04/08/2013 Reporters

tick dip viewed the best story we examine remarkable new footage

obtained by the BBC of a breakout by French prisoners from a World War II

prison camp. Only a handful made it back it to France, and only one

survives to this day. We report on how plans for mining copper in

Alaskan rocks threatens to harm one of the world 's last great wild

fisheries. So it is toxic dirt? it is not. You cannot allow it to

enter the ecosystem. As America marks 40 years of its war on drugs,

we meet some of the victims of the Mexican drugs trade. TRANSLATION: I

don't see any sales in the drug war. I don't understand why Mexicans are

killing Mexicans. Meet the Burka Avenger. We report on the cartoon

caped Crusader that is inspiring women's rights in Pakistan. And the

all sure they are back as the legendary Russian ballet company

comes to London. We report on the controversy that just won't go away.

There is no amount of skill or training that would enable anybody

to conceal the strange goings-on backstage of the Bolshoi, of late.

To breakout of a German prison of what is remarkable in itself. To

escape and to capture it on film is possibly one of the most amazing

true stories of the second World War. The BBC has obtained a

remarkable new footage depicting an audacious escape by French

prisoners, shot by the prisoners themselves. It also gives a chilling

view of life inside a German prisoner of war camp. We have been

to meet the one SKP who still survives to this day. -- SKP. It is

a prison camp in north-east 's -- Austria, holding 5000 French

officers. This is a 30 minute documentary, shot in secret by the

prisoners themselves. Risking death, they recorded it on a secret camera

that was smuggled into the camp in sausages. The team conceal that in a

holiday dictionary, the 8mm reels hidden in their shoes. It is an

extraordinary story, but it is what their films that makes it all the

more remarkable. This lieutenant was a former inmate, and part of the

escape committee. TRANSLATION: we dug a number of tunnels. Guards

always found them. They were smart. They were looking for the earth we

dug out. Eventually, they found a way. This man, whose father was a

prisoner, showed us the plans. The Germans built an open air theatre.

With the crudest of tools, the malnourished men set to work.

TRANSLATION: they were university professors, mathematicians,

geologist, architects. They calculated the length and direction

of the tunnel exactly. This time, the earth was hidden in the seat of

the theatre. The tunnel was ventilated with empty tins of peace

that were stuck together. There were teams to make civilian clothes, and

the false identity papers they would depend on. By September 18, 1943,

they were ready to go. TRANSLATION: there was so little space in the

tunnel, we were forced to lie in a cold up position. There was little

air. Some fainted. All the time, we imagined the worst. The German

firing squad that could be at the end of the tunnel. Of course, once

they had gone beneath the wire, they were still deep inside German

occupied territory. 132 prisoners escaped, 125 were recaptured within

a week. Only a handful made it back into France. Only one survives to

this day. To celebrate his 100th birthday, he was recently honoured

by the city of Paris. In 1943, he found his way to Vienna, where he

worked as a nurse in a hospital. Eventually, he secured a precious

weekend passed back to Paris. The homecoming was not enough. Within

weeks, he had rejoined the war effort, and was now fighting for the

resistance. Let's go now to the gorgeous landscapes of Alaska, where

there are fears that one of the world 's last great wild fisheries

is at risk. Britain's Anglo American -- Anglo American and its partner

are pushing to develop a vast copper mine, the largest ever in North

America. This is in Bristol Bay, the heart of the Alaskan fishing

industry. As we report, the issue has divided opinion in America's

largest state. It is a wonder of the natural world. Tens of millions of

salmon, on an epic migration from the Pacific Ocean back to the

streams where they were born. For Alaskan bears, it is a summer feast.

High up in the headwaters of the Bristol Bay River system, where

salmon come to spawn and to die, there is treasure in the rocks. A

vast deposit of copper and gold. A company co- owned by the British

mining giant Anglo American, plans one of the biggest copper mines in

this wilderness. When you are up in the air, you get a sense of just how

remote this place is. They want to dig the big pit down there, they

also need to build a power station and develop a road or rail link to

the sea, so they can get the copper out. This man is the boss of the

Pebble mine project. It could be worth half $1 trillion. A massive

open pit would generate billions of tonnes of potentially dangerous

waste. There is a lot of waste, but the waste is essentially dirt.

People think about waste, they think it is toxic. It is toxic dirt.No it

is not. You cannot allow it to enter the ecosystem here. It does have to

have long-term monitoring. There is the question about that. Bristol

Bay. All -- more than 100 miles from the proposed mine, but connected by

streams and rivers. This is the world 's greatest salmon fishery. 25

million are caught every summer. It is a billion-dollar business in

Bristol Bay. Assessing plans got it, freeze it and can it for

supermarkets all over the world. The fishing industry is now scared stiff

of a massive mine in their backyard. We have a culture here that is

dependent on salmon since God created salmon and man. We are not

willing to risk it. Inuit community leader Kim Williams is handing on

the salmon culture to the next generation. She has been to London

several times to lobby against the British bank -- backed mine. I asked

them to divest of this project. It is the wrong place. It is in the

wrong location. It has devastating consequences to the people of

Bristol Bay and to the commercial fishermen. The mine boss says he is

mine could transform local communities for the better. He knows

he has to overcome their fears. have a high responsibility to show

people that we are not going to do what they are afraid of. Will we be

able to do that? I don't know if we can. Thanks to the Pebble mine plan,

uncertainty hangs over the bay. Alaska has vast natural resources.

The people and the politicians here must decide if some are based left

untapped. -- best left. From America's fishing wars to its war on

drugs. 40 years ago, the US drug enforcement agency was created to

stop the large flow of narcotics into the United States. Now, four

decades later, this activity is coming under increased scrutiny with

Latin American leaders calling for a news strategy. -- new strategy. We

have been to a town on the Mexico US border to investigate. Some images

in the report could be distressing. This bridge connecting the Mexican

border city and El Paso is one of the main gateways for drugs into the

US. Police joke, the only place they have not found is in the car

ignition. That is one kilogram of cocaine. What they do find comes

here, to the evidence rooms. This is a small fraction of what makes it

across the broad -- border. Despite US spending, billions of dollars on

the war on drugs, Americans still rank among the biggest users of

cocaine and cannabis in the world. But if the cost of America is

measured in addicts, across the board in Mexico, it is measured in

dead bodies. The previous government policy of deploying the army against

the cartels sparked a furious turf war between the gangs. It claims

more than 60,000 lives. The other at his efforts were further undermined

by corruption in the security called forces, who collude with the gangs.

The frontline for that war was Ciudad Juarez. Just like this one

are full of gangsters. The story of Carlos is one told time and again

here, forced into joining again, and now awaiting sentencing for

smuggling cannabis. TRANSLATION: I don't see any sense in the drug war.

I don't understand why Mexicans are killing Mexicans. The recently

elected president has promised a less aggressive approach, and at

least in Juarez, it appears to be working. It is hard to tell now, but

this used to be Mexico's most dangerous city. At the height of the

violence, its people were murdered each day. The drugs in the cartels

may not have gone away, but there is a new sense of hope that the drop in

the violence will eject -- inject new business and a sense of life

into the city. The local police chief takes credit for this

improvement. TRANSLATION: I think the gangs have infiltrated this

human is right group to help them defend themselves. These young

people, like many others in Mexico, have paid a heavy price in the

struggle. 14 of this local team were murdered by gangs. All of them

innocent victims. The theory is that the high levels of violence will

return and it will be a struggle for these teenagers to stay away from

going live will stop -- gang life. She may be a fictitious character,

but she deals with some harsh realities. She is not a Wonderwall

and or super girl. Meet worker avenger. She is a mild-mannered

teacher at by day, but at night she uses her secret martial arts skill

to fight local thugs to shut down the -- .

Meet Pakistan's first Cape crusader, a mild school teacher and superhero.

The animated series is the brainchild of a Pakistani pop

singer, who wants to help children understand the social and sectarian

issues Pakistan is grappling with. As a musician and as an artist you

are always inspired by what is happening around you. In Pakistan,

the issues are staring you in the face. The whole concept was

initially inspired by the girls schools being shut down by extremist

elements. The series has been developed in just over a year by a

young team operating out of a small production house in Islamabad.

went viral on social media even before its launch on the Pakistan TV

channel. It has created quite and a impression in Pakistan. A country

where the female literacy rate is very low and send hundreds of girls

school being blown up. Many real-life crusaders for women's

rights do not quite a treat -- did not quite agree with the message.

The use of the worker is seen by many as controversial -- Burke.

can you get power from a symbol that is so demeaning to women is power.

Walking around in a is really imagining the symbol of depression

as a symbol of resistance. I do not agree with that. The creators think

that everyone should hold judgement until they see the series. They are

all set to release music videos featuring some of Pakistan's top

musicians. They are trying to frame it as the first superhero brand.

Meanwhile, for children growing up watching terrorism and violence on

their TV screens every day. A superhero armed with nothing but

books and pens might be just what they want to look up to. It has been

quite a year for the Bolshoi Ballet, full of drama with on and off the

stage. Allegations of corruption and smear campaigns and an attack on its

artistic allegedly instigated by one of its own dances. The Russian

company is in London for a three-week season. Will they manage

to put their scandals and court cases behind them?

The legendary Bolshoi Ballet are aka the Royal Opera house. Where they

will be performing, among other ballets, Swan Lake. These dancers

are some of the very best in the world. They embody the heart and

soul of Russia. TRANSLATION: I think the Bolshoi Ballet always

represented Russian spirit and Russian music. And that is why it

can be considered is the greatest achievement of our culture. Chekhov

once said that the only thing he knew about Ballet was that during

interviews all -- intervals all ballets stink like horses will stop

it was talking about the great illusion of this art form. There is

no amount of skill or training that would enable anybody to conceal the

strange goings-on backstage at the Bolshoi of late. There have been

allegations of corruption and smear campaigns. And then a horrific acid

attack on the company 's artistic director. Instigated, it is alleged,

by one of his own doubts is. -- cancers. A new boss has been

appointed to sort out this troubled institution. TRANSLATION: This kind

of event, this tragic event, has a very tough psychological impact on

everybody. But these negative events will be in the past and we will move

forward. Not before, one would imagine, sorting out the company 's

existing problems. It has been suggested the infighting might be

around the mentoring system, where promising dancers have a champion

amongst the older dancers and teachers. That can lead to a certain

amount of fighting and infighting as people tried to get their protege on

stage. The Bolshoi was founded in 1776, during the reign of Catherine

the great. Since then, the company has survived two world wars and

communism. It should survive this crisis too. But the scars will

linger. Now to an event at that is as much

about cultural identity as it is under way in Israel. This year they

are bringing together around 9000 Jewish competitors from more than 70

countries. Aiming high, Jewish athletes

competing in the Maccabi games. They are are coming from around the world

take part in what is known as the Jewish Olympics. Some, like this

Cuban archer, I hear against the odds, as Cuba does not have

diplomatic relations with Israel. am so proud to be here in Israel. It

is the first time Israel participates in these games. -- is

the first time Cuba participates in these games. The first games, which

was supported by early scientist leaders, were held in the 1930s when

rising anti-Semitism in Europe made it hard for Jews to compete in big

sporting events. Many athletes chose not to go back to Europe, and

settled here. These days, the organisers say the games aimed to

forge links between the Diaspora and Israel. The aim is to be attractive

to Jewish youngsters with something that nobody can argue about. It is

sport. It is something that United everybody. If you come with the

start of sport and add to the love of Israel, that is something

everybody can agree. These games planned competition with a big

Jewish reunion. There is a big range of ages here. The youngest slammers

are in their teens and the oldest are in their 80s. While winning is

important, many people here would say that these games are as much

about Jewish identity as elite sport. While a handful of Israeli

Arabs to take part in the games, the organisers say the international

athletes are Jewish. Visitors are taught about Israeli institutions

leading the army. And there is a chance to get to know and date of a