Grabs in ireland. In the chechen republic, civil war nominally ended four years ago, but there is still huge tension in the north caucasus region. Last year alone, eight bomb attacks were carried out that killed almost 100 people. The attacks were carried out by islamist rebels, fighting against the russian states and the kremlin backed chechen president. He has been cracking down on both the rebels and their families and friends, leaving many chechens to seek shelter in the west. An increasing number of both suspected militants and innocent civilians try and make their way into the European Union. Most of them enter through poland. Going for a simple stroll is an activity that abdul has come to appreciate. Up until eight years ago, he lived in the russian republic of chechnya. He decided to flee from poland where he and his family could be safe and free from the intimidation they experienced in chechnya. I left because i had to save my life and those of my family. Back then, everyone on the street was treated like a terrorist. You could be arrested at any moment. Then they would demand money for your release. If you did not pay, you would be found dead later. That is why we fled with my brother and my whole family. Abdul was arrested or times by arraignment security operatives, and four times, money was paid for his release. Electric shocks. He tells us he has scars all over his body, and he can no longer fully control his right hand. He was warned that the next attention would be his last. Thats when he decided to leave. I hope my children could lead normal lives. That my son would finally stop asking me if the men with the masks were coming back again. At bill and his family are safe and poland, but after eight years, they still do not call it their home. His wife and three children lived 100 kilometers away while abdul is living with it friend. Hes been looking for an apartment for months, but no one wants to rent accommodation to foreigners. Thats a familiar story for the people who work at the event pg eight organization. It is a major problem. The Biggest Issue in poland is that so few refugees get into public housing. There are simply too few apartments on offer. In the past 12 years, just one refugee family has received public accommodation in the city. This is the Railway Station in eastern poland. It is the first place where chechen refugees arrive when they cross the border from belarus. Three trains arrive every day. The number of refugees has been steadily rising. Last year, 5500 chechen refugees arrived in poland. This year has already seen twice as many. According to the geneva convention, they have a right to stay here if their lives are in danger or if they have been persecuted because of their religion. Its things like that that brought these people here. But it is difficult to say what the situation in russia is like today. All the refugees have when they arrive is what they can carry. Their dreams for a better life. Everyone who arrives without a visa must explain why they are here. The ones who are left stay, have their fingerprints taken, and apply for asylum. That information is used to find out whether the new arrival has already applied for asylum in another country. They live on the edge of the town in a socalled hotel. Is my all shows us their home. He has asked us to protect their identity. We are shocked by the conditions he and his family live under. They live in two rooms with no Running Water and no electricity. Alexei dont know how big the rooms are, but its the best apartment in the entire hotel. Three kids sleep here while my son sleeps over there. I sleep in the next room. The family pays the equivalent of 170 euros in rent. Thats what an apartment in the capital warsaw costs, but they have no other option. Ismael says no one is prepared to rent him an apartment. He says if he does not find an alternative soon, the family will move on. If things continue as they are, we will not be able to survive the winter here. At the very least, my family will have to move away from here. I do not see an alternative. Is asylum application is approved, but that does not mean his troubles are over. It is difficult for foreigners to find work. The Economic Situation is spurring many chechen refugees to move on to countries that are doing better. We have the depression that chechen nationals are just applying for asylum here so they can move legally to another country. Most of them go to germany. Thats a trend we are seeing in most cases. Poverty is not something that just chechens have to struggle with. It affects polish people as well. His Refugee Organization says that is the reason why chechens feel the need to travel onwards. Many people have gone to germany because it has come through the euro crisis very well. It used to be austria. Before that, france and belgium. Abdul is thinking about leaving poland with his family. He says that if they do not find a proper home, they will have to move on. Yes, i do know of others that are doing better. Friends and family who are already living in germany asked me why i do not come. That is why im considering it. Abdul has already thought about where he would go. I would prefer to go to berlin. It is my biggest dream to be let to live in berlin. After eight years, his existence in poland, living apart from his family in short term accommodation, is nothing like how he imagined life in the free west would read. What do you think of when you hear European Union . Redtape, euro crisis, and rainy cities . Why not palm trees, son, and beaches . In our summer series, we traveled to the remote corners of europe, and part of the eu is in the caribbean. The islands that make up what a guadaloupe are an integral part of france some 7000 kilometers away from france, and people pay with the euro. At first glance, everything looks perfect in paradise, but appearances can be deceiving. When dark clouds gather over the small island in the morning and rain begins to fall, thats the best time to plant sugarcane. He is the thirdgeneration of his family to grow sugarcane. An ox pulls a plow through the field, and he pulls freshly cut pieces of cain. He would prefer to have a tractor, but that would be too expensive. I have to plow every for a twice. Otherwise it would not be deep enough. His neighbor is also planting cain. Cane. Dozens of shoots will grow. It is an essential part of the islands economy. Sugarcane growth is an essential part of the island. That is why we are fighting to make it clear to everyone that without it, our problems would be 20 times worse than they are right now. The eu plans to stop subsidizing Sugarcane Production next year. That will be hard for the islands 13,000 inhabitants to cope with. There is little else on the island apart from sugarcane and from production. But it is also a paradise for any taurus seeking long, empty beaches. For any taurus for any tourists seeking long, empty beaches. From his vantage point, it is clear that package tourism does not affect the island. He takes groups of holidaymakers to the small hotels on the island, but despite its natural beauty, unemployment is high, and many young islanders have emigrated. Whats lacking is a really big hotel. The infrastructure is not up to the standard we need or taurus and to thrive on the island. Four taurus him for tourism to thrive on the ivan. Rousseau was proud that the island has so far managed to fend off the big hotel chains. He moved to the island from paris 30 years ago. He wants agriculture to remain the islands main source of income. In contrast to most of the 2000 farmers on the island, he is growing fruit and vegetables to sell. Its hard work, and it makes you feel good when you harvest fruit that is as good as this. That gives you courage to carry on. He sells cooking bananas to a small supermarket. The fruit is one of the few locally grown products the island has. The owner of the store says that was very different before subsidies were introduced and every farmer switched over to growing cain cane. This used to be a breadbasket. We produced fruit and vegetables for the rest of guadaloupe. But that is over now. But there is one other product the island exports rom. The islands oldest distillery is devoted to the older batches of rom rum during the summer months. He would like to see more products like rum bottles being produced on the island, but the price of energy is too high. It everyone wanted it, every household on the ivan could produce its own electricity. Thats if they wanted it and its solar panels could be imported at a normal price. So technically speaking, it would be possible. But hardly any Renewable Energy is generated on the island. The plan is to eventually build a power plant right inside the sugar factory. It is even dependent on imports for its timber. Meanwhile, it is midday, and russo is driving his oxen forward in the heat of 31 degrees celsius. When they are not working in the fields, the farmers like to base their oxen. The rules allow a maximum of 12 craps 12 cracks of the with without harming the animals 12 cracks of the whip without harming the animals. Naturally, rum is the drink of choice. Jeanpaul russo has never regretted moving from paris. He is proud this is his home. I call on young people to come here and relax. You can meet people here who still speak openly, who are open to the world. But his two children have chosen to leave. One moved to paris, the other to canada, but they will always have a home on the island. Jeanpaul and his wife will be there. They have no plans to leave. They are currently in paradise. Privatization of the missable services is a sensitive topic here in europe. Just look at the example of water supplies. In recent months, more than 1. 5 million europeans signed a big addition calling for free access to drinking water. That forced lawmakers in brussels to change the draft text regarding the privatization of public utilities. They had to state explicitly that they would not force anyone to sell their water subsidies. Some have already outsourced Water Utilities to private firms, and not everyone has good tales to tell about it. She has always been able to take clean tap water for granted, and thats why shes angry her community has recently sold the public water system. So far, she has never heard anything positive about water privatization. We are all afraid it will get more expensive. That the company will make rockets, which should actually remain within our community. 5000 people live in this small castilian town in central spain. They collected 4000 signatures against the communitys plans to sell out the water, but their protest went unheeded. The plans had already been finalized. The communitys water was sold for 500,000 euros. These Companies Want to make money at all cost. Even if they have to cut back on quality and do not make as many repairs or checkups. If they do not have to, they simply will not do it. Theres no shortage of fresh water here. It comes from a mountain stream, and its quality is renowned are beyond the town is self itself. Maintaining the water is expensive. The community cannot afford the investments, so they are counting on the financial might and knowhow of private companies. We turn to a company for help because our infrastructure is outdated and weak. And we also want to make better use of the water. Not just for private households. We want to use it to boost tourism and agriculture and get out of the crisis. In spain, where water is especially precious in the heat, more than half the population gets its water from private companies. More and more communities are privatizing their water services. It is the big sellout. Pedro is considered an International Expert on water markets. He says the International Crisis in spain is what is behind the change in ownership in the water market. The Financial Sector is converting the crisis, which it actually provoked, into new business opportunities. Now they can put pressure on debt ridden communities to sell their property or anything else to survive these dire financial difficulties. Will be real estate bubble be followed by a water bubble . Here, it has popped. The city water supply was privatized years ago. Prices were going to be raised by 1 3, but the citizens fought back. We pay enough already, and the water should be cleaner. Some days, its really dirty. Some guys some days, it looks more like chocolate and water. When the system breaks down, water gets lost. Its very bad. The community pulled the plug and backed out of the contract. They argued that the water supplier had not done his homework. Only 3 Million Euros had been invested into the ailing infrastructure instead of the agreed 11 Million Euros. It was shocking that the Company Refused to invest even after it had raised prices by 30 . During our talks, it became clear that they needed the money just to be able to continue, and water supply should not be run like that. We now believe the water supply needs to be 100 public. The water provider in question has now ill for bankruptcy and has declined to comment publicly has now filed for bankruptcy and has declined to comment publicly. Its the same company that the community has sold its water supply 2, 100 . She is convinced the town will deeply regret this step in the long run. They sold it for 30 years, plenty of time for the company to do just what it wants. But the residents are planning to take legal action. They are invoking an agreement whereby the community has the final say regarding its water supply, but it is like david versus goliath. In spain, large corporations are in the lead when it comes to the fight for water. More than 1000 years ago when the vikings used to carry out raids in ireland on a regular basis, the irish had to protect themselves by building fortresses and high watchtowers. Today, some 30,000 remaining castle ruins continue to attract forests. There are also many castles in ireland that are in Good Condition and very much inhabitable. They are attracting buyers because they currently, what you might call bargain prices, at least if you are a millionaire they currently, at what you might call bargain prices. Paul michaels has ventured from the u. S. State of virginia to the western coast of ireland. The american began searching for his i asked my grandmother where we came from. She was born here. She said we are from ireland, and i asked where we were from before that, and she said pirates and vikings. With a thirst for adventure in his blood, michael has reclaimed the island of his ancestors. For just under 38,000 euros, he purchased all 28 hectors. Positive vibrations from this place, and the beauty is magnificent. I have very positive healings when im here. He had the money, and the timing was right. In the wake of the economic crisis, islands and castles can be had for a bargain. The former resident sold the estate for 45 Million Euros in 2003. Now, it is 21 rooms and 32 hectors of property up for grabs for just 3 million. But even at that price, Real Estate AgentDavid Ashmore knows that few irish buyers can afford it. At the peak of the market, we would have had about 90 10 split between domestic and overseas buyers, and now it is the complete inverse of that. We are back to an internationally dominated market. 40 of buyers are americans like this 59yearold retiree. He did not need a castle. He wanted a summer home, put one right near the old halls of his forefathers. He wants his children to know where their great great rate grandparents lived. I can feel their spirit when im here. It must have been lonely for them to watch their family immigrated away from their country. Slowly, the island became a ghost town. Its important that someone came back here and reestablish themselves. Some 34 million americans have irish roots, and low prices have made it attractive for them to return here. This idyllic estate is also up for sale. Castle all of your desk castle all of her near Limerick Castle all of her Castle Oliver nearly murdered. It has to look its best as potential buyers are currently spoiled for choice. These sellers have had to lower their expectations. The core macs have spent one Million Euros renovating the castle. The cormacs. They have bought stacks of books to give the place a homey feel. The family moved into castle all of her Castle Oliver eight years ago. Everybody was here, and everybody buying a property, and everybody just expected their property to go up in value. I think, really, it was just unsustainable. People were paying ridiculous prices for places, and then the economy went bust. With luck, they will simply recover their investment. Maybe a rich american will fall in love with their castle. For his part, Paul Michaels can only encourage his countrymen to come to the island. I have been around the world many times. I think it is the most beautiful place in the world. He has claimed a bit of paradise for himself, but many others are still up or grabs. For grabs. Thats it for today. Do join us again for next weeks european journal. Until then, from all of us in brussels, thanks for watching. Auf wiedersehen, and bye for now. Captioned by the National Captioning Institute www. Ncicap. Org hello, and welcome to a packed show today which starts off by looking into the future. Heres whats coming up futuristic wheels british designer paul bacon presents his car of tomorrow. Filling alternative cookbook author nadine just offers courses in vegan barbecuing. Phenomenal art erwin worm of austria unveils his latest work. Electronic beats and string instruments dont sound like they would complemt