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CNN Live At Daybreak

Morning Conference Call: Mayon Volcano Erupts; Pigs in France

Aired July 26, 2001 - 08:31   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: So far what you've seen this morning is just a fraction of sheer number of stories that CNN covers every day. We've got more than 30 bureaus around the world and we've got a morning conference call as our tool to help plan that coverage and make some key decisions.

Right now, we want to check with Kathy Quijano. She is a producer. She's based in Jakarta but somehow she's covering an eruptive volcano in the Philippines.

Kathy, what are you looking into today? Why are you in Jakarta when the news in the Philippines?

KATHY QUIJANO, CNN JAKARTA PRODUCER: Well, Carol, we were preparing to cover the vice presidential election in Jakarta early this morning, when I received call about the eruptions of Mayon volcano. Now, I had to quickly make calls in the Philippines to confirm that it did explode again and that thousands had been evacuated from the area.

Now, we, in the bureau, are closely watching developments from Jakarta but are preparing to fly to the Philippines if the situation gets worse. When our team covered the volcano's last eruption a month ago, we had to drive for nearly 14 hours from Manila to get to Mayon. Now, all the flights had been canceled because poor visibility.

The first images that were shot were spectacular. You know, Mayon volcano has near perfect cone shape. But it's also one of the Philippines most active volcanoes. We actually went within the four- mile danger zone and spoke with the people who insisted on returning to homes and farms during the day. Now, like them, we were going about our jobs while keeping watchful eye on this majestic volcano rumbling just a few miles away -- Carol.

LIN: Ah, beautiful site indeed. Thank you very much, Kathy.

And now to Peter Humi. He is in the South of France and mixing with some real pigs, Peter, yes?

PETER HUMI, CNN PARIS BUREAU CHIEF: Well, actually -- in fact, this event is not happening until -- in August.

As you say, it is in the South of France, however, right down to the Pyrenees, on the border with Spain. Now, it's described as a pig imitation festival, which I'm going to -- something to most people as being on for several years in the small Pyrenean mountain village. And among the things that the contestants will be required to produce, if you like, is a noise or a squeal or an oink that according to organizers has to correspond to an important moment in a pig's lives, which makes quite a few questions I would think.

And amongst the other events in this somewhat unique, little festival, eating competition, I think this is for the humans rather than for the pigs, such things as sausages and salamis and everything that comes from the poor animals themselves, in fact. Then there's piglet racing. And there's a competition for the best piggy outfit, now presuming that's for the animals and not for the humans. But this certainly promises to be colorful if not noisy.

And then while I'm at it, let me just mention another event that's happening actually on the same day but in a different part of France. It does have animal connotations as well. It's the alternative French Olympics, according to organizers. And this will include events such as throwing cowpats and throwing bails of straw. So, some agriculture sporting events, I think we can politely describe them as, due to happen in France in early August -- Carol.

LIN: All right, just an idea of what the French do in their spare time. Peter Humi reporting gin from the South of France. Thanks so much.

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