24/08/2014 Reporters

shuttle, today it is here in a museum. Hello, Victoria here. You

probably picture me as a stout, somewhat sour faced old woman. And

meet London's speaking statues. We found at how these landmarks found a

voice. `` found out. Hello and miaow. It is known as special region

number four. The Burmese army dare not go there. For more than a

quarter of a century, the area has existed entirely outside the

government's control, and has become a place where anything and

everything goes, from gambling and prostitution to trade in endangered

wildlife. Jonah Fisher said this report. I have handed my passport to

the Burmese authorities and been given this permit. It is a small

piece of land, right on the border with China, and it is totally

outside the control of the Burmese central government. It is the

dystopian consequence of a peace agreement signed years ago. The deal

saw Rebel fighters stop their insurgency, and in return, they were

allowed to manage their own affairs. The rebels' wart was funded by

poppies `` war. They hit on something more lucrative than

drugs. Gambling. Across the border in China, it is almost completely

illegal. So Gong La, and this market in particular have become notorious

for openly trading in the parts of exotic and endangered animals. It

became a bustling, sleazy town with a very un` Bouwmeester character.

The signs are in Chinese, the money is Chinese, the only mobile network

that functions here is Chinese, even the electricity comes from across

the border. The first boom was built on casinos, right in the centre of

town, but with the border just a kilometre it was too close, so they

moved in and shut the casinos down, leaving them derelict like this one.

New, more discreet casinos have been built, but our official guide says

he is not allowed to take us to them. So that evening we sneak away

on motorbikes into the Burmese jungle. After half an hour we come

to one area surrounded by paddy fields, a hidden gambling complex.

Illegal under Burmese law. We filmed in secret at one of the 15 casino

halls, all packed with Chinese tourists. But look closely at the

people wearing headphones. The big money is being placed remotely, for

clients on the phone back in China. With so many punters flush with

cash, there perhaps inevitably cost a jute everywhere. In booth at the

markets, on the side of the road, or handing out is best cards in hotel

lobbies. There is no real law enforcement here, so this market in

particular have become notorious for openly trading of exotic and

endangered animals. We filmed secretly and saw stalls of ivory,

leopard skins, tortoise and snake. That's the hide of a scaly anteater

or pangolin. It is an endangered species and its scales are used in

Chinese medicine. Not far away we see two that are just about alive.

Their cages outside a restaurant. Also on the menu ` a black bear and

Burmese python. Tigers, that is the Claw of a tiger. They are selling

that. That is elephant skin. Mong`La's small zoo is in itself

shocking. Perhaps that was why there was no need for us to film secretly

at the souvenir shop. A small tiger skull and this is? That's about

?600. It is now thought there are fewer than 4,000 tigers living wild

in the whole world. Where did you get it from? Someone came and sold

it, someone came from Young and sold it here. `` Myanmar. The obsession

with wildlife continues here, tiger skin on the wall and inside this

tank, there is a full tiger skeleton. There are also various

other things, ginger roots, even some seahorses. But this is a

drink, you can buy it here, they call it tiger wine. It cost about

$1.5 and it is supposed to help you join. They would like it to engage

in a unified state. But they have little to offer to make them give up

their lucrative independence. Business is booming again. There are

scores of new construction projects under way, many of them hotels. For

now it seems neither China nor Myanmar has the ability or desire to

try and came the weird, wild world of Mong`La. The streets of Ferguson

Missouri seemed like a war zone after the shooting of a teenager.

The mast protesters facing police armed with military grade weapons

raised questions about America's human rights record. It also

rekindled memories of the race riots in Los Angeles in 1992, which taught

at city apart. Our correspondent reports on how the LA police force

changed after the riots there and what Missouri can learn from the

experience. We are getting reports we are receiving of some

rock`throwing by youths in South`Central Los Angeles, perhaps a

reaction to the verdict today in the Rodney King beating. 1992,

South`Central Los Angeles. Riots, violence, and looting spread across

the city. The Los Angeles Police Department was institutionally

racist. Police brutality was endemic. The beating of Rodney King

was the proof on videotape of an everyday reality. For years, people

had a grievance about police, what they called police abuse. And what

Rodney King did on videotape, the reality that every abuse complaint

that people ever had, they were able to point at and say, that happened

to me. But when the policemen responsible were acquitted, the city

exploded. Dozens died in six days of violence. No justice, no peace! They

are saying the same thing in Ferguson today. But just two days

after Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, 24`year`old Ezell Ford was

shot by police in LA. The protests over his killing have not in as big

or as violent. There has been little media attention. He was in his own

little world. He was special, he had special needs. His family say he had

learning difficulties. Witnesses say he was lying face down when a

policeman shot him three times in the back. The LAPD say there was a

struggle as he went for the officer's gun. The community is

furious. We all want the same thing. For the truth to come out. End I

know that is exactly what everybody in this audience wants. `` and I

know. The LA police chief came to the community meeting to hear

people's concerns, and there were many. Have some respect. So my

question is, when is this cop going to be named, indicted and convicted?

How many times are we going to have to come here to hear the same old...

You know what. There is a huge amount of anger in the community

hearing of this shooting. But it is a remarkable contrast to the

reaction we have seen in Ferguson, Missouri. This is a community

meeting, and people are able to take the microphone and talk directly to

the Police Chief. It is really important that they understand that

20 or 25 years ago we would not have had this conversation. They would

have been an enormous amount of antipathy. The community would not

have trusted us to come to this forum. A great deal did change in

the wake of the LA riots. The hard`line police chief resigned.

More black and Hispanic officers were recruited, and community ties

were improved. But there is still tension here. The police need to be

more closely monitored, and this is how this man does it. I record the

police, try to hold them accountable, tried to restore some

transparency, and keep them behaving themselves. He recorded the

protests, and he thinks everyone should film the police. The police

are out of control right now, I am trying to encourage people to take

out their cameras, record the police, and keep them accountable.

The immediate question will be how to bring to an end the violence in

Ferguson Missouri. In LA, they used the National Guard. But the lesson

learnt is that the longest solution takes many years of rebuilding

trust, and a commitment to change. The relations between Russia and US

reached a new low. With recent sanctions against Russia hitting,

they may have found a way to hit back. As our correspondent found

out, this may be the start of a new space race. When Neil Armstrong set

foot on the moon in 1969, the Americans had eaten the Soviets. But

the two rivals realised they would get further if they worked together.

But today the Americans do not just work with the Russians, they depend

on them. This is the Discovery shuttle that ferried astronauts to

space for nearly 30 years. Today, though, it is here in a museum and

there is no replacement. The Americans depend on the Russians for

a ride in the Soyuz space capsule at a cost of more than $60 million

every seat. The International Space Station has long served as a symbol

of unity in space, but the Russians have threatened to put a stop to

these space taxi rides, effectively grounding American astronauts. But

the Russians would lose out too. In the case of the International

Space Station, America agreed to build the electronics and electric

power systems and Russia agreed to build the fuel systems. We are

joined together in this common endeavour and we both need each

other critically. But also, the rockets that launched the American

satellites, including their military satellites, are powered by engines

bought from Russia. In essence, America needs Russian technology to

spy on Russia, but now the supply line is under threat. This has

become a national security concern. We cannot put up those satellites

reliably by ourselves, so if Russia said we are not giving you any more,

we would have to scramble to find a replacement. For now, at least,

these problems seem a long way away for the cosmonauts and astronauts

currently on board the International Space Station. Their work could help

to take humans to Mars or beyond. I will be very sad if collaboration

between America and Russia and the European Union would fail because it

is against Russian interests and the interests of all of us. For many

years, the alliance in space has survived political upheaval. If

recent tensions grow, the era of space without borders could be at an

end. It seems like these days, you can rent just about anything, even

family members. In Germany, you can even adopt a grandparent. Our

reporter from the learn about moves to bridge the age divide. This goal

crease recycle right with her grandparents. Not really. It is part

of a scheme to link younger people with older people. A lot of older

people are just sitting in front of the television. It gives me

something to do. When she draws a picture of three hearts and my name

is on one of them, it is fantastic. AT`year`old `` 80`year old Paul and

his wife take her on holiday and even talked to swim. Every Monday,

they meet me after school and we go swimming. I can even stay the night.

With an overwhelming number of fit and healthy people, this scheme

allows German pensioners to feel active and healthy. It also provides

essential support to the young families they help. There have been

problems, however. Relationships have broken down and two paedophiles

got past the check`in procedures in the 25`year history. However, the

project remains popular with good feedback.

TRANSLATION: A lot of the grandparents say they feel better

with something to do and they are better able to understand young

people. Back at the cycle park, Therese's

mother has joined Paul and Charlotte. She said their help in

raising her daughter has been invaluable. They wanted to have an

older couple. It is normal to have parents and grandparents. My parents

are far away from them. A true Bond has now developed between what were

once strangers. Here is a question you have probably ever asked

yourself. What would statute say if they could speak? A British arts

group has commissioned dozens of actors and comedians to give voice

to some of the famous figures on the streets of London and Manchester. We

have been to hear what the statues had to say. They stand alone, often

ignored, many forgotten heroes of forgotten wars. An idea to bring

some of these statues to life. This is how it works. You scan the box,

wait a few moments and then you get a phone call from Queen Victoria.

Hello, Victoria here. You probably picture me as a stout, sour faced

woman in a black clothes. It was interesting. It made her seem

more real. Do you know, I never actually said,

"we are not amused"? We all think we need the famous people in history.

`` know. If we have something like this, it is more direct.

Sherlock Holmes in Baker Street. If you read my stories, you will

never once find me wearing a deerstalker hat. Written by

historians and authors. They are voiced by actors like Patrick

Stewart and Hugh Bonneville. This thing now is the creator of the

project. `` listening now. I hope it will make people look more

deeply. Once they are listening, the whole objective is to make you look

more deeply. Only yesterday there was a man, a

dentist from Camberwell, who was quite clearly intending to murder

his wife and escape with his mistress, a trapeze artist.

It is not just people that are brought to life. In the back alleys

in Fleet Street Samuel Johnson's cat is voiced by Nicholas Parsons.

Hello. I always make a point of putting myself about people 's legs

so that I can get hairs on their trousers. Cats do that, you know.

35 statues in London and Manchester are now talking. The plan is to

expand the project so that many more will find their voice. That is all

from Reporters. Goodbye for now.