks.
ANDERSON: Well, let's just focus in, then, on tonight. I just wonder whether you believe he might take your advice in the debate. A talking
point of course for many is this muted mic. It is probably unlikely to actually stop Donald Trump interrupting, but the audience of course just
won't hear what he says.
Biden, however, a few feet away will. Will Donald Trump use that as a tactic or do you believe at this late stage, he could actually be a lot
more disciplined than we might expect him to be?
JONES: You never know with Donald Trump. You just never know. I tell you the moderator in this debate is living out the fantasy of about 60 to 70
million Americans to be able to mute Donald Trump. So, you know, she's got the best job in the country as far as - are concerned.
But you know, honestly Trump should just let Biden talk, you know, side-by- side as much as I love Joe Biden, he's not the most compelling communicator. His heart is in the right place, but everybody knows him.
That's why he's able to kind of perform.
Trump is always arresting. Even if you don't like him, let Biden talk and then do your thing. The idea that you've got to run over Joe Biden and keep
him from talking shows so much insecurity on the part of somebody who has been able to talk his way into and out of every situation in the world. Let
the other guy talk and then do your thing. That's what Trump should do.
ANDERSON: Fascinating stuff. And I want our viewers to tune in tonight. We certainly will be, even though it is a terrible time here, its 3:00 am, Abu
Dhabi time. I know you will be keeping a very close eye on what's going on and our viewers can, too. It is the final Presidential Debate. Thank you,
van.
Our coverage begins 7:00 pm Eastern on Thursday. That is 12:00 am in London and as I say a very early 3:00 am here in Abu Dhabi on Friday. But look, I
mean, you know, in all seriousness, this is really important stuff. What goes on in America and I said this time and time again, doesn't stay in
America. Wherever you are watching in this world, this U.S. election is important.
An allegation of foreign interference just days before that election has some intelligence officials crying foul. Last minute news conference on
Wednesday night Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe announced Russia and Iran have obtained voter registration information that could be
used to influence this race. He also claimed Iran took it a step further.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN RATCLIFFE, U.S. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: We would like to alert the public that we have identified that two foreign actors, Iran and
Russia, have taken specific actions to influence public opinion relating to our elections. We have already seen Iran sending spoofed emails designed to
intimidate voters, insight social unrest and damage President Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, according to Ratcliffe the goal of this foreign interference is to hurt President Trump's chances of winning reelection,
but he offered no proof of that, and he didn't take any questions. Some intelligence experts are skeptical of the claim.
Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee going as far as to call Ratcliffe a partisan hack both Russia and Iran have denied all accusations
of medaling well. Well, this is our country's last chance. A stark warning from Lebanon's new leader the same man who didn't exactly - the country the
first number of times he ran it.
Up next, Saad Hariri conjures something new to heal his tortured country? Plus, financial desperation during the pandemic has gotten so bad in parts
of India; it's reportedly prompted families to sell their own kids into slavery.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: That's on our freedom report, freedom project report tonight, and that is after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANA KHOURY, LEBANESE ACTIVIST: Today I am the red line. My son is the red line, the women cursing the road are the red line, and the students who are
rescheduling their studies here are the red lines. We are the red lines. You as a government as people empower have crushed us so many years it's
just time for you to go home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's right. That's an activist in Lebanon talking to me a year ago in Beirut almost a year to the day during the protest that led to the
resignation of then Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Well, today he is back. Lebanon's lawmakers have asked him to lead the country once again.
You see Mr. Hariri there to the right of the Lebanon's President and the Parliament Speaker. The picture could tell a thousand words this is their
answer to the government's paralysis despite the Lebanese people's desperate pleas for change.
Well, Saad Hariri returns to his old job to face a fall out from 12 months of growing misery, of growing poverty and a COVID surge and a deadly blast
that devastated Beirut. More anti-corruption protests and it go on but he says he is ready to lead this time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAAD HARIRI, LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE: I told the Lebanese people who are facing despairing hardships, I am dedicated to my promise to them
on working to stop the collapse and that is economy , society and security and to rebuild the destruction from the terrible port explosion in Beirut.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The Former Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam is one of the most respected people in Lebanese politics, and he just spoke to Mr.
Hariri. Tammam Salam joins me now from Beirut. It's a pleasure to have you on. You spoke to Saad earlier today. What is his mood? Why do you believe
he is the man now to get the job done?
TAMMAM SALAM, FORMER LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you, Becky. This time in Lebanon with all the trouble that is weighing heavily on every
Lebanese in every respect, we have to face reality.
And yes, a heavyweight prime minister is needed. As you well know, Lebanon is represented politically by three people who represent in turn the three
major congressional parties in Lebanon. You have the President of the Republic; you have the Speaker of the House and the Prime Minister. And
since the President of the Republic is belongs to a major political entity in the country.
[11:20:00]
SALAM: And so does the Speaker of the House, it's only normal that the Prime Minister also represent a political entity. And by far Mr. Hariri is
most representative of the Sunni Community in Lebanon, so it's very normal that he himself takes up the challenge and faces this dire and difficult
situation.
ANDERSON: Right. With respect, sir, the reality is that he is part of the problem as far as so many protesters are concerned and all of them. And
that means all of them was a chant that you and I heard on the streets of Beirut and we continue to hear.
Now that was about getting rid of the kleptocracy as it's seen, the corruption at the very heart of Lebanese politics and Saad Hariri has
promised to rebuild the country. Let's just have a listen to what he said specifically.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARIRI: I will start by forming the government quickly, because the time is running out and this is our beloved countries last and only chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Whether or not people on the street accept that this is the man for the job, this is who they have got for the time being. But Tammam,
arguably time has already run out for Lebanon, hasn't it?
SALAM: Yes, very much so. And yes, that's fine. The demand of the people on the street is not an easy thing neither for Hariri nor anybody else. But
unfortunately, Becky, the people on the street who were supposed to represent a big change badly needed in Lebanon were not able to consolidate
their presence in a unified front to make that change happen.
Therefore, they have certainly had an advanced situation which influenced all the political class, all the political establishment that has been
running the country for many years now. I hope that those politicians, I hope that this establishment realizes finally that it cannot go on unless
some radical, serious change takes place.
And having, as you said, discussed this matter with Prime Minister Designate Hariri, I felt that he had the will to do that and he's very
genuine about it and he realizes that big reform in the country is required and, therefore, he - we have to take into consideration the French
initiative and President Macron's personal interest in drawing a road map, a reform road map to be implemented in the coming six months so as to
regain some confidence and trust in the system and in the country.
And that will require certainly the formation of a unified teamwork for the government. And that's why, yes, the main proposal in that matter is a non-
politicized formation of a cabinet of the government.
ANDERSON: Right. So because he's tried this before, hasn't he? I mean and you're right to point out that he says he's going to have you know, a group
of non-partisan technocrats. Because the last time he tried this in July of 2019 and he was trying to get this cash from the IMF, he had been asked to
implement these reforms, he just couldn't get those reforms that were needed implemented. I spoke recently Tammam to the head--
SALAM: No, Becky, it was not--
ANDERSON: Go on.
SALAM: It was not he who tried it; it was another guy who tried it. And it was another political group in the country. Those known for being not with
Hariri and not with many other political groups in the country, they tried it for a good seven, eight months with a prime minister that was not up to
it to start with.
ANDERSON: All right.
SALAM: But that served their own goals and purposes. And it failed. And of course, it failed. And the technocrats or non-politicized ministers
supposedly, as they had said, were not so.
[11:25:00]
SALAM: They were appointed by the political parties.
ANDERSON: OK.
SALAM: Backed by them and followed up by them to do what's good for the political parties, not for the good of the country necessary.
ANDERSON: Thank you for putting me right on that. So Saad Hariri now needs massive support, not just from the people of Lebanon but from the
international community. I spoke to the Head of the IMF recently. She was alongside Melinda Gates.
We were having a discussion about a number of issues. But we talked about Lebanon. I asked Kristalina Georgieva for her take on Lebanon. So this is
what she said. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND: It is so sad to see Lebanon, a country of entrepreneurial people, very smart
people, very generous people, to be in such a dire situation. And why is the country there? Because of lack of political determination, unity of
purpose. We are ready and very willing to help Lebanon. We need a partner.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: She went on to say she needs a reliable partner. Is Saad Hariri that reliable partner for the IMF? And does he have support from elsewhere?
You're talking about the initiative from Emmanuel Macron, what about from the Saudis, from the UAE, for example. What's his extent of support on the
international map?
SALAM: Well, as I said, everybody is aware as Ms. Georgieva was saying, everybody is aware and she has political experience, you know. And she is
quite professional now in her job at the IMF. And she realizes that a lot of confidence and trust are required to pull out Lebanon of the big
financial mess we are in.
And, therefore, I say, Becky, it's for Saad Hariri who is known for his regional and national relations, to be able to form a consolidated, strong,
united government, too because he by himself will not be able to do anything, he needs support from his ministers.
Especially what is important is that in the financial sector, we need some experts to help us out. I'm sure we can work out something with the IMF as
you well know. We also have some very competent Lebanese with the IMF who will always look like a very interesting eye to work their own country and
they are there to help.
So, we should not miss that opportunity, I believe. And so as much as also on other fronts, with other relations as you were mentioning, with the gulf
countries, which unfortunately were alienated politically by some Lebanese political groups for a few years, and that has to be remedied. In fact,
Hariri can remedy that if he is given the chance to do it.
ANDERSON: Lebanon and Israel currently negotiating over a maritime border regarding access to energy. I mean this is so, so important for the future
of the country. Do you see that as a game-changer for the Lebanese economy?
SALAM: It should be so, yes, eventually as we are watching the developments in gas and oil in the Eastern Mediterranean region with the other countries
surrounding us who are gathering together and working out some profitable unified solutions for their problems. Yes, we should be able to enjoy that
resource which will certainly be a game-changer and will be - will have a very positive impact on our economy.
And, yes, we have been handling this matter very carefully because it's a very delicate situation. I hope we can succeed and that also depends on if
the other party wants seriously to reach some valid, sustainable agreement on that matter.
ANDERSON: Finally, what can the people of Lebanon then expect? The IMF has been exploring all possible ways to support the people of Lebanon, as the
Managing Director told me.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: She says it's important to put in place meaningful, a meaningful program of reforms to turn the economy around. What do those reforms mean,
and how big an impact will they have on the people of Lebanon who are struggling so badly at this point?
SALAM: I believe, Becky, the major and main reforms required are certainly those related to the monetary situation, to the economy, to the
administrative setup in the country, and to the energy sector.
And I have to stress the importance of serious reform regarding the judiciary, because there lays mainly the confidence and trust needed in the
country. And that has been messed around with for some time now unfortunately. We have been relying on our judges, our good judges, but the
system is not. Hello?
ANDERSON: Tammam Salam, oh, I think he left.
SALAM: I'm off the screen maybe. We have a - they must have heard me talking about the energy.
ANDERSON: Thank you. And you know I have spoken about that before and I really appreciate your time.
SALAM: Yes.
ANDERSON: In fact, electricity has gone.
SALAM: Thank you for your interest in Lebanon and keeping up with it. Thank you.
ANDERSON: And that is the state of Lebanon today. Look at that. That's electricity cut as we were speaking to the Former Prime Minister of Lebanon
who makes an awful lot of sense. He was talking about something we were speaking about in the past, a reform of the judicial system being so
important.
You couldn't make it up, could you? There you go. That is the problem in Lebanon today, there is no electricity. Thank you, sir.
SALAM: I'm back on the screen? Thank you. Thank you, Becky.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: When we talk about COVID-19 lockdowns in the more developed parts of the world, a lot of times we talk about them in terms of inconveniences,
not being allowed to travel or store shelves not being fully stocked. Even when we talk about the staggering number of job losses or how many are
forced into poverty.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: We still can't comprehend how bad it has gotten in some parts of the world. The IMF projects that India's economy, for example, will shrink
by over 10 percent this year, and that's not just some big, fancy, economic projection.
It has an impact in the real world. CNN'S Ivan Watson shows us now how in some areas, families have become so desperate they are reportedly even
selling their children into forced labor for as little as a few dollars.
IVAN WATSON, CNN REPORTER: On the streets of Jaipur, in India, one of the hidden costs of COVID-19 exposed. During this nighttime bus raid
authorities discovered 19 children they say were being trafficked. Officials say it is repeating itself far more often since the virus took
root here.
Authorities say those children rescued during the pandemic as young as 11 years old. Under Indian law, it is illegal for children under 14 to work,
but the horrible economic toll of the pandemic is forcing many children and teens to take on what sometimes amounts to slave labor.
14-year-old Mujib (ph) is one of the children rescued during the raid. He says he along with other boys were lured away from their village but a much
older man who gave families 500 Rupees equivalent $7 and promised them a holiday in Jaipur about 800 miles from home.
Others like 15-year-old Aman (ph) see no other choice but to sacrifice themselves for the good of their family. Bihar one of India's poorest
states with a vast migrant population, sheer desperation for those like Aman who volunteer themselves and to those families no job prospects and
not government insists. They see no other way to survive but to sell one of their children to feed the rest.
12-year-old Mishaud (ph), one of the boys rescued in raid on bangle factory says his parents sold him to the traffickers for 1500 rupees or $21. He was
locked inside this dingy room for five months and not allowed outside, working from morning until midnight each day before he was given any food
to eat to pay the debt his parents owed.
And he says if he or the children couldn't keep up with the demand, they would be beaten. Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi's BBA "Save the Child
Movement" is one of many NGOs sounding the alarm about the rise of what amounts to childhood slavery since COVID-19 began?
So Satyarthi says his group, alongside local authorities, has rescued 900 trafficked children and got 70 traffickers arrested between April and
August of this year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAILASH SATYARTHI, NOBEL LAUREATE: That was just to send a strong message to all the state governments and the local governments that, look, this is
happening and that is growing so we cannot simply wait and watch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Authorities in Bihar have acknowledged that they are receiving more reports about child trafficking since the pandemic began. And in response,
"Have increased guidelines and advisories but have not done any field checks due to COVID-19". But Satyarthi says calls on the government to
create tougher anti-trafficking laws have so far yielded few results on the ground. The message from leaders is bleak.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SATYARTHI: If you're not able to protect this generation, we are not going to protect all the generation to come. Children have never faced such
crisis. This is not simply the health crisis or economy crisis; this is the crisis of justice. This is the crisis of humanity. This is the crisis of
childhood.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: At this shelter, Mujib and Aman are more than a dozen rescued children waiting to go home and while Mujib is interested to get back Aman
is the optimist. With no end in sight to the economic crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, he will be returning to the very situation he gave up
his youth to help his family escape. Ivan Watson, CNN.
ANDERSON: Well, my next guest has reported extensively on social justice issues in South Asia and around the world.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: Let's welcome Journalist Priyali Sur. She is the Founder of a project Azadi Project which gives skills and voice to refugee women and
girls. Thank you for your time today, first of all, your reaction to Ivan's report there?
PRIYALI SUR, FOUNDER, THE HEAD OF AZADI PROJECT: Becky, to understand why there has been a rise in trafficking of children in India during the
pandemic? And as you rightly put - saying that how much the economic impact has been?
It is very important to understand how much the economic impact of the pandemic is also intertwined with the social impact. And most of the
economic impact and the social impact is not held by the rich people or upper middle class people, it is actually the people who bear the brunt of
it are the poorest of the poor people.
The parents that cannot put food on the table for their children or children actually go to school and because the schools are shut down,
cannot access that one meal a day that they would access through the school program.
And as the report clearly showed that a lot of people during the pandemic have lost their jobs. Most of them are daily wage laborers. For example,
when I interviewed Mujib in the story and he said that his father, who's a daily wage laborer could not send money back home and that's why they could
not - they did not have any access to any food or he couldn't even go to school.
It clearly shows the impact of extreme poverty on these families. Traffickers are known to exploit these situations. Traffickers thrive when
there is extreme poverty. So when there is lack of government aid to these extreme poor families, for example, the Indian government put in a stimulus
package earlier of the lockdown which is 2 percent of the GDP, which is far less than any other government or most other governments in the world have
put in.
And even if that stimulus or that package that was put through did not trickle down to the poorest of the poor people as we see in the story. Then
they are left with no other option but to sending their children or as we term it sell their children into bonded labor. When the children go in the
hope for a better future, they actually end up being paid nothing and being exploited.
ANDERSON: And you're making some very, very valid points. At a point which we are nowhere near the end of this virus, of course I spoke to Melinda
Gates about poverty in relation to the Coronavirus specifically. She used India as an example of the positive measures she said that are being taken
for gender equality. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELINDA GATES, CO-FOUNDER, BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION: You invest in women's health. The other thing you do is you lift women up economically.
We have great data from years and years of development that if you put money in a woman's hands, she spends it on the family and everybody else.
So what did India do? They put 200 million cash transfer payments right away during this pandemic into the hands of women. They had the gender
disaggregated data and they knew if you put it in the woman's hands, it will get spent properly on health, education and jobs.
You do those things, those are just a few examples, we have many more you actually build this quicker road to recovery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: She paints a good picture there, but is it enough? What is the reality on the ground?
SUR: Becky, I think in principle it's great to put more money and direct cash into the hands of women because women will make sure that their
children are being fed and being educated. So in principle, it's great.
And yes, there was a scheme of direct cash transfers started by the government in India. But even in the story, Aman's mother says who we have
- Aman's mother says that she did not get the money that was supposed to reach her during the pandemic. And it's not just her.
We have heard stories of many such women on the ground in the poorest of the poor states who have not had access to this money because either they
are not in the rolls or they don't have the Aadhaar Card which is the key requirement, the digital identity card, to which they will get that direct
money transferred.
So it's a check in the box in a lot of situations. It would be unfair to say that it's not reached anybody, but I think to say that this has had a
major positive impact on the ground, you know, there are two sides to it.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: yes, fascinating stuff. We'll have you back. Thank you very much indeed for joining us and the reporting ahead of that of course from Ivan
Watson.
Well, Europe tackling a major new surge in Coronavirus cases. Belgium is among those hardest hit. The country's Deputy Prime Minister is in the
hospital with COVID-19. More on that and the wider challenges in Europe is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, from Manchester to Milan, people are coming under new curfews and restrictions as Europe and the UK deals with a spike in
Coronavirus cases. Ireland now has the tightest lockdown measures in the European Union currently after cases there topped 50,000.
France and Spain now have passed 1 million cases, while the Czech Republic and Belgium have the highest number of new cases per capita. Well, staying
in Belgium, the country country's Deputy Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes has been receiving intensive care treatment after contracting COVID-19.
Her spokesperson says she is conscious, stable and able to communicate with her team, telling CNN that her condition is, "Not alarming". Well, for more
on the situation across Europe, let's turn now to Scott McLean who is in Berlin. We know a little about the Deputy Prime Minister's condition. Do we
know any more at this point?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not a lot. We followed up with her office this afternoon and we haven't gotten very much information back. Perhaps
that's a good sign that things are in fact - you know she is in fact stable, talking, conscious, all of those signs that you want to see.
We know that she was diagnosed with the virus over the weekend and she just entered that intensive care unit last night, so Wednesday night. She's not
the only world leader in Europe, though, to contract the virus.
Recently the Czech Deputy Prime Minister and the German Health Minister have also both recently contracted the virus. And I want to show you a
graph that really illustrates what we're seeing in Europe right now and perhaps a reason why we shouldn't be surprised that we're seeing leaders
falling victim to the virus?
Cases are surging, especially in places like Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic which just smashed its record daily case count. Germany
has also reported a record today. But when you look at it compared to the rest of Europe well, it seems like it's in much, much better shape.
I also want to show you another graph which shows that things are much different when you look at the death toll. Things were obviously much high
in Western European countries, especially like Italy, Spain and the UK, in the first wave but the death toll has not really come back for the second
wave.
Things are much different, though, in Eastern Europe. Take Poland, for example. It's reported record-high death tolls the past two days. It's now
recording four times more deaths per day than it did at the peak of the first wave of infection. You can see from the graph that it's a similar
story in Croatia, Hungary and Romania.
[11:50:00]
MCLEAN: And one more graph to show and that's the Czech Republic is so much worse than even its European neighbors. You can see on the white line
there. It shows the death toll absolutely exploding there. The country is continuing construction on a field hospital set to open later this month to
deal with what's expected to be the overflow of Coronavirus patients.
The Czech Republic went into lockdown today. The streets of Prague normally bustling were basically deserted. And the health care system is also
nearing its breaking point. The Health Minister says that the system could be completely overwhelmed in a matter of weeks if things don't turn around
soon, Becky.
ANDERSON: It's remarkable stuff, isn't it? I mean, how things can change in literally a matter of weeks? Scott, thank you. Coming up on CONNECT THE
WORLD like most everything else, the U.S. Presidential Candidates have little in common on climate change. I'm going to show you how that fits
into the global energy future straight ahead?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're clean but every other place on earth is dirty, that's not so good.
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We should be leading the world in not only renewable energy but in all the products that are going to allow the
people to be able around the world to save the environment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, both U.S. Presidential Candidates reflecting on their dramatically different takes on the climate crisis and renewable energy.
The topic is on the Presidential Debate agenda in a few hours. My colleague John Defterios take a look at what both candidates stand and where fits
into the global energy picture going forward?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: During the Trump era oil remained king, U.S. production surged to a record of nearly 13 million
barrels a day and the president wore it like a badge of honor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: The United States is now the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere on planet earth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: This played well in the oil and gas states in America's Southwest, in the Rockies and as far North as Pennsylvania in an industry
supporting nearly 10 million jobs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBIN MILLS, CEO, QAMAR ENERGY: That fits into this administration's world view that were inclined to reduce regulations on the oil industry, partly
to allow it to produce more but also to gather political support from it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: The U.S. produced so much oil and gas Trump was out to challenge Russia and Saudi Arabia overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MILLS: The export of oil and gas has been seen as a tool that - tool even a weapon this concept of energy dominance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: That strategy of growth at oil costs came crashing down when COVID-19 triggered an oil bust, taking down over 500 energy companies with
nearly $300 billion of debt. This year's wildfires on the West Coast and hurricanes hitting the Gulf of Mexico raised awareness of the growing
threat of climate change.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: When Donald Trump thinks about climate change, he thinks hoax. When I think about it, I think jobs. Good paying unions to put Americans to
work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: The Former Vice President has pledged to not shutter U.S. Shale, but the winds of change would blow in the direction of renewable energy. A
Biden presidency could accelerate what is known as the energy transition away from fossil fuels. He is pledging $2 trillion to a green deal to speed
up innovation and investment into clean energy.
[11:55:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this the election that defines the election transition?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: Adnan Amin is the Former Director General at the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADNAN AMIN, DIRECTOR GENERAL EMERITUS, IRENA: I've talked to him personally on a number of occasions about renewable. I know he has a passion for this
new technology and the potential that it has and the potential that it has to create jobs and wealth in the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: So too does Wall Street, with money flowing into renewable energy companies. In the last month, rising star next era topped the market
caps of the once mighty oil and gas giant ExxonMobil. And when it comes to international policy, Trump was proud to pull out of the Paris Climate
Accord in 2017 saying it was a job killer. Biden has pledged to leap back in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMIN: I think there is a very important signal, when we are facing potentially catastrophic changes related to climate in the near future that
the United States' leadership in technology, in the political sense, in bringing other countries along, but mostly from my point of view in
inspiring others about what can be done is sorely needed today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: A high-stakes election that will also define the fate of fossil fuels and clean energy. John Defterios, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
ANDERSON: Well, that final Presidential Debate, let me remind you one more time, is tonight. Our coverage on CNN begins at 7:00 pm Eastern on
Thursday, that is 12:00 am if you're watching in London and a very early 3:00 am here in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Well, it all comes down to power. The way we power our lives is about as important a story as it gets. It's existential stuff for all of us. I'll be
watching that debate and I hope the climate emergency gets the time it deserves.
In Lebanon, it was power squared. We literally saw the lights go out as we spoke to the Former Prime Minister, as we were discussing the new power
broker in Beirut. It is Saad Hariri again. But ultimately, the power in many ways, rests with you and me. The choices that we make are more
powerful than anything else, the power to do what's right. That's the power of change.
Look after yourselves wherever you are in the world. Stay well. It is very good evening from Abu Dhabi.
END
