NEWSROOM for January 22, 2001
ANNOUNCER: Seen in classrooms the world over, this is</s>CNN NEWSROOM. SHELLEY WALCOTT, CO-HOST: Happy Monday and welcome to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Shelley Walcott. A lot ahead today. Here's what's coming up. President Bush hits the ground running his first week in office. We'll take a look at what he's got planned. Then, in "Environment Desk," new homes near Atlanta that could save owners a lot of money. From the suburbs of the U.S. to the wilds of Russia, "Worldview" zeros in on the wolf. And in "Chronicle," a high school band in a high-profile performance. The United States presidency changes hands, creating a weekend of beginnings and endings, parties and protests. President George W. Bush was sworn in Saturday as the nation's 43rd president. A controversial yet smooth shift in power this weekend. Former President Clinton bid farewell to a position he's held for eight years, placing his executive responsibilities in the hands of his replacement, President George W. Bush. In his 14-minute inaugural address, President Bush promised to unite America and lead with civility and compassion.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will live and lead by these principles: to advance my convictions with civility, to pursue the public interest with courage, to speak for greater justice and compassion, to call for responsibility and try to live it as well.</s>WALCOTT: A three-hour parade followed the inauguration ceremony and a series of inaugural balls followed that. And while thousands of Americans cheered Mr. Bush on his big day, thousands more protested vigorously, creating what one presidential historian called the largest inaugural protest since Richard Nixon took office in 1969. The upcoming week will be busy for Mr. Bush as he gets down to business on education, the economy and tax cuts. During his first full day in office, President George W. Bush picked up more support for his huge tax cut plan. Mr. Bush is proposing a 10-year, $1.3 trillion tax cut. Patty Davis has more now on the tax plan and the Democratic senator who's agreed to support it.</s>PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On his first full day in office, a big boost for President George W. Bush and his $1.3 trillion tax cut plan. Georgia Democratic Sen. Zell Miller plans to co-sponsor Bush's tax cut with Republican Senate Banking Chairman Phil Gramm.</s>ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: I'm thrilled if Sen. Gramm has found a Democratic co-sponsor. We expect a lot of Democrats to support our plan because it's the right thing for America.</s>DAVIS: Miller's spokeswoman said, quote, "He campaigned on the fact that he wanted to be bipartisan, and he wanted to be a tax- cutting senator just as he was a tax-cutting governor, and this is a great opportunity to do both." Miller, a Southern moderate, was the first Democrat to say he'd vote for John Ashcroft, President Bush's controversial nominee for attorney general. The bipartisanship on one of Mr. Bush's top priorities could help the new president has he begins to push his legislative agenda on Capitol Hill.</s>STUART ROTHENBERG, ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT: George W. Bush has made a big deal about reaching out, and this is the first success. This is the -- a Democrat is now onboard the tax proposal, and it suggest other opportunities for Bush, and it suggests that Bush has some appeal to Democrats.</s>DAVIS: But Bush's tax plan still has a long way to go. Democrats say it would outspend the budget surplus.</s>SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MINORITY LEADER: Whether it's divided in pieces or offered in its entirety, I think the key question is, what is the entire package cost. We can't afford a $1.6 trillion tax cut that we don't have the resources for that.</s>DAVIS (on camera): The new president will have to woo Democrats. And he may not get his entire plan through the closely divided Congress. Now, though, he's one Democrat closer to his goal. Patty Davis, CNN, Capitol Hill.</s>WALCOTT: Cold weather and soaring energy costs. For many Americans this winter, its an expensive combination. Heating bills can soar into the hundreds of dollars each month and not everyone can afford to keep their home as warm as they'd like. Now some homebuilders near Atlanta, Georgia are constructing houses to combat the elements, homes that will help stave off heat during the summer months and keep the cold air at bay during the winter. Brian Cabell reports on this initiative.</s>BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are five so- called "Earthcraft" houses being built near Atlanta; homes that are environmentally friendly and guaranteed to save owners up to $100 or more a month on energy costs. Sure, most have energy-efficient appliances, the washer, dryer, dishwasher and air conditioning units. But at least equally important, builders say, is the way the house is constructed, with heavy-duty insulation, mastic to seal leaks on ducts, sealed light fixtures, rubber seals around doors.</s>JIM HACKLER, EARTHCRAFT HOUSE PROGRAM: Typically on most homes, and this is even new homes, that a third of your heating and cooling costs are lost because of leakage.</s>CABELL: One other vital component these homes feature to prevent leakage: double pane windows with a special glass that deflects some of the sunlight. All this adds to the cost of the homes, maybe 2 percent at most, but designers say it's well worth it in the long run.</s>TOM FALIK, HOMEBUILDER: So the overall cost of one to 1 to 1 1/2 percent is amortized very easily by the energy savings that the homeowner will have over the first couple of years of the house.</s>CABELL: Are home shoppers ready for more energy-efficient and slightly more expensive houses? Clearly some are.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We did buy a solar home and paid extra, and have enjoyed it thoroughly.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Up front, it's all done at once. And if you tried to add it later, it's going to be far more expense than it would be if you did it in the beginning.</s>CABELL: That's the attitude homebuilders are counting on. The numbers are huge, 700 Earthcraft homes being built in Atlanta, thousands more similarly green being constructed across the nation. Brian Cabell, CNN, Atlanta.</s>WALCOTT: In "Worldview" today, we check out the environment, business and politics. Are world tour takes us to Russia to spotlight religion and a Jewish revival. More from the region as we focus on the call of the wild and wolves. We also journey to Jamaica for a bit of history and culture. But first we focus on Iraq and Kuwait. It was 10 years ago that U.S. President George Bush led an allied attack to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi invasion. Now as the son of the former U.S. president becomes commander-in-chief, our Jane Arraf looks at the view from an old adversary.</s>JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a region that understands dynasties, George W. Bush following in his father's footsteps to the White House is no surprise. But in Iraq, the name Bush is synonymous with war. This woman struggles to remember what she was doing in 1991 until a neighbor prompts her: "the Bush War." In the Gulf states, which went to war to free Kuwait, then- President George Bush was a hero. In Iraq, he was a villain, a legacy literally set in stone at Baghdad's government owned Rashid Hotel. The hotel was hit by U.S. cruise missiles in 1993 after an alleged Iraqi plot to kill the former U.S. president. (on camera): Iraq denies the plot, but says the United States has been trying to get rid of President Saddam Hussein for years. (voice-over): One familiar face in the new U.S. Cabinet, Gulf War Gen. Colin Powell, is again talking about unfinished business with Iraq.</s>TARIQ AZIZ, IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: What business does he have with Iraq, you see? If he wants to continue the aggressive policy which the previous administration, in which he was the chief of staff, took against Iraq, it's up to him.</s>ARRAF: Officials are ridiculing plans for increased U.S. support for the Iraqi opposition.</s>AZIZ: Let them spend more money on those crooks. If they have a surplus in the American budget to spend on those people rather than spending it on health care or education in the United States, let them spend that money.</s>ARRAF: Iraq says it doesn't matter to the government here who's in the White House, but the issue is so sensitive it won't let journalists ask Iraqis what they think of the new U.S. president. Iraq, though, will be keeping as much of an eye on the new U.S. administration as the administration is on Iraq. Jane Arraf, CNN, Baghdad.</s>WALCOTT: We open our eyes now to the natural beauty of Jamaica, an island nation in the West Indies. Located 480 miles or 772 kilometers south of Florida, Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea. Its capital and largest city, Kingston, serves as the country's chief port. Jamaica was a British colony for about 300 years, becoming an independent nation in 1962. The island's economy thrives on production of bauxite, bananas, sugar and other manufactured goods. But tourism is also an economic cornerstone. Jamaica's pleasant climates and beautiful beaches attract more than 850,000 visitors each year. Kalin Thomas-Samuel tells us why.</s>KALIN THOMAS-SAMUEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jamaica's lush landscape is filled with challenges for the adventurous traveler. One of the island's most popular attractions, Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios. You don't just look at these waterfalls, you climb them. About 2,500 tourists a day take on the challenge of 600 feet of slippery rocks. Many visitors come from cruise ships.</s>MERLE WILSON, MANAGER DUNN'S RIVER FALLS & PARK: It is a good thing for Jamaica. Tourism is our major foreign exchange arena. So cruise ship visitors are very special to Dunn's River because we're really the reason why they come here.</s>THOMAS-SAMUEL: People of all ages make the trek. All you need is an experienced guide, the right shoes, a bathing suit or lightweight clothing and a sense of adventure. There are a few breaks along the way for taking pictures, and just about everybody makes it to the top.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Scary, but it was very great.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love Dunn's River Falls, I love Jamaica.</s>WILSON: I am sometimes surprised when I see some persons climbing the falls because all the falls different sizes. It's a very exhilarating experience, one like that.</s>THOMAS-SAMUEL (on camera): Now, if you're not quite ready for the rushing waters of Dunn's River Falls, there are more peaceful waters. Here in Montego Bay, the Martha Brae River allows you to sit back and enjoy the view. (voice-over): This gentle waterway takes its name from an Arawak Indian who refused to reveal the location of a gold mine to Spanish invaders. Legend says she drowned herself in this river and took the Spaniards with her. Drowning in fun and relaxation is the theme these days. Tour guides, or captains, as they're called, add to the experience by offering tidbits about Jamaican history and culture; for instance, explaining how Jamaicans use the leaves of a pimento tree.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you have an upset stomach, you just chew on the leaf.</s>THOMAS-SAMUEL: We drift by a souvenir stand and stop for a refreshing drink of coconut water. Jamaicans say it cleanses the body. You can even buy a souvenir made right on the raft. (on camera): Where'd you learn to do that?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just right here on the job.</s>THOMAS-SAMUEL: On the river?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.</s>THOMAS-SAMUEL (voice-over): A serenade is a nice finishing touch towards the end of the trip.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Lavender blue, dilly dilly, lavenders green. When I am king, dilly dilly, you shall be my queen.</s>THOMAS-SAMUEL: In the evening, over on the West Coast in Negril, watching the sunset at Rick's cafe is a long-standing tradition.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People will drive as far as from Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, which is sometimes three and four hours, to come and see us. We are packed all the time.</s>THOMAS-SAMUEL: While guests wait for the sun to set, they enjoy some of Rick's Jamaican cuisine and rock to the rhythms of Reggae music. The more daring visitors can dive from cliffs 50-feet high. But the locals outdo them all by climbing even higher and jumping from the trees.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I heard so much about it. It's everything they say.</s>THOMAS-SAMUEL: And it Jamaica, the fun doesn't depend on the weather.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen 250 people toast a cloudy, rainy sky at the very moment that the sun should be hitting the horizon. Doesn't matter, man. In Jamaica, everything cool, man.</s>THOMAS-SAMUEL: Kalin Thomas-Samuel, CNN, Negril, Jamaica.</s>TOM HAYNES, CO-HOST: The Soviet Union fell apart in 1991. What remained was Greater Russia and 10 former Soviet republics. After the breakup, Russia claimed those republics to be part of the new commonwealth of independent states. But ethnic disputes soon emerged among those who didn't want to be part of the new Russian federation and tensions ensued. To lend moral guidance, the Russian Orthodox Church reestablished itself after years of communist repression. Since then, other religions have also reemerged. Steve Harrigan reports on a religious homecoming of sorts.</s>STEVE HARRIGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As newborn baby Mark Segal (ph) and his family left Russia for the United States, Jews in search of religious freedom. Now they've come back to Moscow to celebrate Mark's bar mitzvah.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel it's really like my home.</s>HARRIGAN: A community whose members often tried to hide their identity in the old Soviet Union or emigrate to the West is taking on a new, much more public role at home.</s>BERL LAZAR, CHIEF RABBI OF RUSSIA: The numbers are incredible. Today we believe that we are in touch with over a million Jews.</s>HARRIGAN: Russian President Vladimir Putin helped unveil a $12 million Jewish community center on the same site where a synagogue was bombed twice and burned once in the last 10 years. the ex-KGB colonel called decades of state persecution absurd.</s>VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): People were forced to study their own language underground in secret. Who will live in such a country?</s>HARRIGAN: Hebrew lessons are out in the open today, but not all Jews welcome the government's embrace. Rival factions say Russia's new chief rabbi was hand-picked by the Kremlin.</s>PINCHAS GOLDSCHMIDT, CHIEF RABBI OF MOSCOW: We see a very long tradition -- Russian tradition -- not only communist, a very long Russian tradition of trying to control and influence religious groups.</s>HARRIGAN: If that tradition still exists, the methods have certainly changed, from open violence just a few years ago to smiles and handshakes today. Steve Harrigan, CNN, Moscow.</s>RUDI BAKHTIAR, CO-HOST: More from Russia as we turn to the wild kingdom. We look at one of the largest members of the dog family, the wolf. Wolves typically live in sparsely populated northern regions such as Alaska, China and Russia. They're experts at hunting, preying mainly on large animals, including deer, elk and moose. Wolves resemble large German shepherd dogs in appearance. Their fur ranges from pure white in the Arctic to jet black in the subarctic forests. These predators live in groups called packs, which have anywhere from eight to 20 members. The packs social order involves a dominant hierarchy in which each wolf holds a certain rank. High- ranking called dominant wolves dominate low-ranking members, or subordinate wolves. But high rankings aren't enough to protect these animals from human predators. Gary Strieker explains.</s>GARY STRIEKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In his backyard, Mikhail Stardadupsev (ph) has a few orphans: five wolf pups he found in a den when they were only a few days old. He likes to give them his dog to play with, though the dog seems to know the wolves would probably eat him if they were a bit older. Mikhail has been a forest ranger in southwestern Russia for more than 50 years. And he says he likes wolves, but he admits he's killed many of them in his time, including the mother of these pups. He's got a small wolf exhibit in his tool shed, a kind of testimonial to his affection for these animals. He says "the wolf is like a sanitary cleaner in the forest preying on sick and weak animals. It's necessary to have them around," he says, "but when there are too many, some of them must be killed." That's been the policy in Russia for hundreds of years. Killing wolves allows prey animals like deer and wild boar to multiply. And that's what human hunters want. The government still pays a bounty to anyone who kills a wolf outside protected reserves. But officials in Moscow say there are still too many wolves in Russia; at last count more than 44,000 of them across the country. Nearly 13,000 wolves were killed last year alone. But officials claim that's not enough to keep them under control. They say there's no money for the transport, fuel and weapons to do the job. But there's a growing movement in Russia, influenced by new ecological thinking in the West, that would give a greater role to wolves in these forests, allowing a natural balance between wolves and their prey. But wildlife biologist Andre Poyarkov (ph) says many Russians are still deeply afraid of wolves, and he expects the annual wolf kills will continue, even increase. Mikhail says he'll release these wolves back to the forest, where they'll have to take their chances against bounty hunters like all the others. Gary Strieker, CNN, Bordanesz (ph), Russia.</s>WALCOTT: Well, it was a big weekend for the new U.S. president. The inauguration didn't stop at President Bush's swearing-in. The rest of the day included a parade, a church service, and parties, parties, parties. We sent our Washington NEWSROOM correspondent Mike McManus to the inaugural balls to find out what the young people hope can be accomplished in this new administration.</s>MIKE MCMANUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush's inauguration speech centered on an issue familiar with his campaign.</s>BUSH: Our unity, our union is the serious work of leaders and citizens and every generation. And this is my solemn pledge: I will work to build a single nation of justice and opportunity.</s>MCMANUS: Fritz Brogan is a 16-year-old very familiar with the issue.</s>FRITZ BROGAN, AGE 16: It's time to celebrate. It's been a long and arduous race, but it's over.</s>MCMANUS: He's from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ground zero in the election recount. Brogan celebrated inauguration night in the nation's capital at the Florida inaugural ball.</s>BROGAN: A lot of people's toes were stepped over during the election. Many people thought that their right to vote was sacrificed. But I think, together, George W. Bush can do a great job of bringing America back together.</s>MCMANUS: Brogan is a Bush supporter and was active in his campaign for president. The high school sophomore even started his own Web site specifically for teenagers interested in the Bush-Cheney ticket.</s>BROGAN: The Internet's the one thing that unites youth. Pretty much everyone out there has a computer and e-mail address, so I was able to contact kids from across the country, even across the world.</s>MCMANUS (on camera): Bringing two deeply divided political parties together may be top on the president's list. But as with any leader, success will not be measured by promises. Young voters are looking for results. Are you going to hold him to those promises?</s>BROGAN: I will hold him to his promises, yes.</s>MCMANUS (voice-over): Other young partygoers were more interested in the new president's campaign promise of reforming the U.S. education system.</s>BUSH: Together we will reclaim America's schools before ignorance and apathy claim more young lives.</s>KATELIN SULLIVAN, AGE 18: Every student should have the opportunity to attend whatever school is the best for them, fits them the best, their style of learning.</s>JAMIE BLOSSER, AGE 16: I like his point about not leaving anyone behind. Every child should get an education no matter, you know, if they're rich or poor and where they live. I think that's so important.</s>MCMANUS: Another point of interest was President Bush's thoughts on the slowing economy.</s>BUSH: We will reduce taxes to recover the momentum of our economy and reward the effort and enterprise of working Americans.</s>CHRIS ROOD, AGE 21: It's important to me because I -- so I have a job when I'm older, you know, keep a job and have a family.</s>MCMANUS: These young people assembled for the inauguration said they were excited about ideas the new administration bring to Washington, but also know there are challenges ahead for Both 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Capitol Hill. President Bush echoed those challenges at the end of his speech.</s>BUSH: This work continues, the story goes on...</s>MCMANUS: Michael McManus, CNN NEWSROOM, Washington.</s>WALCOTT: With all the pomp and ceremony we see on TV surrounding a presidential inaugural, you can imagine the excitement of actually attending one. But what if you're in the high school band and the Presidential Inaugural Committee asks you to perform for the new president? Our Jason Bellini reports the words "excitement" and, yes, "nervousness" take on a whole new meaning.</s>JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For the bands marching in the inaugural parade, the day started early in a parking lot at the Pentagon. Thirty high school and college bands were chosen by the Inaugural Committee for the honor of performing for the new president. I followed through the day a band from Papillion-LaVista High School in Omaha, Nebraska. If you're a band that made it all the way to here, you know that you're among the best of the best. So as bands were warming up, they checked out one another. The band travelled 25 hours to get to Washington, D.C., most not sleeping very much along the way.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to be going over to the National Mall.</s>BELLINI: With over 70 members, they were a handful for their band director.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever I tell you to do, we need to do right away, OK? Any questions at all?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Keller (ph), I got a question. Do you know where the Pepsi band is staying?</s>BELLINI (on camera): How are these kids behaving?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excellent.</s>BELLINI: Yes?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excellent. You bet. Couldn't be better.</s>BELLINI: No tomfoolery on the bus?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, none whatsoever, no, no.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh God, no! Oh God, no!</s>BELLINI: You wouldn't tolerate that?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, exactly.</s>BELLINI (voice-over): 11:00 a.m., the bus left the Pentagon, driving to the Mall. Security extraordinarily tight for the parade, police blocked off streets for the convoy of band buses.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you know really if we just like ran a red light?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, this is tight.</s>BELLINI: Most of the band saw through their bus windows their nation's capital for the very first time.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought I was never going to see the White House.</s>BELLINI: No one informed them beforehand that the Mall didn't have a Gap or Bloomingdale's.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was so ready to go shopping.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's a mall?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were going shopping. No, there's no mall.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you joking?</s>BELLINI: Their coming here wasn't just a big event for them and their parents, but also for the community back home. Their band, thus their community, was on the map today.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had little kindergarteners. They were into like money and they gave us money for the trip -- $13 in pennies.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In pennies. That is the cutest thing.</s>BELLINI: Around 11:50 a.m., the inaugural ceremony began. The bus driver turned the radio to it. From the bus to a holding tent next for hot chocolate and more time to mingle with the other bands. Tim Koklinsky (ph) asked to borrow my camera for a little while to do some interviews of his own.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where are you all from?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nebraska.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nebraska? Oh.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. I choose a new color like every two weeks, pretty much.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told you when we started out on this that this would be one of the most important things that you do in your life. And I'm not kidding.</s>BELLINI: After the pep talk, honor turned into a nightmare of mud, frigid rain and we feet before they got their chance for face time with the new president. You'd think they'd be charging the buses as soon as they came into view, but the Papillion High School Marching Band stays in formation, does one last number for itself and their bus drivers this time. They're good, they know it, now they're going home. Jason Bellini, CNN NEWSROOM, Washington.</s>WALCOTT: That's a memory that's going to last a lifetime. Now this show's a memory. We'll see you tomorrow. Bye-bye.