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CNN Live Today
First Lady Travels to Afghanistan; Atlanta Man Invites Cameras to Share His Last Weekend; New Film Features Sharks in 3-D
Aired March 29, 2005 - 10:30 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CO-HOST: Good morning. We're just a little bit past the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan.
RICK SANCHEZ, CO-HOST: I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening right now in the news.
We do have a developing story to pass along. The White House is confirming and CNN is reporting that first lady Laura Bush is now en route to Afghanistan. Her plane took off this morning.
A visit will highlight advances that women have made in that country since the U.S.-led military offensive ousted the Taliban regime. Mrs. Bush is going to meet with students and teachers during her visit and return to work after the weekend.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson has become the latest national figure to wade into the Terri Schiavo case. He joined a prayer vigil outside the Florida hospice where she is now entering her 12th day without food or liquid. Jackson arrived at the request of Terri Schiavo's parents and may soon hold a news conference, which we will follow up on.
Also, crews are digging through the rubble of the Indonesian island of Nias. That's the area that seems to be hardest hit by yesterday's powerful earthquake. The death toll now hovers around 300, 330, could grow, at least according to officials there. Yesterday's quake, which measured a magnitude 8.7, came about 60 miles away from the epicenter of the December quake, but this time it did not -- did not trigger a tsunami.
Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson case have won a decision and legal experts say it could prove critical. The judge presiding over the singer's child molestation trial will allow previous unproven allegations of abuse that were settled out of court. Jackson settled at least two of those cases back in the 1990s.
KAGAN: Let's get some more information now on one of our developing stories, that first lady Laura Bush on her way to Afghanistan. Our Elaine Quijano is at the White House with more on that -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn. That's right. That unexpected announcement coming just a short time ago out of the White House here, that first lady Laura Bush is, in fact, on her way to Kabul, Afghanistan. The details of the trip kept secret until the last moment because of obvious security concerns, but we have some information now that the first lady left or is in the process of leaving Andrews Air Force Base. She will be spending altogether five hours on the ground once she is in Afghanistan.
Her first stop will be the women's teachers training institute. Now this is a U.S./Afghanistan public/private partnership. In essence, the purpose there, to ensure that women are trained, are educated and also will be able to educate girls. Now, that, of course, a cause very near and dear to first lady's heart. The first lady, of course, being a former librarian, a former educator herself.
We're told that the first lady will make remarks there. She's due to appear at that event around noon local time in Afghanistan.
From there she will meet with some women who have been trained and have learned some skills in making various handy crafts. And then the first lady will meet with the leader of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai.
Afterwards, we are told she will then have dinner with the troops at Bagram Air Force Base. She will thank them for the work that they have done and the work that they are continuing to do. We also understand that a member of the Bush administration, a member of the cabinet will be joining her. Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling is joining her on this trip.
But a whirlwind trip again, Daryn, just five hours on the ground, the White House making that announcement just a short time ago -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Elaine, so Mrs. Bush on her way to Afghanistan. Her husband staying behind, holding some kind of event in the Rose Garden in the next hour. What can you tell us about that?
QUIJANO: That's right, Daryn. President Bush will be in the Rose Garden a short time from now, really focusing the spotlight on what is being carried out in Iraq in terms of the democratic steps that have been taken and that the administration hopes will continue to be taken over the next weeks and months ahead.
The president is expected to be joined by members of the Iraqi community, also Iraqi-Americans, as well. The president will talk about, according to administration officials, will talk about not only the elections that took place in Iraq a couple of months ago but also looking ahead. Today, of course, is the day that Iraq's traditional national assembly will be meeting for the second time.
That, of course, is the group tasked with helping to form, helping to constitute the new government in Iraq. They had a meeting earlier this month. Not a lot came out of that meet meeting, but President Bush today offering words of encouragement to those members the assembly as well as other leaders that may be -- may be looking ahead at what Iraq -- what next steps Iraq may take down the road. But that event scheduled to take place in the Rose Garden just a short time from now -- Daryn. KAGAN: We're going to show that event live here on CNN. Elaine, thank you for that.
Also, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will be holding a briefing less than three hours from now. CNN intends to have live coverage of that, beginning around 1:15 Eastern.
SANCHEZ: And of course, we're following developments in Pinellas Park, Florida. We've seen that all the microphones are now assembled. And momentarily, Mary and Bob Schindler are going to be addressing this crowd. They will be flanking the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who is joining them on this day. Arrived there about an hour ago. As soon as that happens, we're going to take you to it here at CNN.
In a somewhat related story, we take you to suburban Atlanta, where over the Easter weekend, Ed Davis' family gathered around the 84-year-old patriarch. They shared stories, they laughed, they ate meals, they went to church on Sunday. And they waited. They waited for Ed to die.
This is not a depressing storey. The Davis fame invited CNN into their home, and we were able to watch Ed and his life, exactly the way that he had wanted to, including a last wish fulfilled.
Here is CNN's Elizabeth Cohen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An ordinary home in an ordinary American neighborhood.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Grandpa.
COHEN: Ed Davis is dying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How you doing, pop?
COHEN: It's clear the end is near. And so this past Friday, Ed's children and grandchildren came to say good-bye. They let us share these intimate moments, because they wanted to be an example of how to die with love and with dignity.
ED DAVIS, CANCER PATIENT: I'm not concerned about the cancer. I'm not concerned about dying.
COHEN: Cancer was diagnosed just a month ago. So advanced that Ed's surgeons could offer no help.
DAVIS: It was in my liver and my pancreas and possibly other parts of the body.
COHEN: Doctors offered chemotherapy and dialysis for his ailing kidneys, but they made it clear, these treatments would not buy Ed Davis much time, and what little he would have would be unpleasant. So Ed said no. DAVIS: We're supposed to die. We're not supposed to live forever. And if you're living on artificial means, you're not really living. You're just existing.
COHEN: Ed Davis has spent his 84 years a happy man. He's had the love of his wife, Chris, and their three sons and their families. He chose to live these last remaining days at home with care from hospice and love from his family and friends. As a man of faith, he wanted one thing: to spend one last Sunday in church.
DAVIS: I just got to thinking if I might not ever get to go to church again. And I would like to have that last time.
COHEN: But one last Sunday in church seemed pretty unlikely last Friday. The family took turns sitting by his side, feeding him, thanking him for his love and hoping he'd get that one last wish.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just be your sweet lovable self and everything will be fine.
COHEN: Over the weekend, the Davises talked about old times. They've been married for 61 years.
DAVIS: She's a country girl, for sure. I had to put shoes on her when we were married.
COHEN: For most of the weekend, the family told stories. They laughed and shared their love.
DAVIS: I don't have a thing to worry about with this girl. She's going to be a fine woman.
COHEN: But Saturday was rough for the Davises.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We really weren't sure he was even going to make it through the night.
COHEN: But he did. And on Easter Sunday, his last wish came true.
DAVIS: All right, there we go. With all of my heart
COHEN: Mr. Davis took communion, his faith steady, an example of grace and dignity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Father God, we're so thankful for Ed. Lord, he's a courageous witness for you.
COHEN (on camera): Mr. Davis, he said to you, you really wanted to go to church.
DAVIS: Yes.
COHEN: Now you've been. How do you feel?
DAVIS: Fulfilled. COHEN (voice-over): Fulfilled by the love of his family and by living out his last few days exactly as he wanted.
DAVIS: It's not hard to make a decision like this when you're 84 years old, lived a good life and raised a family. Of course, it's not always easy to leave, but we have to do that. We cry like this when we're going on a trip. So that's where I'm going, is on a trip. I'm going to take the rest of my life and be with the Lord in heaven.
COHEN: Ed Davis died Sunday night just hours after we spoke, surrounded by his family in his own home at peace.
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Tucker, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're looking at live pictures from Pinellas Park, Florida. That is just outside the hospice where Terri Schiavo is. We expect any minute to hear from her parents, the Schindlers. The Reverend Jesse Jackson is also there as a guest of the Schindlers. We expect him to speak, as well.
We'll be going back live to Pinellas Park when that happens. Let's listen a little bit right now.
RANDALL TERRY, SCHINDLER FAMILY SPOKESPERSON: ... caused three senators to switch their vote. Is -- so that is what -- that is what the delay is. He's talking to senators now and trying...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Which senators?
TERRY: I'll let him tell you. And trying to find three votes. If he can find three votes, and the leadership, President Lee, who has always expressed support to the family, if they can create the will, then they will make the way. And that's what this delay is all about, trying to get three senators to work out some language which can save Terri's life.
So the family is elated that Reverend Jackson is here. And as are all of the people who have been pleading for Terri's life, and may God bless him in his efforts. And I will come back out as soon -- I will either bring him out with me the next time or I'll come back and update you all.
KAGAN: As we listen in to Pinellas Park, once again, we're waiting for the Schindlers to come out and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. As you can hear that supporter speaking at the microphone, the efforts still go on at this late hour to have some political action at the Florida state legislature.
Much more ahead. Right now a quick break.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Terri Schiavo case brings attention to the idea of living wills. According to the National Institute on Aging, only 20 percent of Americans have them. Medical experts say a living will is important because it erases guesswork for families if a loved one becomes seriously ill.
Living wills don't need a lawyer's signature. Just give a family a signed copy.
And the Centers for Disease Control announce that rubella is no longer a major public health threat in the United States. The virus was a major cause of serious birth defects, including deafness and blindness. The CDC stresses Americans must continue vaccinating their children, because rubella exists in other nations.
Christy Feig, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Thirty years ago this summer, can you believe it, the movie "Jaws" made us fear the beach and the sharks that seemed to lurk in the waters waiting for us. Now there's a new film that shows how unfair that portrayal has endangered the so-called lions and tigers of the ocean, "Sharks 3-D." It's an IMAX production presented by our guest, a familiar face to us here at CNN LIVE TODAY, Jean-Michel Cousteau, an ocean explorer, environmentalist, film producer and friend of this program.
Jean-Michel, good morning. Good to have you back.
JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU, ENVIRONMENTALIST/FILM PRODUCER: It's so good to be back with you.
KAGAN: Let's talk about sharks and how you think they are actually beautiful creatures.
COUSTEAU: Well, sharks are not only beautiful creatures, but they play a vital role in the environment as scavengers, and there's more than 400 species of sharks.
They've been slaughtered in the last few years just for their fins. Over 100 million of them are literally killed just to cut the fins off to make shark fin soup in Asian countries.
KAGAN: Now, I saw this number...
COUSTEAU: And their bodies are dumped overboard as a result of that.
KAGAN: Jean-Michel, I saw this number in your press material, saying that 100 to 200 million sharks a year are killed. That number seems incredible to me.
COUSTEAU: That is the case, yes. They're being harvested to that extent. And most of them, not all of them, but most of them exclusively to make shark fin soup.
KAGAN: What is this IMAX movie going to show us? "Sharks in 3- D" does not sound like a fun day at that time movies to me, I've got to tell you.
COUSTEAU: Well, the "Sharks 3-D," the good news is that they're going to make you a diver. You're going to revolve in the middle of these beautiful creatures. You're going to learn that we owe them respect.
Some of them are potentially a problem. And I'm sorry for the eight or 10 people who ultimately die from bites, because they put themselves in the wrong place, either as a surfer, where there are some of those four to five species out of 400 that are potentially dangerous.
And this show is really restoring the facts. It's a show where you are -- you are swimming amongst the sharks. And children under 5 years of age can go, and they won't be afraid and they won't be scared.
KAGAN: OK. Let me ask you this, because you grew up as a diver. Diving is your second nature.
COUSTEAU: Yes.
KAGAN: So if you're underwater and you come across a bunch of sharks like this, do you actually say to yourself, Jean-Michel, "Hmm, this is potentially a problem"?
COUSTEAU: No, because I know where not to be. And I know with those four or five species out of 400 reside. And if there's any blood, anybody fishing, spear fishing, line fishing, there is turbid water, I'm not going to go there.
KAGAN: Sounds likes the bottom line here is respect. Respect that you're in their house and respect that these creatures do bring things to the ocean and the environment and the world?
COUSTEAU: We are temporary visitors, and we have to get to know them, just like you do when you go in the jungle or in the middle of a desert.
KAGAN: It is called "Sharks 3-D." It's in IMAX. When will we see it in IMAX theaters across the country?
COUSTEAU: That's right. It's going to -- now I just came back from Europe, where we've presented it in Germany and in France. I was in Canada recently. And I'll be in Boston tomorrow.
KAGAN: So is it out?
COUSTEAU: It's out.
KAGAN: Great.
COUSTEAU: It's coming out big time.
KAGAN: OK. Big time. That's a good way to describe a shark movie. Jean-Michel Cousteau, thank you so much.
COUSTEAU: Thank you very much. Good to see you again.
KAGAN: Good to see you.
SANCHEZ: Good interview.
Now let's take you back to Pinellas Park, and that is where the Terri Schiavo case and the hospice where she is still in and where the case is unfolding.
Let's tell you what is going on now and what we expect to happen. First of all, as you may have heard from anti-abortion activist Randall Terry moments ago, Jesse Jackson is talking to state senators there in Florida, trying to get them to get involved in somehow stopping the judicial action that has been enacted in this case.
We expect at some point and don't know exactly when, because we don't know when the reverend will be off the phone, that the Reverend Jackson will go to this microphone that you're seeing right there that's been set up for both him and Bob and Mary Schindler and address reporters and talk to some of these protesters, as well. As soon as that happen, we will take you to it.
This is CNN LIVE TODAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Yes. You can call it an Irish invasion. U2 kicked off its world tour in San Diego, California, on Monday night. The band, recently named to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, will tour in the U.S. until mid-December, first hitting 13 cities in North America and then spending two months in Europe and kicking off a third leg in Canada in September that will include 33 more tour dates, which by the way includes two dates here in Atlanta, Georgia.
SANCHEZ: Aha!
KAGAN: The end of November.
SANCHEZ: Jacqui Jeras may be trying to score some tickets to get to this thing.
KAGAN: Do you go to U2?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I have been to, I think, every U2 concert I've been able to go to, but I don't have tickets. I couldn't get them. So...
SANCHEZ: We'll work that for you.
JERAS: Daryn, I know. He's your buddy.
KAGAN: We'll see what we can do. We'll see what we can do. All right.
JERAS: I think my first concert was U2.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: The -- and we'll work on those tickets for you, by the way. We'll get back to you on that.
JERAS: Thank you.
KAGAN: Right here.
SANCHEZ: Hello, Bono?
KAGAN: Hello, Bono?
SANCHEZ: The president is scheduled to speak in the Rose Garden in just a couple of minutes. In fact, he's expected to talk about democracy in Iraq.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 29, 2005 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CO-HOST: Good morning. We're just a little bit past the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan.
RICK SANCHEZ, CO-HOST: I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening right now in the news.
We do have a developing story to pass along. The White House is confirming and CNN is reporting that first lady Laura Bush is now en route to Afghanistan. Her plane took off this morning.
A visit will highlight advances that women have made in that country since the U.S.-led military offensive ousted the Taliban regime. Mrs. Bush is going to meet with students and teachers during her visit and return to work after the weekend.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson has become the latest national figure to wade into the Terri Schiavo case. He joined a prayer vigil outside the Florida hospice where she is now entering her 12th day without food or liquid. Jackson arrived at the request of Terri Schiavo's parents and may soon hold a news conference, which we will follow up on.
Also, crews are digging through the rubble of the Indonesian island of Nias. That's the area that seems to be hardest hit by yesterday's powerful earthquake. The death toll now hovers around 300, 330, could grow, at least according to officials there. Yesterday's quake, which measured a magnitude 8.7, came about 60 miles away from the epicenter of the December quake, but this time it did not -- did not trigger a tsunami.
Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson case have won a decision and legal experts say it could prove critical. The judge presiding over the singer's child molestation trial will allow previous unproven allegations of abuse that were settled out of court. Jackson settled at least two of those cases back in the 1990s.
KAGAN: Let's get some more information now on one of our developing stories, that first lady Laura Bush on her way to Afghanistan. Our Elaine Quijano is at the White House with more on that -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn. That's right. That unexpected announcement coming just a short time ago out of the White House here, that first lady Laura Bush is, in fact, on her way to Kabul, Afghanistan. The details of the trip kept secret until the last moment because of obvious security concerns, but we have some information now that the first lady left or is in the process of leaving Andrews Air Force Base. She will be spending altogether five hours on the ground once she is in Afghanistan.
Her first stop will be the women's teachers training institute. Now this is a U.S./Afghanistan public/private partnership. In essence, the purpose there, to ensure that women are trained, are educated and also will be able to educate girls. Now, that, of course, a cause very near and dear to first lady's heart. The first lady, of course, being a former librarian, a former educator herself.
We're told that the first lady will make remarks there. She's due to appear at that event around noon local time in Afghanistan.
From there she will meet with some women who have been trained and have learned some skills in making various handy crafts. And then the first lady will meet with the leader of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai.
Afterwards, we are told she will then have dinner with the troops at Bagram Air Force Base. She will thank them for the work that they have done and the work that they are continuing to do. We also understand that a member of the Bush administration, a member of the cabinet will be joining her. Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling is joining her on this trip.
But a whirlwind trip again, Daryn, just five hours on the ground, the White House making that announcement just a short time ago -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Elaine, so Mrs. Bush on her way to Afghanistan. Her husband staying behind, holding some kind of event in the Rose Garden in the next hour. What can you tell us about that?
QUIJANO: That's right, Daryn. President Bush will be in the Rose Garden a short time from now, really focusing the spotlight on what is being carried out in Iraq in terms of the democratic steps that have been taken and that the administration hopes will continue to be taken over the next weeks and months ahead.
The president is expected to be joined by members of the Iraqi community, also Iraqi-Americans, as well. The president will talk about, according to administration officials, will talk about not only the elections that took place in Iraq a couple of months ago but also looking ahead. Today, of course, is the day that Iraq's traditional national assembly will be meeting for the second time.
That, of course, is the group tasked with helping to form, helping to constitute the new government in Iraq. They had a meeting earlier this month. Not a lot came out of that meet meeting, but President Bush today offering words of encouragement to those members the assembly as well as other leaders that may be -- may be looking ahead at what Iraq -- what next steps Iraq may take down the road. But that event scheduled to take place in the Rose Garden just a short time from now -- Daryn. KAGAN: We're going to show that event live here on CNN. Elaine, thank you for that.
Also, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will be holding a briefing less than three hours from now. CNN intends to have live coverage of that, beginning around 1:15 Eastern.
SANCHEZ: And of course, we're following developments in Pinellas Park, Florida. We've seen that all the microphones are now assembled. And momentarily, Mary and Bob Schindler are going to be addressing this crowd. They will be flanking the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who is joining them on this day. Arrived there about an hour ago. As soon as that happens, we're going to take you to it here at CNN.
In a somewhat related story, we take you to suburban Atlanta, where over the Easter weekend, Ed Davis' family gathered around the 84-year-old patriarch. They shared stories, they laughed, they ate meals, they went to church on Sunday. And they waited. They waited for Ed to die.
This is not a depressing storey. The Davis fame invited CNN into their home, and we were able to watch Ed and his life, exactly the way that he had wanted to, including a last wish fulfilled.
Here is CNN's Elizabeth Cohen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An ordinary home in an ordinary American neighborhood.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Grandpa.
COHEN: Ed Davis is dying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How you doing, pop?
COHEN: It's clear the end is near. And so this past Friday, Ed's children and grandchildren came to say good-bye. They let us share these intimate moments, because they wanted to be an example of how to die with love and with dignity.
ED DAVIS, CANCER PATIENT: I'm not concerned about the cancer. I'm not concerned about dying.
COHEN: Cancer was diagnosed just a month ago. So advanced that Ed's surgeons could offer no help.
DAVIS: It was in my liver and my pancreas and possibly other parts of the body.
COHEN: Doctors offered chemotherapy and dialysis for his ailing kidneys, but they made it clear, these treatments would not buy Ed Davis much time, and what little he would have would be unpleasant. So Ed said no. DAVIS: We're supposed to die. We're not supposed to live forever. And if you're living on artificial means, you're not really living. You're just existing.
COHEN: Ed Davis has spent his 84 years a happy man. He's had the love of his wife, Chris, and their three sons and their families. He chose to live these last remaining days at home with care from hospice and love from his family and friends. As a man of faith, he wanted one thing: to spend one last Sunday in church.
DAVIS: I just got to thinking if I might not ever get to go to church again. And I would like to have that last time.
COHEN: But one last Sunday in church seemed pretty unlikely last Friday. The family took turns sitting by his side, feeding him, thanking him for his love and hoping he'd get that one last wish.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just be your sweet lovable self and everything will be fine.
COHEN: Over the weekend, the Davises talked about old times. They've been married for 61 years.
DAVIS: She's a country girl, for sure. I had to put shoes on her when we were married.
COHEN: For most of the weekend, the family told stories. They laughed and shared their love.
DAVIS: I don't have a thing to worry about with this girl. She's going to be a fine woman.
COHEN: But Saturday was rough for the Davises.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We really weren't sure he was even going to make it through the night.
COHEN: But he did. And on Easter Sunday, his last wish came true.
DAVIS: All right, there we go. With all of my heart
COHEN: Mr. Davis took communion, his faith steady, an example of grace and dignity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Father God, we're so thankful for Ed. Lord, he's a courageous witness for you.
COHEN (on camera): Mr. Davis, he said to you, you really wanted to go to church.
DAVIS: Yes.
COHEN: Now you've been. How do you feel?
DAVIS: Fulfilled. COHEN (voice-over): Fulfilled by the love of his family and by living out his last few days exactly as he wanted.
DAVIS: It's not hard to make a decision like this when you're 84 years old, lived a good life and raised a family. Of course, it's not always easy to leave, but we have to do that. We cry like this when we're going on a trip. So that's where I'm going, is on a trip. I'm going to take the rest of my life and be with the Lord in heaven.
COHEN: Ed Davis died Sunday night just hours after we spoke, surrounded by his family in his own home at peace.
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Tucker, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're looking at live pictures from Pinellas Park, Florida. That is just outside the hospice where Terri Schiavo is. We expect any minute to hear from her parents, the Schindlers. The Reverend Jesse Jackson is also there as a guest of the Schindlers. We expect him to speak, as well.
We'll be going back live to Pinellas Park when that happens. Let's listen a little bit right now.
RANDALL TERRY, SCHINDLER FAMILY SPOKESPERSON: ... caused three senators to switch their vote. Is -- so that is what -- that is what the delay is. He's talking to senators now and trying...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Which senators?
TERRY: I'll let him tell you. And trying to find three votes. If he can find three votes, and the leadership, President Lee, who has always expressed support to the family, if they can create the will, then they will make the way. And that's what this delay is all about, trying to get three senators to work out some language which can save Terri's life.
So the family is elated that Reverend Jackson is here. And as are all of the people who have been pleading for Terri's life, and may God bless him in his efforts. And I will come back out as soon -- I will either bring him out with me the next time or I'll come back and update you all.
KAGAN: As we listen in to Pinellas Park, once again, we're waiting for the Schindlers to come out and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. As you can hear that supporter speaking at the microphone, the efforts still go on at this late hour to have some political action at the Florida state legislature.
Much more ahead. Right now a quick break.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Terri Schiavo case brings attention to the idea of living wills. According to the National Institute on Aging, only 20 percent of Americans have them. Medical experts say a living will is important because it erases guesswork for families if a loved one becomes seriously ill.
Living wills don't need a lawyer's signature. Just give a family a signed copy.
And the Centers for Disease Control announce that rubella is no longer a major public health threat in the United States. The virus was a major cause of serious birth defects, including deafness and blindness. The CDC stresses Americans must continue vaccinating their children, because rubella exists in other nations.
Christy Feig, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Thirty years ago this summer, can you believe it, the movie "Jaws" made us fear the beach and the sharks that seemed to lurk in the waters waiting for us. Now there's a new film that shows how unfair that portrayal has endangered the so-called lions and tigers of the ocean, "Sharks 3-D." It's an IMAX production presented by our guest, a familiar face to us here at CNN LIVE TODAY, Jean-Michel Cousteau, an ocean explorer, environmentalist, film producer and friend of this program.
Jean-Michel, good morning. Good to have you back.
JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU, ENVIRONMENTALIST/FILM PRODUCER: It's so good to be back with you.
KAGAN: Let's talk about sharks and how you think they are actually beautiful creatures.
COUSTEAU: Well, sharks are not only beautiful creatures, but they play a vital role in the environment as scavengers, and there's more than 400 species of sharks.
They've been slaughtered in the last few years just for their fins. Over 100 million of them are literally killed just to cut the fins off to make shark fin soup in Asian countries.
KAGAN: Now, I saw this number...
COUSTEAU: And their bodies are dumped overboard as a result of that.
KAGAN: Jean-Michel, I saw this number in your press material, saying that 100 to 200 million sharks a year are killed. That number seems incredible to me.
COUSTEAU: That is the case, yes. They're being harvested to that extent. And most of them, not all of them, but most of them exclusively to make shark fin soup.
KAGAN: What is this IMAX movie going to show us? "Sharks in 3- D" does not sound like a fun day at that time movies to me, I've got to tell you.
COUSTEAU: Well, the "Sharks 3-D," the good news is that they're going to make you a diver. You're going to revolve in the middle of these beautiful creatures. You're going to learn that we owe them respect.
Some of them are potentially a problem. And I'm sorry for the eight or 10 people who ultimately die from bites, because they put themselves in the wrong place, either as a surfer, where there are some of those four to five species out of 400 that are potentially dangerous.
And this show is really restoring the facts. It's a show where you are -- you are swimming amongst the sharks. And children under 5 years of age can go, and they won't be afraid and they won't be scared.
KAGAN: OK. Let me ask you this, because you grew up as a diver. Diving is your second nature.
COUSTEAU: Yes.
KAGAN: So if you're underwater and you come across a bunch of sharks like this, do you actually say to yourself, Jean-Michel, "Hmm, this is potentially a problem"?
COUSTEAU: No, because I know where not to be. And I know with those four or five species out of 400 reside. And if there's any blood, anybody fishing, spear fishing, line fishing, there is turbid water, I'm not going to go there.
KAGAN: Sounds likes the bottom line here is respect. Respect that you're in their house and respect that these creatures do bring things to the ocean and the environment and the world?
COUSTEAU: We are temporary visitors, and we have to get to know them, just like you do when you go in the jungle or in the middle of a desert.
KAGAN: It is called "Sharks 3-D." It's in IMAX. When will we see it in IMAX theaters across the country?
COUSTEAU: That's right. It's going to -- now I just came back from Europe, where we've presented it in Germany and in France. I was in Canada recently. And I'll be in Boston tomorrow.
KAGAN: So is it out?
COUSTEAU: It's out.
KAGAN: Great.
COUSTEAU: It's coming out big time.
KAGAN: OK. Big time. That's a good way to describe a shark movie. Jean-Michel Cousteau, thank you so much.
COUSTEAU: Thank you very much. Good to see you again.
KAGAN: Good to see you.
SANCHEZ: Good interview.
Now let's take you back to Pinellas Park, and that is where the Terri Schiavo case and the hospice where she is still in and where the case is unfolding.
Let's tell you what is going on now and what we expect to happen. First of all, as you may have heard from anti-abortion activist Randall Terry moments ago, Jesse Jackson is talking to state senators there in Florida, trying to get them to get involved in somehow stopping the judicial action that has been enacted in this case.
We expect at some point and don't know exactly when, because we don't know when the reverend will be off the phone, that the Reverend Jackson will go to this microphone that you're seeing right there that's been set up for both him and Bob and Mary Schindler and address reporters and talk to some of these protesters, as well. As soon as that happen, we will take you to it.
This is CNN LIVE TODAY.
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KAGAN: Yes. You can call it an Irish invasion. U2 kicked off its world tour in San Diego, California, on Monday night. The band, recently named to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, will tour in the U.S. until mid-December, first hitting 13 cities in North America and then spending two months in Europe and kicking off a third leg in Canada in September that will include 33 more tour dates, which by the way includes two dates here in Atlanta, Georgia.
SANCHEZ: Aha!
KAGAN: The end of November.
SANCHEZ: Jacqui Jeras may be trying to score some tickets to get to this thing.
KAGAN: Do you go to U2?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I have been to, I think, every U2 concert I've been able to go to, but I don't have tickets. I couldn't get them. So...
SANCHEZ: We'll work that for you.
JERAS: Daryn, I know. He's your buddy.
KAGAN: We'll see what we can do. We'll see what we can do. All right.
JERAS: I think my first concert was U2.
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KAGAN: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: The -- and we'll work on those tickets for you, by the way. We'll get back to you on that.
JERAS: Thank you.
KAGAN: Right here.
SANCHEZ: Hello, Bono?
KAGAN: Hello, Bono?
SANCHEZ: The president is scheduled to speak in the Rose Garden in just a couple of minutes. In fact, he's expected to talk about democracy in Iraq.
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