20 years on: Remembering the tsunami

Summary

Global News Podcast: Episode Summary Title: 20 Years On: Remembering the Tsunami
Release Date: December 26, 2024
Host/Author: BBC World Service

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1. Commemorating 20 Years of the Indian Ocean Tsunami

On the twentieth anniversary of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, commemorative ceremonies are being held across the affected regions. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.1, triggered the deadliest tsunami in history, claiming over 220,000 lives across 15 countries. Indonesia's Aceh province was the hardest hit, with Banda Aceh witnessing intense prayers at mass graves.

Personal Tragedy:
Urai Sirisuk, a grieving mother attending the memorial in Thailand, shared her heart-wrenching loss:
"I felt that the waves took my daughter away. I was so mad at the sea. I can never forget it, no matter how many years have passed."
[00:14:07]

Reflection on Resilience:
Jonathan Head conversed with Southeast Asia correspondent Paul Moss, who reminisced about the immense human resilience in the aftermath:
"People kept going. ... there's this extraordinary, almost desolate despair."
[02:07]
Paul highlighted the multinational efforts in rebuilding, noting the significant role of American military resources in aid distribution. He emphasized the swift community recovery and the lasting memorials that stand as reminders of the tragedy.
"In a way, not having anyone to blame helped. No one was angry with anybody about this."
[02:46]

2. Advancements in Tsunami Preparedness

Efforts to prevent future catastrophes have seen substantial improvements in warning systems and public awareness. Enhanced buoy systems in Thailand and other innovative methods in Indonesia aim to detect sudden sea level changes more effectively.

Increased Awareness:
Paul Moss observed a significant shift in public knowledge:
"Back when that happened, most people had had no experience of a tsunami. ... they get to higher ground as quickly as possible that can save lives."
[04:37]

Commemorative Practices:
Paul detailed the subdued and respectful ceremonies marking the anniversary in various regions, including mass prayers in Banda Aceh and dignified memorials on islands like Ko Phi Phi.
"It's a quiet, dignified ceremony. It's called sort of Disaster Awareness Day, so people remember it."
[05:27]

3. Possible Russian Involvement in Azerbaijani Airlines Plane Crash

Azerbaijani Airlines Flight crashed in Kazakhstan under mysterious circumstances, resulting in over 30 fatalities. Military bloggers and aviation experts suspect that Russia may have mistakenly shot down the aircraft, potentially confusing it with a Ukrainian drone.

Initial Confusion:
Emir Nader, Europe regional editor, outlined the puzzling details surrounding the crash:
"When a plane can't land at one airport because of fog, it usually lands at a nearby one. ... at Aktau Airport, or crashes at Aktau Airport, where there is no fog."
[07:02]

Theories and Evidence:
Further discussions revealed theories ranging from accidental missile strikes mistaken for drone activity to deliberate navigation system interference by Russian forces.
"The main theory is that it was mistaken for a Ukrainian drone and shot down."
[08:36]

Official Reactions:
Russian authorities have remained largely silent, with state media initially attributing the crash to a bird strike while omitting survivor accounts of explosions.
"The Russians have said so far it's too early to speculate... they've also broadcast interviews with survivors, but cut the bits where the survivors say there was an explosion."
[09:16]

4. Journalists Killed in Gaza Amid Conflict

Health authorities in Gaza reported the deaths of five journalists when an Israeli airstrike targeted a Quds Today broadcast van near Al Awda Hospital. Among the victims was Ayman El Jedi, who was expecting a child.

Tragic Loss:
Ayman El Jedi was seen joyfully anticipating fatherhood moments before the strike:
"Tonight I will become a father."
[10:00]

Israeli Response:
The Israeli military claimed the van housed an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell, linking it to prior militant activities. This incident marks part of the deadliest period for journalists in Gaza, with over 140 media workers lost.

5. Ukrainian Family Torn by War

Afina Kadzinova, a Ukrainian refugee in London, shared her poignant experience of celebrating Christmas separated from her family due to the ongoing conflict and Russian occupation of Mariupol.

Separated Celebrations:
Afina recounted the emotional strain of celebrating Christmas apart:
"I just said about how I spent Christmas morning here and how I went to Christmas service in London."
[11:48]

Living Under Occupation:
Her mother, now residing in Mariupol, faces the harsh reality of Russian control:
"There is no chance to survive without doing this because you can't even get SIM card for your mobile phone without Russian passport."
[13:14]

Hope for Reunification:
Afina expressed a profound longing for peace and reunion with her mother:
"The only hope is to finish the war and I will be able to go to Mariupol to meet my mom."
[13:40]

6. Security Operations in Syria's Tartus Province

Syria's security forces have intensified operations against pro-Assad militias in Tartus, the western province and stronghold of President Assad’s Alawite community. The recent clashes resulted in the deaths of 14 security personnel.

Strategic Importance:
Sebastian Usher reported from Beirut, highlighting Tartus as a vital area for Assad’s support base:
"It's one of the areas in the west of a country where the Alawite community to which Assad belongs has its largest numbers."
[16:56]

Challenges Ahead:
The new Syrian leadership, under Ahmed El Shara, faces the daunting task of unifying a deeply divided nation and controlling various armed factions, including potential new conflicts with Kurdish groups.
"They talked, I mean, the leader Ahmed El Shara has talked very much unity."
[18:46]

7. Illegal Trade of Rare Succulent Plants in South Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic's influence on social media has inadvertently fueled the illegal trade of rare wild plants in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province. The high demand for unique succulents has driven criminal syndicates to poach endangered species, some of which are now extinct in the wild.

Impact of Social Media:
Nomtsa Maseko reported on how social media trends have exacerbated the poaching crisis:
"Criminal networks recruit local people to carry out organized poaching activities."
[21:20]

Community Consequences:
Local communities are suffering from unemployment and social issues as a result of the illegal plant trade:
"In our community it's really bad... they've stolen our land or our plants, they've stolen our heritage as well."
[21:37]

Conservation Efforts:
Initiatives like the Richtersfeld Transfrontier Park are combating poaching by rehabilitating seized plants and educating consumers about responsible purchasing.
"The key is awareness... to consume those plants to enjoy their beauty in a very responsible way."
[22:53]

8. Tahlequah the Killer Whale Announces New Birth

Tahlequah, the orca famous for her prolonged period of mourning her deceased calf in 2018, has given birth again in Washington State. Conservationists are optimistic but cautious about the calf's survival prospects.

A Symbol of Resilience:
Paul Moss reflected on Tahlequah’s journey and the hope her new calf brings:
"It's the first time I've done a story about wine in which I haven't felt squiffy."
[23:55]

Conservation Outlook:
Experts monitor the new calf closely to assess the health and future of Tahlequah’s pod, highlighting the delicate nature of early whale life.
"They have warned that early life is a very dangerous time for killer whale calves."
[24:28]

9. The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Wines in Bordeaux

Bordeaux, traditionally synonymous with rich, alcoholic wines, is witnessing a burgeoning market for non-alcoholic alternatives. This shift is driven by changing consumer preferences, economic pressures on vineyards, and advancements in winemaking technology.

Industry Transformation:
Frederic Brochet, a wine expert in Bordeaux, discussed the technological strides enabling the production of quality non-alcoholic wines:
"We are getting closer and closer every day... to something which is going to be a kind of a big revolution in the wine industry."
[25:44]

Market Acceptance:
Charlotte Bucard, founder of Omaybe, highlighted the personal and commercial motivations behind launching a non-alcoholic brand:
"It was through my own experience of pregnancy... why don't I start my own brand?"
[25:50]

Economic Necessity:
Coralie de Bois of Clos de Beaure shared her transformative experience in adopting non-alcoholic wine production, which now significantly contributes to her estate’s revenue:
"If today Chateau Claude des Beaure is able to survive... it's really because we sell approximately one third of our production without alcohol."
[28:33]

Technological Innovations:
Advancements in alcohol removal techniques, such as vacuum distillation, have improved the flavor and mouthfeel of non-alcoholic wines, making them more appealing to traditional wine enthusiasts.
"The alcohol is removed in a vacuum... it's been working hard and we made very nice progress."
[28:09]

10. Upcoming Series: World of Secrets - The Dark Side of the Yoga Industry

In a teaser for the new series "World of Secrets," the podcast delves into alarming allegations within the yoga community, including grooming, trafficking, and exploitation.

Investigative Focus:
The series promises to uncover hidden abuses within global yoga networks, highlighting personal testimonies of those affected:
"I have no other choice. The only thing I can do is to speak about this... to bring it into the light."
[30:08]

Shedding Light on Abuse:
The narrative follows individuals who felt entrapped in seemingly benign wellness spaces that concealed darker motives, aiming to expose the systemic issues within the industry.

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Conclusion

This episode of the Global News Podcast offers a comprehensive overview of significant global events, from the enduring impact of natural disasters and geopolitical tensions to emerging social issues and industry transformations. Through personal stories, expert analyses, and on-the-ground reporting, the podcast provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the world's current landscape.

Transcript

[Bernadette Keough]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

[Jonathan Head]

This is the global news podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Bernadette Keough and at 14 hours GMT on Thursday 26th December, these are our main stories. Ceremonies are taking place around the Indian Ocean to remember the devastating tsunami that happened on this day 20 years ago. I felt that the waves took my daughter away. I was so mad at the sea. I can never forget it, no matter how many years have passed. And military bloggers and aviation experts have suggested Russia shot down an Azerbaijani Airlines plane. Also in this podcast, how social media is spurring South Africa's criminal gangs to poach rare wild plants. And the killer whale, who refused to let go of her dead calf for 17 days, now has a new baby. It's 20 years since a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sumatra island, triggering the deadliest tsunami in history. More than 220,000 people in 15 countries across the Indian Ocean were killed. Commemorations are being held around the region today. Indonesia's Aceh province was the worst hit. In Banda Aceh, people have been praying at a mass grave. Urai Sirisuk, a mother who was attending the memorial event in Thailand lost her four year old daughter. I felt that the waves took my daughter away. I was so mad at the sea. It's very difficult for a mother to lose their child. It's tough. I can never forget it, no matter how many years have passed until I die. Our Southeast Asia correspondent, Jonathan Head, who's in Bangkok, covered the events 20 years ago. How does he look back at that time?

[Paul Moss]

Actually, I think that when I sort of got away from it and reflected on it, I was astonished at human endurance and resilience in the face of something that nobody really could comprehend. I mean, we knew what had happened. But you know, when you're looking at death and grief on the scale that we were, it was very, very difficult to process. But people kept going. We were of course, able to go in. It was quite difficult, particularly in Aceh, where everything had been destroyed. It was difficult even to find a place to stay in because all the buildings were damaged and could collapse. Everything had basically been destroyed in the city. But we could get away, people couldn't. And when we spoke to survivors there, there was this extraordinary, almost desolate despair. I remember one man who'd come from a community on the coast where everything had gone. He'd lost most of his family. There were two surviving members with him, I think a sister and a sort of older child. And he Said that there was nothing left, all the buildings had gone. But he said there was no one else in the community that he'd managed to find. And people were scattered all over the place. There was. And he said even the land where his village had been had been completely changed by the power of the waves. So he couldn't imagine how they could ever rebuild. And that sense of complete helplessness was very, very distressing at the time. The number of times I can remember being in tears with the people that I was talking to. But very quickly afterwards, people did rebuild and people bounced back. And in a way, not having anyone to blame helped. No one was angry with anybody about this. It had just happened. It was a monumental natural disaster. So basically everybody piled in to figure out how they could rebuild. It was a multinational effort. And we saw the Americans, for example, coming in with their aircraft carriers and using their heavy lift military helicopters in a way I don't think they'd ever done before, where they would essentially run an offshore airport, because the little airport in Banda Atcha was completely overwhelmed and used these helicopters to pick up aid from depots and take it to very remote communities. And the construction effort, of course, went on for years, but you saw communities building back to the point where if you go to Banda Aceh today, you'd hardly know it had happened. Apart from those really striking memorials they've left in place where you've got entire massive fishing boats on top of buildings and reminding you of how horrible it was. Those who experienced it, of course, have very vivid memories, but they have moved on.

[Jonathan Head]

So what changes have been made, Jonathan, to try to prevent a similar disaster happening again?

[Paul Moss]

Well, it's about responding better to it. And there are much more effective warning systems in place. They talk here in Thailand a lot about the system of buoys they've got in the sea that are supposed to detect sudden rises in sea levels. In Indonesia, they're not so confident in those, but they have other methods of tracking any sort of sudden changes in sea levels, warnings of tsunamis. But the biggest change, I think is probably people's awareness. Back when that happened, most people had had no experience of a tsunami. Many people said they didn't even know what a tsunami was. Now people know. They know that if there is a tsunami warning and there are sirens in all these coasts now and watchtowers, you get to higher ground as quickly as possible that can save lives.

[Jonathan Head]

How is the 20 year anniversary being marked, Jonathan?

[Paul Moss]

I would say reflectively and quietly in the ways that each community feels is appropriate. Down in Thailand, in Phang Nga, where the resorts that were most badly damaged are, you see a lot of foreigners there, people who lost family members. I mean, 45 different nationalities lost their lives. There were official markings of it. Official sort of speech is the usual thing. But Ko Phi Phi, where I went, which was absolutely devastated, a tiny island, 1300 people died, many of them foreign tourists. A quiet, dignified ceremony. It's called sort of Disaster Awareness Day, so people remember it. In Aceh, which is a devoutly Muslim part of Indonesia, a mass prayer session in the Great Mosque in the capital, Banda Aceh, which symbolizes Acehnese identity and unlike many mosques, actually survived the tsunami quite well because it's been built on these very slender pillars and the water just went between it. So they had a prayer session there. And the sounding of the siren system that they now have, rather chilling to hear it. But of course, back in 2004, people didn't hear anything. You know, the sirens are scary to listen to, but they are a sign that this time round, if it were to happen again, people would be much better prepared.

[Jonathan Head]

Jonathan Head, Military bloggers and aviation experts have suggested Russia accidentally shot down an Azerbaijani Airlines plane which crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing more than 30 people. No proof has been offered, but the experts believe the plane could have been mistaken for a Ukrainian drone. Our Europe regional editor, Paul Moss, is following the story.

[Emir Nader]

24 hours ago, I was sitting in this same chair talking about the crash as the first details emerged, but already it was very puzzling. We were told this was a flight to Grojny which had been diverted because of fog, and that the plane then was told to land at an airport, Aktau in southwest Kazakhst. Well, first question is why? That is a journey of nearly 500 km across the Caspian Sea. When a plane can't land at one airport because of fog, it usually lands at a nearby one. This is as if a plane was coming in to land in Paris, was told there was fog and decided instead to fly all the way to Spain and fly to Madrid. That is the kind of distances we're talking. Then, as the plane flies across the Caspian Sea, it is constantly changing direction and altitude. This is an aircraft which looks like the pilot is struggling to control it. Then it lands at Aktau Airport, or crashes at Aktau Airport, where there is no fog. So the plane has been diverted because of fog, but crashes for another reason. At best, that is quite a coincidence. Now, immediately a reason was offered for while it was crashed. The theory that it hit A flock of birds. Well, who touted that theory? The first people to come out with a theory was a Russian aviation watchdog. So we have an Azerbaijani flight crashing in Kazakhstan. Why are the Russians so quick to tell us why it crashed? And finally, we also have interviews with the passengers on the plane. As you know, 29 survived. They say they heard an explosion.

[Jonathan Head]

So what's being suggested might have happened?

[Emir Nader]

Well, as you say, the main theory is that it was mistaken for a Ukrainian drone and shot down. Grozny had come under attack from Ukrainian drones on Wednesday. The Chechen authority said they'd shot some of those down. And also we have photographs of the fuselage which show what look like holes. Aviation experts say those are consistent with a missile being fired. I should say, though, that other theories are available. One is that the plane was not mistaken for a Ukrainian drone, but it was hit by a Ukrainian drone. Another theory is that it was the navigation system was deliberately jammed, again as part of Russian defense measures.

[Jonathan Head]

And Paul, just briefly, what's been the reaction from the Azerbaijani and Russian authorities?

[Emir Nader]

Well, the Russians have said so far it's too early to speculate, but you get an idea from looking at Russian state media. It continues to say the plane was hit by a flock of birds. Interestingly, they've showed footage of the crash site, but Russian state TV is not showing close ups of the fuselage where you see those holes. They've also broadcast interviews with survivors, but cut the bits where the survivors say there was an explosion. Make of that what you will.

[Jonathan Head]

PAUL moss, Health Authorities in Gaza say five journalists were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a broadcast van outside Al Awda Hospital in the Nusrat refugee camp. It's understood one of the men had been expecting the birth of his child. From Jerusalem, here's our correspondent Emir Nader.

[Bernadette Keough]

A video from earlier in the night shows Ayman El Jedi in a press jacket with his colleagues smiling, saying tonight he will become a father. Soon after, their Quds Today broadcast van marked with large TV and press signs was hit by an Israeli airstrike. It was parked outside a hospital in central Gaza's Nusayrat area, where it said Al Jedi's wife was about to give birth. Pictures show the mangled wreckage of the van ablaze. The Israeli military said that it had hit what it called a vehicle with an Islamic Jihad terrorist cell inside. Quds Today is affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group that took part in the 7 October attack. The journalists were known to be living and working from their broadcast van. Last week, the committee to protect journalists said at least 140 media workers have been killed during the war in Gaza, which has been called the deadliest conflict for journalists on record.

[Jonathan Head]

Emir nada up until two years ago, Ukraine celebrated Christmas on 7 January like the rest of the Orthodox Christian world, including Russia. But after the Russian invasion, Kyiv decided to move nativity celebrations to December 25th in line with the Western tradition. But this does not apply to the annexed territories of eastern Ukraine, where people are forced to abide by Russian law. So families that have been split by the war now have to celebrate on different dates. The BBC's Natalia Dace caught up with Afina Kadzinova, a Ukrainian refugee in London, as she was calling her family left behind in the city of Mariupol, which has been annexed by Russia.

[Natalia Dace]

I first spoke with Afina as she and her mother narrowly escaped from Mariupol in Eastern Ukraine in March of 2022. Now, over two and a half years later, she spends her Christmas alone in the UK, keeping in touch with her family over WhatsApp. Who did you talk to right now?

[Afina Kadzinova]

I spoke with my sister in law. I just said about how I spent Christmas morning here and how I went to Christmas service in London.

[Natalia Dace]

As you woke up this morning, you probably learned that Russia has launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, forcing quite a few people to take shelters in metro station on Christmas morning. How does it make you feel?

[Afina Kadzinova]

I am grateful. I am in a safe place in safe country. I feel really sorry for people in Ukraine who couldn't have this happy morning on Christmas day and they suffer from Russian attacks.

[Natalia Dace]

You've escaped in March 2022 together with your mother and you now live in the uk. But what about your mother?

[Afina Kadzinova]

My mom decided to go back to Mariupol two years ago and now she is there.

[Natalia Dace]

She's living under Russian rule, Russian occupation now.

[Afina Kadzinova]

Yes, she were lucky to have her apartment. It was not destroyed. So she lives in her house with her elder sister who is 94 now and she lost everything. Her block apartment doesn't exist anymore.

[Natalia Dace]

If I understand correctly, to live in Mariupol under Russian control now, you have to sort of accept Russian citizenship.

[Afina Kadzinova]

Yes, my mom accepted. There is no chance to survive without doing this because you can't even get SIM card for your mobile phone without Russian passport.

[Natalia Dace]

Do you have hopes of seeing her again? Realistically, since you said Your mother is 85 years old and she cannot really travel freely and you cannot visit Ukraine, do you accept that it may happen that you will Never see her again.

[Afina Kadzinova]

Yes, I often think about it and the only hope is to finish the war and I will be able to go to Mariupol to meet my mom.

[Natalia Dace]

What is Christmas day like in Mariupol.

[Afina Kadzinova]

In Ukraine, until two years before, we celebrated Christmas on the 7th of January and our traditions were family dinner on Christmas Eve. Usually we had family gathering, cooking traditional food. As we are Ukrainian Greeks, we have our own traditions. And my mom cooked a special Christmas pie. She put a coin inside a pie and when we cut this pie, the first piece of pie was for home and next pieces were for each member of family. And who find this coin will be happy.

[Natalia Dace]

What is life in Mariupol like at the moment? We don't know much about it.

[Afina Kadzinova]

Yes, I could say the life has changed and many people connections were lost. But we have close family and they spend a lot of time together because my brother's family, my two nieces live there and they often visit my mom.

[Natalia Dace]

The other members of your family, do they still consider themselves Ukrainians or Russians or Greeks? How do they feel about what happened to their land?

[Afina Kadzinova]

We never speak about politics and I can't say how they identify themselves because they just try to do normal life in those circumstances they have. I am happy they are happy, healthy and alive.

[Natalia Dace]

What do you wish for in the new year? Because you know, Christmas night is a magical night. So did you make any wish?

[Afina Kadzinova]

I just wish all people in Ukraine be happy, my family be healthy. I hope one day we wake up and find out that the war finished and everything will good and I will be able one day to go back to Mariupol and to meet my mom and my nieces.

[Jonathan Head]

Athena Kadzinova, a Ukrainian refugee in London. Still to come, the growing market for non alcoholic wines in France.

[Bernadette Keough]

Actually, I feel like now we're not getting close to it, but we're getting closer and closer every day. And to what? Well, to something which is going to be a kind of a, I think a big revolution in the wine industry.

[Jonathan Head]

Security forces in Syria have launched an operation against what they call pro Assad militias in the western province of Tartus. It comes after 14 members of the security forces were killed in clashes in the region. On Wednesday. Our Middle east regional editor, Sebastian Usher told me more about the operation from.

[Sebastian Usher]

Beirut in neighbouring Lebanon, it's security forces militias that essentially were involved in the offensive that swept President Assad from power. Also the kind of elite forces of the HTS group, the main Islamist group that led the offensive, have been involved in this. I mean, showing that the new authorities regard this as a considerable challenge. They want to quash essentially as quickly as possible so that it can't build into a longer lasting challenge to their authority. It comes, as you were saying in the introduction, that after, I guess, what's the deadliest incident so far since these factions took over 14 police security forces being killed yesterday. And the authorities blaming militias linked to President Assad. So they say essentially that they are searching and hunting down what they call the remnants of Assad's militias in the woods in the hills in the province of Tartus. Tartus is one of the areas in the west of a country where the Alawite community to which Assad belongs has its largest numbers. And it's where really the bedrock of support for Assad existed. And so, I mean, it's not surprising that there is some holdouts there. I mean, the big question obviously for the authorities in Syria, but also, I mean, people watching from outside the many different countries that have sent their diplomats and officials to talk to the new leadership are hoping that, you know, things will stabilize. So everyone watching this closely to see whether this becomes a big challenge, a wider conflict, or it's something which can be nipped in the bud, what are.

[Jonathan Head]

The challenges really in holding the country together that the new leadership has said it will do?

[Sebastian Usher]

They talked, I mean, the leader Ahmed El Shara has talked very much unity. And of course that's been in very short supply in Syria. The civil war exacerbated the divisions that were latent in the country in any case. And there's been no movement really to heal those divisions. So it's a very big task. And part of that task is to try and control the armed factions. And Apen Al Shar has very much made that his priority, not just with the Alawites over in the west, but also in the east with the Kurds. That also could be a big challenge of a very different kind. The Kurds essentially kept out of much of the fighting until now. That could be a new battleground essentially that could be opened up.

[Jonathan Head]

Sebastian Usher One result of us being confined to our homes during the COVID pandemic is a surge in demand for eye catching houseplants, which will attract likes when images of them are posted on social media. An illegal international trade in rare plants has blossomed in recent years with South Africa becoming its hub. Demand is particularly high for a type of plant known as succulents. And it's so intense that some of them have now become extinct in the wild. Nomtsa Maseko reports from South Africa's Northern Cape Province.

[Nomtsa Maseko]

Many of the world's succulent species are only found in this biodiversity hotspot, the succulent karoo, which spans South Africa and Namibia. But now they're under threat from poachers who steal them from the wild to sell abroad.

[Afina Kadzinova]

But this is one of the groups of succulents that have been most severely targeted.

[Nomtsa Maseko]

I've come to the Richtersfeld Transfrontier park which is working to protect succulent species threatened with extinction and rehabilitate plants seized from poachers by law enforcement. Many of the seized plants are replanted in pots here in an effort to save them. Some of these succulents are just beautiful, just unique. Peter van Wejk runs the nursery here in South Africa.

[Afina Kadzinova]

We know already of seven species that has been wiped out completely and there are certainly more species that will go extinct very soon.

[Nomtsa Maseko]

Peter says organized crime syndicates use social media to create a buzz around particular plant species, which fuels the poaching and smuggling.

[Afina Kadzinova]

The syndicates, they saw this as an opportunity of making something viral, telling as wide as possible public. We have this super strange looking thing that comes from the African continent and then the public just loses their heads and they say, I want to buy one.

[Nomtsa Maseko]

Criminal networks recruit local people to carry out organized poaching activities. And this is having knock on effects on communities here. I spoke to one woman from a local farming community whose identity we are hiding for her own safety. Her words are spoken by a producer.

[Jonathan Head]

Unemployment is a reality and in our community it's really bad. When they get the money, there's more drugs, more alcohol. Children are neglected because mommy is drunk, daddy is drunk, there's no food for me. It's a really sad story because they've not just stolen our land or our plants, they've stolen our heritage as well.

[Nomtsa Maseko]

Efforts are being made to address the problem and the police do patrol the area on the lookout for smuggled plants. Work is also being done on the demand side. This is a video from an online campaign in China aimed at educating people about the illegal succulent trade. The country has become one of the biggest markets for poached plants in recent years. But Linda Wong from Clean Internet for Kunafytam Campaign says people have been responsive once they understand the impact.

[Afina Kadzinova]

The key is awareness.

[Bernadette Keough]

Once people know they wanted to take.

[Nomtsa Maseko]

Actions, they wanted to take responsibility and.

[Bernadette Keough]

To consume those plants to enjoy their.

[Jonathan Head]

Beauty in a very responsible way.

[Nomtsa Maseko]

There's a legal trade in succulents which have been grown in a nursery rather than taken from the wild. Conservationists advise customers all over the world to ask about the origin of a plant before buying one. The hope is that with more awareness, the poaching of wild succulents can be stopped and South Africa's precious biodiversity protected.

[Jonathan Head]

Nomsa Maseko, a killer whale that captured the world's attention in 2018 after refusing to let go of her dead calf, has given birth again. The orca known as Tahlequah has been seen with a new baby off Washington state in the us. Steve Jackson has the details.

[Paul Moss]

Tahlequah's two and a half week journey six years ago made headlines around the world. She pushed her dead calf more than 1,600 kilometres in an apparent demonstration of grief. Conservationists are hoping the story this time is a happier one, but they've warned that early life is a very dangerous time for killer whale calves. Tahlequah is an experienced mother and has previously given birth to two young that have survived. The Centre for Whale Research, which is monitoring this pod, says it hopes further sightings will give more clues as to the health of the calf.

[Jonathan Head]

Steve Jackson for those of you who've been celebrating Christmas, you may have been enjoying a glass or two of wine, but what about alcohol free wine? It's become a serious commercial proposition as producers eye a growing market. It's even catching on in France, as our correspondent Hugh Schofield has been finding out in the home of Claret Bordeaux.

[Bernadette Keough]

A couple of weeks ago, an old part of town. And the launch of Bordeaux's first ever carve or wine shop, dedicated solely to what just a couple of years ago would have caused any self respecting Bordelais to splutter into his glass vat sans alcohol. This is no fad, no obscure niche in the market. The deputy mayor of Bordeaux is here to lend official approval for the fact is alcohol free wine is increasingly looked on in Bordeaux as part of the future. Maybe whisper it. Not even a savior in troubled times, cave owner Alexandre Catane. We opened one month ago and we have at least three or four wine producers that came here just because they were willing to know what is a non alcoholic wine shop. And they say okay, we want to go there. Who can we talk to? So they don't know how to do it, but they know that it's an opportunity.

[Afina Kadzinova]

My name is Charlotte Bucard and I'm launching Omaybe, a sophisticated non alcoholic among.

[Bernadette Keough]

The ruddy faced Bordeaux wine growers. The daughter of a wine Seller Charlotte also is of the view that this is a huge potential new market.

[Afina Kadzinova]

It was through my own experience of pregnancy, of not being able to drink wine and starting to think, well, you know, what kind of alternatives are there instead of just drinking water when you drink sodas or fruit juices? And so I thought, well, actually, why don't I start my own brand?

[Bernadette Keough]

So what's going on? Why this sudden change in attitude here in the home of wine to the stuff that's alcohol free? To find out, I've crossed to the other side of the Garonne river to meet a leading Ernolog wine expert helping to develop Les Vince sans Alcole. My name is Frederic Brochet. I am what you would call a wine geek. I was born in a barrel and because my several things have happened, says Frederic, on the one hand, the market's changed. More young people are steering away from alcohol. Second, and linked French vineyards are in crisis. They need desperately to find new products. And third, with investment money pouring in, the technology is improving by leaps and bounds. We started from very, very far away and it was pretty disgusting by these days. And so we've been working hard and we made very nice progress actually. I feel like now we're not getting close to it, but we're getting closer and closer every day. To what? To what? Well, to something which is going to be a kind of a, I think a big revolution in the wine industry. The first non alcoholic wines were made by boiling off the alcohol, then adding flavoring. Today it's different. The alcohol is removed in a vacuum, so at low temperature and then the aromas are captured and returned to the wine. That's the theory. In practice, it's very hard, especially for reds to recreate the mise en bouche, the mouth feel. And the non alcoholics still tend to be rather thin. Yeah, that's very, very nice indeed. It's the first time I've done a story about wine in which I haven't felt squiffy. A few miles from Bordeaux on the Montaigne Saint Emilion, this is the Clos de Beaure wine estate and its owner, Coralie de Bois. A few years ago, she was asked to make an alcohol free wine for the Qatari owners of Paris Saint Germain football club. And now it's become an essential part of the estate's income. At the start, she was regarded as a traitor to true wine, even by her own family. But not anymore.

[Afina Kadzinova]

Today, if you listen my father, he said, good job, my daughter, because you are in the locomotive of the train. You know, the economic conjuncture is very complicated, actually. And if today Chateau Claude des Beaure is able to survive to this conjuncture, it's really because we sell approximately one third of our production without alcohol.

[Jonathan Head]

And that report was by Hugh Schofield. And that's all from us for now. But there'll be a new edition of the Global News podcast later. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. you can also find us on x@globalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Callum McLean and the producer was Vanessa Heaney. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Bernadette Keough. Until next time. Goodbye. Yoga is more than just exercise. It's the spiritual practice that millions swear by. And in 2017, Miranda, a university tutor.

[Bernadette Keough]

From London, joins a yoga school that promises profound transformation.

[Jonathan Head]

It felt a really safe and welcoming space. After the yoga classes, I felt amazing. But soon that calm, welcoming atmosphere leads to something far darker. A journey that leads to allegations of grooming, trafficking and exploitation across international borders. I don't have my passport. I don't have my phone. I don't have my bank cards. I have nothing. The passport being taken, the being in a house and not feeling like they can leave. World of Secrets is where untold stories.

[Bernadette Keough]

Are unveiled and hidden realities are exposed. In this new series, we're confronting the.

[Jonathan Head]

Dark side of the wellness industry with.

[Bernadette Keough]

A hope of a spiritual breakthrough. Gives way to disturbing accusations.

[Jonathan Head]

You just get sucked in so gradually and it's done so skillfully that you don't realize. And it's like this.

[Bernadette Keough]

The secret that's there.

[Jonathan Head]

I wanted to believe that, you know, that whatever they were doing, even if it seemed gross to me, was for some spiritual reason that I couldn't understand. Revealing the hidden secrets of a global yoga network. I feel that I have no other choice. The only thing I can do is to speak about this and to put my reputation and everything else on the line. I want truth and justice and for other people to not be hurt, for things to be different in the future, to bring it into the light and almost alchemize some of that evil stuff that went on and take back the power. World of Secrets Season 6 the Bad Guru Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.