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Iam here i am here to guide you through five extraordinary moments from history. We will need a South African judge who took part in the truth and can see a show in reconciliation committee. And we will hear from a british scientist about the smog that used to engulf britain. We start with one of the 50th anniversary of the vietnam war. During 1968, communists in North Vietnam launched a huge surprise offensive across South Vietnam with the support of local guerillas, the vietcong. This is one of the members of the vietcong which fought american and South Vietnamese forces in the city. They have been forced back to part of the northern side of the river dividing the city. The americans and their allies cannot drive them out without destroying the city. Translation the american bombardment was very heavy. We hid underground. When we came out, it was like standing on the moon. Com plete was like standing on the moon. Complete destruction. That is how fierce it was. Of course, facing death, we were scared. So afraid to shoot they wet themselves. But once the bullets were fired, everyone disregarded death. No one cared any more. Wejust tried disregarded death. No one cared any more. We just tried to find ways to make death glorified and beautiful instead of dying in disgrace. The bureau in North Vietnam decided to launch a general uprising everywhere in South Vietnam. On the 31st of january, 1968. In South Vietnam. On the 31st of january, 1968. It was the lunar holiday of tet, normally a time of truce. The vietcong entered the city with ease and encountered no major resistance. Local residents were also caught by surprise. It was because our plan was carried out in absolute secrecy. The counter attack by the americans and allies was so fierce, it was probably the toughest one in the vietnam war. In all other places, including saigon, the dr congo tax filled quickly, within a few days. Viet cong attacks failed. But thanks to local support, this one lasted 20 days. During the tet offensive, i felt the kiss of death five times. A mortar was fired towards our position one time, and it burned my hair as it went past me. Any closer, i would have been there. Dead. We were exposed by being in the city. We were not able to resist american firepower. When we drew back into the jungle, we had suffered great losses the cost and civilian suffering has been terrible. It was made clear the paradox was to win back control meant that the americans and south it is destroyed what they claimed to protect. The americans realised they could not win the vietnam war with military force, so they had to find a way out. The 1968 battle played a decisive role leading to our final victory. During the battle, forces from both sides committed a number of mistakes. So many innocent victims we re mistakes. So many innocent victims were killed, not only from one side. 50 yea rs have were killed, not only from one side. 50 years have passed. It is now the time for the current leaders of this regime to come clean on this issue, to give justice for the victims. He still lives in the city. In these times of brexit, it is hard to imagine, but in1963, times of brexit, it is hard to imagine, but in 1963, britain was actually desperate to join europe british leaders of the day wanted to become members of what was then known as the European Economic community. There was a problem, the french president was strongly opposed. Our next guest was a british diplomat at the time. Thank god for englishmen. The british people, who only slowly came around to the idea tojoin people, who only slowly came around to the idea to join the people, who only slowly came around to the idea tojoin the eec, were really very shocked. With communication between countries a world apart now only a few hours, it compels new thinking along the economic front. 1961, the British Government applied to join the european community. Edward heath was appointed. I have made a full statement to the members of the European Economic group. In that statement i explained that the uk government wished to take its full pa rt government wished to take its full part in working for a better european unity. The negotiations moved to brussels. This was the point at which i got added to the british negotiating delegation. The idealism one found in brussels back then was contagious, actually. And i think all of us who went were convinced that for britain it was very important for those negotiations to succeed. Even back at the start, people realised that Charles De Gaulle had grave doubts about edition three. British entry. The six were trading among themselves. The pattern of britain was outward looking. In particular, we traded a lot with the commonwealth countries, and, of course, they had become extremely dependent on this. There was a lot of worry about where the french residents position had reached, whether he was going to veto british men bishops. President. Membership. Attention focused on a press conference he was going to give in the middle ofjanuary. He was seen we give in the middle ofjanuary. He was seen we must give in the middle ofjanuary. He was seen we must ask give in the middle ofjanuary. He was seen we must ask ourselves, is britain really ready. I think we needin britain really ready. I think we need in our heart of hearts that he was really saying he was not going to let us in the good the reason stated by france is over differences in agricultural policy. That final negotiation, the long room with the british delegation at the far end, the french chatting among themselves and giggling and notjoining the others, it was very symbolic. All of the french on one side, and the five who supported british entry, very much on the other. Former british diplomat, juliet campbell. And now we go to china to be in 1968, chairman mao officially launched a scheme to provide healthcare to rural areas by giving thousands of people a six medical training and sending them out to work in villages. Basic. They were known as barefoot doctors. Gordon was one of them. I became a doctor after i graduated from high school simply because i was one of the most educated young people. I did not have any training, any experience, knowledge, in medicine, whatsoever. Chairman mao says the six must he healed and has caused a shakeup in Health Services in china. Sick. Medical attention has been provided where there was none before. The most striking the parliament was a training ofa most striking the parliament was a training of a vast core of barefoot doctors. They have farm work to do as well in training is limited, but it can save countless lives. We provided basic services to villagers, mostly in common cold conditions, infections, diarrhoea things like that. Sometimes we had to ta ke things like that. Sometimes we had to take shoes off to work in the farm. We were not always barefoot. I do have shoes i started as a barefoot doctor to not only treat people, but animals. We had horses, pigs, so in the beginning, i practised work injecting by giving shots to pigs and horses, not as difficult as humans. All the people in the village believed to my care would be good enough for them to ta ke would be good enough for them to take care of their health. Because ifi take care of their health. Because if i was not there for their healthcare, who would be there otherwise . No one. One of my relatives, she had a problem with her teeth. So then she said, my little brother, can you do something for me . And i said, yeah, let me give it a try. After three or four days, her problem was gone. That news spread to the whole village. Epidemics were checked. One doctor said smugly that the only diseases we said smugly that the only diseases we get in china are from hong kong. Certainly, cholera and smallpox took fewer victims than in the old days. Most people in china and many people in other countries like outside of china perceived the barefoot doctor system very highly. My view is somewhat different from that. Back in the 60s and 70s, as a result of the cultural revolution, the chinese Higher Education system was shut down. But if i could choose between going to the countryside for years 01 going to the countryside for years or going to college, mostly i would choose college. Since that was the only choice available to me, there was something positive. And he is 110w was something positive. And he is now eight professor of Health Economics at peking university. A. Remember, you can watch the show on line. Just go to bbc. Co. Uk. Next, we are off to south africa which in the 19905 face the daunting challenge of facing the legacy of apartheid rule. We spoke at two just a5 Sisi Khampepe who served on the countrys truth and reconciliation commi55ion. Countrys truth and Reconciliation Commission. We are charged to unearth the truth about our past. To lay the ghosts of that passed so they will not return to haunt u5. Lay the ghosts of that passed so they will not return to haunt us. I was a member of the Truth Commission and also a member of the amnesty community. South africans face a collective tested today. The reaction to these hearings will show whether they are able to expose the sins of apartheid yet free themselves from the desire for revenge against those who propped up a system. The truth and Reconciliation Commission allowed amnesty only if the perpetrator confessed that they committed the crime. I did terrible things. I did terrible things to members of the anc. I grew up in soweto. It was rampant with security police. It felt like hell. Being in the city required a special permit if you we re required a special permit if you were a black person. Absolutely no freedom of movement. I had also suffered a5 freedom of movement. I had also suffered as an activist by being shotin suffered as an activist by being shot in the leg by the police while attending a funeral for my fellow students. It was at a graveyard where the police again 5tarted shooting. I survived. Where the police again 5tarted shooting. Isurvived. Others where the police again 5tarted shooting. I survived. Others were killed on the spot. It is a scar thatis killed on the spot. It is a scar that is a constant reminder of where i come from. I knew the harshness of the system first hand. Yet as a member of the amnesty committee, i had to decide that these people had to be granted amnesty. Not because they were apologetic but merely because they di5close they were apologetic but merely because they disclose the truth. That was really difficult. Did you then shoot that man . Yes, that is correct. People would cry. Just by listening to the explanation that was given of how people were tortured. People were killed. What kind of man uses a method like this on other human beings . There were occasions when people who applied for amnesty did say sorry. Tho5e we re for amnesty did say sorry. Tho5e were few and far between. But it was extraordinarily difficult for me when people did not even care to apologise. There was no other way other than to eliminate these people. These hearings provided a forum for those who have been treated, in the past, as if they were rubbish. Archbishop desmond tutu wa5 were rubbish. Archbishop desmond tutu was the star of the truth and Reconciliation Commission. Without his leadership, the commission would not have been able to attain its objectives. I think the amnesty proce55 assured that people were not vengeful. That there was proper public acknowledgement and recognition of those who had suffered. We are asking from you to please forgive us. Going through a proce55 please forgive us. Going through a process of coming out from our grief. But here we have the lovely people who are generous. Their generosity i5 people who are generous. Their generosity is always amazing. I wake up generosity is always amazing. I wake up every morning and i am grateful that after all, i am a South African. Just as Sisi Khampepe talking to witness in south africa. Finally, it is hard to imagine now but london used often to be 5hrouded in thick 5mog for days at a time. In 1952, conditions were so bad that thousands of people died in the government eventually had to act. Scientist Brian Commons wa5 government eventually had to act. Scientist Brian Commons was called in to study the killer smog. Ordinary fog doe5 in to study the killer smog. Ordinary fog does little harm. Smog, a mixture of smoke and four, has become one of the greatest mass murderer5 of modern times. Become one of the greatest mass murderers of modern times. The smoke began on a friday and it was black. It was described as a pea soup because it was a little yellow wish. You could smell it. It tasted a little acidic. And it caused absolute havoc. The levels of pollution were horrendous. You could not see your feet. I remember on one particular occasion i wanted to cioss particular occasion i wanted to cross a wide road and i shuffled across and after about ten minutes i did not know where i was and, finally, i ended up on the same side of the road as i started. It was extremely cold. Brought a and, of course, londoners wanted to keep warm. And so they dont call on their open fires. The pollution did not rise up, it tended to drift down and pervade the streets and everything else. The 5mog got in everything else. The 5mog got in every way. You could not avoid it. Special filtering masks are the latest weapon devised. Quite a number of people had bronchitis because of industrial pollution exposure and because they 5moked. Of course, when a breeze polluted air, this became very hard for them. Heaven help the doctor on a night like this. What can you do when records and experience tells you the city s death rate is about to jump. A5 city s death rate is about to jump. As many as100,000 people in london we re as many as100,000 people in london were made ill by the pollution at the time, particularly people with asthma, cardiovascular problems. Al5o asthma, cardiovascular problems. Also the very young and the elderly, they also suffered. If you looked at his x ray you would see plenty. They also suffered. If you looked at his xray you would see plenty. And to see somebody fighting for air is a harrowing experience. Trying to get aero into their lungs. And, of course, it was dirty air. Even in the ward. Trying to get a. There we re the ward. Trying to get a. There were estimates that there were some 4000 were estimates that there were some a0 0 0 access were estimates that there were some 4000 access deaths and there was a shortage of cough and because there we re shortage of cough and because there were so many people who died. 4000 were so many people who died. 40 0 0 access were so many people who died. 4000 access deaths. The government recognised that we needed to study the pollution and that is why we set up the pollution and that is why we set up an air Pollution Research unit in saint ba rts up an air Pollution Research unit in saint Barts Hospital in central london. I was a Founding Member of that. In 1956, the government decided to pass something called the clea n decided to pass something called the clean airact to decided to pass something called the Clean Air Act to try and discourage and minimise the amount of smoky flu es a re and minimise the amount of smoky flues are being used. New flats with our chimneys are part of the campaign. We still had smog but as time went on we had the availability of smokeless fuels like natural gas and oil. Without that, we would have beenin and oil. Without that, we would have been ina and oil. Without that, we would have been in a bad way. Doctor Brian Commons there. That is all from witness this month here at the british library. We will be back next month with more first hand accou nts next month with more first hand a ccou nts of next month with more first hand accounts of extraordinary moments in history. For now, from me and the rest of the team, goodbye. Out and about if you are appropriately dressed. The skies will often be blue however underneath those blue skies it will feel chilly, particularly when we add in the strength of a biting cold easterly wind. We start saturday morning on a very chilly note and you can see the blue colour on the chart here. Widespread frost with temperatures below freezing for many. Perhaps not so bad for northern ireland, a bit more in the way of cloud here. Where you see a white shimmer effect on the map, that shows where we have a touch of frost to start the day. That will slowly melt away to reveal a lot of dry e on the thermometer will reach around six, possibly seven degrees in parts. Always more cloud across parts of south devon and cornwall but sunny skies for much of wales and northern england. Brightening up after a cloudy start and the same again in western scotland. Perhaps at this stage a little more cloud feeding in towards parts of eastern scotland and north east england. Some green shading on the map here. Not as cold underneath the cloud chilly as weather will be underneath the clear sky. Again, the frost to start sunday. That frost only slowly lifting as temperatures rise of. Slowly, on sunday morning. Again, a lot of sunshine. That extra cloud the eastern scotland and parts of north east england could start to produce the odd snow flurry. Still with the chilly feel, still a cold easterly wind particularly noticeable in the south. When we add the strength of the wind, this is what it will feel like. Subzero for the likes of birmingham and norwich. That is because we will bring the air all the way from siberia. We really start to tap into that very cold air as we head into the new working week. Not only will it be cold with temperatures struggling so the west, not completely exempt. Perhaps not quite as many showers are just about anywhere we will have the potential for a little bit of snow. To sum things up for next week, it will be very cold with bitter wind. Some snow at times and widespread frost. Hello, and welcome to bbc world news. One of Donald Trumps former senior advisors, rick gates, has admitted conspiring against the united states, and lying to investigators. More serious charges have been dropped in return for his cooperatioe f , she gave us more details. Well, he was actually pleading guilty to charges which are unrelated to the 2016 campaign and whether there was collusion with russia, it is to do with Money Laundering and tax evasion, but what is significant is that in return for potentially a reduced sentence on those charges,

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