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CNN 10
Super Typhoon Spins Toward Japan; U.S. Auto Worker Strike Continues; Kites are Explored as Conduits for Wind Energy; CNN Hero Series
Aired October 11, 2019 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN 10 ANCHOR: They say life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent Friday`s are awesome, something like that. Welcome to CNN
10, I`m Carl Azuz. It`s great to have you watching. As we put this show together a super typhoon was whirling toward the nation of Japan. It`s
name is Typhoon Hagisbis. It`s called a super typhoon because it`s especially powerful. On Thursday, Hagisbis was the equivalent of a
Category 5 hurricane, the strongest classification. If it shifts direction as forecasters expect it to, this storm could come very close to the
Japanese capital of Tokyo on Saturday.
Meteorologists think it will have weakened by then but Hagisbis is on track to make landfall right near where Typhoon Faxai hit in September. That
storm reportedly killed three people and caused more than $7 billion in damage. Super Typhoon Hagibis is expected to bring heavy rain to much of
south central Japan. Near the coast forecasters are concerned about a potentially large storm surge, a rise in seawater levels pushed ashore by a
storm and Hagibis has already had an impact on the Rugby World Cup. It`s being held in Japan this year and some matches have been cancelled as the
storm approaches.
On the other side of the Pacific, General Motors, the automotive company that makes Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, it`s in the midst of the car industry`s
longest strike in decades. The union representing almost 50,000 workers is negotiating with GM over issues like wages and profit sharing and a big
hand up between the two sides is over production in Mexico. GM has four factories there and 33 in the United States but the company`s planning to
close four U.S. plants and the union wants production in Mexico shifted back to the U.S. One industry expert says that would come at a heavy cost
to GM. The strike has been going on for 25 days.
10 Second Trivia. The first known kites have been traced back to what country? China, India, Egypt or Australia. Though the exact origin of the
kite isn`t known, historians believe they were first used in China.
They fly like the wind but can kites be used to gather electricity from it. There are a number of companies experimenting with this idea. It requires
huge kites that fly high enough to catch the steady winds in our atmosphere and then transfer that energy back to earth. There are concerns about the
amount of maintenance they`d need. The threat they could pose if they crash and what would happen in bad weather. But if everything goes right -
-
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some of the world`s strongest winds are found here, out on the ocean where water is too deep for most off shore wind turbines.
But a company called Makani believes it has a solution with a new wind technology inspired by a familiar child`s toy, the kite. To me it almost
looks like an airplane, what makes it a kite?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know when you fly a kite in the park, it`s being lifted by the wind and you`re holding on to it with a tether and so our
kite is the same way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Once airborne, Makani`s 85 foot long energy kite flies around autonomously, guided by computers. Crosswinds spin eight
rotors producing electricity that sent back to the ground through a tether and its carbon fiber frame makes the kite extremely lightweight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our energy kites are so lightweight we can install them in deep water on floating platforms.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that means they can capture winds much further offshore where other turbines can`t. Last month in Norway, Makani
successfully completed its first deep water offshore flight but their kites won`t be ready for market for several years. If your system is widely
adopted, what kind of impact do you think it can potentially make?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are many areas around the world that really don`t have a good resource for renewable power but do have offshore wind
resource. And so our lightweight kites create the possibility that we could tap that resource very economically and bring renewable power to
hundreds of millions of people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Whether it`s flying a blimp, driving an 18 wheeler or jumping out of a plane, a CNN Hero is helping senior citizens seek the thrills they`ve
always dreamed of. His name is Webb Weiman. His non-profit organization is Jump. He says it`s all about taking seniors from darkness to light.
(BEGIN VIDEO CL IP)
WEBB WEIMAN, CNN HERO: I tell seniors, live by two rules. There are no bad bucket list wishes and everyone should have a bucket list wish. For
every bucket list fulfilled, there is a sense of accomplishment. A story that they get to take back to their community. It lifts their spirits. My
name is Webb and I help seniors achieve their dreams.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My dad is a piece of work. He`s - - he`s a 95 year old veteran. He was in World War II, participated in the invasion of
Normandy at D-Day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And that`s our crew, I`m on the right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He worked hard all his life, was always kind, always had friends and would do anything for anybody. Give them the shirt off his
back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. So the last number was B-15.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With dad aging, he`s slowing down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got that. (ph)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His body`s not keeping up with his mind.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bingo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He wants to be the energizer bunny.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can`t believe it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It aggravates him that he can`t do what he used to be able to do.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`re going to clear it out. Begin a new game.
WEIMAN: The reality of living in isolation is out there and it`s real. And that`s really one of the driving forces for us to keep going. Drag the
bucket list out of them. When he saw the balloon being blown up and I looked at his face, his smile could have filled up the balloon but it`s in
that moment that I know this is where I`m supposed to be.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey we`re moving.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s just heartwarming to see him going up in that balloon and I think he`s still smiling. Just so proud of him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You keep smiling. That`s - - that`s your only requirement.
WEIMAN: I looked at it like much more than a hot air balloon ride. Calm and beautiful. It was a moment in time to share a little space with two
heroes had a good shot at the moon. It`s a feeling that`s indescribable. I could feel the joy in their heart. I could see the spark in their eye
and feel the gratitude that fills the air. And I think knowing that they`re feeling the same way is really all I needed to know this was a
successful mission.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you have a good time dad?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was something.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He won`t believe he`s this old if he keeps doing adventurous things.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (inaudible) fly again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was something he`d never experienced before and he`ll never forget it, ever.
WEIMAN: Even in your 90s`, you`re still flying high. (inaudible) I want to thank you. This was a great day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: A Canadian fire department recently ordered 18 large pizzas for $300. They thought they`d called Alimo`s (ph) Pizzaria in Alberta, Canada
where they`re based. But instead they`d ordered from Alamo`s Pizza in San Antonio, Texas. Oops. That`s 2,300 miles away so a bit far for delivery.
So what they decided to do was donate the pizzas to two local fire stations in Texas. Firefighters there shared some pictures of themselves enjoying
the pies and now people from all over are donating pizzas to workers.
Who wouldn`t want a "pizzof" that effort? For anyone in "pepporoneed" of a pick me up, these pizzas are making the rounds where "slices" of good will
abound and folks "dough" want to miss the chance to "dish" out a gesture who`s ingredients are kindness and generosity. And is never too "cheesy"
to "pie" it forward. I`m Carl Azuz, hope your weekend is fresh.
END
