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CNN Live Sunday
John Mark Karr Seven Hours from Landing in U.S.; Gunfire Opens in Baghdad; Al Jazeera Airs Appeal from Family of Ken Centanni
Aired August 20, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Murder suspect John Mark Karr is about seven hours from landing in the U.S. He faces charges of first degree murder, child sexual assault and kidnapping in connection with the death of child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey. Complete coverage coming up.
Mayhem today in Baghdad: gunmen defied heavy security and opened fire on Shiite pilgrims; at least 20 people were killed, more than 300 wounded. More on that story.
Al Jazeera has aired an appeal from the family of journalist Ken Centanni who was kidnapping in Gaza last week. The appeal first aired on FOX News for whom Centanni is a reporter.
Israel says it won't allow the presence of Lebanese troops within a mile of its border unless multinational forces are with them. It also says any peacekeeper sent to Southern Lebanon must come from countries with diplomatic ties to Israel.
And Iran said today it has no plans to gear down its nuclear program. It says it will make an official response on Tuesday to the incentive package offered by six world powers including the U.S., we'll have more on that at the half hour.
And welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
Ahead this hour, a year after the devastation of Katrina one survivor makes his way to the leader of the free world.
And we will go inside the green house movement in Washington, D.C.
But first our top story.
Here's the very latest on John Mark Karr. Karr is due to land in Los Angeles at 8:40 p.m. Pacific time, 11:40 p.m. Eastern. How long he will remain in Los Angeles isn't yet clear, but he will be transported to Boulder, Colorado, the scene of the Ramsey murder investigation.
Right now on board his flight, Karr is accompanied by United States officials, including a member of the Department of Homeland Security and a Boulder police investigator.
CNN's Drew Griffin is on the plane as well and we will be hearing from him later. From the time of Karr's arrest in Thailand, a bizarre series of events and a torrent of information has come to light. From Bangkok, CNN's Atika Shubert reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Murder suspect John Mark Karr was escorted out of Thailand's immigration detention center to the flash of cameras and a barrage of questions from reporters. He answered none of them. With a blank expression on his face, officials led him to a waiting car.
Arriving at the airport the scene was a media frenzy as Karr was pushed through to check-in and immigration. He is flying business class bound on a Thai Airways flight bound for Los Angeles. But even as Karr leaves Thailand, many questions remain: what was he doing here for the last two years?
He lived a lonely life on the 9th floor of this Bangkok guest house staff and neighbors say, and was never seen with anyone. CNN obtained a copy of his hotel bill with several phone numbers. Among the calls a tour agency that says he traveled to Cambodia and a medical clinic specializing in cosmetic surgery including sex change operations. Doctors there say Karr had several appointments, but refused to divulge what treatments he received.
Karr taught in at least two Bangkok international schools for several weeks, both refused to hire him full-time. One reported inappropriate behavior with young girls, another said he was too intimidating to his students.
CNN also obtained a copy of his application to another school that declined to hire him. According to a school official that interviewed him for the job, Karr seemed, quote, "overly eager to work with elementary schoolgirls, refusing any supervision or assistance in the classroom."
The school official also told CNN, "Karr sent the school a series of pornographic and sexually explicit e-mails."
Once in detention, Karr was monitored 24 hours a day by English speaking guards. He ate little, only asking for the occasional bottle of water. Immigration officials say he passed the days watching television including news reports of his arrest and reading one book "The Secret Garden," a children's story about an orphaned young girl who goes to live with her reclusive uncle in the English country side.
(on camera): This detention center was John Mark Karr's home for the last four days. Immigration officials tell us he made one last request before leaving, he said he wanted to dress well, asking for a silk shirt and tie. He told them he wanted to be dressed like a schoolteacher for his final departure.
Atika Shubert, CNN, Bangkok.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: And on Monday, Larry King will have an exclusive interview with Ramsey family attorney Lin Wood and the Colorado professor who lead police to Karr: that's Monday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Terror and chaos on the streets of Baghdad today disrupting what was supposed to be a peaceful pilgrimage to a holy shrine. Despite heightened security, snipers opened fire on Shia pilgrims, at least 20 were killed, more than 300 wounded.
Our Michael Holmes is in Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Violence had been expected, and insurgents obliged: gunfire and panic.
Hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims marched on the streets of northern and central Baghdad Sunday to mark the anniversary of the death of the revered 8th Century imam, Musa al-Kadhim.
Last year, rumors of a suicide bomber in the crowd sparked a stampede that killed nearly a 1,000 people.
This time, the threat was no rumor. Despite high security and a total vehicle ban, gunmen struck from at least half a dozen locations, many firing on the crowd from rooftops and inside houses, even from a cemetery.
U.S. helicopters were in the air, but ground troops stayed back leaving security to Iraqi forces and in some cases, Shia militiamen who fought insurgents in often prolonged gun battles.
Among the dead, some of those militiamen and several insurgents, several police officers among the wounded.
But the pilgrims were determined to proceed. And by the time they had reached their destination, the biggest Shia mosque in Baghdad, many of their fellow marchers were dead, hundreds wounded.
Violence had been anticipated by authorities in part because the Shia march wound its way through several Sunni neighborhoods. And that's where most of the ambushes took place.
(on camera): The march took place during a major U.S.-Iraqi security operation aimed at curbing Shia/Sunni violence as well as attacks by foreign fighters. But at the end of the day, the toll of dead Iraqis had risen yet again.
Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein goes on trial again on Monday, this time he faces war crimes charges for the genocide of Kurds in the so-called Ansal Campgaign. Ansal was a series of deadly attacks in 1988, 100,000 Kurds were killed. Hussein and six co-defendants are charged with crimes against humanity. Among them is Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali.
The tribunal will be made of five Shiite and Kurdish Iraqi judges.
Our in depth coverage of Saddam Hussein's new trial begins tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. Eastern and continues throughout the day right here on CNN.
An emotional appeal from the family of an American journalist kidnapped in Gaza: the brother of Fox News reporter Steve Centanni made a plea on al-Jazeera TV. Centanni's two sisters also appeared on the tape.
Centanni and New Zealand cameraman Olaf Wiig were captured by masked gunmen six days ago. No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Centanni's family appeared on FOX News just about 30 minutes ago.
The FOX Network has asked us to run the tape in an effort to help secure the journalists release. Here's what the family has to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEN CENTANNI, BROTHER OF STEVE CENTANNI: Our brother, Steve Centanni, was kidnapped on August 14, last Monday. I would like his captors to know that Steve is an honorable man who always tries to do what is right. Steve has strong respect for the Palestinian people and their culture. Steve was in Gaza with Olaf Wiig to report the truth. He is far more valuable to the Palestinian people free as a journalist than as a captive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: We will also be airing that tape on CNN International.
Palestinian officials have ordered all security agencies to search for the kidnapped journalist.
Crucial days ahead for the fragile cease-fire in the Middle East. Politics could determine if the two sides slide right back into the violence. That story next.
Plus, homeowners say they want to live green and they are willing to pay a whole lot extra for it. The story coming up on CNN LIVE SUNDAY.
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WHITFIELD: Crisis in the Middle East: here's what we know right now, Israel says it won't allow Lebanese troops near its border unless they're accompanied by U.N. forces. Those troops are not expected in the area until late this week. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says an Israeli raid into Lebanon violated the cease-fire. Israel says the raid was aimed at preventing Iran and Syria from rearming Hezbollah.
The Lebanese prime minister is vowing to crush any attempt on the Labanese side of the border to break the truce.
A fragile cease-fire is holding in lebanon. A top U.N. envoy says the country faces a critical test in the coming days. Meanwhile, Lebanon's prime minister has been visiting some of the devastated areas. We get the latest now from CNN's Brent Sadler.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid fears of a crumbling cease-fire, top Lebanese officials walk through devastated neighborhoods of Beirut's southern suburbs Sunday; a place where the homeless and the hysterical curse Israel and exhalt their peers.
On one day alone, Israel dropped more than 20 tons of explosives to destroy Hezbollah's power base here. But in going after Hezbollah, Israel laid to waste thousands of civilian homes.
The prime minister lashes out at Israel for committing, he claims, a crime against humanity.
There is no other way to describe what we are seeing," says a visibly shaken Fawad Siniora, "but as a criminal act that depicts Israel's hatred wanting to destroy Lebanon and its unity."
The week-old cease-fire may now be hanging by a thread after Israel launched a lightning raid deep inside Lebanon Saturday justifying the attack as enforcement of a new arms embargo, to stop Iran and Syria resuppolying Hezbollah.
The United Nations has condemned Israel for the raid, warning it could endanger the fragile calm.
TERJE ROED-LARSEN, U.N. ENVOY: We are at the tilting edge, still. And this can easily start sliding, again, and lead us quickly into the abyss of violence and bloodshed.
SADLER: Lebanon's defense minister meanwhile sought to strengthen faith in Hezbollah's commitment to the cease-fire for not retaliating.
ELIAS MURR, LEBANESE DEFENSE MINISTER: They will respect the U.N. resolution and there will be no rockets. And I trust them.
SADLER: In response to the renewed Israeli military action, though, Lebanon threatens to pull back or slow down the deployment of its army now enjoying some popularity in the south close to the border with Israel.
(on camera): A move that could start to uncalf the truce. Though condition on U.S. assurance, that Israel will comply with the terms of the cease-fire.
(voice-over): In another move to allay growing anxiety the truce could be sabotaged by extremist pro-Syrian Palestinian groups in Lebanon, the defense ministry fired a warning shot.
MURR: Anybody who will throw a rocket when they the army will be fully deployed, the army will deal with these people like if they were criminals.
SADLER: A week in the cessation into hostilities, and the cease- fire may be hanging in the balance as nations dither over the terms and conditions for sending more U.N. troops into the danger zone. The longer that takes, warn officials here, the greater the risks.
Brent Sadler, CNN, Beirut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: President Bush's predecessor hitting a milestone next weekend, 60 years young. We will hear how President Clinton feels about all those candles on his cake.
And Larry Smith is in Illinois. He's hanging out with all those young leaders out there. What's going on?
LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right Fredricka, the 88th PGA Championship, the emotions are building as we wind down the final round in the final major of the 2006 season. Can Tiger Woods make it an even dozen? I will have an update when CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues.
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WHITFIELD: Investigators are combing a rural yard in western Missouri. They're looking for more evidence after bone fragments from at least two bodies were found in Cass County. Authorities say the bodies of up to six people may have been dumped on the property. The deaths are believes to be drug related.
A Florida's teacher's aide is recovering after an alleged attack by a young student. A 6-year-old had an argument with another kid and was leaving the playground when the aide tried to stop him. The child allegedly head-butted and kicked the adult. No charges are expected. Police say the boy needs counseling.
Peace activist Cindy Sheehan is making headlines again. She was among more than 50 protesters who disrupted a Texas fund-raiser yesterday where Karl Rove was speaking. The group called for Rove to be tried for treason. Sheehan contends that Rove, the president's top adviser, planned the war that killed her son.
Bill Clinton is marking a milestone. The former president turned 60 yesterday. These pictures are of him celebrating his birthday with his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and daughter Chelsea. While 60 may be the new 40, according to the "Boston Globe," Mr. Clinton hates it. He says he doesn't like being so old.
And this hour, the last of the golf season's four major tournaments is headed toward a climax and guess who is pulling away in the lead still. CNN's Larry Smith is standing by for us at the PGA championship in Medinah, Illinois. And we talk about 60 being the new 40. Well the leader board is filled with a lot of really young players, isn't it?
SMITH: Yes, it really is. There's some guys like Luke Donald, 28-years-old, Jeff Ogilvy, the U.S. Open champion from a couple of months ago. But still it's the 30-year-old who just keeps getting better with age. Tiger Woods well on his way to a 12th career major victory. And that would put him only -- second only behind Jack Nicklaus.
As we check the leader board right now, he is at 17 under par, as he has been nearly flawless today. Three birdies, including about a 30-footer on hole No. 6. As he now have a three shot lead over Mike Weir. Donald came in as the co-leader here at 14 under par. They were tied for the lead, but he just bogeyed a couple of holes ago and he is now four shots back as Tiger Woods, keep in mind, he has never lost in a major when he's been in the lead or tied for the lead after three rounds. That's the way he was now. And again, he's about make that 12 for 12 if he can keep this up -- Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Wow, and Larry, you talk about Jack Nicklaus having the record of 18 championship wins. And it's really always been in the sites of Tiger Woods, hasn't it, to try to beat that record or at least chase it?
SMITH: Yes, well, certainly that was always his goal. Even when he was a young man coming onto the pro tour and people might have scoffed at that and said, come on, what are you thinking? But when you think about Tiger and what he has done in the first decade as a pro, he already is at a faster pace of winning majors, winning at a higher percentage than the great golden bear, Jack Nicklaus did in his first 10 years on the tour. This would be his 12th out of his first 40 majors, his 12th victory.
Nicklaus went nine of 40 in his first 10 years. So already well on the way, and when you think of that number of 18, you know, that could really be a low number. He will be 31 in December and if you look at the next 10 years, if he wins one major in the next 10 years, which is very possible -- he's in excellent shape, golfers normally don't peak until they're in their thirties, he could really put the major win total up into the twenties before he's done.
WHITFIELD: Always ahead of the curve from the very start. Larry Smith, thanks so much from Medinah.
SMITH: OK.
WHITFIELD: And now looking straight ahead this hour, war games in Iran. Tehran flexes its muscle. It's the start of five weeks of military exercises. What is behind it all? And White House or bust? A Katrina survivor heads to the White House with his FEMA trailer in tow. We'll tell you what's behind that long journey.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Murder suspect John Mark Karr is on a plane bound for Los Angeles from Bangkok, Thailand. Karr could face charges of first degree murder, child sexual assault and kidnapping in connection with the death of JonBenet Ramsey 10 years ago.
Mayhem today in Baghdad. Gunmen defied heavy security and opened fire on Shiite pilgrims. At least 20 people were killed, more than 300 wounded. More on that story coming up.
Al-Jazeera has aired an appeal from the family of American journalist Ken Centanni who was kidnapped in Gaza last week. The appeal first aired on FOX News, where Centanni is a reporter.
Israel says it won't allow the presence of Lebanese troops within a mile of its border unless multinational forces are with them. It also says any peacekeeper send to southern Lebanon must come from countries with diplomatic ties to Israel.
And Iran said today it has no plans to cure down its nuclear program. It says it will make an official response on Tuesday to the incentives package offered by six world powers, including the U.S. We'll have more on that at the half hour.
And here's the latest information on John Mark Karr, the suspect in the JonBenet Ramsey killing. Right now he's on a plane headed for the United States. He's due in Los Angeles in about seven hours from now. He didn't say anything to reporters at the Bangkok Airport when he left Thailand early this morning. Colorado prosecutors say no decision has been made on where Karr will be held once he does arrive in Los Angeles.
More information is surfacing about Karr's reported obsession with the 1996 death of JonBenet Ramsey. Michael Sandrock, a freelance journalist who met Karr in Paris four years ago says Karr knew every detail about the case and was fixated on her death.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL SANDROCK, FREELANCE WRITER: He asked me my opinion of it and I said some people that some people think the parents did it, some people think there was an intruder. And he asked me what I thought, and I said, "Well I don't really have an opinion either way." And when I said something about the intruder, he kind of smiled a little bit and I just started getting an uncomfortable feeling because it was just a little bit too much. And at the time I was reading -- I would take a book with me to Paris, to Europe if I'd go on a long trip and so I had "The Brother Karamazov" and I just remember thinking, I said, "This is just like straight from a Dostoyevsky novel." Because when I was talking to him, I always got the feeling that there was something else that he was ready to talk to me about. (END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Sandrock says he eventually put Karr in touch with Michael Tracey, the Colorado professor who had produced a documentary on the Ramsey case. Tracey reportedly gave police e-mails Karr had sent him about JonBenet, which led to Karr's detention in Thailand.
And on Monday, Larry King will have an exclusive interview with the Ramsey family attorney, Lin Wood and that Colorado professor who led Karr -- or police rather to Karr. That's Monday at nine Eastern.
Will the Middle East cease-fire agreement hold? That's one of the questions facing President Bush as he begins his new workweek. Let's go straight to the White House and CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano.
Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Fredricka. The president returned to the White House after spending the weekend at Camp David. He returned earlier this afternoon.
Besides Lebanon a host of other issues, a political debate continuing over Iraq and the larger questions about the president's foreign policy. Well today the debate grew more complex, Senator Joe Lieberman who was on the outs with Democrats over his support of the Iraq war tried to distance himself from President Bush by once again calling and reiterating his call for defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign, but even as he tries to distance himself Mr. Lieberman is standing by his assertion that setting a deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal in Iraq would be a mistake.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOE LIBERMAN, (D) CONNECTICUT: The terrorist, al Qaeda and the rest would use Iraq as a safe haven from which to strike other countries in the Middle East and the United States of America.
SEN. JOHN KERRY, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: I am concerned that he is making a Republican case and he is uttering almost the same words as Vice President Cheney and I think it's inappropriate. The fact is Joe Lieberman is out of step with the people of Connecticut. I believe that he's just dead wrong with respect to the war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now there is also dissatisfaction over foreign policy within the GOP, potential presidential candidate Sen. John McCain has insisted that the Bush administration did not have enough troops going into Iraq, nevertheless he believes, he says, that the president is determined to complete the mission.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: I know that the president is committed to win. I know that he will do what's necessary. Many times he has said we will do whatever is necessary and I believe him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now mean time the tense situation in Lebanon is also a concern. The White House said this weekend that that recent Israeli raid underscores the importance of getting that expanded international force into southern Lebanon. The White House also noted the Israeli statement that the operation was a reaction to arms smuggling and that preventing Hezbollah from being resupplied with weapons is a key provision of that United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Elaine Quijano at the White House. Thanks so much.
Iran announced today it test-fired ten short-range surface-to- surface missiles, it comes a day after the start of large-scale military exercises throughout the country, CNN's Aneesh Raman reports from Tehran.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is meant to leave little doubt. In Iran there is a readiness for war, over the weekend the armed forces launched massive military exercises set to continue over the next five weeks in half of the country's provinces and set to showcase key assets, including this surface-to-surface missile dubbed in far seat thunder. Iranian military officials say it can travel up to 155 miles.
Short range perhaps but this is all they say part of a new defensive doctrine. The war games are in operation across the country in a large scale says the chief commander of the Iranian army and they are aimed at encountering all sudden attacks from enemies. The threat of sudden attacks is a not so veiled reference to potential air strikes Iran could face from the west against its nuclear facilities, a prospect being urgently planned for here ahead of a U.N. deadline for Iran to suspend its nuclear program.
As early as Tuesday Iran could officially give its decision on that, but on Sunday came a preview. Suspension is moving back to the past said Iran's foreign ministry spokesman and it is not on Iran's agenda and we will not suspend our nuclear activities. Iranian officials have from the start maintained theirs is a peaceful civilian nuclear program that they have the right to pursue it.
But with suspension off the negotiating table, Iran will almost certainly face action by the U.N., Iranian officials say they are ready for sanctions and as these scenes are meant to reinforce, ready for any military strike by the west.
U.S. officials have said that military action against Iran is an option but have seriously downplayed that any detailed plans are in the works. That is of little concern to Iran's government who see the U.S. through this nuclear issue as seeking nothing less than regime change.
Aneesh Raman, CNN, Tehran.
WHITFIELD: Time now to go global with some other headlines from around the world. Angry protests in Nepal have forced the government to roll back some price increases. Demonstrators blocked roads, set cars and motorcycles on fire and clashed with police to protest higher prices for gasoline, diesel fuel and cooking oil. Nepal's cabinet withdrew the price hikes today.
Monsoon rains have forced tens of thousands of people in western India to evacuate low-lying areas. Some people were moved from their homes in boats. The army has been called out to help with relief efforts there.
And Afghanistan's first music school for women is sounding a sour note for some hard-line Islamic clerics. They say Islamic law prohibits women from being musicians. The director of the school says music is need for everyone.
A little later on in the show, green building? Gary Nurenberg takes a look at the latest in energy-efficient living.
When we come back, we will check in again with the man behind this caravan to the White House.
But first, you don't need an IPod to listen to a pod cast, CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg talkes with Brian Cooley, editor at large with the tech Website CNET.com about what pod casts are and where to find them.
DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: By now you have heard one of the Internet buzz terms popular out there today, pod casting or pod casts. But what does it mean exactly and how do you find some of the latest pod casts that are there? Well joining us now to talk all things pod casting is Brian Cooley, editor at large with CNET. Brian, the idea of a pod cast, it sounds like you are combining iPod with broadcast? Is that about right?
BRIAN COOLEY, CNET, EDITOR AT LARGE: That's exactly what it is. It began with the iPod, hence the name, but I want to point out you can listen to pod cast on these types other types of media players, any media player that can play a mp3 file with play a pod cast. So don't get caught on having to have an iPod per say. It is just an mp3, usually a talk show or an independent music performance put out by regular people in many cases.
SIEBERG: Just a microphone and some software.
COOLEY: That's all you need. And that is why there is so many of them out there, because they are easy to do. But also big companies are doing it, CNN and CNET, also do pod cast, so you will find everything from slick and polished to grass roots.
SIEBERG: So you might find them on CNET or the CNN Website, but where else can you find these?
COOLEY: A lot of directories, if you use the iTunes' software, which is excellent of course, they have a lot of traffic in pod cast because tens of millions of people are using iTunes. You can also go to ipoder.org, which is one of the earliest places to find pod casts, and remains kind of the grand daddy. There is also pod cast alley also an early place where pod casting got started. So there are several directories but I urge people to keep their eye open on the sites they already go to where they have interests and you will see pod casts popping up there, that way you know you are already interested in that subject.
SIEBERG: All right. Pod casting 101 with Brian Cooley, editor at large at CNET. Thanks so much.
COOLEY: You bet.
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WHITFIELD: Now in the news, murder suspect John Mark Karr is about seven hours from landing in the U.S., he faces charges of first- degree murder, child sexual assault and kidnapping in connection with the death of child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey. Complete coverage coming up.
Mayhem today in Baghdad. Gunman defined heavy security and open fire at Shia pilgrims; at least 20 people were killed, more than 300 wounded. More on that story as well.
Al-Jazeera has aired an appeal from the family of journalist Ken Centanni, who was kidnapped in Gaza last week. The appeal first aired on Fox News, Centaani is a reporter for that network.
Israel says it won't allow the presence of Lebanese troops within a mile of its border unless multinational forces are with them, it also says any peacekeeper accept to southern Lebanon must come from countries with diplomatic ties to Israel.
Iran says today it has no plans to gear down its nuclear program, it says it will make an official response on Tuesday to the incentives package offered by six world powers, including the U.S., more on that story coming up.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm on a mission to go out there and find the people who want to rebuild, who want to come back, hurricane Katrina knocked us down, but it didn't knock us out. That's my mission. My mission is to find the people who want to rebuild, be strong and come back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: That was from a documentary that that man, Rockey Vaccarella helped put together. Well he sees a need to rebuild the hurricane-battered Gulf coast to drive home the point you heard Rockey explain to me yesterday on the air why he's leading this caravan with the FEMA trailer in toe from his hometown in southern Louisiana all the way to the White House. Well he wants to have a Cajun style dinner with the president and Rockey began his trek to D.C. this past Friday morning. He joins us by phone from the open roads of the southeast. So Rockey, you are right now in Greensboro, North Carolina how is your tracking going since we last spoke with you?
ROCKEY VACCARELLA, MADE DOCUMENTARY ON KATRINA: Fantastic, we hit a couple of bumps on the road and made a couple of left turns with, when we should have made right. But overall it's been a success.
WHITFIELD: So what's planned as you make your way towards D.C.? Now in North Carolina you are less than ten hours away from the nation's capital.
VACCARELLA: Hey, you're right. We are going to stop and in Raleigh, and stay right there. And then tomorrow we'll head right into Washington.
WHITFIELD: You are still holding out this open invitation to the president. The president's office hasn't gotten back to you on whether that Cajun dinner will take place on the FEMA trailer. But why is it you find it so important to have that dinner on the trailer that you've been living in, for the past few months?
VACCARELLA: You know, I want to thank the president. I am not going over there to throw any jabs or anything like that. President Bush did a lot for us. There are thousands of people down on the Gulf coast still living a year later in FEMA trailers. So what I wanted to do was take a FEMA trailer up there and have a good old occasion, St. Bernard meal with President Bush in the trailer and let him know what we living in.
WHITFIELD: If the president says, no, then do you feel like your journey to Washington has been for naught?
VACCARELLA: Not at all. If the president says, no, we are going to blow out the candles and say, you know what, he's just real busy right now, and we are going to head back to our homes. We already had contacts with the president through phone. He wanted to have a phone interview, and we were just too far out and we didn't want to turn around, and we are going for it. And, you know, it's not a matter of -- we're positive about this thing.
WHITFIELD: In the end, what do you think you have taught people about this journey?
VACCARELLA: You know what? I think I taught a lot of people that even a small man could get a big message across. This is America. And, you know, every day on the news you are hearing about Iraq. You are hearing about this, you are hearing about being bombed. This is America. You know what? We got bombed with hurricane Katrina and it devastated St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans the Gulf coast. So this is our hometown. And we love our hometown. We need to take care of our hometown. If we can't do that, we can't take care of the world.
WHITFIELD: Rockey Vaccarella, good luck to you on your journey. I know you are hoping to meet face to face with the president this week at the end of your journey all the way from the New Orleans area and the nation's capital and if you don't have that meeting with him, we would love to find out and follow up with you on how your journey is.
VACCARELLA: You know what? We are going to have that meeting with him.
WHITFIELD: You are optimistic.
VACCARELLA: We are absolutely. We brought a FEMA Cajun chef with us, and we are going to cook some old fashioned southern meals, and we are going to let the president know hey, thanks for everything you done, we know you are a busy man, and we feel safe with him as chief of our military, but, you know what? This is home and it's been a year, and the job's not done, yet, and we just don't want him to forget about us.
WHITFIELD: With that offered menu, how can he turn you down, Rockey?
VACCARELLA: You know what? He can't, that's what I'm saying when we serving Creole shrimp and Cajun rice and red fish, how can he turn it down.
WHITFIELD: Rockey Vaccarella, thanks so much.
VACCARELLA: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Well, we want to talk energy now. It's not easy being green. That's what Kermit the frog has always said. Apparently some of you are willing to pay a lot of money to find on what being green is all about. The popularity of going green next on CNN LIVE SUNDAY.
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ANDY SERWER, EDITOR AT LARGE, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Brett Yormark is the CEO the Net's basketball team. And this guy is truly a dynamo. In his 19-hour workday, he's in meetings five and a half hours. He has over 57 phone calls, 113 e-mails received, 81 e-mails sent, it's a killer schedule.
BRETT YORMARK, CEO, NETS BASKETBALL: I start my day early with a lot of e-mails and setting the tone and the message for the day. I spend a lot of time walking the hallways. I am very hands-on, and accessible. It's a strategy that has worked for me, so I'm sticking to it.
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WHITFIELD: Living green, a new poll says 90 percent of us would be willing to pay more for environmentally friendly homes and buildings and an entire industry is there to provides -- or, sorry, the entire industry providing green homes and businesses is blooming. For more let's go live to CNN's Gary Nurenberg in Washington. Sorry about that Gary.
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well blooming that is clever, you know, despite the poll a representative of the U.S. Green building council says the technology is now advanced to the point where building green really doesn't have to cost one penny more than using conventional construction methods.
Kermit the frog used to say it's not easy being green, but for buildings now with technology it is becoming increasingly easier.
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NURENBERG (voice over): From a Santa Monica office building on the West Coast.
DANIEL HINERFIELD, NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL: We use about 60 percent less electricity than a typical office building this size.
NURENBERG: To a youth center on the east.
BOB PEELER, ROBERTSON PARK YOUTH CENTER: It is environmental friendly.
NURENBERG: Buildings designed to be energy efficient and conserve natural resources are sprouting like black-eyed Susans on this rooftop in Washington, D.C.
MICHELLE MOORE, U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL: It is a no brainer, there's no reason today that you should be building any way other than green.
NURENBERG: Michelle Moore is with the United States Green Building Council.
MOORE: Green buildings are a measurable way to save energy, reduce co2 emissions, reduce water consumption and create a better healthier environment.
NURENBERG: The American Society of Landscape Architects has loaded the roof of its D.C. headquarters with plants. They will cool the roof and they will clean the water and they also act as an insulating blanket, they should reduce our heating and cooling bills. Buildings are actually worse consumers of energy than cars.
Some of the solutions are as simple as an open window.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Instead of constantly air-conditioning the office, what you need to do in a typical office building, here you can open the window and catch an ocean breeze.
NURENBERG: The natural resources defense council uses motion sensors to turn lights on and off in the Santa Monica offices built with recycled materials, it captures and recycles rain water and uses special toilets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are two buttons on the top, so you can choose to flush with a whole tank of water or a half a tank of water.
HINERFIELD: The wall insulation is made out of recycled blue jeans.
NURENBERG: That Maryland youth center uses Geo thermal energy to heat and cool, has cabinets made from wheat straw and window blinds made from recycled aluminum cans.
HINERFIELD: We don't burn any fossil fuels in this building and we are saving energy.
NURENBERG: And with energy costs consistently rising, being green has building owners seeing green on their bottom line.
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NURENBERG: The Green Building Council tracks this and now has records of more than 5,000 buildings in the United States that are either green certified or becoming green certified or want to be. And with energy prices rising Fredricka, that number is rising as well.
WHITFIELD: Now what about residences? I'm sure a lot of people want to know how their homes can be just as green.
NURENBERG: About 650 homes in the country right now on that list of green approved housing that the building council has. There is right now in process a method for certifying your home and they hope to have that done by next spring. They think that is where the real boom is going to be in terms of those energy savings in the next few years.
WHITFIELD: All right. Gary Nurenberg thanks so much from Washington.
Coming up his heroism remained anonymous until his story hit the big screen. Our Gary Tuckman has that tail coming up.
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