3/28/02

LC020328

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> THEY'RE A CLEAN WAY TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY WITHOUT ANY REAL POLLUTION, SO WHY IS A CALIFORNIA DESERT TOWN UP IN ARMS OVER WINDMILLS?

VINCE LINCIR>> THEY'RE PLANNING ON BUILDING IT DOWN IN THAT AREA AND, IN TIME, IT WOULD COME UP THIS WAY AND WE HAVE OUR HOMES RIGHT HERE, AND WHO WANTS ONE OF THOSE WINDMILLS IN THEIR BACK YARD?

VAL>> AS MANY AS 2,000 PEOPLE MAY HAVE DIED IN THIS WEEK'S MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE IN AFGHANISTAN, BUT SOME AMERICANS ARE ONLY MAKING MATTERS WORSE BY TRYING TO SEND THE VICTIMS FOOD AND CLOTHING. TONIGHT A VIEW OF THE CRISIS FROM A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAN WHO KNOWS AFGHANISTAN INSIDE OUT.

JESS>> THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS IN THE NEWS BECAUSE OF THIS SEX ABUSE SCANDAL. IT ALL SOUNDS A LITTLE TOO FAMILIAR, HOWEVER, TO PATT MORRISON.

PATT>> PRIESTS AND SEXUAL OFFENSES. IT'S FAR FROM THE FIRST TIME -- ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND A LOOK BACK AT A MAN WHOM SENATOR ROBERT F. KENNEDY NOTED WAS ONE OF THE HEROIC FIGURES OF OUR TIME. CESAR CHAVEZ FOUGHT FOR THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF FARM WORKERS. HE USED NON-VIOLENT TACTICS SUCH AS FASTS AND BOYCOTTS. TONIGHT AS WE APPROACH WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHAVEZ'S 75TH BIRTHDAY, WE'LL REFLECT ON HIS LIFE AND LEGACY.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN INTERSTATE 10 THROUGH THE PALM SPRINGS AREA, YOU'VE SEEN THOSE GIANT WINDMILLS THAT LINE THE HIGHWAY THERE. YOU MAY EVEN TAKE SOME COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT THESE BIG TURBINES ARE CHURNING OUT ELECTRICITY WITHOUT ALSO CHURNING OUT A LOT OF POLLUTION. SO WHY IS ONE DESERT COMMUNITY DEAD SET AGAINST HAVING MORE WINDMILLS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

VAL>> WELL, IT TURNS OUT THOSE BIG MACHINES MAY BE GREAT AT GENERATING POWER, BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, WINDMILLS CAN BE PRETTY LOUSY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS.

GAY>> THEY'RE AN AWESOME, SOMEWHAT OTHER-WORLDLY SIGHT, STANDING IN ROWS AT ATTENTION, ANSWERING TO THE COMMAND OF THE WIND. THE WINDMILLS OF COACHELLA VALLEY DOMINATE THE LANDSCAPE NEAR PALM SPRINGS AND ATTRACT THE EYE OF ANYONE WHO PASSES NEAR. IN RECENT YEARS, THEY'VE PRODUCED SOMETHING BESIDES ELECTRICITY AND THAT'S A BOOM IN LOCAL TOURISM. PEOPLE PAY FOR GUIDED VISITS TO SEE BIG FANS UP CLOSE, BUT LATELY, SOME PEOPLE ARE SEEING RED OVER THIS GREEN POWER.

NANCY WRIGHT>> THOSE THINGS ARE MONSTERS. THEY ARE MONSTER MACHINES.

LOUISE JACOBSON>> NO. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

GAY>> ENRON WINDS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE ENERGY COMPANY IN HOUSTON, WANTS TO CONSTRUCT A 600-ACRE WINDMILL FARM MUCH LIKE THIS IN AN AREA NEAR SNOW CREEK VILLAGE. IT'S A TINY COMMUNITY A FEW MILES WEST OF PALM SPRINGS. MANY RESIDENTS THERE SAY THE LAST THING THEY NEED IS MORE GIANT PROPELLERS BLOWING IN THE WIND.

VINCE LINCIR>> THEY'RE PLANNING ON BUILDING IT DOWN IN THAT AREA AND, IN TIME, IT WOULD COME UP THIS WAY AND WE HAVE OUR HOMES RIGHT HERE, AND WHO WANTS ONE OF THOSE WINDMILLS IN THEIR BACK YARD?

GAY>> THE SNOW CREEK RESIDENTS AREN'T ALONE IN THEIR BATTLE AGAINST ENRON WIND. THEY'VE BEEN JOINED BY THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND BY THE AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS.

TOM DAVIS>> IT ALSO IS AN AREA THAT'S CLOSE TO PROPERTY WE OWN AND IS THE GATEWAY TO PALM SPRINGS AND THE RESERVATION, SO WE FELT THAT THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO TAKE A POSITION ON. A LINE IN THE SAND, SO TO SPEAK.

GAY>> AS BENEFICIAL AS THE EXISTING WINDMILLS HAVE BEEN TO THE AREA, MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

NANCY WRIGHT>> THE ONES THEY WANT TO PUT OUT THERE ARE LIKE A HUNDRED FEET TALLER THAN ANY OF THE ONES WE HAVE OUT HERE. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE SIZE, THE 330-FOOT TALL ONES THAT THEY WANT TO PUT OUT THERE. I THINK IT WILL RUIN THE VIEWSCAPE OF THE MOUNTAIN THERE THAT NONE OF US WILL EVER GET TO SEE AGAIN.

GAY>> ENRON WIND HAS BEEN PLANNING THE WIND FARM SINCE 1999, BUT EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DESIGNATED AN AREA AROUND SNOW CREEK AS A SCENIC AREA, SAYING THE LAND SHOULD BE PROTECTED. THE SCENIC AREA INCLUDES MUCH OF THE LAND FOR THE PROPOSED WIND FARM. ENRON RESPONDED WITH A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY.

NANCY WRIGHT>> I WAS REALLY FLABBERGASTED WHEN I HEARD THAT ENRON PUT A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY AND THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF SNOW CREEK WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO PRESERVE THEIR PROPERTY VALUES AND THEIR VIEWSCAPE.

GAY>> NEITHER SIDE WOULD COMMENT ON THE LAWSUIT, BUT THE RIVERSIDE NEWSPAPER RECENTLY QUOTED ENRON'S SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AS SAYING THE AREA IS VERY SUITABLE FOR A WIND FARM AND THAT IT'S NOT PRISTINE WILDERNESS. THERE'S ALSO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER PRIVATE LAND OWNERS SHOULD BE TOLD THEY CAN'T PROFIT BY DOING BUSINESS WITH ENRON WIND.

TOM DAVIS>> WELL, WHERE DO WE STOP? WHERE DO WE STOP WITH THE WINDMILLS? AND WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE? WE FELT THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO TAKE A POSITION ON IT. WE THINK THAT THAT SCENIC CORRIDOR SHOULD BE MAINTAINED.

VINCE LINCIR>> THIS WHOLE AREA IS A SCENIC AREA AND WE'D LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

GAY>> THERE ARE MANY REASONS THE LOCALS WANT TO STOP THE WINDMILLS, REASONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PROPERTY RIGHTS OR THE ENVIRONMENT.

TOM DAVIS>> THE THING ABOUT THE WINDMILLS YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THEY DON'T DO THE VALLEY ITSELF A LOT OF GOOD. THEY MAY BE NOW A TOURIST ATTRACTION FOR THE VALLEY AND THE TOURISTS HERE, BUT THE ENERGY DOES NOT BENEFIT THE VALLEY.

NANCY WRIGHT>> PEOPLE DO LIVE AROUND THESE WINDMILLS AND THEY DO MAKE LOTS OF NOISE AND THEY DO RUIN THE VIEW.

GAY>> SOME OF THE LOCALS ALSO COMPLAIN THE BIG MACHINES AREN'T BEING PROPERLY MAINTAINED. OTHERS SAY THE WINDMILLS ARE DIRTY AND SPLATTER OIL AND GREASE EVERYWHERE.

LOUISE JACOBSON>> AND YOU CAN SEE THE OIL, YOU KNOW, GOING DOWN THE WINDMILLS. THEY SAY THEY KEEP THEM UP, THEY CLEAN THEM UP? THEY DO NOT.

TOM DAVIS>> IT'S NOT A MATTER OF A BIG CORPORATION AND THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING. IT'S SIMPLY A MATTER OF LET'S STAND BACK AND LOOK AT THIS THING BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF HAND.

NANCY WRIGHT>> WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM OUT HERE, YOU KNOW? I THINK WE'VE DONE OUR FAIR SHARE. (LAUGHTER)

GAY>> IF ENRON WIND LOSES THE LAWSUIT, THE COMPANY CAN STILL APPLY FOR A VARIANCE. BUT IT'S CLEAR MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO THE EXISTING WIND FARMS ARE LESS ENCHANTED BY THEM THAN ALL THE TOURISTS WHO PASS THROUGH THE VALLEY. FOR LIFE AND TIMES, I'M GAY YEE.

JESS>> THE CONFLICT OVER THE WINDMILL FARM ENRON WANTS TO BUILD HAS NO CONNECTION TO THE ONES ALREADY IN OPERATION NEAR PALM SPRINGS. THOSE WINDMILLS WILL KEEP ON CHURNING AS LONG AS THERE'S A STIFF BREEZE BLOWING THROUGH THE COACHELLA VALLEY.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO PADLOCK CALIFORNIA'S BEACHES? MAYBE WEALTHY HOMEOWNERS?

GAY YEE>> CALIFORNIA BEACHES ARE SUPPOSED TO BELONG TO EVERYBODY, BUT COASTAL PROPERTY OWNERS SAY FREE ACCESS ISN'T ALWAYS A GREAT IDEA.

>> PEOPLE CAN COME DOWN AND GET INTO THE WATER WITHOUT A LIFEGUARD. THAT MEANS ANYONE'S FREE TO COME DOWN HERE AND KILL THEMSELVES, I GUESS, IF THEY WANT TO. THAT'S PART OF OUR GREAT AMERICAN SYSTEM.

JESS>> THIS WEEK, THE WAR-TORN NATION OF AFGHANISTAN WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER DEADLY TRAGEDY, A HUGE EARTHQUAKE THAT MAY HAVE KILLED AS MANY AS 2,000 PEOPLE. MANY AMERICANS HAVE TRIED TO HELP BY SENDING THE VICTIMS FOOD AND CLOTHING, BUT AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO LEARN, THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF AID THE AFGHAN PEOPLE NEED RIGHT NOW.

VAL>> TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY A MAN WHO KNOWS AFGHAN INSIDE OUT. HIS NAME IS ED ARTIS. HE'S HERE IN LOS ANGELES, BUT LATELY HE'S BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON THE AFGHAN FRONTIER BRINGING FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO NEEDY PEOPLE THERE. YOU MAY RECOGNIZE HIM FROM OUR FREQUENT CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WHILE HE WAS NEAR THE WAR ZONE WORKING WITH HIS RELIEF ORGANIZATION, KNIGHTSBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL. TONIGHT ED IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS WEEK'S MASSIVE QUAKE ON AFGHANISTAN. ED ARTIS, WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES, AGAIN.

ED ARTIS>> HELLO. THANK YOU.

JESS>> ED, WE SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEY DON'T NEED FOOD AND CLOTHING SENT TO THEM, BUT THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT YOU WERE DOING THERE, BUT IT WAS LOCALLY PURCHASED FOOD.

ED ARTIS>> YES, WE BOUGHT ALL THE MATERIALS THAT WE NEEDED IN THE COUNTRY. YOU CAN'T SHIP ANYTHING IN TIME TO GET IT TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN USE IT.

JESS>> BUT THEY CLEARLY HAVE GREAT NEEDS. WHAT DO THEY NEED?

ED ARTIS>> THEY NEED FOOD, BLANKETS, TENTS, SHELTER, MEDICINES.

VAL>> BUT, AGAIN, IT'S BEST TO SEND MONEY?

ED ARTIS>> SEND MONEY TO PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN TRUST THAT ARE GOING TO DELIVER THE ITEMS. THE LARGE NGO'S ARE THERE IN FORCE.

VAL>> NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.

ED ARTIS>> THEY'RE THERE, SMALLER ONES LIKE US ARE HEADING BACK OVER. TRUST THE PEOPLE. GIVE THEM THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SAVE THESE PEOPLES' LIVES.

JESS>> THEY'VE HAD SO MUCH DEVASTATION IN THAT LAND FOR, WHAT, FORTY YEARS, AND NOW THE EARTHQUAKE.

ED ARTIS>> THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. THEY HAD AN EARTHQUAKE IN 1998 THAT KILLED 10,000 PEOPLE AND IT'S JUST DEVASTATING. THE WAY THESE PEOPLE LIVE IN THE HOMES, THEY'RE POORLY CONSTRUCTED, THEY'RE HEAVY, THEY SLEEP UP AGAINST THE WALLS. YOU GET A SMALL EARTHQUAKE AND THE BUILDING COMES DOWN ON TOP OF THEM.

VAL>> WE CAN SEE THAT. THIS WAS A 6.1, IT HIT AT 7:30 AT NIGHT, MANY FAMILIES WERE INSIDE THEIR HOMES, IT WAS DARK, PROBABLY MAKES RESCUE EFFORTS HARDER.

ED ARTIS>> ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S NO ELECTRICITY THERE AND VERY FEW OF THEM WILL HAVE LANTERNS. SO WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, THEY GO INSIDE THEIR HOMES, THEY'LL EAT THEIR EVENING MEAL AND THEN THEY'LL SLEEP ON THE FLOOR UP AGAINST THE WALLS. WHEN THE ROOF COMES IN ON THEM, THEY'RE TRAPPED. THEY'LL FIND THOUSANDS OF BODIES IN THE WRECKAGE.

JESS>> AND THE LATE WORD WE'VE RECEIVED IN THE LAST HALF HOUR IS THAT MORE THAN 100,000 AFGHANS ARE NOW HOMELESS.

ED ARTIS>> THAT'S 100,000 NEW INTERNALLY DISPLACED HOMELESS PEOPLE --

JESS>> -- NOT COUNTING THE ONES --

ED ARTIS>> -- 3.5 MILLION BEFORE.

VAL>> OH, MY GOD, AND 600 CONFIRMED DEAD AND, NO DOUBT, THAT CASUALTY FIGURE WILL GO UP. YOU WERE THERE. YOU TOOK SOME PICTURES OF SOME VILLAGES.

ED ARTIS>> YES.

VAL>> YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO ACTUALLY LIVE THERE. YOU KNOW, IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE A MILITARY COMMANDER EXPLAINED THE EARTHQUAKE BY SAYING, "WHEN PEOPLE DON'T WORSHIP, THESE THINGS HAPPEN." SOMETHING KIND OF SAD ABOUT THAT.

ED ARTIS>> WELL, THEY DO WORSHIP. THEY JUST WORSHIP DIFFERENTLY.

VAL>> BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY SHOULD ALMOST TAKE BLAME FOR IT.

ED ARTIS>> THEY DON'T DESERVE WHAT'S HAPPENING. I MEAN, THEY'RE IN A FAULT AREA. THEY HAVE EARTHQUAKES. I MEAN, I'M TERRIFIED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A GOOD DAY THAT BOULDERS DON'T COME OFF THE HIGH MOUNTAINS ON TOP OF OUR VEHICLES.

JESS>> ONE OF THE MOST RECENT PROBLEMS, TOO, IS THE FACT THAT THIS EARTHQUAKE HAS APPARENTLY CAUSED THE LANDMINE PROBLEM TO BE EVEN WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

ED ARTIS>> SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED DURING HURRICANE MITCH WHEN THE FLOODS MOVED THE LANDMINE FIELDS. THOSE AREAS THAT WERE CLEAR OF MINES BEFORE, WHERE THE DEMINING COMPANIES LIKE HALO TRUST AND MAG HAD GONE IN THERE AND REMOVED THE MINES, ARE NOW REMINED BY MOTHER NATURE. SHE HAS MOVED MINES INTO THE AREA. OR THOSE AREAS THAT WERE NOT CLEARED ARE COVERED UP. PEOPLE WILL THINK THEY'RE CLEAR, A FARMER WILL GO OUT THERE AND TRY TO CLEAR A FIELD AND THEN GET KILLED.

VAL>> YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE PICTURES THAT WE'RE SEEING. THESE ARE VILLAGES -- ARE THEY VILLAGES THAT WERE IN THE AREA THAT WERE STRUCK BY THE EARTHQUAKE OR JUST SIMILAR VILLAGES?

ED ARTIS>> YES, THESE ARE TYPICAL VILLAGES THAT YOU'LL SEE. IT'S ALMOST BIBLICAL IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING. BUILT ON THE HILLSIDE, TWO TO THREE-FOOT-THICK MUD WALLS, HEAVY CEILINGS WITH LUMBER AND MUD ON TOP OF IT TO WEATHERPROOF IT, AND THAT'S WHAT IT ENDS UP AS. THAT COMES DOWN ON A FAMILY AND THESE ARE LARGE FAMILIES, ANYWHERE FROM SIX TO SEVENTEEN PEOPLE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS IN THERE. THEY'RE GOING TO FIND A LOT OF LITTLE BODIES.

VAL>> AND, AGAIN, WHEN PEOPLE SAID, WELL, GEE, WHY DON'T THEY USE HEAVIER BEAMS? WHY DON'T THEY, YOU KNOW, BE A LITTLE SMARTER STRUCTURALLY? BUT THEN I THINK ONE OF THE AFGHANS ANSWERED, "WE ARE NOT AMERICANS. WE CAN'T THINK OF SUCH THINGS." I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST LUCKY --

ED ARTIS>> -- AND THEY DON'T HAVE THINGS. I MEAN, WHEN YOU CROSS THE BORDER FROM UZBEKISTAN INTO AFGHANISTAN, YOU LOSE EVERYTHING GREEN. THERE'S VERY FEW TREES. I MEAN, IT'S A VERY STARK AND DIFFERENT COUNTRY. THEY DON'T HAVE THE MATERIALS. THEY BRING IN A LOT OF THE LUMBER THAT THEY USE IN THESE CONSTRUCTED SITES FROM IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN GETS THEM FROM UZBEKISTAN AND TAJIKISTAN.

JESS>> I CAN THINK OF NO BUILDING MATERIAL THAT WOULD BE LESS STRENGTH AGAINST EARTHQUAKES THAN MUD BRICKS.

ED ARTIS>> NO, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE AND THEY'VE HAD THAT FOR CENTURIES. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT PARTICLEBOARD HOMES UP THERE.

VAL>> ARE THEY PERHAPS IN A LITTLE BIT -- IF THERE'S A SILVER LINING AT ALL -- A LITTLE BIT BETTER POSITION TO GET RELIEF BY ALREADY HAVING AMERICAN TROOPS THERE AND OTHER KIND OF SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES TO DRAW ON?

ED ARTIS>> ABSOLUTELY. THE MILITARY HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. THEY HAVE SHIFTED FROM THEIR COMBAT ROLE, AND I'VE READ SOME OF THE PRESS RELEASES FROM THE MILITARY COMMAND TODAY. THEY'VE GONE INTO A CIVIC ACTION MODE, MUCH LIKE WE DID IN VIETNAM. WHEN WE WEREN'T FIGHTING A WAR, WE WERE WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE PEOPLE. THEY CAN USE HELICOPTERS TO GET OVER THE BLOCKED ROADS. THEY CAN CONVERT SOME OF THE MILITARY SUPPLIES, THE PASSIVE MILITARY SUPPLIES, TO HUMANITARIAN RELIEF, AND THEY'RE SAVING LIVES. THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

VAL>> DO YOU THINK OUR MILITARY EFFORT IS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THIS "DISTRACTION" OR ARE WE ABLE TO DO BOTH?

ED ARTIS>> NO, NOT AT ALL, NOT AT ALL.

JESS>> THE UNITED STATES WAS GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ARMED FORCES BEING USED AS PEACEKEEPERS AND INDEED THEY HAVE BECOME SO, WHETHER THEY WANTED TO OR NOT.

ED ARTIS>> THEY HAVE BECOME HUMANITARIANS. PEACEKEEPERS? OH, WHO KNOWS?

VAL>> DO YOU WISH YOU WERE OVER THERE?

ED ARTIS>> ABSOLUTELY, BUT MY WIFE'S GOT ME GROUNDED. (LAUGHTER) I'LL BE HERE FOR ANOTHER 30 OR 35 DAYS AND, HOPEFULLY, BE BACK IN THE SADDLE AND IN AFGHANISTAN.

VAL>> SO YOU ARE PLANNING TO GO SOON?

ED ARTIS>> YES. I'M PARTNERING WITH TZU CHI FOUNDATION, A BUDDHIST GROUP. WE HAVE TWO FORTY-FOOT CONTAINERS THAT WILL ARRIVE AT THE END OF MAY. WE'LL BE THERE TO DISTRIBUTE THEM. IF YOU DON'T DO IT THAT WAY, THEY GET FEET ON THEM AND DISAPPEAR.

JESS>> HOW WAS THE REBUILDING PROCESS GOING BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK?

ED ARTIS>> THEY WERE JUST GEARING UP. THE REFUGEE CAMPS THAT WE WORKED IN WERE SMALL CAMPS OF 200 AND 300 FAMILIES. THEY WANTED TO GO BACK TO THEIR AREAS AS SOON AS THE WEATHER BROKE AND IT DID BREAK. THEY STARTED TO MIGRATE BACK TO THEIR VILLAGES AND THEY'LL REBUILD THESE HOMES IN TWO WEEKS TO A MONTH.

VAL>> THEY WILL?

ED ARTIS>> THESE ARE VERY INGENIOUS PEOPLE. I MEAN, WE SHOULD BE SO RESILIENT.

VAL>> THEIR HOMES, BUT OF COURSE, THEIR LIVES ARE NOT SO EASILY REBUILT.

ED ARTIS>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> ED ARTIS, WITH KNIGHTSBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL, HUMANITARIAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AGAIN. APPRECIATE IT.

ED ARTIS>> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR HAVING US HERE.

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JESS>> PATT MORRISON TURNS HER ATTENTION TO THE MISDEEDS OF SOME CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND THE CHURCH THEY SERVE, IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> JUST AS GREAT EARTHQUAKES CAN HAVE FORESHOCKS, GREAT HUMAN CRISES CAN HAVE PRECURSORS. SOME YEARS BACK, I WROTE ABOUT SUCH A PRECURSOR, A VERY PUBLIC FORERUNNER TO THE SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL NOW SHAKING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THIS SCANDAL WAS HETEROSEXUAL, BUT IT GAVE CLUES AS TO HOW THE CHURCH WAS PREPARED TO LOOK OUT FOR ITSELF.

A DEVOUT TEENAGE PARISHIONER IN THE HARBOR AREA WAS INVEIGLED INTO HAVING SEX WITH SEVEN PRIESTS. SHE BECAME PREGNANT AND THE PRIESTS SENT HER TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY, THE PHILIPPINES, TO HAVE THE BABY. SOME TIME AFTER, SHE SUED THE ARCHDIOCESE AND THE PRIESTS FOR CONSPIRACY, FRAUD AND CLERGY MALPRACTICE. THE CHURCH RESPONDED THAT THE PRIESTS WERE NO LONGER IN THE ARCHDIOCESE. THAT SEEMED TO PUT A DEAD END TO THE LAWSUIT. THAT STORY GOT MY FELLOW WRITER AND ME ROUNDLY CRITICIZED BY THEN CARDINAL MANNING FROM THE PULPIT OF THE CATHEDRAL.

A FEW YEARS LATER, THE ELDEST PRIEST CALLED ME. HE WAS BACK AND HE HAD SOMETHING TO GET OFF HIS CHEST. HE SHOWED ME CORRESPONDENCE ON ARCHDIOCESE LETTERHEAD SENT TO HIM IN THE PHILIPPINES WHERE THE PRIESTS HAD BEEN AT THE SAME TIME THE WOMAN'S LAWYER WAS TRYING TO FIND THEM. THE PRIEST WAS ADVISED IN A LETTER CC'D TO THE CARDINAL THAT HE SHOULD NOT REVEAL HE WAS BEING PAID BY THE ARCHDIOCESE UNLESS QUESTIONED UNDER OATH. A CHECK FOR $375 WAS ENCLOSED, THE FIRST OF MANY, EQUIVALENT TO HIS PAY. WHEN HE ASKED TO RETURN TO L.A., ANOTHER LETTER ADVISED HIM TO STAY AND WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE GOOD OF HIMSELF AND THE ARCHDIOCESE. WHEN HE CAME BACK ANYWAY, ANOTHER LETTER URGED HIM TO RETURN BECAUSE "THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE SITUATION."

NOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF L.A. PRIESTS, WHAT NUMBER THE CHURCH WON'T SAY, ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG PARISHIONERS. IT IS NOW A CRIME NOT TO REPORT SUSPICIONS OF SUCH ABUSE. THE D.A. HAS PUT THE CHURCH ON NOTICE THAT IT SHOULD COMPLY WITH THE LAW AND THE LAPD SAYS THE ARCHDIOCESE IS COOPERATING WITH ITS SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILD UNIT.

I'M PUT IN MIND OF THE INQUISITION. AS I REMEMBER IT, IT WAS THE CHURCH THAT LEVELED THE ACCUSATIONS AND EXTRACTED THE CONFESSIONS, THEN HANDED THE OFFENDERS OVER TO SECULAR AUTHORITIES FOR PUNISHMENT. THAT'S A GOOD MODEL TO FOLLOW AGAIN, NOW, WITH THE CHURCH'S OWN CLERGY. LET THEM MAKE AMENDS FIRST TO THEIR GOD AND THEN SURRENDER THEMSELVES TO CAESAR'S JUSTICE.

VAL>> WHEN CESAR CHAVEZ WAS BORN 75 YEARS AGO, NO ONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED HIS DESTINY. HE BECAME A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST IN THE EARLY 1950'S AND COORDINATED VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES. LATER, CHAVEZ FOUGHT RACIAL AND ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION. BUT HE IS MOST FAMOUS FOR FOUNDING THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL FARM WORKERS UNION IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

JESS>> CESAR CHAVEZ LED A PEACEFUL, NON-VIOLENT FIGHT USING HUNGER STRIKES, WORKERS' STRIKES AND BOYCOTTS. HIS EFFORTS RESULTED IN THE FIRST INDUSTRY-WIDE FARM LABOR CONTRACTS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. CESAR CHAVEZ DIED ON APRIL 23, 1993, BUT HE REMAINS A TRUE HERO TO MANY LABORERS AND TONIGHT WE EXAMINE HIS LEGACY.

CESAR CHAVEZ>> "YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT THERE WITH A PICKET SIGN AND GET SOME ACTION GOING. WHEN YOU PUT ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER, THEN NON-VIOLENCE WORKS."

CESAR CHAVEZ>> "WE KNOW THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME FROM THE OUTSIDE, FROM DISTANT PLACES, TO BE WITH US, YOU HAVE COME HERE AT SACRIFICE TO YOURSELF AND TO YOUR FAMILIES."

CESAR CHAVEZ>> "IT DOESN'T MATTER NOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE OFFERED. THEY WOULDN'T GO BACK BECAUSE WHAT THEY WANT IS A UNION BEFORE THEY GO BACK."

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW ARE PHOTOJOURNALIST, GEORGE RODRIGUEZ, WHO DOCUMENTED NOT ONLY CESAR CHAVEZ, BUT THE WHOLE CHICANO MOVEMENT, AND STEPHEN KARR, CURATOR FOR THE CESAR CHAVEZ EXHIBIT AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, TO LIFE AND TIMES.

STEPHEN KARR>> THANK YOU.

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> THANKS.

JESS>> WAS THE FARM LABOR MOVEMENT THAT TIED TO THE CHICANO MOVEMENT?

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> OH, SURE. I DON'T THINK YOU COULD SEPARATE -- I THINK ALL THE FOLLOWERS WERE CHICANOS. I MEAN, THERE WERE BLACKS AND FILIPINOS AND WHITES, BUT I THINK CHICANOS WERE A MAJOR PART OF IT.

JESS>> BUT CHAVEZ CLEARLY WAS THE LEADER OF THEM ALL?

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> OH, ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

VAL>> AND YOU WERE THERE WITH YOUR CAMERA AND WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF PHOTOGRAPHS TO LOOK AT, SO WE'LL START RIGHT NOW. THE FIRST ONE IS A PICTURE OF YOU WITH CESAR CHAVEZ. DID YOU TAKE MANY PICTURES TOGETHER OR WERE YOU ALMOST ALWAYS BEHIND THE CAMERA?

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> NO, NO, ONLY THAT ONE. MY BROTHER WAS WITH ME, SO HE TOOK THAT. ORIGINALLY, WHEN THEY TOOK IT, I THOUGHT IT LOOKED PRETTY STRANGE, BUT IT'S MY FAVORITE PHOTO NOW.

VAL>> THAT WAS A VERY GOOD HAIR DAY FOR YOU. (LAUGHTER)

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> (LAUGHTER) OH, YEAH.

VAL>> AND THIS ONE HERE IS --

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> -- THIS IS AT FORTY ACRES AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THE OLD MAN WAS.

VAL>> WHAT IS FORTY ACRES?

JESS>> THAT WAS IN THE TEHACHAPIS, WASN'T IT?

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> IN DELANO.

JESS>> IN DELANO. OH, THIS WAS DELANO, OKAY.

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> THAT'S ALSO IN FORTY ACRES. THAT'S CESAR'S DOG, BOYCOTT.

VAL>> AND WHEN YOU PUT THIS EXHIBIT TOGETHER, WHAT DID YOU AIM FOR? WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO CREATE? A CHRONOLOGY OR A THEME, OR WHAT?

STEPHEN KARR>> WELL, CHRONOLOGICALLY, WE TRIED TO DO THE BEST WE COULD WITH THE PHOTOS THAT WE HAD, BUT WE WERE TRYING TO CORRELATE THE PHOTOGRAPHS WITH THE TEN CORE VALUES OF THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION. THESE ARE THE VALUES THAT ARE MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH CHAVEZ AND ULTIMATELY THE MOVEMENT THAT HE LED.

VAL>> VALUES, SUCH AS --

STEPHEN KARR>> VALUES BASED ON GIVING KINDNESS TO OTHERS, CORE VALUES THAT WE WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH OUR JUDEO-CHRISTIAN HERITAGE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. CERTAINLY CHAVEZ WAS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN, A DEVOUT CATHOLIC, AND I THINK IT PLAYED A ROLE IN SHAPING HIS IDEALS AND ATTITUDES AND THE MOVEMENT ITSELF.

JESS>> HE WAS MUCH REVILED BY MANY WHO ACCUSED HIM OF BEING A COMMUNIST AND HE WAS NOT LOVED UNIVERSALLY, INITIALLY.

STEPHEN KARR>> CERTAINLY, IF YOU CONSIDER THE PLIGHT OF THE UNITED FARM WORKERS AGAINST AGRIBUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE SOUTHWEST DURING THIS ERA, ABSOLUTELY. BUT I THINK HISTORY HAS PLAYED OUT AND DETERMINED OTHERWISE.

VAL>> NOW, GEORGE, YOU DIDN'T JUST PHOTOGRAPH HIM, BUT YOU GOT TO KNOW HIM AS A PERSON, YES?

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> REASONABLY WELL. I WAS AROUND HIM MAYBE A DOZEN TIMES. TO ME, HE WAS JUST A VERY HUMBLE, SPECIAL PERSON. YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME DO YOU RUN ACROSS SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

VAL>> NOW HERE WITH A KENNEDY POSTER.

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> THIS IS IN '69 AND THOSE BANNERS WERE UP BECAUSE OF ROBERT KENNEDY'S CAMPAIGN.

JESS>> ROBERT KENNEDY MARCHED WITH HIM.

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> ABSOLUTELY.

JESS>> THE TWO OF THEM HAD A REAL BOND. THE KENNEDY FAMILY, INDEED, HAD A REAL BOND WITH CHAVEZ.

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> THE KENNEDY FAMILY STILL DOES, ROBERT KENNEDY'S FAMILY.

JESS>> HANDSOME YOUNG MAN.

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> YEAH, HE'S 43 YEARS OLD THERE.

VAL>> BUT HE DIED FAIRLY YOUNG. HIS PARENTS LIVED TO BE --

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> -- 66.

VAL>> HE WAS 66, BUT HIS PARENTS LIVED TO BE MUCH OLDER.

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> HIS MOM WAS 99 WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY AND THE FATHER WAS 101 YEARS OLD.

JESS>> HE LEAVES A GREAT LEGACY AND WE HONOR HIS BIRTHDAY, BUT WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE FARM LABOR UNION? IT STILL EXISTS, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE THE CONTRACTS THAT IT ONCE HAD, DOES IT?

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT. THE FOUNDATION EXISTS AND THE FW DOES.

VAL>> YES. NOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? THIS IS INTERESTING.

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> THIS IS A -- HE'S PASSING A CROSS TO JESSE JACKSON.

JESS>> THAT WAS DURING A HUNGER STRIKE, WASN'T IT?

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> IT WAS THE END. IT WAS THE 36TH DAY, THE END OF THE STRIKE, AND THEN JESSE JACKSON TOOK THAT CROSS AND HAD IT FOR THREE DAYS HE FASTED AND THEN IT WENT ON FROM THERE, I THINK, TO EDDIE OLMOS AND ON AND ON.

VAL>> SO THE CROSS WAS PASSED ALONG TO THOSE WHO SUBSEQUENTLY PARTICIPATED IN THE FAST?

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> RIGHT. THEY CARRIED ON THE FAST AND THAT'S THE --

STEPHEN KARR>> -- AND WASN'T THIS HIS LAST FAST --

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> IT WAS, YEAH.

STEPHEN KARR>> -- BEFORE HE DIED?

VAL>> AND WHEN HE FASTED, DID HE HAVE REAL SPECIFIC GOALS? DID HE WANT TO ACHIEVE A PARTICULAR THING? DID HE FAST TO PUT PRESSURE ON, SAY, THE FARM OWNERS TO GIVE IN OR SOMETHING? WAS THERE A FOCUSED GOAL?

GEORGE RODRIGUEZ>> I BELIEVE THE GRAPE BOYCOTT WAS ON.

STEPHEN KARR>> YEAH, IT WAS IN THE SPIRIT OF MOHANDAS GANDHI IN THAT SOME OF THE STRIKERS WERE PARTICIPATING IN MORE MILITANT VIOLENT MEANS AND CHAVEZ WAS ARDENTLY OPPOSED, VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED, TO ANY VIOLENCE WHATSOEVER. REALLY, THE FASTING WAS A FORM OF PERSONAL PROTEST TO SAY PLEASE STOP THE VIOLENCE, WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR GOALS THROUGH BETTER MEANS.

VAL>> VERY GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, GEORGE RODRIGUEZ, PHOTOJOURNALIST, AND STEPHEN KARR, CURATOR FOR THE EXHIBIT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

STEPHEN KARR>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT CESAR CHAVEZ AND SEE MORE PHOTOS AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM'S CESAR CHAVEZ EXHIBIT. IT RUNS THROUGH THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 31. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE MUSEUM AT (213) 763-3466 OR LOG ONTO THEIR WEBSITE AT NHM.ORG.

JESS>> AND ONE MORE ITEM TONIGHT. THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD HAS LOST ANOTHER GIANT, LEGENDARY FILM DIRECTOR BILLY WILDER. HE DIED LAST NIGHT AT HIS HOME IN LOS ANGELES AT THE AGE OF 95. TONIGHT BEFORE WE GO, A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF WILDER'S FILMS WHICH WILL LIVE FOREVER.

[FILM CLIP: "DOUBLE INDEMNITY"]

[FILM CLIP: "THE APARTMENT"]

[FILM CLIP: "SUNSET BOULEVARD"]

[FILM CLIP: "SOME LIKE IT HOT"]

VAL>> FILM DIRECTOR, BILLY WILDER, DEAD AT AGE 95.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. YOU CAN GET TRANSCRIPTS AND STREAMING AUDIO OF RECENT PROGRAMS ON OUR WEBSITE, KCET.ORG.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.