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At Least 80 Killed, 300 Wounded in Kabul Blast; Russia: Cruise Missiles Hit ISIS Targets in Syria; U.S. Arms Syrian Kurds Fighting ISIS; Trump Set to Make Final Decision on Climate Deal; Activist Probing Ivanka Trump Shoe Supplier Detained; Standing Up for Fair Food. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired May 31, 2017 - 08:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:00:22] KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to "News Stream." At least 80 people killed in a huge truck

bombing in Kabul, hit an area filled with embassies and news agencies.

We have the latest from the Afghan capital. The U.S. president is set to make a key decision on climate change and whether he will follow through on

his campaign promise to leave the Paris Climate Agreement.

And an activist investigating a company that makes shoes for Ivanka Trump's clothing line has been detained in China with two of his colleagues

missing. It is one of the deadliest bombings in the Afghan capital in years.

A very powerful truck bomb exploded at the height of morning rush hour in one of the most secure areas of Kabul. At least 80 people are dead.

Hundreds are wounded.

This attack happened in a heavily protected area, an area near foreign embassies, government institutions as well as several news outlets. A

driver working for the BBC is among the dead.

Now, next, I want to bring in Captain Bill Salvin who joins us live from Kabul. He is a U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan.

He joins us now live on the line from Kabul.

And Captain, thank you so much for joining us. I understand that you have some details on how this attack unfolded and also how Afghan forces played

a role in preventing the attacker from entering the green zone. Please tell us what happened.

BILL SALVIN, U.S. NAVY SPOKESMAN, AFGHANISTAN: Well, Kristie, about 8:20 this morning, a truck bomb detonated outside of the green zone but near

diplomatic facilities that were inside the green zone. The checkpoints that the Afghan policemen around the green zone is very robust.

And those checkpoints prevented that truck from being able to get into the green zone and do even more damage. And most importantly, this is a very

tragic day for the people of Afghanistan and the people of Kabul who once again are mourning the loss of loved ones today.

STOUT: Absolutely. This is a horrific act of violence happening during the holy month of Ramadan no less. What is the mood among Afghan security

forces right now?

Are motions running high? Are there fears of a follow-up attack especially during Ramadan?

SALVIN: Well, I -- I was just out at the scene about an hour and a half ago. And what I saw was some very determined, resolute Afghan policemen

who were working to keep the area clear so that construction workers and other first responders could clear the area.

I did not get a sense of -- of fear. What I got is a sense of determination and a sense to do everything that they could to get this area

back to normal as soon as possible.

STOUT: And who is behind this brutal attack -- again, 80 people killed, 300 wounded? Was this the work of ISIS? Was this the work of the Taliban?

SALVIN: We have not seen a clear claim of responsibility for this attack. So it's very hard to say who's behind this attack.

One of the things that is important to realize about these types of attack is they tend to be signs of weakness. Forces that are not winning on the

battlefield can very easily build a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and -- and drive it into the center of -- of a city unfortunately.

And it shows the barbaric nature of the enemy that the people of Afghanistan are facing.

STOUT: Yes, very barbaric because what happened today is just a heartbreaking reminder of the toll that the people, the -- the innocent

civilians of Afghanistan must continue to deal with. What is your assessment of the overall security situation now in Afghanistan?

Is it getting worse?

SALVIN: We think that the -- the security situation is -- today's attack, obviously, is -- is a very dramatic example of what terrorists can do when

they are determined to cause death and suffering among innocent civilians.

[08:05:01]

But the security situation is being stabilized by the ever-growing capability of the Afghan police force and the Afghan national army. And I

can tell you that the resolute support mission stands firm in our commitment to assist our Afghan partners as they professionalize their

force and work to secure their country.

STOUT: And tell us more about that commitment. I know you can't disclose sensitive information about resolute (ph) support.

And your mission there in Afghanistan, let alone possible future troop deployments is being weighed by the Pentagon, but what can you tell us

about how your organization is working up to shore up security for the people of Afghanistan?

SALVIN: The -- the most important focus for us this year is to work on building offensive capability with the Afghan national army and the Afghan

air force. And we are training their special forces and training their pilots in order for them to have extra offensive punch on the battlefield

that will provide them capability that the insurgents simply can't match.

And that is our focus for 2017, is working on building that offensive capability with the special forces and the Afghan air force.

STOUT: Well, Captain Bill Salvin, you do such important work. Thank you for joining us this day. This was a horrific attack.

And here is wishing you and the team, of course, Afghan forces, the very best as you work to secure and bring better security for the people of

Afghanistan. Thank you.

Now, journalist, Jennifer Glasse, joins us now from Kabul via Skype.

Jennifer, the death toll is just staggering. Who -- tell us who was targeted in this attack. It was civilians who bore the brunt of it.

JENNIFER GLASSE, JOURNALIST: That is so often the case here. With the death toll where it is, this is the worst bombing in nearly a year here in

Kabul on a busy street.

And while it wasn't on the edge of the green zone, all of those embassies are behind heavily fortified walls. And the bomb went off on a street

filled with schoolchildren, girls and boys heading to school, women going to do their morning shopping, regular workers.

I know that one of my colleagues from the BBC was killed, as you said, and a colleague also from another Afghan television station among the dead. We

understand that those first responders are still pulling bodies out of the rubble.

A number of buildings collapsed in that massive attack. So while the checkpoints at the edge of the green zone may have worked to keep that --

that car bomb out of the green zone if that, indeed, was its target, as often the case here, it is Afghan civilians, the majority of the dead and

the injured here, 80 dead and -- and more than 300 injured at a -- at a number of hospitals around the region.

And outside those hospitals, anxious Afghans have gathered to wait and see what's happened to their loved ones.

STOUT: Yes, this was a massive attack, huge in scope. Jennifer, we thank you for your reporting this day. Take care.

Now, Russia says it has launched four cruise missiles at ISIS targets in Syria. Now, the strikes were focused on ISIS hideouts with heavy equipment

near the city of Palmyra (ph).

CNN's Clare Sebastian joins us now with the latest from Moscow.

And Clare, we have dramatic video from the Russian defense ministry of this cruise missile launch. Tell us more. Why did they target Palmyra (ph) and

why now?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a good question, Kristie, because Palmyra (ph) really hasn't been where we've seen the heaviest

fighting in -- in recent days and weeks. But the bottom line is this is a very important cultural town.

It's also very strategic in this conflict. And it has fallen twice to ISIS already at the cost of some of the very treasured ruins in that city, the

ancient ruins.

And it's only really been under regime control since early March of this year. They're really -- Russia doesn't want to see it fall again.

They've been active in the past few days and as well (ph) over the weekend. The defense ministry announced that its planes had attacked a convoy of

ISIS militants moving through the desert between Raqqa and Palmyra (ph). So they do seem committed to driving ISIS out of that area to avoid again

that town falling.

Why now? Another interesting question. Well, I think, you know, Russia has basically wanted to remind, I think in a sense, the international

community that it is still a dominant force in this conflict.

It's rare to see this use of cruise missiles. We definitely haven't seen this in a few months. And it comes after several escalations from the U.S.

side including that attack by the tomahawk missile on the Syrian air base in April (ph).

Russia also wanting to remind the international community of its commitment to fighting ISIS in Syria. That is the one thing that really unites Russia

and Western powers in this conflict.

STOUT: And the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, he is on the record again firmly backing the Syrian regime. What did he say?

SEBASTIAN: In very strong terms, Kristie, he's saying to the -- to the French newspaper, Le Figaro, yesterday that denying again that Syrian

President, Bashar al-Assad was behind that chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun (ph) in April that killed more than 80 people.

[8:10:03]

He said that Russia had offered to the U.S. to do a check both at the airfield where the attack was launched from and of the site of the attack

itself. And that offer was refused.

And he offered this explanation, Kristie, as to why the U.S. is blaming Assad for that attack. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT, RUSSIA (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): In my opinion, it was done with only one goal -- to explain to the international community

why it was necessary to impose additional measures of pressure on al-Assad including the military ones. And that's it.

There is no proof that chemical weapons were used by al-Assad. We are convinced that it was just a provocation and al-Assad didn't use this

weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: So the (ph) pretty strong allegation there, Putin basically saying that the U.S. and others, you know, accusing Assad of this in order

to justify their military action. He may, of course, be on the defensive after meeting with the French president on Monday where Emmanuel Macron

said that he would be willing to retaliate as well if there was further use of chemical weapons in Syria, so extremely strong words there from

President Putin, Kristie.

STOUT: Oh, definitely. Clare Sebastian joining us live from Moscow, thank you. The U.S. has begun arming Syrian Kurds in the fight against ISIS.

A Pentagon spokesman says small arms, ammunition and vehicles are being provided. The plan move (ph) was first announced by the Pentagon earlier

this month, sparking anger from U.S.-allied Turkey and views (ph) the Syrian Kurdish group known as YPG as a terrorist organization.

And U.S. defense officials say that they have been in contact with Turkey to try to ease concerns. White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, is back

in the briefing room, downplaying reports of turmoil in the Trump administration.

More on the U.S. president's rift with the German chancellor and the latest on the Russia investigation just ahead. And will the U.S. stay or go?

Donald Trump is just apparently days away from a landmark decision on the Paris Climate Accord. And we'll examine what's at stake here.

[08:12:05]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:14:15]

STOUT: All right, coming to you live from Hong Kong. Welcome back. This is "News Stream."

And the White House press secretary has briefed reporters for the first time since President Trump's overseas trip. And Sean Spicer is downplaying

reports of turmoil in the West Wing.

Meanwhile, the president's personal lawyer has turned down an invitation to testify before Congress on the Russia investigation. But in a new turn of

events, former National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, is willing to cooperate in a different way. Joe Johns reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: President Trump's fired National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, now says he is willing to

cooperate with Senate investigators to provide them with documents sought by two subpoenas, Flynn expected to hand over the first batch to the Senate

Intelligence Committee by June 6.

[08:15:03]

Congressional investigators are expanding their sights to other Trump aides. Michael Cohen, a personal attorney to the president, flatly

refusing a request from the House and Senate intelligence committees to offer up information and testify.

Cohen lashing out, claiming a lack of evidence to corroborate the Russia narrative, labeling the investigation a total fishing expedition and

accusing lawmakers of a rush to judgment but later admitting he would comply if subpoenaed. White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, facing

tough questions about all the Russia revelations when he held his first briefing in more than two weeks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So does the White House dispute that that happened?

SEAN SPICER, PRESS SECRETARY, WHITE HOUSE: I'm not going to get into -- but -- but your question presupposes facts that have not been confirmed.

JOHNS: The White House refusing to deny whether President Trump's adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, sought a secret back channel to Russia

President, Vladimir Putin.

SPICER: Secretary Kelly and General McMaster have both discussed that in general terms, back channels are an (ph) appropriate part of diplomacy.

JOHNS: As the investigation is now looking into the intent of Kushner's contacts with Russia during the transition, including why he met with

Russian banker, Sergey Gorkov, a man with deep ties to the Kremlin. Back in March, the White House claimed Kushner was talking to the Russians in

his role as an official primary point of contact with foreign government.

But the Russian bank offered a different account, calling it a business meeting.

SPICER: Mr. Kushner's attorney has said that Mr. Kushner has volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings. And he will do

the same if he's contacted and connected with any other inquiry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did the president discuss it, though?

SPICER: I'm not going to get into what the president did or did not discuss.

JOHNS: The White House in spin mode trying to downplay reports about turmoil in the West Wing.

SPICER: I think he's very pleased with the work of his staff. I think that he is frustrated like I am and like so many others to see stories come

out that are patently false, to see narratives that are wrong, to see, quote/unquote, "fake news."

When you see stories get perpetrated that are absolutely false, that are not based in fact, that is troubling.

JOHNS: Clashing with the media over the president's favorite subject.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you give an example of fake news, Sean, give us an example?

SPICER: Yes, absolutely. I'll give you an example.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please.

SPICER: Sure. Friday, the president was having a great discussion at the G7. And someone from the BBC and ultimately, an incoming reporter from

"The New York Times" retweeted that the president was being rude by disrespecting the Italian prime minister.

And when -- when, in fact, you all in every one of the meetings that we sit in watched the president with that one earpiece that's been used by other

presidents. And yet, the president did a great job at NATO.

JOHNS: And then abruptly storming out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And that was CNN's Joe Johns reporting. Now, having spent years as a reality T.V. star, Donald Trump surely knows how to build a sense of

drama.

And his latest from a (ph) cliffhanger, it could have major real-world consequences. Now, after a meeting with G7 leaders last week, Mr. Trump e

tweeted this, that he plans to make his final decision about the Paris Climate Agreement in the coming days.

And world leaders are now, yes, waiting anxiously for that announcement. Germany's Angela Merkel expressed frustration at Mr. Trump's hesitation to

back the landmark climate accord.

CNN's Isa Soares joins us now, more on the story from London.

And Isa, will he or won't he? The world is watching and waiting to find out if he's going to back out of the agreement. If he does, what's going

to happen next?

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie. Well, many people concerned, not just world leaders but also many within the scientific community who

have been waiting with bated breath to see which way he'll go. The concern is that the U.S. is one of the biggest emitters -- emitters and the biggest

polluters alongside China.

If they leave, that perhaps other countries, smaller countries could actually potentially follow suit, although we have heard time and time

again that the deal is strong enough without the U.S. But there is another point to make, Kristie, here.

And that's the fact that the U.S. is -- contributes roughly a fifth of the world's pollution comes out of the U.S. carbon emissions is -- is coming

from the U.S. So where does that leave the actual potential for any sort of change, any sort of change within global temperatures?

That is the big concern. So what you're seeing really, so much pressure being put on the U.S. from its allies at the G7, you were saying where

Angela Merkel, German's chancellor, was so frustrated by the question of climate change or the lack of stance on climate change.

But also, we've heard beyond that. But (ph) the 28-member alliance of NATO who basically saying that climate change is seen as a global threat,

particular in the Middle East, Kristie, because we're seeing so many displacement of people. We're talking about severe droughts and flooding.

So we've heard from many people including U.N. Chief, Antonio Guterres, who's overnight adding pressure to President Trump so you've got that

international pressure. But then you also have pressure at home because report -- there were reports that his daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her

husband, Jared Kushner, they want in but Steve Bannon wants out.

[08:20:02]

All of this, of course, the backdrop of voters and what they voted for, we hear promising that they'll -- he will pull out of the climate change

agreement. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(APPLAUSE)

SOARES: Hailed as historic, the Paris Climate Change Accord united a hundred and 95 countries in a single agreement to tackle climate change,

all pledging to keep the global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius. Crucially and for the first time, it included the two biggest greenhouse

emitters, China and the United States.

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Today, the world meets the moment. And if we follow through on the commitments that this Paris Agreement

embodies, history may well judge it as a turning point for our planet.

SOARES: Almost two years on, there are fears the U.S.' new commander-in- chief could undermine the ambitious deal. After all, it was one of his campaign pledges.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We're going to cancel the Paris Climate Agreement and stop...

(APPLAUSE)

...unbelievable -- and stop all payments of the United States tax dollars to U.N. global warming programs.

SOARES: Now, in office, Mr. Trump continues to be a critic of climate change. He has moved to dismantle the Clean Power Plan and has restarted a

coal leasing program on federal land, raising concerns that this may be one of the most anti-scientific administrations in a while.

MICK MULVANEY, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET: Regarding the question as to climate change, I think the president was fairly

straightforward, is that we're not spending money on that anymore. We consider that to be a waste of your money.

SOARES: These statements have Europe nervous. In a statement to CNN, Arias Canete, Europe's energy and climate commissioner says, "It's clear

that we cannot expect the same kind of leadership from the U.S. following the change in administration.

What is clear is that while some look back, the E.U., China and many other major economies look ahead. We continue to hope the U.S. will find a way

to remain within the Paris Agreement and to remain committed to the Paris goals."

It's not just politicians sounding alarm bells. Climate change advocates and scientists are worried, too.

JOANNA HAIGH, CO-DIRECTOR OF GRANTHAM INSTITUTE, IMPERIAL COLLEGE: For the U.S. and President Trump suggesting that they will withdraw from -- from

the Paris Agreement, this is a big threat. They are producing something like a fifth of the world's carbon emissions at the moment.

And if they were to rescind on their commitment, which was to reduce the CO2 from the U.S. by 26 percent by 2025, this would have a large impact on

the whole global picture.

SOARES: If President Trump wants out in the terms of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, it could take as many as four years by which point, his

term would have ended, or he can stay in in name only, simply ignoring all the commitments. Either way, the fear is that a withdrawal will weaken the

credibility of the pact, potentially inspiring other countries to pull out, too.

But climate advocates believe the deal can survive with the support of the remaining countries, in particular, China, a belief that says this deal is

bigger than any one man.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: And Kristie, the vote there (ph), many people have been spoken -- have been speaking to an (ph) issue, even at Coptre (ph), too (ph), in

Marrakesh this year, basically saying (ph) they're hoping that the president sees economic sense. And interesting on that point because we

have heard many of the big companies -- U.S. companies, the likes of Chevron, Exxon Mobil, big U.S. oil companies basically saying, asking the

president to stick to the agreement.

Why? One, because they want a level playing field. But also, Kristie, because they've spent so much money, invested so much money on renewable

energy, on clean energy. So we've got that.

We've also got energy -- technology companies -- Microsoft, Google and the like, pushing to be part of that because why? It leads to more job

creation and long-term higher -- higher job creation but also employment.

Kristie?

STOUT: Yes, of course, all these companies lobbying the president to make a certain decision. But as you said in your report, I mean, this deal is

bigger than one man.

Really like that line there. Isa Soares, reporting live for us, thank you. Take care.

SOARES: Thank you.

STOUT: Now, a Chinese company that makes clothing for major companies, including that of Ivanka Trump, is in the spotlight. A human rights group

says three activists were investigating abuse in factories when one of them was detained by police and the two others are missing.

Our Matt Rivers has more now from Beijing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exclusive video of a factory floor in southern China, owned by the company that makes shoes for different labels

including Ivanka Trump's brand. Her line is made in a similar plant just a few hours away.

But now, as first reported by the "Associated Press," one labor advocacy group alleges that workers at both factories are often paid less than

minimum wage and forced to work up to 18 hours per day. China Labor Watch tells CNN they were set to release a report next month based on the work of

three Chinese undercover investigators until all three disappeared.

DENG GUILIAN, WIFE OF MISSING INVESTIGATOR HUA HAIFENG (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): My children keep asking where dad is.

[08:25:02]

I just tell them he's working.

RIVERS: Deng Guilian is the wife of Hua Haifeng, one of the missing investigators. She spoke to CNN over the phone saying police told her that

her husband had been detained for conducting illegal surveillance. They wouldn't say where he's being held.

She hasn't spoken to him since Sunday.

GUILIAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I can't even sleep. I just wish someone could tell me what happened to my husband.

RIVERS: CNN has contacted local authorities and has been unable to figure out where the other two activists, Li Zhao and Su Heng, are located or get

in touch with their families. China Labor Watch is a well-known NGO that routinely conducts investigations into unfair labor practices in China.

Li Qiang (ph), the group's director, said none of (AUDIO GAP) ever been detained like this in nearly 20 years of similar work. Over the phone, he

told CNN, quote, "I can't be 100 percent sure of the reason behind the activists' disappearance. The only difference I can between this case and

all previous cases is the Ivanka Trump name."

To be clear, there is no evidence that Ivanka, herself, has any connection to the missing investigators. More so, she said she's no longer involved

with her brand's operations.

China Labor Watch says all three activists collected their evidence, including eight hours of footage and interviews from the factory that makes

Trump's shoes by getting jobs at both factories. CNN isn't sure whether that action is illegal under Chinese law.

But it is a tactic China Labor Watch says it has used many times before. A representative for Ivanka Trump's brand declined to comment on the story as

did the owner of the factor.

In China, the focus remains on the missing.

GUILIAN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I can't believe this is happening.

RIVERS: Matt Rivers, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: Now, the Pentagon just tested its upgraded missile defense system. It says it successfully shot down an intercontinental ballistic missile

over the Pacific Ocean.

But experts say the system, just cost $40 billion so far, has a way to go before it is fully ready. Now, the test follows a barrage of North Korean

missile launches.

Meanwhile, two U.S. aircraft carriers, along with other warships, are about to begin training exercises in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East

Sea, several hundred kilometers away from North Korea. Paula Hancocks joins us now live from Seoul with more on the story.

And what we see here, just a real show of force from the U.S. What's the latest?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, we were told this by a U.S. defense official telling CNN that the USS Carl Vinson and the USS

Ronald Reagan would be carrying out military drills, Naval drills as early as today, so as early as Wednesday. And they said that it -- they could

last a few days.

Now, of course, it is in waters that are fairly close to North Korea. It's not unheard of that two aircraft carriers would be carrying out these kind

of Naval drills in the area.

But certainly, when it comes at a time when tensions are fairly high anyway, it's likely to be something that North Korea will mention. They

have already mentioned both of these aircraft carriers saying the fact that they are in the area, the fact that there is this increase in U.S. military

hardware is showing that the U.S. is hostile towards North Korea, Pyongyang claiming that this is the reason why they need to continue with these

missile launches.

And they have declared that they will continue with the missile launches.

Kristie?

STOUT: All right. Paula Hancocks, reporting live from Seoul, thank you.

Now, many fast food chains are joining the fight against unfair labor practices. But there is still a disconnect between the farm and the table.

The Freedom Project investigates, coming up next in our next half hour.

[08:28:46]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

STOUT (voice-over): I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching NEWS STREAM. These are your world headlines.

(HEADLINES)

STOUT: Donald Trump has signaled he could be ready to leave the Paris climate agreement, but the U.S. president has not made a final decision

yet.

On Tuesday, Mr. Trump met with the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. His press secretary says he wants a fair deal for the American

people. Mr. Trump has kept everyone on pins and needles, going back and forth on when he's going to make a decision.

Columnist John Sutter has written about it on cnn.com, saying that the U.S. president is treating climate change like a game show, putting the planet

at risk. You can read more about what's at stake in his article on our website.

Right now, let's hear directly from John on what happens if the U.S. does indeed pull out of the deal. Again, he's a columnist for CNN. He focuses

on climate change. And he joins us now live.

John, thank you so much for joining us. Before we get into what's at stake here, your thoughts on how Trump is handling this, like some sort of a

reality TV show.

Your thoughts?

JOHN SUTTER, CNN DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think it's in his background and he's been criticized before for taking a reality TV, sort

of, what will he will do next approach to all sorts of things. And I think climate is no exception. For the last few weeks, he's had people who

follow climate policy on edge, saying that an announcement will come soon. Most recently, as you mentioned over the weekend, he tweeted that this will

be the week that he makes a, quote, "final decision" on this.

So I mean I feel like people who follow this closely feel toyed with. It's unclear why he is trying to draw out so much tension and so much attention

over his decision on this because, if he does pull away from the Paris climate agreement, there's likely going to be an outroar (sic) in the

international community.

SO this was a major issue at the G7 meeting; just recently a lot of world leaders there were disappointed. I think Trump hadn't made a decision

prior to that meeting or during that meeting. But we expect something soon. And all bets are off as far as what that is exactly because there

have been so many reports about decisions that are coming, meetings of advisers that are happening. Often those change or get recalculated as the

president moves.

STOUT: If the U.S. pulls out of the pact, you say that there will be international uproar, there will be international condemnation.

But what really happens next?

What does it really mean for the greater issue of global warming?

What does it mean for us?

SUTTER: This is a question I was asking at the Bonn climate talks a couple weeks ago. This was sort of the latest negotiations of the Paris

agreement. And no one knows for sure. And that's what's really scary.

Everyone in an official capacity is saying we are sticking with the Paris agreement, almost because the U.S. is, at the very least, not taking this

seriously, the rest of the world, almost in spite of that, is saying we're going to do more, we're going to be more committed.

There's a report recently that came out that said that China and India, two of the other biggest world polluters, are doing so well at curbing their

emissions, they're much better than expected, that that actually makes up for whatever changes Trump's policies would have to the U.S. emissions

scenario.

So people are saying that the Paris agreement goals are still possible if the rest of the world remains united and works together. But I think

that's a big open question. These climate talks have been tenuous for --

[08:35:00]

SUTTER: -- decades and the Paris agreement, it's fair to say, was decades in the making.

It's a sensitive thing. So one of the biggest polluters in the world, the second biggest, the United States, if the United States were to walk away

from this, it would definitely send ripples through this process.

I hope world leaders will be united enough to say we're continuing forward with or without you. That's what they've been saying to date. But if and

when something like that changes, it's hard to say for sure what exactly would happen.

STOUT: Yes, but that's an important point that you make that, with or without Donald Trump, with or without the United States, there's a host of

countries committed to the Paris climate change accord, including, as you mentioned, Germany and China.

Unfortunately, we're going to have to leave there. John Sutter, thank you so much and thank you for that write that you posted on CNN Digital.

SUTTER: Thank you.

STOUT: Now even the tomatoes on your table come with a human price. We'll explain after the break. The CNN Freedom Project is tackling the link

between fast food and fair food. That story next, right here on NEWS STREAM.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

STOUT: Welcome back.

It can be a long way from the farm to your table and the people who harvest our food can be forgotten. On the third part of our week-long CNN Freedom

Project series, it's called "Fair Food," Amara Walker shows us how some farm workers are standing up against unfair labor practices and persuading

major companies to join the fight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Have you ever wondered how your tomatoes get to the grocery store or given much thought to the people

who pick them?

Lupe Gonzalo, a former farm worker herself, thinks about it all the time.

LUPE GONZALO, FORMER FARM WORKER (through translator): There are things you don't want any worker to go through, so that's why you fight for

change, to create a better future for people who come after you.

WALKER (voice-over): Lupe works for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers or CIW, a grassroots, anti-trafficking organization that advocates for farm

worker rights and fights against forced labor and agriculture.

They just wrapped up a two-week campaign against Wendy's, one of the biggest fast food restaurants in the country. Hundreds of CIW members and

supporters held protests in cities across the southeastern U.S., calling on people to boycott the fast food giant.

For more than a decade, the CIW has used boycotts like this one to pressure companies to sign onto its Fair Food Program.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We launched the campaign for fair food in 2001. So it's been 16, 17 years of working to bring retailers in.

WALKER (voice-over): Greg Asbed (ph) is one of the co-founders of the CIW. He says they targeted the biggest fast food chains first, going after them

one at a time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first campaign took four years, to get Taco Bell on board. The second campaign took two years, to get McDonald's on board,

third campaign took one year to get Burger King on board. I think Subway was a very quick, sort of one-month process.

So you can see there was a way that it was unfolding.

WALKER (voice-over): Those restaurants all signed an agreement with the CIW, pledging to purchase tomatoes only from farms that follow a strict

code of conduct to protect worker rights.

[08:40:00]

WALKER (voice-over): They also agreed to pay a penny more per pound of tomatoes, money that goes directly to the low-wage farm workers as a line

item bonus, in some cases, doubling their paychecks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For us, we know it's the right thing to do. And, honestly, the impact on cost is nominal.

WALKER (voice-over): When it comes to the major grocery chains, Whole Foods Market was the first to sign on in 2008.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What you get is greater transparency to understanding how your food is produced that you're offering to your customers and the

assurance that you're making life a little easier, a little better for the people who do the hard work to produce the food that we're selling.

WALKER (voice-over): The Fair Food Program includes mandatory worker training for all farm workers, a hotline so workers can report violations

and regular audits of the farms by an independent third party.

Florida produces 90 percent of all tomatoes in the U.S. And today nearly every tomato farm in the state has joined the Fair Food Program. The CIW'S

goal now is to add to its list of buyers. A major success came in 2014, when Walmart signed the agreement.

Greg Asbed (ph) struggles to understand why fast food giant Wendy's refuses to join.

GREG ASBED, CIW: There is no justification. It is inexplicable at this point. The program is proven.

WALKER (voice-over): Wendy's says it doesn't participate because it doesn't believe that it should, quote, "pay another company's employees,

just as we do not pay factory workers, truck drivers or maintenance personnel."

In March, Wendy's announced an expansion to its own code of conduct by adding additional safeguards and requiring third party reviews related to

the human rights and labor practices of certain produce suppliers.

Wendy's would not provide an on-camera interview but in an e-mail wrote, "We do not believe that joining the Fair Food Program is the only way to

act responsibly."

ASBED: I guess I wouldn't agree with that. It's not the only way to claim social responsibility but it is the only way to ensure it.

WALKER (voice-over): CIW members say they are frustrated but not deterred. They insist on calling Wendy's a future partner.

GONZALO (through translator): Sooner or later Wendy's will come to the table and will sign the fair food agreement and then we will all be on the

same side, all fighting for justice together.

WALKER (voice-over): Amara Walker, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: The pressure is on.

And that is NEWS STREAM. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere. "WORLD SPORT" with Christina MacFarlane is next.

END