The northwest of germany. He is one of over 80,000 people denied this basic right because they are disabled. While many other European Countries have lifted traditional restrictions, julian and his family wonder why germany has failed to do so. Reporter Julian Peters is taking a close look at the Candidates Campaign posters. He takes an active interest in politics and the upcoming election. So whos that . Julian christian lindner. Reporter and what do you think of him . Julian he looks better now. Hes wearing a dress shirt. Reporter 29yearold julian also has opinions on the candidates platforms, but because he has down syndrome and his parents have power of attorney, hes not allowed to vote. Julian takes issue with that and he doesnt mind talking about it with those who have influence. Julian herr schummer. Reporter whos that . Julian hes with the cdu. Reporter how does he feel about the fact he cant vote . Julian its not okay. Reporter julian and his father have invited uwe schummer over to tell him that they think its not fair that julian is denied the right to vote. Schummer is campaigning for reelection in julians constituency. Ludger i dont understand it. But people with disabilities are a minority, and they cant defend themselves, so thats how they get treated. Reporter Ludger Peters is not willing to accept the situation. Just because he needs support with certain aspects of life, it doesnt mean he cant vote, he argues. The right to vote is enshrined in the german constitution, after all. But legal barriers prevent people like julian from taking part in elections. Uwe until recently we were hoping that with a bit of good will, there would be majority support for a reform of voting rights, but in the end there wasnt enough support. Reporter the Ruling Coalition was unable to agree. Some believe that people with disabilities are too easily influenced and are not able to properly research the issues at stake. To julians father, this is sheer prejudice. Ludger he does the research. He never misses the 8 00 news. He always reminds us when its about to start and says he wants to watch. He also has other ways of staying on top of the news. He loves political satire, for example. He really loves certain tv shows. Im not sure if he understands it all, but thats not really any of my business. Reporter julians exclusion from the vote is a breach of international law, and the u. N. Convention on the rights of people with disabilities. It guarantees their participation in political life. Julian feels this is exactly what hes denied. He wants politicians across the spectrum to make this issue part of their platforms. Julian im not allowed to vote. Did you know that . Udo i think were lagging behind with this issue, because for too many years, politicians have failed to make it a priority. But that doesnt mean its too late to do what we can to ensure people like julian are allowed vote. Reporter a number of families, including the peters, have taken their case to the Constitutional Court. They feel its a sad reflection on german democracy that the court has to make a decision on a matter that politicians should have addressed. Michelle the German Government has pledged to look into improving the law before. And so far, those promises have turned up empty. Citizens are also fighting for democracy in poland. Activists, concerned about what they view as an erosion of crucial checks and balances in the country, have decided to camp out on parliaments doorstep in protest literally. Since coming to power, critics say the conservative law and Justice Party has sought to undermine the years of democratic progress in a land widely considered a postsoviet success story. A small group of protestors are holding vigils in a camper van, right in the middle of warsaw. Reporter ujazdow avenue, early in the morning. On the right is the chancellery, seat of Prime Minister beata szydlo. On the left is a caravan. Its occupant, marta michalska, is just getting up. As usual, she starts the day feeding the birds. Marta michalska lives in this small caravan as a form of protest. Shes here to keep watch over democracy. Marta its physically demanding. But someone has to do it. Its my duty, i have to do it. If i dont, who will . I also expect others to take action, others with a political conscience. Reporter its stefan sterzyckis turn to take over. The caravan is always occupied. The campaigners are protesting the rightwing governments refusal to recognize the legitimacy of Constitutional Court rulings. When the court rejected a judicial reform pushed through by the ruling law and Justice Party, for example, Prime Minister szydlo simply failed to publish the ruling. Stefan im not going to accept the destruction of democracy in this country. Whats going on is unbelievable. Two years ago, i wouldnt have thought it was possible. Reporter but not everyone supports the protestors caravan campaign. Stefan were harassed sometimes. Cyclists spit at us when they ride by. It happens. But theyre a minority. Some people honk their horns. Most people just dont react at all. Reporter theyre horrified by whats happening in poland public media has become staunchly progovernment, the judiciary has been weakened, with checks and balances in jeopardy. If things continue like this, polish democracy wont survive. But constantly protesting takes its toll. Marta could go home, but she doesnt. Until recently, she was a housewife, looking after her daughter. Now, shes a political activist with a mission. Her lifes changed completely. Marta im no longer as timid as i once was. I used to be reserved. Now, im surprised by how assertive ive become. Reporter every day at noon, the protesters perform the same ritual marta quotes the law. The message Constitutional Court rulings must be published. Part of the ritual is to keep track of the number of days that this laws been ignored by prime minster beata szydlo. Then, they hand out copies of the constitution. But it soon becomes clear that the issue surrounding the constitution and the Constitutional Court is complicated too complicated for some. Not all poles see the problem of their judiciary losing its independence. So sometimes, protesting can be a lonely business. Jaroslaw many are what you could call politically opportunistic. They all have their own lives, their own families. Thats what they value most. Thats understandable, but shortsighted. We want people to look to the future. Reporter the protesters put some effort into making their caravan cozier. Now, its like a home away from home. Marta weve gotten used to it. We already spent a spring, summer, autumn, and winter here. Now, were into the second year. Weve weathered all seasons. So we know we can do it. Reporter at the outset, theyd vowed to keep protesting until the Constitutional Court rulings are published. Back then, they hadnt expected their camping caravan would become a permanent fixture. Michelle groningen, a province in the north of the netherlands, is home to one of europes richest natural gas fields. The gas from the region brings in billions for the country but not without a cost. Thousands of residents say their homes have been damaged by earthquakes brought on by the extraction of natural gas from shale rocks deep below the surface. They wonder, how could such a beautiful area, in such a wealthy country, be allowed to fall into ruin. Reporter Hiltje Zwarberg grew up here in area around groningen, close to the german border. Setting off on a boat and enjoying nature from the water is something he never tires of. Hiltje this is my life. We were all born on the water and love boats. My father was a fisherman. Its like heaven on earth. Reporter but the area is no longer as idyllic as it once was. Once a dream, its becoming a nightmare. Since 2012, zwarberg explains, there have been regular earthquakes. Theyre brought on by natural Gas Production in the region. Hiltje that house is damaged. That one is damaged all the houses here. Reporter hiltjes been living in an apartment for two years now. His own house is surrounded by a fence, these days. Hiltje you cant really see the problem from the outside. But lets go in then youll see whats happened. The problems are on this side. Its really bad over here. This used to be my bedroom. This wall is already separated from the outside wall. And on this side, the wall has come away from this one. So the next time theres a quake, the entire ceiling will probably come down. And then this wall could fall inward. Reporter the Natural Gas Company offered him just 8000 euros compensation. The cost for repairing the damage would probably be closer to a quarter million. Thats what it would take for Hiltje Zwarbergs house to be safe enough to live in. What infuriates him most is that no one is taking action. Hiltje the natural gas producer is incredibly rich. They have huge legal departments that try to draw everything out as long as possible. I always say, they hang you on a little stick and wait for you to give up. Thats how they do it. Thats my impression. Reporter the object of hiltjes ire is a Company Called nam, a joint venture of the dutch state and the shell and exxon oil and gas multinationals. Its spokesman explains that natural gas has been extracted here since 1960. Now, the ground is giving way. Over the years, the gas has brought in 300 billion euros in revenues. But none of that money was put in reserve for potential damages. The groningen gas field has made the dutch state a lot of money over many decades. The money went into state coffers, but now its been spent on infrastructure, public expenditures and the like. So its been used to do a lot of good things for the people of the netherlands. Reporter good things for the netherlands, but groningen is left with a mass of problems. Once beautiful houses have become uninhabitable. Margreet kraak and her family now live in this container furnished by the Natural Gas Company. Theyve had to trade their Country Estate for temporary quarters. Margreet is furious that her children have to grow up like this, and constantly worries that something even worse could happen. Margreet it goes on night and day. You wake up at night, because you hear a bang, and the bed starts to quiver. Or during the day, youre sitting in the kitchen, you hear a noise, and everything starts to shake. Reporter the house has been in her family for six generations. Now, it would take over a Million Euros to restore it. About 100,000 houses in the region have suffered damage. And nobody wants to buy them. Margreet until 2015, the cellar was always dry. But now, waters coming in. Sometimes, its 30 to 40 centimeters deep. And everythings covered in mold. Reporter there seems to be no solution for problem beneath the ground in groningen. But geologist peter van der gaag is helping people receive compensation more quickly. Sometimes, he has to call in a power shovel to be able to determine exactly what caused the ground to change as evidence to be used in court. Peter in some spots like here and a bit farther on, the groundwater was up this high, and that wrecks the houses. Especially after the bigger earthquakes, the earth resettles so much that ground water is pushed to the surface in some places. Reporter gas extraction has been scaled back, but the dutch authorities dont want to stop it entirely. Hiltje zwarberg, his friends, family, and neighbors have no choice but to accept the situation. Hiltje we dutch really enjoyed the money the natural gas brought in. We were doing very well. It was in the billions. But we squandered it without considering problems we might have later. Today, the estimated damage is 20 billion euros to 24 billion euros, so far. But we no longer have the money to cover it. Reporter for Hiltje Zwarberg, the most frustrating part of all is that a prosperous country like the netherlands could behave so carelessly, leaving many of its citizens to live with ruins. Michelle imagine Russian Military maneuvers regularly taking place right outside your door. Thats what people in the small villages along belaruss western border must contend with, and much to their dismay. People from the neighboring baltics and poland are worried that these exercises some of the biggest since the cold war may prove to be just a warmup for an invasion and that these war games could become real. Reporter an ambush on a country road. It may look real, but it isnt. Its part of a russian scenario, where westernsponsored separatists infiltrate neighboring belarus. Its part of the zapad2017 Strategic Military exercises being held in the west of belarus. Normally, this is a tranquil, rural area. For one week, its occupied by foreign troops russian forces, here conducting war games in conjunction with belarusian troops. The border with nato member poland is just a few kilometers away. There, the exercise has only exacerbated fears that it could become a reality. Nearly everyone in the belarusian border region has polish roots and adheres to the catholic faith. Many here also worry that the joint exercises with the russians could be a prelude to war. Among them is yelena. She and her husband recently bought a house here close to the border. Yelena im against troops on our territory. Why does russia have to hold its exercises right here near us and our western border . Its just intended to intimidate us. Reporter yelenas neighbor franz wont criticize russia. He only has good things to say about the maneuvers. Franz we have to defend our homes. Nato is very close here. Of course we have to conduct these exercises. Im for it. Reporter but for josefina, the troops bring back traumatic memories of the Second World War even if theyre only exercising. Josefina i dont want it. Im against it. Reporter also against it are hundreds of critics of the belarusian government. Theyve taken their protest to the streets of the capital minsk. They want no Russian Military presence here. Belarus had taken a few steps toward opening to the west. Now they see this as a giant step backwards. Vladimir were not protesting against russia here, nor against the russians. Were protesting against our government. Its irresponsible policies are dragging us into a military conflict and endangering our future. Reporter the Russian Defense ministry disagrees, saying zapad2017 is an exercise by two allies in the interests of the security of both countries. Alexander this exercise is absolutely peaceful, and its defensive in nature. Were not planning any intrusion into neighboring countries. Reporter experts take a different view. The current war games remind many of russias last major exercises in 2014 on the frontier with ukraine. They ended with russias unrecognized annexation of crimea. Alexander golz the crisis in ukraine began in february three years ago. Back then, russia stationed its troops on the Ukrainian Border under the pretext of military exercises. Bearing this precedent in mind, you can understand the anxiety felt by the neighboring countries that history could repeat itself. Reporter in 2014, hardly anyone thought it was possible for russia to annex crimea against international law. Now, russias western neighbors have cause for worry. Fears of war are growing, especially when tanks roll up, and soldiers practice close combat. Josefina and her neighbors on the polish border are watching and waiting for the troops to withdraw, and hoping the war games never again turn into real war. Michelle did you know that the french fry is in fact not french, but rather belgian in origin . Belgian fry doesnt quite roll off the tongue the same way, but they are delicious. One reason for this is the countrys unique double fry method rendering the spuds crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. But this beloved dish is now being threatened by European Union laws on food. The rest of europe often complains about bureaucracy coming out of brussels, but now it seems, bitterness is being tasted closer to home. Reporter this summer, brussels was the site of an unusually delectable political drama. At its center belgian frites. Unlike similar tasty treats made elsewhere, here, they are lovingly bathed in lots of oil twice. Pascal first, youve got to deepfry or poach the chips in hot oil. That ensures they stay soft inside. Then theyre fried again to a lovely golden color. The amount of time depends on the type of potato, on its sugar and starch content. You need an eye for that. Its a skill. Reporter you can sense when theyre done . Pascal oh yes, in belgium, we can tell when theyre ready. Reporter so understandably, belgian fry aficionados werent pleased when the Eu Commission proposed new guidelines on how the snack should be prepared. And to add insult to injury, the report called them french fries rather than frites. Pages of recommendations regarding crispiness, sugar content, and phvalue. A change in processing procedure actually began in the early 1970s, when a german fry manufacturer used a machine to cut up the potatoes, which were then blanched that is, briefly plunged into boiling water. The result the chips absorbed less oil. But they also tasted a little bland. Artificial flavoring took care of that problem, but thats another story. Then in 2002, acrylamide was discovered in food. Believed to be carcinogenic, it forms in the frying process when certain foods are heated to a temperature greater than 120 degrees celsius. But belgians know what they are doing and dont need any eu regulations, according to flemish tourism minister ben weyts. In a letter to the European Commissioner, weyts complains of exaggerated healthconsciousness. He thinks its inappropriate to ban a culinary tradition. He wants to preserve pommes frites culture. His letter prompted headlines around the world. And soon enough, germans, then brits, and even australians turned their attention to the endangered chip. But the excitement and outrage died down once the Eu Commission started to backpedal. Margaritis the European Commission does not intend i stress, does not intend to ban belgian frites or any other fries. Reporter and it cant hurt that the Belgian National dish has at least one highpowered european politician on its side angela merkel, annoyed by brexit talks, shook off some of her frustration at a nearby frietkot in brussels a while back. Merkel got her tasty treat at maison antoine. Its currently being expanded, but customers can still get a fix from a nearby food truck in the interim. Made just they way they like them. And so, belgians can continue to enjoy their favorite snack browned, but not burnt. Although theres now just a slight aftertaste brought about by the eu trying to make their lives miserable. Michelle if you ever get a chance to taste a belgian frite, preferably covered in mayonnaise, no other version will ever come close again. Thats it for today. Thank you for watching. See you next time. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] steves on the mediterranean sea, basking between the french and italian rivieras, the principality of monaco barely fits on its one square mile of territory. Of its 30,000 residents, less than 10,000 are true monegasques, as locals are called. Many of the rest call monaco home because theres no income tax. Despite overdevelopment, high prices, and mobs of tourists, a visit here is a riviera must. And monaco is a work in progress. The district of fontvieille was reclaimed from the sea. It bristles with luxury highrise condos. The breakwater constructed elsewhere and towed in enables cruise ships to dock. And cars still race, as they have since 1929, around the principality in one of the worlds most famous auto races the grand prix of monaco. The miniscule principality has always been tiny, but it used to be less tiny. In the 1860s, it lost most of its territory to france. But the prince built a casino and managed to connect his domain to the rest of the riviera with a new road and a train line. Humble monaco was suddenly on the grand tour map the place for the vacationing aristocracy to play. Today, the people of monaco have one of the worlds highest percapita incomes, with plush apartments to match. Its famous casino allows the wealthy to eoy losing money in extreme comfort. If monaco is a business, the prince is its ceo. While the casino generates only a small part of the states revenue, its many banks, which provide an attractive way to protect your money from the tax man, earn much more. There is no income tax here, but the prince collects plenty of money in valueadded taxes, real estate taxes, and corporate taxes. Nearly all of monacos sights are packed in a cinderella neighborhood atop its fortified hill. Its impressive aquarium, which proudly crowns the cliff like a palace, was directed by Jacques Cousteau for 17 years. A medieval castle sat where monacos palace sits today. The palace square features a statue of francois grimaldi, a renegade italian who captured monaco disguised as a monk in 1297. This first ruler of monaco established the dynasty that still rules the principality. Today, over 700 years later, the current prince is his direct descendant. Palace guards protect the ruling grimaldi family 24 7. And they change with the pageantry of an important nation. Every day at about noon, tourists pack the square to witness the spectacle in this improbable little princedom. [ band playing march ]
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