Quick Guide & Transcript: U.S. sanctions on Sudan, Biodiesel business venture

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(CNN Student News) -- May 30, 2007

Quick Guide

Sudan Sanctions - Find out what action President Bush is taking to help stop the crisis in Darfur.

Face to Face - Hear how some Iranians reacted to their country's historic meeting with the U.S.

Fuel From Fries - Learn how two New Orleans business partners are turning cooking oil into fuel.

Transcript

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Thanks for tuning in for an all new day of CNN Student News. I'm Carl Azuz. Taking action in Sudan: The crisis in Darfur has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Now President Bush is taking new steps aimed at stopping it. Talking to the people: Iranians offer their reactions to this week's historic talks between officials from their country and the U.S. And diving after dairy: Competitors hurl themselves downhill to the finish line in one of England's wildest traditions: the rolling of the cheese.

First Up: Sudan Sanctions

AZUZ: First up today, President Bush announces a move aimed at stopping violence in Sudan. The U.S. is imposing sanctions, or penalties, on the African nation because of the genocide taking place in its Darfur region. Fighting broke out between Sudan's government and rebel groups back in 2003. Hundreds of thousands have been killed and millions more have fled their homes. The United Nations calls the situation the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world," and President Bush hopes this new action will help end the violence. The sanctions are being made against 31 companies, two high-ranking government officials and a rebel leader. They'll prevent them from doing any business either in the U.S. or with American companies. President Bush also plans to present a resolution to the U.N. Security Council, asking it to strengthen an international embargo against Sudan. During his announcement Tuesday, the president spoke about his hopes for the people of Darfur.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: We're working for the day when the families of this troubled region are allowed to return safely to their homes and rebuild their lives in peace. The people of Darfur are crying out for help, and they deserve it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: Now, John Lisk has more information on Sudan and the conflict in Darfur.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN LISK, CNN ANCHOR: Look at a map of Sudan and you can't miss the obvious: It's huge, one-quarter the size of the United States. Sudan is also extraordinarily diverse. The land boasts the Nile River, mountains, deserts, swamps and rain forests. In Arabic, Sudan means "Land of the Blacks." Islam is the official religion, Arabic the official language. But today that tells only part of the story. Blacks, or Africans, make up about 52 percent of the population, Arab Muslims about 39 percent. Most blacks are in the south, most Arab Muslims in the north. A 20-year civil war between the two groups ended two years ago at a cost of more than a million lives. Uncertainty over just who'll reap the benefits of the country's promising oil reserves and gold also contributes to present unrest and violence.

The conflict in the western Darfur region just adds more salt to a festering wound. Fighting broke out four years ago when ethnic African tribes rebelled against the Arab-dominated government of President Omar al-Bashir. The government is accused of unleashing a campaign of murder, rape and plunder, a charge it denies. The United Nations says some 200,000 have been killed and more than two million have fled their homes. There is fear the Darfur conflict could explode into regional war if it doesn't soon end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Shoutout

GEORGE RAMSAY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for the Shoutout! What city is home to the world's first subway? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) New York, B) Toronto, C) London or D) Paris? It was in 1863 that the world's first subway was completed in London, England! That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!

Face to Face

AZUZ: England may be home to the world's first subway system, but today, metro trains race along underground tracks in the U.S., Germany, and even Iran. We told you yesterday about American and Iranian officials meeting for the first time in almost 30 years. Aneesh Raman hops on board Tehran's subway to find out what people there think about the talks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANEESH RAMAN, MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT: No confusion and no delays. Underground in Tehran, the trains run without a hitch. More than a million trips a day are taken on the Iranian capital's subway. Built with French and Chinese help and equipped with Austrian rolling stock, but of course, no U.S. technology. It's where we've come to see what people think of Monday's historic talks. In the first car, reserved for women, a range of outfits and a range of opinions.

Good relations have to start somewhere and go slowly between these two countries, this woman tells us. God willing, from here it will get better. But before it does, from those less eager to befriend the U.S., a mood of distrust.

WOMAN: Some governments, she says, referring to the U.S., are bullies and power hungry and don't want to understand, just dominate.

RAMAN: Among most of the people we spoke with, there is optimism. But they also keep in mind that this was just another point along a process that could easily derail. And quickly. An American Tuesday was charged with working against the regime, another officially in Iranian custody. Neither story getting much coverage here, nor did Monday's talks in Baghdad, a sign perhaps of limited expectations.

MAN: I haven't seen much. Even I think there is a kind of pressure on newspapers. They don't make it something, like headline. Not that much.

RAMAN: The people here are used to their country and the U.S. heading in opposite directions. But the great majority hope that a head-on collision can now be avoided. Aneesh Raman, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Word to the Wise

RAMSAY: A Word to the Wise...

refine (verb) to bring to a pure state; to free from impurities

Source: www.dictionary.com

Fuel From Fries

AZUZ: When you sit down to eat, you probably don't spend too much time thinking about the oil that fries some of your favorite foods. But two business partners in New Orleans do. They're refining the greasy goop and hoping the finished product will fuel their sales and maybe even help out the planet. Sean Callebs has more on their work in the Crescent City.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Would you think falafel could be a fuel source? It isn't, but the old cooking oil is, and that's what attracts Topher Mira to the Lebanon Café in New Orleans

TOPHER MIRA, BIODIESEL ENTREPRENEUR: This is primo vegetable oil. The better the dining, the better the fuel.

CALLEBS: You heard right. Fuel.

MIRA: This is very good oil.

CALLEBS: Mira turns vegetable oil into a clean-burning fuel called biodiesel. He and business partner Eileen Beall formed a company called New Orleans Biodiesel Initiative, and say they crank out a modest 80 gallons of the diesel alternative a day.

MIRA: We are just two young entrepreneurs trying to get it done, you know.

CALLEBS: Mira goes all over the city collecting waste vegetable oil. Back at what can only charitably be called his "refinery," they mix 80 percent vegetable oil with 20 percent methanol, then add lye for a catalyst and heat the concoction. This is the end result.

MIRA: You can see how it is really clear and nice.

CALLEBS: And the biodiesel industry says it burns 73 percent cleaner than diesel. If it is so great, why haven't we heard more about it? It's arguably in its infancy, with only 105 real production plants in the US. And since most vehicles don't run on diesel, demand is limited. But it is renewable and it's an attractive alternative.

JOE JOBE, NATIONAL BIODIESEL BOARD: It's actually growing our nation's fuel supply. And one of the reasons that we have high fuel prices right now is because of the lack of refinery capacity.

CALLEBS: Mira says they have one contract with the Orleans Parish School district to fuel one bus twice a week. Not nearly enough to make a living, but it's a start. It may not look like much now, but Topher and Eileen have much more grand aspirations. They plan on moving soon from this outdoor facility. They've secured a warehouse nearby. And instead of producing about 80 gallons of biodeisel a day, next year they hope to crank out as much as 250,000 gallons. Sean Callebs, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Promo

AZUZ: We're usually the ones talking about the news, but we want to know what you think were the top stories of the school year. The first female speaker of the House? The Don Imus controversy? Teachers, send us your students' choices at CNN.com/EDUCATION, and keep an eye out for them next week on CNN Student News.

Before We Go

AZUZ: Before we go, you won't want to miss this downhill derby. On your mark, get set, roll! These bounding Brits are getting bruised and battered in a chase for cheese! The daring dairy pursuit is part of the annual Cheese Rolling in England. First one to the bottom wins. First one after the cheese, that is. One of this year's champs said there's no training you can do for this kind of race. You don't say.

Goodbye

AZUZ: And that's the last bite for today. We'll see you back here tomorrow, and don't forget to send us your picks for this year's top news stories. Thanks for watching, everybody. I'm Carl Azuz.

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