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WELCOME EVERYONE. I'M ALEX VILLARREAL, AND THIS IS ON ASSIGNMENT -- COMING TO YOU FROM
STUDIO 55 AT VOA HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON. MY COHOST IMRAN SIDDIQUI IS OFF THIS WEEK.
NOW EVERY WEEK, WE TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES WITH VOA REPORTERS AROUND THE WORLD. IN THIS
EPISODE, WE LOOK FIRST AT THAILAND'S POLITICAL PROTESTS. A CHEMICAL SPILL IN WEST VIRGINIA
MAKES RESIDENTS' WATER UNDRINKABLE FOR WEEKS... MINING FOR MINERALS ON THE MOON. IS IT EVEN
LEGAL? AND THE NOMINATIONS ARE IN. WE'LL TALK ALL THINGS OSCARS WITH VOA'S FILM REPORTER.
ON ASSIGNMENT IS ON THE AIR. LET'S ROLL... IN BANGKOK, ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS HAVE
GATHERED BY THE THOUSANDS IN RECENT DAYS IN AN EFFORT TO SHUT DOWN THE CITY AND FORCE
THE PRIME MINISTER FROM OFFICE. THE PROTESTS BEGAN AFTER THAILAND'S PRIME MINISTER YINGLUCK
SHINAWATRA BACKED AN AMNESTY BILL THAT COULD HAVE ALLOWED HER OLDER BROTHER TO AVOID A
JAIL TERM FOR CORRUPTION. ON ASSIGNMENT'S PHILIP ALEXIOU TALKED TO VOA BANGKOK BUREAU
CHIEF BARRY NEWHOUSE FOR MORE. HERE'S A LOOK AT THAT.
BARRY NEWHOUSE IN BANGKOK, GIVE US A QUICK UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAILAND
WITH THE PROTESTERS BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING TO SOMEONE WHO IS AN OUTSIDER TRYING
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
SURE. WELL, WE'VE HAD PROTESTS IN THE CAPITAL FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS NOW AND IT ALL STARTED
OUT LATE LAST YEAR WHEN THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO PUSH THROUGH THIS VERY CONTROVERSIAL AMNESTY
BILL. NOW THIS AMNESTY BILL HAS TO DO A LOT WITH THE POLITICAL UNREST THAT'S BEEN HERE
FOR ABOUT THE LAST DECADE AND IT REALLY HAS TWO MAIN, A, SORT OF SIDES TO IT. ONE IS THE
SIDE OF THAKSIN SHINAWATRA. HE WAS A FORMER PRIME MINISTER AND NOW HIS SISTER IS THE CURRENT
PRIME MINISTER AND THEY LEAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL POLITICAL PARTY THAT HAS WON A STRING OF ELECTIONS
GOING BACK FOR ABOUT THE LAST DECADE. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT ARE THE DEMOCRATS
AND MANY WOULD SAY THE WEALTHIER URBAN ELITE HERE IN BANGKOK AND THEY HAVE NOT WON AN ELECTION
IN ABOUT 20 YEARS BUT THEY WERE VERY MUCH THE TRADITIONAL POWER BROKERS IN THIS COUNTRY
AND ALONG WITH THE MILITARY AND THEIR ALLIES, KIND OF WEALTHY ALLIES IN THE COUNTRY THEY
SORT OF WERE THE PARTY THAT GAVE CONSENT TO THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT AND
IN THE PAST WHEN WE WOULD HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD CLASH WITH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE
YOU WOULD SEE COUPS LIKE WE'VE HAD IN 2006 AND THE MILITARY STEPPED IN MANY TIMES BEFORE
THEN AS WELL.
WE CANNOT STAND THIS GOVERNMENT ANYMORE. WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT. THEY DO CORRUPT LIKE
HELL. BASICALLY THE SISTER, THE PRIME MINISTER BASICALLY IS A PUPPET OF HER BROTHER SO WE
CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE.
WELL THEY DO SEEM TO HAVE A POINT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN CORRUPTION IN THE PAST WITH
THAKSIN SHINAWATRA, NOW HIS SISTER RUNNING THE COUNTRY IS, I GUESS THERE MAY BE AN INVESTIGATION
INTO A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR FARMERS WHERE THE GOVERNMENT BOUGHT RICE AT ABOVE
PRICES AND NOW THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET RID OF IT, AND SO NOW THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT
THAT NOW.
THAT'S RIGHT THE RICE-PLEDGING SCHEME IS REALLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR THE PROTESTERS IN
TERMS OF A DEMONSTRATION OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY BIZARRE AND VERY EXPENSIVE
PROGRAM FOR THE GOVERNMENT. THEY SPENT SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS EACH YEAR IN ORDER TO CONTINUE
THIS SCHEME WHICH IS BASICALLY PAYING FARMERS ABOVE MARKET RATES FOR THEIR RICE AND THEY
HAVE BOUGHT ALL KINDS OF RICE NOW THAT THEY CAN'T SELL ON THE OPEN MARKET WITHOUT TAKING
HUGE LOSSES. IT'S THESE KINDS OF POLICIES THAT THE PROTESTERS
SAY SORT OF DELEGITIMIZE THE GOVERNMENT AND ARE SUCH A BAD EXAMPLE OF GOVERNANCE THAT
THEY DESERVE TO BE KICKED OUT.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS OFFERED TO HOLD EARLY ELECTIONS FEBRUARY SECOND AND THAT EVIDENTLY
HAS NOT EVEN APPEASED, THAT'S NOT APPEASING THE PROTESTERS EITHER.
THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT. THEY DO NOT WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH THE PRIME MINISTER.
THEY DON'T THINK THAT SHE'S LEGITIMATE.
OUR COUNTRY IS NOT READY FOR ELECTION AS WE KNOW, IT'S A SHAM, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS IT'S
NOT A FAIR ELECTION; IT'S NOT A FAIR FOR SURE. SAME PEOPLE COME BACK.
AND SO THEY REFUSE TO NEGOTIATE WITH HER. NOT TO MENTION THEIR POLITICAL ALLIES, THE
DEMOCRAT PARTY IS BOYCOTTING THE NEXT ELECTION. SO, IF THE ELECTIONS DO GO FORWARD ON FEBRUARY
2ND THERE WON'T BE ANY MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION WHO COULD EVEN BE ELECTED INTO THE GOVERNMENT.
SO IT'S, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE I THINK IS A VERY BIG OPEN QUESTION. THIS IS NOT REALLY
A STRUGGLE OVER POLICIES, THIS IS A STRUGGLE FOR POWER AND IT IS WHO IS GOING TO BE IN
CHARGE IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND FOR ALL THE SORT OF POLICY DISAGREEMENTS THAT YOU
HEAR ON THE STREET, AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS TRULY ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO LEAD THE
COUNTRY.
AND AGAIN THAT WAS VOA BANGKOK BUREAU CHIEF BARRY NEWHOUSE. PROTESTS HAVE BECOME A FAMILIAR
SCENE TO RESIDENTS OF CENTRAL BANGKOK. THREE YEARS AGO, SUPPORTERS OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT
SET UP THEIR OWN PROTEST CAMP IN THE CITY. WELL, WE'RE TAKING A BREAK. COMING UP - WE
GO TO WILD, WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA - BUT YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO DRINK THE WATER. YOU'RE
WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT.
ABOUT 100 KILOMETERS FROM WHERE I'M STANDING IN WASHINGTON IS THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA.
IT'S A MOSTLY RURAL STATE, WITH BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS AND WATERS. BUT RECENTLY, THERE
WAS A MAJOR CHEMICAL SPILL THAT CONTAMINATED A RIVER SUPPLYING WATER TO SOME 300-THOUSAND
PEOPLE. IT ALL HAPPENED NEAR THE STATE CAPITAL OF CHARLESTON, AND VOA'S BRIAN PADDEN WHO
JOINS ME NOW WENT TO THE CITY -- HI BRIAN NICE TO SEE YOU -- HE WENT THERE TO SEE HOW
THIS SPILL HAPPENED AND HOW IT WAS HANDLED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. NOW LET'S GO
BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THIS. HOW DID THIS SPILL OCCUR AND WHAT EXACTLY WAS THE CHEMICAL
THAT WAS SPILLED?
SO THERE'S AN INDUSTRY, A CHEMICAL COMPANY CALLED FREEDOM INDUSTRIES THAT OPERATES A
CHEMICAL PLANT RIGHT ON THE BANKS OF THE ELK RIVER UPSTREAM FROM A MAJOR WATER PROCESSING
PLANT FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. A LEAK IN ONE OF ITS STORAGE TANKS CONTAINING A CHEMICAL
THAT TREATS COAL, THAT CLEANS SAND FROM THE COAL, LEAKED INTO THE WATER SUPPLY. NO ONE
KNEW IT FOR HOURS UNTIL PEOPLE STARTED NOTICING A VERY STRONG LICORICE SMELL TO THE WATER
AND SOME PEOPLE WERE GETTING SICK. NO ONE DIED BUT THEY HAD STOMACH PROBLEMS. THE GOVERNMENT
THEN CAME OUT AND BANNED THE USE OF THE WATER, TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO DRINK IT, NOT TO BOIL
IT, NOT TO WASH CLOTHES IN IT. YOU COULD NOT BOIL THE CHEMICAL OUT OF THE WATER.
THAT BAN, HOW LONG DID THAT LAST?
THIS LASTED ABOUT A WEEK. SLOWLY, CERTAIN AREAS CAME BACK ONLINE AS THE CHEMICAL FLUSHED
THROUGH THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IN THE REGION. SO THE ONLY RECOURSE FOR THE AREA WAS TO JUST
FLUSH THIS CHEMICAL THROUGH THE WATER AND GET IT DOWNSTREAM UNTIL IT DISSIPATED UNTIL
IT WAS NO LONGER AT SUCH A HIGH POTENCY LEVEL.
NOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONTROVERSY WE'VE SEEN AS A RESULT OF THIS SPILL, ESPECIALLY
ON THE SIDE OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS CRITICIZING LACK OF REGULATION AND OTHER ISSUES. WHAT
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE DEBATE THAT'S BEEN SPAWNED REALLY BY THIS SPILL?
ONE OF THE CAUSES FOR CONCERN IS THAT THIS CHEMICAL PLANT IS NOT INSPECTED FOR OVER 20
YEARS. THERE WERE NO REGULATIONS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE CHEMICAL STORAGE TANKS
ON THE BANK OF THE RIVER WERE UP TO DATE AND WERE IN PROPER WORKING ORDER. THERE IS NOW
LEGISLATION IN PLACE TO TRY TO REMEDY SOME OF THAT. THE CONCERN BY ENVIRONMENTALISTS
IS THAT THE MAJOR ECONOMIC PLAYERS IN THE REGION, THE COAL INDUSTRY, THE CHEMICAL COMPANIES
THAT EMPLOY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THAT REGION HAVE PRESSURED THE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP REGULATIONS
AT A VERY LOW LEVEL. SO PEOPLE FOR THE MOST PART BELIEVE THIS IS THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
THIS IS THE BUSINESS OF THE AREA, THE REGION, CHEMICALS, COAL PRODUCTION, AND THAT IT'S
A PRICE THEY HAVE TO PAY, THE RISK OF SOME OF THESE THINGS HAPPENING.
RIGHT AND THAT'S VERY INTERESTING, BECAUSE AS YOU SAY, THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH PUBLIC
OUTCRY ABOUT THIS. WE'VE SEEN THE OUTCRY FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SPILL. WHEREAS IN CONTRAST TO THE BP OIL SPILL, WHERE WE
SAW A LOT OF OUTRAGE ON THE PART OF MANY AMERICANS, WHY IS THERE THAT DIFFERENCE HERE?
A LOT OF LOCAL PEOPLE BELIEVE THEIR JOBS ARE AT STAKE HERE, THAT IF THERE'S TOO MUCH PRESSURE
PUT ON THESE INDUSTRIES THEY WILL CUT BACK PRODUCTION AND THEREFOR CUT BACK JOBS. ENVIRONMENTALISTS
HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR STRONGER REGULATIONS. ENVIRONMENTALISTS WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS
IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF COAL BEING A VERY DIRTY FUEL, FROM THE BEGINNING OF ITS PROCESS TO
THE END OF ITS PROCESS. FROM GETTING IT OUT OF THE GROUND, WHERE YOU DESTROY THE ENVIRONMENT
AND CUT OFF THE TOPS OF MOUNTAINS, TO THE PROCESSING OF IT, WHERE YOU'RE USING THESE
VERY STRONG CHEMICALS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SEEP INTO THE WATER, AND THEN THE FINAL
PRODUCT THAT PRODUCES SO MUCH POLLUTION. ENVIRONMENTALISTS ULTIMATELY WOULD LIKE THAT LIMITED, COAL PRODUCTION
LIMITED FROM BEGINNING TO END, AND THAT THREATENS THE ECONOMY OF THE ENTIRE REGION.
WELL BRIAN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS STORY TO OUR ATTENTION, WE KNOW YOU WILL
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW IT SO WE WILL TAP INTO YOU FOR MORE. THANK YOU AGAIN VOA'S BRIAN
PADDEN... ALL RIGHT WELL COMING UP WE WILL LEAVE WEST VIRGINIA AND PLANET EARTH ALTOGETHER
AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S NEW ON THE MOON. YOU'RE WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN IT ON THE NEWS. IN DECEMBER 2013, CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LANDED AN UNMANNED
PROBE ON THE MOON. YOU CAN SEE VIDEO OF THE LUNAR ROVER LANDING ON YOUTUBE. THE EVENT
HAS PROMPTED DEBATE OVER THE POTENTIAL EXPLOITATION OF THE MOON'S RESOURCES - AND WHO EXACTLY
OWNS RIGHTS TO THE EARTH'S ONLY NATURAL SATELLITE. VOA'S HENRY RIDGWELL IN LONDON HAS BEEN LOOKING
AT THIS STORY AND I TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT IT. LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
HENRY, TELL US ABOUT THIS RECENT LUNAR LANDING BY CHINA AND THE DEBATE THAT WE'VE SEEN IT
PROMPT?
WELL, IT WAS A BIG STEP FOR CHINA AND A BIG STEP FOR THE WORLD. THE WORLD'S FIRST, WHAT
THEY CALL, SOFT LUNAR LANDING SINCE 1996 ACHIEVED BY THE CHINESE IN MID DECEMBER. THEY PUT A
LAUNCHER ON THE MOON, THE CHANG'E 3, AND THAT ALSO CONTAIN THE MOON BUGGY THAT IS CURRENTLY
COLLECTING SAMPLES OF ROCKS FROM THE MOON FOR ANALYSIS BACK ON EARTH. IT WILL TELL US
WHETHER THE MOON HAS ANY VALUABLE RESOURCES AND TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THE FORMATION
OF THE MOON SO A BIG STEP FOR SCIENCE AND THE BIG STEP FOR CHINA.
SCIENTISTS BEHIND THE MISSION, LIKE JIA YANG, ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD.
"JADE RABBIT IS HEADING TO THE WEST NOW, WHERE THERE'S A PYRAMID-LIKE ROCK AROUND 30 METERS
AWAY. THE ROCK APPEARS QUITE SPECIAL AS IT HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPE FROM OTHER ROCKS."
PRIOR TO THE MISSION, CHINESE SCIENTISTS DESCRIBED THE MOON AS BEING A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF MINERALS.
BUT CURRENTLY, NO ONE CAN CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF THE MOON, SAYS IAN CRAWFORD, PROFESSOR
OF PLANETARY SCIENCE AT BIRKBECK COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
"THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE MOON IS GOVERNED BY THE 1967 OUTER SPACE TREATY, ARTICLE 2,
WHICH SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS NATION STATES FROM APPROPRIATING THE MOON."
AND THAT TREATY ENVISIONS THAT ONLY NATION STATES WHATEVER HAVE THE MONEY AND RESOURCES
AND THE CAPACITY TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS SORT OF MISSION. IT DIDN'T MENTION PRIVATE COMPANIES,
WHICH, OF COURSE, ARE EXPANDING IN A VERY BIG WAY INTO SPACE EXPLORATION. WE'VE GOT
COMPANIES LIKE *** GALACTIC, WHICH HOPES TO TAKE THE FIRST FEE-PAYING PASSENGERS INTO
SPACE THIS YEAR. COMPETITIONS LIKE GOOGLE LUNAR X PRIZE, WHICH WILL REWARD ANY PRIVATE
COMPANIES THAT MANAGE TO LAND ROBOTIC MISSION ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON AND TAKE PHOTOS
AND COLLECT SAMPLES THERE. SO THERE IS A BIT OF A GRAY AREA WITHIN THIS TREATY THAT DOESN'T
COVER WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF PRIVATE COMPANIES GET TO THE MOON AND THEY SEE SOME VALUE IN
STARTING TO MINE MINERALS AND BRING THESE BACK HOME.
AND HENRY THIS CONCEPT OF UNITY UNDER THE MOON IS SOMETHING THAT WAS EXPLORED IN THIS
EXHIBIT THAT YOU COVER IN LONDON. TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW THERE.
THAT'S RIGHT. THE EXHIBITION IS TITLED REPUBLIC OF THE MOON. IT'S TOURING BRITAIN AND VARIOUS
OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL AND IT WAS TRIGGERED BY THIS DEBATE LOOKING AT WHO ACTUALLY OWNS
THE MOON AND THE CURATOR BEHIND THE EXHIBITION SAYS THAT MOTIVATION WAS THE SKEPTICISM OVER
EXACTLY WHO OWNS THE MOON AND THOSE VARIOUS LOOPHOLES THAT MIGHT BE IN THERE WITH PRIVATE
COMPANIES ETC. AND SO THESE ARTISTS WERE COMMISSIONED TO MAKE SOME PIECES LOOKING THAT POSSIBILITY.
ROB LA FRENAIS IS CURATOR OF THE EXHIBITION.
"WE HAD THIS IDEA THAT THE REPUBLIC OF THE MOON WOULD BE IN A SENSE AN IMAGINARY COUNTRY.
BUT ALL THE ARTISTS IN REPUBLIC OF THE MOON HAVE GOT THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL REFLECTIONS
ON WHAT THE
AND MANY OF THEM ARE - IT'S QUITE ESOTERIC EXHIBITION, VERY MODERN CONCEPTUAL EXHIBITION
- BUT MANY OF THEM ARE QUITE MOVING AND MAKE YOU STOP AND PAUSE AND THINK. ONE OF THEM
SENT A SIGNAL OF BEETHOVEN'S COMPOSITION - MOONLIGHT SONATA - OVER TO THE MOON, WHICH WAS THEN
BOUNCED BACK EARTH... AND THE MOON... THE SURFACE OF THE MOON BECAUSE OF THE CRATERS
INTERFERE WITH THAT SIGNAL AS IT BOUNCES BACK AND INTERFERES WITH THE MUSIC THAT IS THEN
PLAYED. SO IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF JUST THINKING IN YOUR MIND THAT THE MAKEUP OF THOSE CRATERS
ON THE MOON AND WHAT MIGHT BE UP THERE. AND WHO MIGHT OWN THAT? AND EXACTLY WHAT ROLE
THE MOON SHOULD PLAY IN OUR LIVES. MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WILL HAVE THEIR OWN
OPINIONS ABOUT HOW THEY THINK ABOUT THE MOON. WHETHER IT EVEN ENTERS THEIR LIVES. WHETHER
AS IT GETS DARK TONIGHT AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SKY, IF IT'S A CLEAR NIGHT, YOU'LL SEE
THE MOON AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? SHOULD IT BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE EXPLOITED OR
SHOULD IT BE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE LAST WILDERNESS' THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO?
AND AGAIN OUR THANKS TO VOA'S HENRY RIDGWELL IN LONDON. NOW U.S. LAW PROHIBITS THE COUNTRY'S
SPACE AGENCY, NASA, FROM WORKING WITH CHINA, BUT ACADEMICS FROM THE U.S. AND AROUND THE
WORLD HAVE BEEN EXCHANGING QUESTIONS AND INFORMATION ABOUT DATA FROM CHINA'S LUNAR ROVER IN VARIOUS
FORUMS. WE MOVE NOW FROM THE MOON TO ANOTHER PLACE THAT SOMETIMES SEEMS LIKE ITS OWN WORLD
- HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. THE NOMINEES FOR THE ACADEMY AWARDS ARE OUT FOR THIS YEAR,
INCLUDING NINE MOVIES NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE. PENELOPE POULOU IS VOA'S ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER,
AND SHE SPOKE WITH ON ASSIGNMENT'S LISA VOHRA ABOUT WHO COULD WIN WHEN ALL THE ACADEMY'S
VOTES ARE TALLIED.
LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT. THE 2013 NOMINEES...
FIRST OF ALL, TELL ME, WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION ONCE YOU HEARD THE OSCAR NOMINATIONS?
WELL I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. I EXPECTED MOST OF THESE PEOPLE. I WAS VERY SHOCKED THAT
THE COEN BROTHERS WAS NOT INCLUDED, "INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS." THAT WAS ONE THAT WE HAD ALL
ANTICIPATED WAS GONNA BE IN THERE AND WASN'T.
AND OTHER BIG SURPRISED DID YOU HAVE, LIKE TOM HANKS NOT BEING NOMINATED?
REGARDING TOM HANKS, I HAVE TO SAY, AS MUCH AS I LOVED HIS PERFORMANCE, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER
THERE ARE 5 CATEGORIES. THERE ARE 5 PEOPLE. 5 SLOTS. SO THE 5 SLOTS THAT WERE NOMINATED
WERE REALLY WORTH IT. HANKS IS EXCELLENT, BUT I CANNOT REALLY SAY THAT HIS OMISSION
WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOCKED ME.
TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT SOME OF THE BEST PICTURES THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED? JUST A FEW OF THEM.
GRAVITY.
I ACTUALLY INTERVIEWED ALFONSO CUARON AND HE'S A WONDERFUL GUY.
THE ATTEMPT WAS TO DO SOMETHING THAT LOOKED LIKE AN IMAX DOCUMENTARY.
A LOT OF THINGS THAT HE'S PRESENTING IN THAT FILM ARE VERY ACCURATE SCIENTIFICALLY SO IF
YOU THINK THAT SOMETHING IS OUTLANDISH, IT REALLY ISN'T. WHICH MAKES IT MAGNIFICENT.
12 YEARS OF SLAVE, AGAIN, HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR SO MANY AWARDS. I EXPECT CHIWETEL EJOFOR
TO GET THE OSCAR. LUPITA NYONG'O, AMAZING ACTRESS.
SHE IS AMAZING
SHE HAS GOTTEN A NOMINATION FOR SUPPORTING ACTRESS. THIS IS A FIRST THING, SHE WAS VERY
SHOCKED TO GET IT.
ANOTHER PERSON I'M FASCINATED WITH IS BARKHAD ABDI.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S LIKE THE MOST FASCINATING STORY ABOUT HIM BEING, I KNOW YOU KNOW, CAB DRIVER AND
HE WENT OPEN AUDITIONS. TELL ME WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIM AND HIS PROSPECTS?
HE'S AN AMAZING PRESENCE IN THE FILM, "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS." INCREDIBLE FACE AND OF COURSE,
THE FACT THAT HE CAME FROM SUCH AN UNLIKELY BACKGROUND RAISES HIS PROFILE EVEN MORE.
I BELIEVE THAT HE GIVES AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE BUT HE'S UP AGAINST SOME FORMIDABLE OPPONENTS.
LIKE FASSBENDER IN '12 YEARS OF SLAVE,' JONAH HILL IN 'WOLF OF WALL STREET.'
EXPECTATIONS FROM THE OSCARS? IT'S ELLEN, SHE LAST HOSTED IN 2007, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS
ABOUT HER HOSTING AGAIN?
AS EXCITING AS THE WINNERS ARE EVERY YEAR FOR ME, THE PRESENTERS ARE ALWAYS UNDERWHELMING.
AND SHE'S NO EXCEPTION, I FIND HER TOO, I DON'T KNOW. NOT THERE.
REALLY?
SHE'S TRYING VERY HARD, BUT IN THE WRONG WAY. I, I'M NOT A FAN IN THAT SENSE. ELLEN IS AMAZING,
BUT IN OTHER THINGS.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PAST THAT YOU THOUGHT, AT LEAST DID SOMEWHAT OKAY AS A PRESENTER?
BILLY CRYSTAL HAS A LITTLE MORE OF THE HOLLYWOOD PRESENCE. HOLLYWOOD IS GRIPPING WITH ATTRACTING
YOUNGER AUDIENCES. BUT THEY HAVE NOT REALLY MANAGED TO FIND THAT PERFECT MATCH OF THE
YOUNG GUY OR WOMAN, WHO IS INCREDIBILITY CHARMING AND ALSO VERY GLITZY AND YOU KNOW, CHARMING.
IT IS HARD. IT'S A HARD BALANCE. BECAUSE THEY GET A LOT OF COMEDIANS, AND THESE GUYS ARE
FUNNY, BUT THEY'RE SO CYNICAL AND SATIRICAL...
YES
IT JUST DOESN'T WORK FOR THAT AUDIENCE. SINCE YOU'RE SO KNOWLEDGEABLE, YOU WATCH SO MANY
MOVIES, DO YOU EVER DO A LITTLE THING FOR YOURSELF LIKE TEST TO SEE YOUR NOMINATION
AND WHETHER IT'S IN SYNC WITH THEIR NOMINATIONS?
WELL, LET ME PUT IT LIKE THAT. IN THE LAST 5 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS, I HAVE
NEVER BEEN WRONG.
REALLY? WOW, OKAY. YOU SHOULD BE DOING LIKE BETS. YOU KNOW HOW THEY DO FOOTBALL BETS,
OR BASKETBALL, YOU SHOULD BE DOING THAT?
WELL, I HAVEN'T EXACTLY GONE THAT FAR, BUT AT LEAST I'M PRETTY HAPPY THAT I, I'M PRETTY
CONFIDENT. IT'S VERY INTUITIVE FOR ME.
WELL WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PREDICTIONS?
WELL, OKAY, DON'T HOLD ME TO IT NOW, OKAY. GRAVITY, BEST DIRECTOR. 12 YEARS OF SLAVE,
BEST PICTURE. CHIWETEL EJOFOR, BEST ACTOR. LUPITA NYONG'O, HOPEFULLY BEST SUPPORTING
ACTRESS, AND BEST ACTRESS CATE BLANCHETT OR MAYBE AMY ADAMS.
YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU TO THIS. WE'RE GOING TO REPLAY THIS AFTER THE OSCARS
WITH LIKE A (BUZZER SOUND) OR DING DING DING DING.
OH MY GOD. I DON'T WANT TO BE AHEAD OF MYSELF BUT I'M HOPEFUL. I'M THERE FOR THE WINNERS.
ALL ACADEMY AWARDS INS AND OUTS FROM VOA'S PENELOPE POULOU. THE OSCAR WINNERS ARE TO
BE ANNOUNCED IN A TELEVISED CEREMONY ON SUNDAY MARCH 2. AND OF COURSE, PENELOPE IS THE EXPERT,
BUT I'M LEANING TOWARD MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY FOR BEST ACTOR FOR HIS ROLE IN DALLAS BUYERS
CLUB. WELL MOVING FROM FROM THE WEST COAST TO THE EAST COAST. IN NEW YORK CITY, SOARING
REAL ESTATE PRICES HAVE HAD A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON THE CITY'S FAMED CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
MANY CHINESE IMMIGRANTS ARE LEAVING THE AREA AS AN INFLUX OF WHITE PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS
DRIVES UP THE COST OF HOUSING. MAKING MATTERS WORSE, LOCAL BUSINESS PEOPLE REPORT FEWER
AND FEWER CUSTOMERS. REBECCA VALLI HAS THE STORY.
FOR DECADES, THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN HAS BEEN THE FIRST STOP IN THE JOURNEY OF MANY IMMIGRANTS
WHO CAME TO SETTLE IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT WITH TIME, AS THE URBAN SPRAWL EXPANDED, A
NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOODS - WHERE IMMIGRANTS TRADITIONALLY CLUSTER - HAVE SUCCUMBED
TO THE ECONOMIC LOGIC OF GENTRIFICATION. CHINATOWN SEEMS HEADED IN THE SAME DIRECTION. PETER
KWONG IS AN ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES PROFESSOR AND URBAN PLANNER AT HUNTER COLLEGE.
"ONE LOGIC IS DEVELOPERS REALLY WANT TO TRANSFORM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO HIGH RISES, TO A LOT
OF BUSINESS, TRAFFIC, HIGH RISE EXPENSIVE RESIDENCE AND ALL OF THAT."
A REPORT RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE NEW YORK-BASED ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE
AND EDUCATION FUND DETAILED THE FEATURES OF GENTRIFICATION IN CHINATOWN: INCREASE IN LUXURY
HOUSING AND HOTELS, INCREASE IN PROPERTY PRICES AND DECLINE IN ASIAN RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES.
SUN MEIRONG, HAS BEEN LIVING IN CHINATOWN SINCE SHE FIRST CAME TO THE UNITED STATES
FROM HER NATIVE CITY OF FUZHOU - IN 1990. HER RESTAURANT MAINLY CATERS TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS.
"IN THE PAST DURING THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS
STREET OUTSIDE, YOU COULD NOT WALK. BUT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS NOBODY IS ON THE STREET
ANYMORE.
THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING IN NEW YORK HAS BECOME A CONTENTIOUS POLITICAL ISSUE AND SOME GRASSROOTS
GROUPS IN CHINATOWN SAY THE TREND ACCELERATED DURING MICHAEL BLOOMBERG'S EIGHT YEAR TENURE
AS NEW YORK CITY MAYOR. NEW YORK'S NEW MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO HAS PLEDGED TO NARROW THE GAP
BETWEEN THE WEALTHY AND THE POOR IN NEW YORK AND EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND NEW YORK ISN'T THE ONLY U.S. CITY WITH A CHINATOWN. HERE IN WASHINGTON, WE HAVE OUR
OWN VERSION, WHICH HAS ALSO SEEN ITS OWN TRANSITION AWAY FROM THE IMMIGRANT HUB IT ONCE WAS. YOU
MIGHT EVEN SAY THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF CHINESE RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES MAKES
"CHINA BLOCK" A MORE ACCURATE NAME FOR THE AREA... WELL WITH THAT, WE COME TO THE END
OF THE SHOW. WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME WITH A LOOK AT WHAT OUR CORRESPONDENT IN KABUL
HAS TO SAY ABOUT AFGHANISTAN'S ELECTION PROSPECTS. BEFORE WE GO THOUGH, I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT
OUT TO THOSE WATCHING US ON TV SAYARE IN ELDORET KENYA. AND YOU CAN CATCH ON ASSIGNMENT ANYTIME
ON THE WEB AT VOANEWS.COM, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE. THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING. WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME.