Anchor Intro:
The climate is changing quickly, and one group of American scientists says the effects of global warming are threatening some of America's most treasured remnants of the past. Their latest report calls on the government to protect U.S. cities from super-storms now, before it's too late. Our correspondent Patrice Howard reports.
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VO1: Statue of Liberty and Tourists taking pictures
TAKING A SNAPSHOT WITH LADY LIBERTY IS A MUST FOR MANY TOURISTS
EXPLORING NEW YORK CITY. THE STATUE HAS BECOME ONE OF AMERICA'S
STRONGEST SYMBOLS OF FREEDOM -- STANDING TALL IN THE HARBOR FOR MORE
THAN A CENTURY.
VO1: Statue of Liberty and Tourists taking pictures
TAKING A SNAPSHOT WITH LADY LIBERTY IS A MUST FOR MANY TOURISTS
EXPLORING NEW YORK CITY. THE STATUE HAS BECOME ONE OF AMERICA'S
STRONGEST SYMBOLS OF FREEDOM -- STANDING TALL IN THE HARBOR FOR MORE
THAN A CENTURY.
VO 2: Superstorm Sandy footage, Statue of Liberty b-roll
WHEN SUPER STORM SANDY SLAMMED THE CITY'S COASTLINE IN 2012 - FLOOD WATERS AND GAIL FORCE WINDS PUMMELED THE ICONIC 305-FOOT STATUE, BUT DIDN'T BREAK HER. SCIENTISTS SAY NEXT TIME - SHE MAY NOT
BE SO LUCKY.
SOT -- Adam Markham, Union of Concerned Scientists
"Super-storm Sandy was worse because of climate change and we will get more storms and more extreme weather in the future, so there are very strong trends that science can see showing that extreme precipitation and drought are getting worse."
VO3: Broll of Adam Markham, B-roll of Landmarks
PLANET EARTH IS WARMING UP - ACCORDING TO ADAM MARKHAM. HE IS WITH THE
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS - THE GROUP WHOSE RECENT STUDY ARGUES
THAT AMERICA'S ICONIC LANDMARKS - THOSE THAT TELL THE STORY OF THE
NATION'S PAST - ARE IN CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, DRIVEN BY CLIMATE
CHANGE.
VO4: Broll of landmarks including Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, tourists
THE REPORT POINTS TO LADY LIBERTY, NEARBY ELLIS ISLAND AND MORE THAN 20 OTHER HISTORIC HOT SPOTS THAT WILL BE WIPED OUT BY BAD WEATHER, UNLESS
LAWMAKERS AND LOCAL CITIZENS ALIKE TAKE STEPS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
SOT -- Adam Markham, Union of Concerned Scientists
"We focused on these landmarks because they are important to Americans - but they are also important worldwide. We attract millions of tourists to this country every year and millions of Americans will take their summer vacations in these places. We just can't afford to
lose them."
VO5: B-roll of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath
WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION - WHO CAN AFFORD TO PROTECT AMERICAN CITIES
FROM SUPER-STORMS OF THE FUTURE? THE PRICE TAG FOR NEW YORK'S SANDY
RECOVERY WAS MORE THAN 42 BILLION DOLLARS - SPENT TO FIX HOUSING,
REBUILD INFRASTRUCTURE AND REPAIR PUBLIC TRANSIT.
BE SO LUCKY.
SOT -- Adam Markham, Union of Concerned Scientists
"Super-storm Sandy was worse because of climate change and we will get more storms and more extreme weather in the future, so there are very strong trends that science can see showing that extreme precipitation and drought are getting worse."
VO3: Broll of Adam Markham, B-roll of Landmarks
PLANET EARTH IS WARMING UP - ACCORDING TO ADAM MARKHAM. HE IS WITH THE
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS - THE GROUP WHOSE RECENT STUDY ARGUES
THAT AMERICA'S ICONIC LANDMARKS - THOSE THAT TELL THE STORY OF THE
NATION'S PAST - ARE IN CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, DRIVEN BY CLIMATE
CHANGE.
VO4: Broll of landmarks including Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, tourists
THE REPORT POINTS TO LADY LIBERTY, NEARBY ELLIS ISLAND AND MORE THAN 20 OTHER HISTORIC HOT SPOTS THAT WILL BE WIPED OUT BY BAD WEATHER, UNLESS
LAWMAKERS AND LOCAL CITIZENS ALIKE TAKE STEPS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
SOT -- Adam Markham, Union of Concerned Scientists
"We focused on these landmarks because they are important to Americans - but they are also important worldwide. We attract millions of tourists to this country every year and millions of Americans will take their summer vacations in these places. We just can't afford to
lose them."
VO5: B-roll of Superstorm Sandy Aftermath
WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION - WHO CAN AFFORD TO PROTECT AMERICAN CITIES
FROM SUPER-STORMS OF THE FUTURE? THE PRICE TAG FOR NEW YORK'S SANDY
RECOVERY WAS MORE THAN 42 BILLION DOLLARS - SPENT TO FIX HOUSING,
REBUILD INFRASTRUCTURE AND REPAIR PUBLIC TRANSIT.
VO6: Sandy B-roll, Roland Lewis at his office,
THE GOVERNMENT REACTED BY FOOTING THE BILL - BUT ROLAND LEWIS OF THE
WATERFRONT ALLIANCE SAID SANDY IS LIKE A LEAKY PIPE - A SIGN OF THINGS
TO COME. HE SAID THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT CITIES LIKE NEW YORK IS NOT
TO PLUG THE LEAK - BUT TO SPEND PROACTIVELY - ON NEW INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT WILL HOLD UP IN FUTURE SQUALLS.
SOT-- Roland Lewis, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance
"There's hundreds of millions, billions of dollars of investment to readjust - to reacclimate our infrastructure, our coastline to sea level rise. Its a giant investment, it takes tax resources, it's a 'put a man on the moon' mission. It's something we all have to gather around."
VO7: B-roll of Obama Speaking at Climate Summit in NY
The Obama Administration recently took action on the issue - with a pledge to reduce emissions by 26%-28% below its 2005 level in 2025.
WATERFRONT ALLIANCE SAID SANDY IS LIKE A LEAKY PIPE - A SIGN OF THINGS
TO COME. HE SAID THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT CITIES LIKE NEW YORK IS NOT
TO PLUG THE LEAK - BUT TO SPEND PROACTIVELY - ON NEW INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT WILL HOLD UP IN FUTURE SQUALLS.
SOT-- Roland Lewis, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance
"There's hundreds of millions, billions of dollars of investment to readjust - to reacclimate our infrastructure, our coastline to sea level rise. Its a giant investment, it takes tax resources, it's a 'put a man on the moon' mission. It's something we all have to gather around."
VO7: B-roll of Obama Speaking at Climate Summit in NY
The Obama Administration recently took action on the issue - with a pledge to reduce emissions by 26%-28% below its 2005 level in 2025.
SOT -- Barack Obama, President of the United States
"We have to work together as a global community to tackle this global threat before it's too late."
VO8: B-roll of storm footage
But Lewis says the government needs to turn promises into action sooner rather than later.
SOT -- Roland Lewis, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance
"We've seen all those post apocalyptic movies where lady liberty is drowning and the torch is popping up above water. Even if the water got to her feet and she had to wear galoshes, I think that would drive the point home, and unfortunately that's where its going."
VO9: Photo of Liberty under water, Sandy aftermath b-roll
HOLLYWOOD HAS TAKEN A FEW LIBERTIES TO PAINT A PICTURE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE'S POTENTIALLY DEEP IMPACT - BUT SCENES FROM SANDY'S AFTERMATH
REVEAL THAT CATASTROPHIC WEATHER EVENTS CAN NO LONGER BE LABLED AS
SCIENCE FICTION.
Piece To Camera -- Patrice Howard, New York
The concerned scientists say landmarks like Lady Liberty are treasures from the last generation, who pushed for a better future. They say that proactive steps to stop climate change now is perhaps the greatest gift the leaders of today can pass to the next generation. Patrice Howard, For Telesur, New York
SOT -- Roland Lewis, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance
"We've seen all those post apocalyptic movies where lady liberty is drowning and the torch is popping up above water. Even if the water got to her feet and she had to wear galoshes, I think that would drive the point home, and unfortunately that's where its going."
VO9: Photo of Liberty under water, Sandy aftermath b-roll
HOLLYWOOD HAS TAKEN A FEW LIBERTIES TO PAINT A PICTURE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE'S POTENTIALLY DEEP IMPACT - BUT SCENES FROM SANDY'S AFTERMATH
REVEAL THAT CATASTROPHIC WEATHER EVENTS CAN NO LONGER BE LABLED AS
SCIENCE FICTION.
Piece To Camera -- Patrice Howard, New York
The concerned scientists say landmarks like Lady Liberty are treasures from the last generation, who pushed for a better future. They say that proactive steps to stop climate change now is perhaps the greatest gift the leaders of today can pass to the next generation. Patrice Howard, For Telesur, New York