N
OUR SIGNATURE SEGMENT, TWO
DECADES AFTER HIS HIT ALBUM“
SUPERNATURAL,” CARLOS SANTANA
JUST RELEASED HIS 25th ALBUM,
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CONTINENT
OF AFRICA.
NEXT ON “PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.”
>> PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND IS MADE
 POSSIBLE BY:
 BERNARD AND IRENE SCHWARTZ.
 SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.
 SETON MELVIN.
 THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN
 FAMILY.
 DR. P. ROY VAGELOS AND DIANA T.
 VAGELOS.
 THE J.P.B. FOUNDATION.
 ROSALIND P. WALTER.
 BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.
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 BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA--
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 PROVIDED BY:
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 CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS
 STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
 THANK YOU.
 FROM THE TISCH WNET STUDIOS AT
 LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK,
 HARI SREENIVASAN.
>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING AND
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
PRESIDENT TRUMP BEGAN HIS DAY
TODAY DISPUTING A "NEW YORK
TIMES" REPORT THAT DETAILS OF
FRIDAY'S U.S.-MEXICO AGREEMENT
WERE “ALREADY PROMISED” IN
DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN OFFICIALS
THAT TOOK PLACE MONTHS AGO.
THE "TIMES" REPORTED THAT
UNNAMED OFFICIALS FROM BOTH
COUNTRIES SAID THE MEXICAN
GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY PLEDGED
TO SEND TROOPS TO ITS SOUTHERN
BORDER IN MARCH.
PRESIDENT TRUMP TWEETED THAT THE
REPORT WAS “FALSE” AND “WE HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO GET SOME OF THESE
BORDER ACTIONS FOR A LONG
TIME...” BUT DIDN'T GET THEM,“
...UNTIL OUR SIGNED AGREEMENT
WITH MEXICO.”
THE PRESIDENT ALSO TWEETED THIS
WEEKEND THAT MEXICO HAS AGREED
TO BUY “LARGE QUANTITIES OF
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT” FROM U.S.
FARMERS “IMMEDIATELY,” ALTHOUGH
HE DID NOT SAY THAT WAS PART OF
THE NEW AGREEMENT.
AT A RALLY LAST NIGHT IN
TIJUANA, MEXICAN PRESIDENT
ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR TOLD
SUPPORTERS THAT PRIOR TO
FRIDAY'S AGREEMENT HE WAS
PREPARED TO IMPOSE RETALIATORY
TARIFFS ON THE U.S.
>> ( translated ): WE CELEBRATE
THE IMPORTANT AGREEMENT OF
YESTERDAY BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY
DIFFICULT SITUATION, VERY
AWKWARD DOING THE SAME AND
APPLYING TARIFFS TO SOME
PRODUCTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> Sreenivasan: FOREIGN MINISTER
MARCELO EBRARD, WHO HELPED
NEGOTIATE THE AGREEMENT, TOLD
THE CROWD THAT MEXICO HAS“
EMERGED WITH OUR DIGNITY
INTACT.”
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DEMONSTRATORS MARCHED IN HONG
KONG TODAY TO PROTEST
GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED EXTRADITION
LEGISLATION.
THE PROPOSED BILL WOULD ALLOW
RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG TO BE
EXTRADITED TO MAINLAND CHINA TO
FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.
OPPONENTS ARGUE THAT CHINA'S
LEGAL SYSTEM WILL NOT OFFER THE
SAME RIGHTS AS THOSE IN SEMI-
AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG AND THAT
THE BILL THREATENS HONG KONG'S
LEGAL INDEPENDENCE.
THE DEMONSTRATORS MARCHED FOR
HOURS-- ENDING UP AFTER DARK
OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
POLICE LINED THE AREA AND
REPORTEDLY USED PEPPER SPRAY ON
SOME PROTESTORS.
HONG KONG'S GOVERNMENT ISSUED A
STATEMENT SUNDAY NIGHT SAYING
THE BILL WOULD PREVENT HONG KONG
FROM BECOMING A HAVEN FOR
FUGITIVES AND SAID THE
GOVERNMENT WANTS TO ENGAGE WITH
PROTESTORS “THROUGH CALM AND
RATIONAL DISCUSSION.”
THE EXTRADITION BILL IS
SCHEDULED TO BE PRESENTED TO
HONG KONG'S LEGISLATURE ON
WEDNESDAY.
SHOPS WERE CLOSED AND STREETS
WERE EMPTY IN SUDAN TODAY.
LEADERS OF THE PROTEST MOVEMENT
AGAINST THE RULING MILITARY-LED
GOVERNMENT CALLED FOR A GENERAL
STRIKE BEGINNING TODAY-- THE
FIRST DAY OF THE WORK WEEK
THERE.
IN KHARTOUM, PEOPLE LINED AT UP
AT THE FEW OPEN BAKERIES AND AT
GAS STATIONS.
THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT IS
DEMANDING CIVILIAN CONTROL OF
SUDAN'S GOVERNMENT.
LAST WEEK, SECURITY FORCES
KILLED DOZENS OF PROTESTORS WHO
WERE HOLDING A SIT-IN.
VENEZUELA REOPENED ITS BORDER
WITH COLOMBIA YESTERDAY AFTER
FOUR MONTHS OF BLOCKADES AND
CLOSURES OF MAIN CROSSING
POINTS.
THOUSANDS CROWDED ONTO ROADS AND
BRIDGES TO CROSS INTO COLOMBIAN
TOWNS WHERE THEY COULD PURCHASE
FOOD, MEDICINE AND GOODS NOT
AVAILABLE IN VENEZUELA.
THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT OF
NICOLAS MADURO CLOSED THE BUSY
BORDER CROSSINGS IN FEBRUARY
WHEN OPPOSITION LEADER JUAN
GUAIDÓ CALLED FOR INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN AID TO BE TRUCKED
IN.
THE U.S. AND DOZENS OF OTHER
COUNTRIES ARE SUPPORTING GUAIDÓ
AND CONTINUE TO CALL FOR MADURO
TO STEP DOWN.
FOR MORE ON THE SITUATION IN
VENEZUELA, JOHN OTIS REPORTS ON
VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA FOR
N.P.R. AND JOINS US NOW VIA
SKYPE FROM BOGOTA COLOMBIA.
I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON A STORY
NOW.
THE BORDER CROSSING, WE'VE SEEN
OR HEARD OF HUNDREDS IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WANTING TO
GET ACROSS THAT BORDER TO JUST
GET BASIC GOODS.
>> WELL, YES, IT IS QUITE
SIGNIFICANT NEWS FOR DESPERATE
VENEZUELANS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU
HAVE THE BORDER BRIDGES BLOCKED,
THEY'RE ACTUALLY BLOCKED WITH
SHIPPING CONTAINERS, SO PEOPLE
COULDN'T GET ACROSS THE BRIDGE,
BUT THEY COULD STILL GET INTO
COLOMBIA, AND THAT WOULD HAVE TO
USE THESE CLANDESTINE FOOD --
FOOTPATHS USED BY DRUG
SMUGGLERS.
THERE ARE RIVAL GANGS, AND THERE
ARE QUITE OFTEN SHOOTOUTS, SO
IT'S DANGEROUS.
THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO CROSS
THE RIVER THAT FORMS THE
BOARDER.
I WAS UP THERE RECENT LIMP THEY
WOULD WADE ACROSS THE RIVER UP
TO THEIR CHEST IN WATER.
I MET WON WOMAN BRINGING HER SON
ACROSS THE BORDER ACROSS THE
RIVER, AND SHE WAS BRINGING HIM
ACROSS THE BOARDER TO GO TO A
DAYCARE CENTER ON THE COLOMBIAN
SIDE.
SHE HAD TO CROSS THE RIVER ONCE
TO DROP HER SON OFF, THEN GO
BACK TO THE VENEZUELAN SIDE TO
WORK.
SHE'D CROSS AGAIN IN THE
AFTERNOON TO PICK UP HER SON AND
GO HOME.
THAT WAS FOUR TIMES CROSSING THE
RIVER.
YOU CAN SEE HOW TOUGH IT CAN GET
TO GET INTO COLOMBIA WITH THOSE
BORDERS OFFICIALLY CLOSED.
BUT NOW THEY'RE OPENING UP
AGAIN.
>> Sreenivasan: NOW, THESE ARE
VENEZUELANS THAT HAVE OPTED TO
STAY THERE.
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN AN OUTPLOW
OF VENEZUELANS LEAVING THE
COUNTRY OVER THE PAST COUPLE
YEARS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THE LATEST FIGURES FROM THE U.N.
SHOW THAT FOUR MILLION
VENEZUELANS HAVE LEFT THE
COUNTRY.
MOST OF THOSE JUST IN THE LAST
FOUR YEARS.
THE U.N. IS CALLING IT THE
BIGGEST EXODUS IN RECENT LATIN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
THESE ARE VENEZUELANS OF ALL
STRIPES FROM PROFESSIONALS TO
GAS STATION ATTENDANTS TO
STUDENTS LOOKING FOR A BETTER
LIFE, AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY
BECOME ANOTHER MAJOR LIFELINE
FOR VENDS LANDS WHO ARE BACK IN
VENEZUELA BECAUSE PEOPLE BACK IN
VENEZUELA REALLY DEPEND ON U.S.
DOLLARS COMING BACK INTO THE
COUNTRY TO DEAL WITH
HYPERINFLATION AND 2T HIGH COST
OF LIVING THERE.
>> GIVEN THAT SITUATION, I KNOW
YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO
JUAN GUAIDOÓ ON YOUR REPORTING
TRIP, WHAT DOES HE THINK IS
POSSIBLE?
>> WELL, WHEN I SPOKE TO GUAIDO,
YOU KNOW, THE OPPOSITION FORCES
HE REPRESENTS WERE INVOLVED IN
NEG SHITIONS IN -- NEGOTIATIONS
IN NORWAY WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF
NICOLAÁS MADURO.
THERE WASN'T MUCH PROGRESS BEING
MADE, AND GUAIDO SOUNDED DOWN
AND OUT ON THE WHOLE PROCESS.
NEITHER SIDE WANTS TO BACK DOWN.
THE OPPOSITION IS SAYING NICOLÁS
MADURO MUST LEAVE OFF, AND
MADURO IS SAYING, I'M NOT GOING
ANYWHERE.
THE MILITARY IS STILL SUPPORTING
MADURO.
SO IT'S A REAL STALEMATE RIGHT
NOW.
GUAIDOÓ IS CALLING FOR MORE
STREET PROTESTS.
HE KEEPS CALLING ON MADURO THE
LEAVE OFFICE.
HE'S TRYING TO CONVINCE MILITARY
LEADERS TO TURN AGAINST MADURO,
BUT EVEN IF THEY DID, IF THERE
WAS SOME KIND OF A MILITARY COUP
IN VENEZUELA, THERE IS NO
GUARANTEE THAT WOULD RESULT IN A
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
YOU MIGHT HAVE A SITUATION SAY
AS IN EGYPT WHERE THE MILITARY
TAKES OVER AND MAINTAINS
CONTROL.
>> Sreenivasan: WHAT HAPPENS
IN THE INTERIM?
HE HAS HIS SUPPORTERS.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE FORCING
CHANGE.
IT'S BEEN MONTHS NOW.
HOW LONG DOES HE THINK HE CAN
CONTINUE?
>> THE MADURO GOVERNMENT DOESN'T
SEEM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN
ARRESTING GOD GUAIDOÓ, BECAUSE
THEY COULD HAVE IF THEY WANTED
TO ALREADY.
AND GUAIDOÓ HAS BEEN BARNSTORMIG
THE COUNTRY SINCE JANUARY WHEN
HE CLAIMED THAT NICOLAÁS MADURO
IS AN ILLEGITIMATE PRESIDENT
BECAUSE OF FRAUD AND LAST YEAR'S
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
HE'S GETTING A LOT OF SUPPORT AS
HE GOES AROUND THE COUNTRY, A
LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING
OUT TO SEE HIM.
HE DOES PROVIDE A KIND OF RAY OF
HOPE FOR MOST VENEZUELANS WHO
DON'T LIKE THEIR CURRENT
GOVERNMENT AND THEY WANT MADURO
TO LEAVE, BUT STILL HE'S NOT
REALLY SHOWING THE WAY OUT.
HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO -- HE
WASN'T ABLE TO GET HUMANITARIAN
AID IN THIS COUNTRY.
HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE
MILITARY TO TURN AGAINST MADURO.
AT THIS STALEMATE GOES ON, HE'S
LIKELY THE LOSE SOME OF THAT
POPULAR SPORT HE ENJOYS.
>> Sreenivasan: JOHN OTIS
JOINING US FROM BOGOTA,
COLOMBIA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Sreenivasan: PACIFIC GAS AND
ELECTRIC SHUT OFF POWER TO MORE
THAN 20,000 RESIDENTS IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY.
THE BLACKOUTS, THE FIRST OF THE
2019 FIRE SEASON, ARE FIRE
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DURING A HOT,
DRY, AND WINDY WEEKEND.
NORTHWEST OF SACRAMENTO
RESIDENTS WERE ORDERED TO
EVACUATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AS
THE FAST-MOVING “SAND FIRE”
SPREAD ACROSS NEARLY 2,000
ACRES.
BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON THE SAND
FIRE WAS 0% CONTAINED, BUT THE
STRONG WINDS THAT FUELED THE
BLAZE WERE EXPECTED TO DIE DOWN.
PG&E WAS FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE “CAMP FIRE” IN 2018 THAT
KILLED 85 PEOPLE AND DESTROYED
19,000 HOMES, BUSINESSES, AND
OTHER STRUCTURES IN THE AREA
AROUND THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
TOWN OF PARADISE.
THE UTILITY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY
PROTECTION IN JANUARY AND IS
FACING AT LEAST $30-BILLION IN
LIABILITY CHARGES FROM TWO YEARS
OF WILDFIRE-CAUSED DAMAGES.
WE'LL HAVE MORE ON FIRE
PREVENTION TECHNIQUES LATER IN
THE PROGRAM.
REPORTS OF GUNFIRE AT
WASHINGTON, D.C.'S ANNUAL PRIDE
PARADE LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON
CAUSED PANIC AND SENT SEVERAL
PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH
MINOR INJURIES.
PEOPLE RAN THROUGH THE STREETS,
KNOCKED OVER BARRICADES AND HID
IN NEARBY BUILDINGS AS WORD
SPREAD.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT SAID NO SHOTS WERE
FIRED, BUT THAT THEY DID ARREST
A MAN WHO WAS IN POSSESSION OF A
GUN.
FOR MORE ON CALIFORNIA'S
WILDFIRES AND THE CONTROVERSIAL
POWER BLACKOUT IMPLEMENTED THIS
WEEKEND VISIT pbs.org/newshour.
2018 WAS ONE OF THE WORST
WILDFIRE SEASONS IN U.S.
HISTORY.
CATASTROPHIC BLAZES LIKE THE
CAMP FIRE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
DESTROYED ENTIRE CITIES AND
KILLED NEARLY 100 PEOPLE.
AS THIS YEARS' WILDFIRE SEASON
RAMPS UP, A NEW REPORT FROM
CLIMATE CENTRAL SHOWS HOW A KEY
PREVENTION STRATEGY HAS NOT BEEN
USED AS WIDELY AS IT COULD BE IN
FIRE PRONE AREAS IN THE WESTERN
U.S.
I SPOKE YESTERDAY VIA SKYPE WITH
CRYSTAL KOLDEN.
SHE'S AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF
FIRE SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF IDAHO, AND THE AUTHOR OF A
NEW PAPER IN THE JOURNAL "FIRE"
ON THE USE OF PRESCRIBED FIRE OR
CONTROLLED BURNS ACROSS THE U.S.
CRYSTAL, JUST SO EVERYONE HAS
KIND OF AN UNDERSTANDING, WHAT'S
A PRESCRIBED BURN?
HOW DO WE HAVE A CONTROLLED
BURN?
>> A PRESCRIBED BURN IS ONE THAT
IS SET INTENTIONALLY BY FIRE
MANAGEMENT, AND IT'S VERY
DIFFERENT FROM THE WILDFIRE,
WHICH IS UNINTENTIONAL.
IT'S ALSO VERY DIFFERENT FROM
WHAT SOME PEOPLE SEE ON THE NEWS
DURING WILDFIRES, WHICH ARE THE
BURNOUT OPERATIONS OR BACK
BURNS.
THOSE ARE SET TO TRY TO STOP A
FIRE.
A PRESCRIBED FIRE IS DONE WELL
AHEAD OF TIME, TRYING TO REMOVE
FUELS FROM AN AREA THAT COULD
BURN TO EITHER PREVENT OR
MINIMIZE FIRES.
>> Sreenivasan: THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING
FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS?
>> EVEN LONGER THAN THATCH
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE GLOBALLY AND
PARTICULARLY IN NORTH AMERICA
ACTUALLY DID A LOT OF PRESCRIBED
BURNING, CONTROLLED BURNING LONG
BEFORE EUROPEANS SETTLED THIS
COUNTRY.
SO THERE'S A LONG HISTORY OF
USING FIRE INTENTIONALLY IN THE
LANDSCAPES AND IN PARTS OF THE
U.S. WE'VE BEEN USING IT IN A
MANAGE.
CONTEXT FOR SEVERAL DECADES.
>> Sreenivasan: PART OF YOUR
RESEARCH, YOU HAVE MAPS THAT
SHOW A BIG GAP IN HOW Th
PRESCRIBED BURNS ARE USED IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
IN THE LOWER RIGHT SOUTHEAST
CORNER IN THE UNITED STATES,
THEY'RE BEING USED A LOT MORE
THAN IN THE WEST, WHERE WE
REALLY THINK OF BIG FIRES BEING.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. STATES
HAVE BEEN USING PRESCRIBED FIRE
FOR OVER EIGHT DECADES.
AND THEY REALLY GOT GOING USING
IT BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZED THAT
IT WAS GOOD FOR IMPROVING THEIR
TIMBER PRODUCTION.
IT WAS GOOD FOR INDUSTRY.
IT WAS ALSO REALLY GOOD FOR GAME
HABITAT.
PRESCRIBED FIRE WAS ONE OF THE
WAY TO IMPROVE THE HABITAT.
THEY HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS OF
THAT OVER THE DECADES SINCE.
SO THEY USE A LOT OF PRESCRIBED
FIRE IN THE SOUTHEAST, MILLIONS
OF ACRES EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
IN THE WEST WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE
TO THAT.
>> Sreenivasan: WHY IS THAT?
WHAT'S THE WEST SCARED OF?
WHY IS THE POLICY DIFFERENT IN
THE WEST THAN IT IS IN THE EAST?
>> THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO PINPOINT
ONE.
IN SOME PLACES IT HAS TO DO WITH
THE AIR QUALITY CONCERNS.
PEOPLE ARE NOT BIG FANS OF
SMOKE, OF COURSE, AND PRESCRIBED
FIRE ALWAYS PRODUCES SMOKE,
ALTHOUGH THERE'S A FAIR AMOUNT
OF SCIENCE THAT SHOWS THAT SMOKE
IS MUCH LESS DANGEROUS THAN
WILDFIRE SMOKE AND IS MUCH
EASIER TO CONTROL IN TERMS OF
LENGTH OF TIME THAT IT'S
IMPACTING PEOPLE THAN WILDFIRE
SMOKE.
THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS JUST IN
TERMS OF FEAR OF FIRES.
THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE
PRESCRIBED FIRES HAVE ESCAPED
CONTROL AND BECOME WILDFIRES.
AND PEOPLE IN THE WEST ARE NOT
USED TO SEEING A LOT OF FIRE ON
THE LANDSCAPE EXCEPT FOR
WILDFIRES.
IT'S REALLY DIFFERENT IN THE
SOUTHEAST.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED IN THE
SOUTHEAST FOR DECADES ARE SORT
OF USED TO IT.
THEY'RE VERY MUCH ACCLIMATED TO
SEEING PRESCRIBED FIRE BEING
USED WIDELY IN THEIR BECOME
YARDS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THE OUTCOME OF THAT IS THAT THEY
SEE A LOT LESS WILD FIRE.
>> Sreenivasan: TELL ME ABOUT
THE CORRELATION.
IF YOU HAVE LESS FUEL, I'M
ASSUMING YOU HAVE LESS
WILDFIRES.
SO IN THE SOUTHEAST, IF YOU CAN
SEE THE CORRELATION BETWEEN A
LOT MORE PRESCRIBED BURNS, A LOT
LESS FUEL, A LOT LESS
OUT-OF-CONTROL WILDFIRES, IS THE
INVERSE THE CASE IN THE WEST?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE HAD
PROPHESIZED.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO POINT TO A
SINGLE WILDFIRE OR A SINGLE
PRESCRIBED FIRE AND SAY, OH,
THAT PRESCRIBED FIRE PREVENTED
THE WILDFIRE FROM SPREADING AND
BECOMING A DISASTER, VICE VERSA,
A WILDFIRE AS BAD AS IT WAS
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SPRIEBED
FIRE.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO THEY SAVE
THAT ON AN INDIVIDUAL FIRE
LEVEL.
WHAT WE DO WITH THAT IS ACROSS
THE WEST AND ACROSS THE
SOUTHEAST AND THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY, WHERE DO WE HAVE A LOT
OF PRESCRIBED FIRE REDUCING FUEL
AND NOT EVEN NECESSARILY
PREVENTING FIRE, BECAUSE FIRES
ARE ALWAYS GOING TO START, BUT
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS
THAT PRESCRIBED FIRE REALLY JUST
REDUCES THE FUEL AVAILABLE TO
MAKE THAT FIRE HOTTER, BURN MORE
OUT OF CONTROL, AND PRODUCE THE
TYPES OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE, THINGS
LIKE HOUSING BURNING DOWN OR
WORST-CASE SCENARIO, FATALITIES.
SO PRESCRIBED FIRE REALLY
REDUCES THE CHANCES OF A
CATASTROPHE.
>> WHERE IS A KIND OF NATIONAL
CONVERSATION ON THE POLICY LEVEL
ABOUT THIS?
IF SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE,
WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO CREATE
THAT CHANGE?
>> THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT
HAVE TO CHANGE.
FIRE AGENCIES AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL, ALSO AT THE STATE AND
LOCAL LEVELS, THEY ALL RECOGNIZE
THIS.
AND WHERE THEY ARE CHALLENGED IS
THAT THEY'RE STUCK VERY MUCH IN
A CYCLE OF HAVING TO SPEND ALL
OF THEIR BUDGET ON SUPPRESSING
WIDE FIRST IN THE WEST.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER
CHALLENGE IS THAT THEY REALLY
NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE
PUBLIC.
AND THAT'S A KEY CULTURAL
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SOUTHEAST
AND THE WEST.
THERE'S ENORMOUS CULTURAL
SUPPORT FOR PRESCRIBED FIRE IN
THE SOUTHEAST, AND IN THE WEST
THERE'S NOT THAT SUPPORT.
WE HAVE PRESCRIBED FIRE COUNCILS
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND
THERE'S JUST NOT AS MUCH
INVOLVEMENT IN THOSE PRESCRIBED
FIRE COUNCILS IN THE WEST BY THE
GENERAL PUBLIC.
IF THE PUBLIC WANTS TO BE
SUPPORTIVE OF PRESCRIBED FIRE
AND HAVING IT REDUCE THE RISK OF
WILDFIRE, THAT'S ONE AVENUE THAT
THEY CAN GET INVOLVED IN.
THEY CAN HELP TRY AND CHANGE
SOME OF THOSE POLICIES AND TO
HELP TRY AND IMPROVE THE AMOUNT
OF PRESCRIBED FIRE ON THE
LANDSCAPE.
>> Sreenivasan: ALL RIGHT.
CRYSTAL KOLDEN JOINING US LIVE
VIA SKYPE, THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> Sreenivasan: IT'S A YEAR OF
ANNIVERSARIES FOR FAMED
GUITARIST CARLOS SANTANA, AND
THE BAND THAT BEARS HIS NAME.
LATER THIS SUMMER HE'LL BE
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS SINCE BOTH
THE RELEASE OF THE GROUP'S FIRST
ALBUM, AND THEIR LEGENDARY
PERFORMANCE AT WOODSTOCK.
BUT THIS MONTH MARKS THE 20th
ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIGGEST HIT
RECORD OF ALL, AND HE'S ON THE
ROAD WITH A BRAND-NEW ALBUM
RELEASED JUST TWO DAYS AGO.
NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S TOM CASCIATO
RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH CARLOS
SANTANA AT THE MUSICIAN'S HOME
BASE IN LAS VEGAS, AND HAS OUR
STORY.
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Reporter: IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO
THIS MONTH THAT CARLOS SANTANA
RELEASED WHAT WOULD BECOME ONE
OF THE BIGGEST HIT ALBUMS IN
MUSIC HISTORY, THE
GRAMMY-WINNING CLASSIC,
"SUPERNATURAL."
THIS RECORD WAS A WORLDWIDE
PHENOMENON.
>> SO THEY TELL ME, IT'S LIKE
I'M RIGHT THERE WITH, WE GOT
RIGHT THERE WITH MICHAEL JACKSON
"THRILLER" AND THE EAGLES
"GREATEST HITS."
>> Reporter: THAT'S THE TOP OF
THE TOP IN SALES.
>> THAT'S GOOD COMPANY TO BE
WITH.
>> Reporter: "SUPERNATURAL" WAS
A SUPERSTAR-FILLED AFFAIR.
ONE SONG WAS WRITTEN BY AND
FEATURED LAURYN HILL.
♪ YO WATCH THE MASTER PLAN
THE PASTURES SPAN
♪ THROUGH THE STREETS
MOVE THE SHEEP
♪ FLIPPED THE BEAT
LIKE THE SHEPHERD ♪
>> Reporter: DAVE MATTHEWS
CO-WROTE AND GUESTED ON ANOTHER.
♪ WHERE YOU ARE, THAT'S WHERE
I WANT TO BE ♪
>> Reporter: AND, OF COURSE, THE
CO-WRITER AND SINGER OF THE
SMASH HIT "SMOOTH" WAS ROB
THOMAS.
♪ OR ELSE FORGET ABOUT IT ♪
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Reporter: TO CELEBRATE THE
20th ANNIVERSARY OF
"SUPERNATURAL," CARLOS SANTANA
AND COMPANY HAVE EMBARKED ON
WHAT THEY'RE CALLING THE
"SUPERNATURAL NOW" TOUR.
♪ ♪ ♪
BUT WITH OVER 30 ALBUMS TO HIS
NAME, CARLOS SANTANA HAS NEVER
RESTED ON HIS LAURELS.
AND THE NEW TOUR IS ACCOMPANIED
BY A NEW ALBUM.
PRODUCED BY THE PROLIFIC RICK
RUBIN, IT'S CALLED "AFRICA
SPEAKS," AND CARLOS SANTANA SEES
HIS NEW MUSIC AS THE LOGICAL
EXTENSION OF A RHYTHMIC
TRADITION HE'S LONG BEEN
OBSESSED WITH.
TELL ME ABOUT "AFRICA SPEAKS."
>> WE REQUESTED TO MEET RICK
RUBIN.
AND I PRESENTED TO HIM WITH THE
CONCEPT BECAUSE HE SAID, "WELL,
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?"
YOU KNOW JUST STRAIGHT UP.
I SAYS, "I WANT TO PLAY RHYTHMS
THAT THEY DON'T PLAY IN
COACHELLA."
RICK RUBIN CALLED ME BACK SAYS,
"I'M IN, I HEARD THE SONGS," AND
WE RECORDED, AGAIN, 49 SONGS IN
TEN DAYS.
AND THESE ARE JUST LIKE 13 OR 14
SONGS FROM THAT BATCH.
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Reporter: WOW.
THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.
>> WELL, SEE FOR ME IT WASN'T
WORK.
I FEEL LIKE A FIRE HYDRANT THAT
IT WAS GUSHING.
NOT LITTLE TWINKLES OF WATER, WE
WERE GUSHING A LOT.
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Reporter: SANTANA HAS ALWAYS
BEEN KNOWN FOR INFUSING HIS WORK
WITH SOUNDS THAT GO BEYOND THE
FUSION OF ROCK AND LATIN MUSIC
HE'S KNOWN FOR.
IN FACT HE'S WRITTEN THAT THE
GROUP "WAS NEVER A PUREBRED WHEN
IT CAME TO MUSIC.
WE WERE ALWAYS A MUTT."
♪ ♪ ♪
AND AFRICAN RHYTHMS HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN PART OF THE BAND'S
REPERTOIRE.
IN FACT THE SONG "JINGO,"
COMPOSED BY THE FAMED NIGERIAN
PERCUSSIONIST BABATUNDE
OLATUNJI, WAS AMONG THE EARLIEST
THEY PERFORMED.
♪ ♪ ♪
IT'S A SONG THE BAND STILL
PLAYS.
♪ ♪ ♪
>> SOMEBODY ASKED ME, "IF AFRICA
SPEAKS WHAT DOES IT SAY TO YOU?"
TO ME IT SAYS INVITE PEOPLE TO
HOPE AND COURAGE.
GIVE THEM ENCOURAGEMENT.
BECAUSE AFRICAN MUSIC HAS THIS
NAKED AWARENESS OF PURE JOY.
YOU DON'T WANT TO CURE YOURSELF
IF YOU'RE HAPPY.
YOU ONLY WANT TO HURT YOURSELF
WHEN YOU'RE UNHAPPY.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NOBODY GOES TO
SEE A THERAPIST, ANALYST,
PSYCHIATRIST WHEN YOU'RE HAPPY.
>> Reporter: WHERE
"SUPERNATURAL" FEATURED A RAFT
OF LEAD VOCALISTS, "AFRICA
SPEAKS" HAS JUST ONE: THE
SPANISH SINGER OF
EQUATORIAL-GUINEAN DESCENT:
BUIKA.
♪ TINA
WAS NO DECEIVER
♪ FEW WERE
INCLINED TO BELIEVE HER
♪ ABA TINA OH
WHO YOU HAVE THERE
♪ BREAKIN' DOWN THE DOOR ♪
>> IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE EVER
HAD A FEMALE SPIRIT SOLELY ON
EVERY SONG.
HER SINGING IS A COMBINATION OF
EVERYTHING THAT I LOVE ABOUT
NINA SIMONE, ETTA JAMES AND TINA
TURNER AND MORE.
YET SHE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THEM.
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Reporter: THE MUSIC HAS AN
EARTHY SOUND.
BUT FOR CARLOS SANTANA, BUIKA'S
VOCALS AND THE REST OF THE
BAND'S PERFORMANCE PUT HIS NEW
WORK ON A PLANE HE PREFERS TO
SPEAK OF IN PHILOSOPHICAL TERMS.
>> YOU KNOW, THIS MUSIC, YOU GET
INTO THIS TRANCE.
THIS OUTSIDE OF BODY EXPERIENCE
WHERE YOU-- YOU'RE DANCING WITH
ABSOLUTENESS.
IT HAS THAT...
IT STARTS OFF AS A CEREMONY, BUT
IT ENTERS A VORTEX OUTSIDE OF
TIME AND OUTSIDE OF GRAVITY.
♪ ♪ ♪
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE GO TO
CHURCH OR THEY GO TO RITUALS IN
HAITI OR AFRICA.
MUSICIANS DO IT REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY GOOD.
YOU KNOW, A MUSICIAN CAN MAKE
YOU FEEL YOUR ABSOLUTENESS AND
THEN THEY MAKE YOU CRY AND
LAUGH.
WHEN A MUSICIAN REALLY PLAYS
IT'S LIKE YOU REMEMBER YOUR
INNOCENCE AGAIN.
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Sreenivasan: ON TOMORROW'S
NEWSHOUR, STONE BY STONE,
REBUILDING THE WASHINGTON
NATIONAL CATHEDRAL FOLLOWING A
DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE.
ARE THERE LESSONS FOR PARIS'
NOTRE DAME?
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF“
PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.”
I'M HARI SREENIVASAN.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
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 Media Access Group at WGBH
 access.wgbh.org
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