>> this is al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm jonathan betz with the top stories. >> nelson mandela's body arrives in his home town for burial. >> a sombre anniversary, one year after the sandy hook school shooting. >> and a first for china - it lands a robot on the moon. >> after more than a week of

mourning south africa will say a final goodbye to nelson mandela. the hearse carrying his body arrived in qunu, where he'll be buried. nick schifrin is live in qunu. i'm pleased to know if the mood has shifted as we come to the end of the memorials >> yes, i think this is the saddest day. what we see is nelson mandela being flown home for the last time. it started with an emotional territory. it was led by the south african congress, a party that nelson mandela created. you saw nelson mandela's widow, his ex-wife and the leaders of the party, and he thanked nelson mandela for giving his freedom and providing the modern south

african state. you saw an emotional service and an extraordinary site. thousands of people lining the streets that are a couple of miles from here that lead to the base where nelson mandela was born. you got a sense that people were sad, mourning, thanking him but a sense of, "oh my goodness this is the last time i get this opportunity to be this close to nelson mandela." you get a sense that people are saying goodbye. >> it's a sense of personal loss. what do we expect with the services tomorrow. >> you'll see a combination of the old world and the new world. there'll be a lot of dignitaries and security. we are not allowed within three blocks. we see tribal traditions. nelson mandela grew up here and was proud. he called himself a country boy. a lot of notions and feelings about the world, and people

around here have still are the ones that he took with them to become the urbane sophisticated man. a lot of these interesting traditions we'll see. the coffin is being covered by a lep ord skin. an ox is being slaughtered and a family member will communicate telepathically. we'll see a sad memorial. nelson mandela said a man's life should end near where it began. that's what they should be doing. >> i also understand the timing of the funeral has been adjusted tomorrow, right? >> i think we'll see a lot of early start. desmond tutu, who was not going to come because he did not get an invitation. highs flight leads in two hours, at 2 in the mornings, he'll be

here. there'll be a ceremony lasting three or four hours. it will be a sad, mournful moment of these 10 days. >> nick schifrin live in south africa, thank you. >> nelson mandela will be buried in a grave near his family's ancestral home. andrew simmonds spoke to some residents who knew him as a tenacious man. >> amongst poor people in a remote land this is where nelson mandela started out in life. not much has changed in the place where people played freely and safe ag nelson mandela did in his early years. back then, like now people lived in bee hive shaped huts. here the foundation stones of his birth place. he was named rolihlahla dalibhunga by his father. his mother was the chief's third wife and moved her family to

qunu, the place of nelson mandela's childhood recollections. at five years of age he was a cattle herdsman. at seven a teacher give him the english christian name nelson. this was the young nelson mandela's favourite pastime, stick fighting. the spaing with hard forward branches is popular in rural south africa. the young nelson mandela hated to be beaten. >> nelson mandela, the same age played together. young nelson mandela showed qualities beyond those of his playmate. >> madeba was stubborn in his heydays. the following day he would be in your village challenging you to a round of stich fighting. i was heart broken at the time

when he left us. >> we are always together at all times. >> that togetherness with friends is broken by the death of his father. he made arrangements for the future of his son. the cause of nelson mandela's life was drastic by the age of 9 he was forced to leave qunu. later he recalled i mourned less for my father to the place i left behind. >> this is where he sent. after an emotional journey with his mother, handing him over to live under the care of rooejened. this was a place where youngsters were groomed for greater things. >> he came like other young

boys. to him it was in excitement. when it comes to the great place. the enlightment the enlightment was greater than at his home. >> as nelson mandela moved on, his early home in qunu was highly call viewed, particularly the mother left behind. more than six years later nelson mandela was to have a home built here. it was in qunu, where the nelson mandela burial plot was established. he was expected to be buried near his father and mother. along with a son temby killed in a road accident while nelson mandela was in prison. and makator who died of aids.

qunu will be a final resting place. a serene humble land. a place of carefree early childhood. >> you can watch full coverage of nelson mandela's funeral life, starting on 1am. eastern time 10:00 pm pacific. it's been a year since the tragic day when 20 children and six educators were kid at sandy hook elementary school. newtown asked for privacy. there was no public ceremony there. bells tolled marking the anniversary. the president and first lady led a minute's silent and lit 26 candles to honour each of the victims. >> a year ago today a quiet peaceful town was shattered by unfathomable violence.

six dedicated eade u katers and 20 children were taken from their lives forever. as parents, it filled us with grieve. in newtown the victims were educators and kids that could have been our own. outer hearts were broken for the families that lost piece of their heart. >> yesterday's school shooting in colorado was too familiar. 18-year-old carl pearson walked into the high school with a shotgun looking for a teacher. he didn't find them, but shot and critically wounded another student. paul beban has been on the scene since the story broke. >> arapahoe high school is closed. we have seen police activity. much more subdued than yesterday, you can see the east parking lot on this side of the building. it remains closed, where we understand the shooter's car is parked. it's our understanding that the

shooter's body remains inside the building. a couple of developments here. there are two counselling locations have been old, starting at 9 o'clock. and the status of the girl who was wounded, the 15-year-old shot by carl pearson is in critical condition. we'll learn more at a press conference this afternoon. on the west side of the school, that parking lot was opened earlier this morning. teachers, students, parents allowed to come and pick up vehicles left there overnight. it's where we had a chance to talk to a student about what he knew about yesterday and the shooter. >> he was quiet and has weird logic or ideas. not something a normal high schooler would think about >> like what? >> i'd say he's a self-proclaimed communist. some of his ideas and stuff like that. he's really smart, but almost too smart for himself.

>> that was senior chris davis who had a class last year, an english lit class saying the student was combative and opinionated, nothing about him suggested he would erupt in violence the way he did yesterda. later this afternoon we expect another press conference with the sheriff where we'll get more information. we are expected to learn the identity of the girl in critical condition and perhaps more about the teacher that carl pearson was targetting, and more about his motives. >> the sandy hook shooting prompted an outcry on gun control. many residents still do not feel safe. >> chicago police game illegal guns for most of the 900 murders in the city over the last two years. guns like these 6500 ilweapons

seized this year. >> less people murdered and shot. >> police superintendent gary mccarthy showed them off as evidence his department is making the city safer. >> we are making progress in reducing crime and violence. >> there's 65 from what city, what area. because it wasn't on this side of town. >> these people question the claims that the city is safer. two months ago their 19-year-old son was gunned down on the porch of his home. they say corey junior was not in a gang and may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. now they worry about their younger children. they say guns are everywhere in the neighbourhood. >> we have gang members out here and give a gun to a 13-year-old and say go across the street and shoot that dude. he owe me $500. schick w -- it's been said that

unregistered illegal weapons slipping from one gang member to another is the problem. they are trying to combat it by putting more beat cops in neighbourhoods and working with community groups. but the effort can only go so far. he wants tougher penalties for people carrying illegal weapons. >> with the best policing, and laws that provide punishment for the dangerous criminals that carry them, we will continue to face anuphill battle. >> still they wonder whether tougher gun laws make a difference. >> when you care for life, it's not easy to take it. these people do not care about life. >> not far from the atwater's house is a momentorial bearing the name of some murdered in chicago over the past five years.

it is a reminder of the violence that cost them and others so much. >> gun violence a major problem in the united states. joining us now to talk about it, a criminalologist at california's state university. brian, i know this is something you studied and researched. why do you think we continue to violent crime. >> when we see it going down across the country.

do you think it's because of the change in culture, do you think it's because of the laws or if answer. we have an enhanced response, particularly to these mass shootings and medical emergency room responses as well. there doesn't seem to be one answer. the ubiquity of handguns, coupled with people who have a mental illness, one that doesn't rise to the level where one will be institutionalized. school s just one

particular sort of gun responsible. thank you for your time. >> as thousands of ukrainians protest against president viktor yanukovych, citizens who support the government are pouring into kiev to lend their voices. >> it's called the save ukraine rally. the implication that from behind the barricades, less than 200m away, the opposition are threatening to break ukraine apart. the governing party succeeded in filling independence square. ironic given the prime minister

warned of the dangers of european integration. >> translation: we have to fulfil certain conditions. to you know what kind of conditions are these. we have to legalize same-sex marriages. >> you can see the thousands bringing if to take part in trains and buses, but the reaction of the crowd so far has been subdued >> supporters of viktor yanukovych have arrived from the region all week. workers from industry and teachers on government salaries. i spoke to a pensioner. "we are paid to be here." "how much?" i ask. "very little" he says. many we approached couldn't or couldn't say why they were there. many were afraid of what europe

said we had to offer. "europe are against same sex marriage, i'm against that." >> translation: why is europe interfering wour own way. >> it's been pledged that supporters will stay on. the opposition is worried. >> we are afraid against provocation. we understand it's a huge responsibility for the people. it can be dangerous for the people. so closer the two sides. so far apart are their feelings. >> shame, opposition supporters taught. the risk of confrontation grose, the longer this goes on. >> middle east continues to experience an unusual spell of wintry weather. snow fell in the jordanian

capital. the same system brought snow to israel, turkey. snow in the middle east, and we have more on that. rare to see snow in the middle east, not rare here. >> not rare here. we are dealing with a foot of snow tomorrow. we are lucky we are in national park city. here we get between 3-6 inches of snow. across upstate new york, on into new england. we are looking at up to a foot of snow. multiple accidents along the i-80 and i-70. temperatures are freezing. we have to drive safely. if you don't have to be out, stay at home. heavy snow travelling to the east, across maine, where we can see over a foot of snow. the wind is blowing. it's helping the snow drift around. new york city, winds gusting,

temperatures below freezing. back to you. >> see you later. >> still ahead on al jazeera america. financing art for public places. we look at whether that's a worthy effort. >> in a controversial rape insurance bill could become law in michigan.

>> this week michigan voted to become the i think state to pass a controversial abortion law, banning insurance companies from covering abortion, unless wim n women by a special policy for that purpose. >> sometimes politics gets personal, very personal. >> so i'm about to tell you something i have not shared with many people in my life. but over 20 years ago i was a victim of rape. and thank god it did not result in a pregnancy.

>> grechin whit ner a senator, tried to convince her policies to vote against a law for insurance companies not covering abortion. >> the thought and memory of that haunts my. if this was law and i was pregnant i would not be able to have coverage because of this >> the emotional appeal did not work. the law passed in both houses. >> i don't believe that the argument about rape is valid. i'm a former police officer for 31 years. rape is a horrible crime. i took the victims to the hospital. they are given medication so there is no conception. so there's no need for an abortion. >> to put the measure before the legislature anti-abortion advocates known as right to life

for michigan obtained many signatures. >> abortion is not health care. you don't have to be religious to be against abortion. it takes the life of an innocent child. >> michigan's governor vetoed such bill because it didn't cover cases like incest, or cases where a woman's life is in danger. once approved by the legislator, sufficiently legislation is veto group. >> we saw an extreme group, right for life, use a loophole to circumvent a veto from the governor. it's unclear how many will be affected by the legislation. >> fewer than 800 were covered by insurance. this is a political matter. >> democrats and pro-choice

activists will try to overturn the law before it takes effect in march or exact reveg at the ballot box. >> for 40 years seattle has set aside budget to fund public artworks. some are asking if that's money well spent. >> armed with an exacto knife and swaths of delicate paper, seattle artist begins a tedious but rewarding night of creating her latest work. >> it's about joy. >> her biggest master piece a sculpture. then this is definitely a permanent legacy to the city. i was personal attached to the new piece. >> sips 1973 sculptures, paintings and murals have

sprouted up from street corners to bus stop and the hallways of city hall. >> i'm proud of all that we do. >> the art director believes public art gives the city character. >> the art is about the soul of the city. it's an identity for the city. there are certainly benefits to making people feel proud of where they live. >> 1% of funding is spent on seattle's public art. the goal is to add an element for tourists to enjoy, enriching the lives of locals. as the city evolves, so has the type of art. >> 20 years ago the city decided to try something new. functional art. critics believe the program is a waste of money. ridiculous waste of money. >> personalities used the talk show to complain about the art

program. in 2012 the city spent close to 3 billion on public art. he believes the money should be used for other things. >> i don't want to be a spartan city, but there would be enough through the private sector or a modest assessment. but it's blown through what the taxpayers thought they'd be getting. >> 1% means there's 1% for creative people to contribute, to beautify. >> it is believed art is making a difference. giving her another artist to use the city of seattle as their canvas. >> there's more ahead on al jazeera. including china celebrating a milestone. a touch down of the mission to the moon. india, a leading cotton producer, but the industry is in big trouble.

>> welcome back to al jazeera america. here is a look at your top stories. it's been one year since 20 children and six children were killed at sandy hook elementary. president obama observed a moment of silence, and lit 26 candles to honour each of the victims. china's changi-3 probe touch down on the moon. the first soft landing on a moon service since 1976. it will conduct geological surveys. >> the body of nelson mandela has returned to his boy hood home in qunu. his funeral is tomorrow. >> nelson mandela had the place in the heart of a community in northern california. the people of oakland definitely had a part in the fight against apartheid. >> it is you, the people of

here, the people of the bay area that have given me and my delegation strength and hope to continue the struggle >> 1990, the end of an 8-city tour of the united states for nelson mandela. he thanked at his farewell the people of the san francisco bay area. commemorating nelson mandela this past week city leaders invoked the areas own contribution to the antiapartheid movement. the strategy in the 1980s, municipal and investment stopped in south africa. >> san francisco, the university of california, and the state of california played a leading role in being the initiator of the divestment movement of south

africa. >> antiapartheid student protests took part in 1980s. including a continuous 100 day sit in and rallies bringing together thousands of students. >> demonstrators scuffled with police, 150 people were arrested. >> students, community people here - again, overnight, all day long in solidarity to ask our renaling ents to divest. >> nancy skinner was a graduate student who the let the campus divestment committee. >> we felt morally implicated in the regime that basically was denying the majority of people of south africa their freedom, their ability to participate in government and any democracy >> others took action, not only students. in 1984 larry wright was

unloadingships at port, remembering how south african cargo was refused to be moved off the ship. every day the long shore maup refused to work. they tried to negotiate with us on how to get the ship unloaded. we refused. >> the movement gained momentum until divestment was investibule. >> until the world stood with south africa through means like divestment their struggle would not have reached its fruitful conclusion. >> and so at city hall it was a dual honour for nelson mandela and the position of progressive politics. decisions made here decades ago and 10,000 miles away from south africa - how it could make a difference. >> the african union will increase the number of soldiers deployed to the central african

republic, hoping to restore order and disarm the militia. this, as the nation faces the e beginnings of a humanitarian crisis. this report from bangladesh. >> these people are waiting for a doctor. they are sleeping at the airport with no shelter or mosquito nets. some of the children have malaria. doctors without boardsers criticises the united nations not doing more. >> it's unacceptable. we are next to the airport of the capital of the city. i don't know how we can ignore them. people say maybe they'll go home. everyone wants to go home if it's there. they are here for a reason. they are here now, today. they need the help now. >> there are too many wounded people at the main hospital, so surgeons are using a warehouse to operate in. you can see the kind of conditions that the surgeons are

working upp working under. there's no ventilation. gunshot is one of the biggest challenges. a few hundred metres from this the prime minister of the country. he won't leave the afghan military base. he's viewed by some as a man backed by the french. like every politician he was no control over what is happening. >> i asked why he won't visit the tens of thousands nearby. >> >> translation: you have to be realistic. i don't have a car. you can't expect me to go somewhere where my safety is not guaranteed much >> this is what he says, close

to the airport another victim of sectarian violence. these are the remains of a seleka general - killed and stripped by an angry mob. there is death here, but also life. this woman named her son francis hollande. he was born the day the french president visited bangui. >> translation: if i leave to go home, what will i do. how do i bring the child up? his father is not here. they pilaged my house. they have taken everything. >> people here have lost hope of the state helping them. this is a country that has all but collapsed. they are reliant on outside help. >> to talk about this, joining us live from washington d.c. is peter pham, the director of the africa center. and serves as an advisor to the

state department african command. we are hearing the stories and seeing the images, do you think the met the quota they previously authorised. 3600 troops were authorised with an air lift by the u.s. air force of 900 barr undians. they are under 3,000 troops. nice to raise the bar, but we never met the lower bar. >> furthermore we are looking at a country the size of france and belgium put together. it's about the size of texas, with a great

deal can be accomplished with little so quickly. >> are you saying they need to send soldiers or we need to lower the expectations and accept there'll be african republic to a mooedy come of normality will take more than the six months that francis hollande is willing to commit the troops for. the country has been independent for half a century, and had six presidents, five of whom shot their way into power. it's not a country where the state institution is to be rebuilt. it will take a long time. in that framework we have to

realise what we need to do is create areas of security, prevent within the areas the type of atrocities that are occurring and keep the corridors open to get aid to desperate people and relisticly think ab community will prevent this from sliding over the 'emmiedge. >> do you not worry about the ripple effect, if that

without question. >> thank you for your time today. >> thank you. >> in other news - many cotton farmers in india are struggling to make a profit. with the dwindling workforce some are considering leaving the industry altogether. we have this report from the city of b ajs roch. >> cotton fields for as far as the eyes can see. india produces 477 kilograms of cotton per heck tare. there's 11 millions crops across the country, supporting 70 million farmers and 400 million others in related

areas. it generates $1 billion us for the economy. it's big business, gains have been dented with the rain. these seedlings have been planted in some areas, and they take time to mature. thousands of acres of land is prepared in this region for the next cycle of cotton, it's been a difficult year. and producers here are wondering whether growing the crop is worth their while. >> farmers lost nearly 75% of his crop, and is not the only farmer servici farmer suffering. cultivating it takes time and money. people are needed to pick it. >> cotton pickers are hard to find. there's more money in other industries. profit margins are low. i tell a generation not to

invest in this work. landowners are having to pay advances to staff to stay in the area to help them, not just for harvesting cotton, but to till the ground. >> we can get good money for the cash crop, but we never get the rate from cotton traders. many of my members are in debt. >> india is the second largest producer of cotton globally after the u sa. if it wants to maintain its position, the government will need to address issues cotton farmers face. if not the government will see this. former cotton fields growing cash crops. less labour intensive and with higher profit margins. >> pattel has started to take the steps. many may follow him. >> when we come back we'll take

you to space where china landed a rover on the moon. a first there. and we look into research supporting the suggestion that life may have been sent from earth to other planets in the solar system.

>> a chinese spacecraft landed on the moon today. that's a first for china. the jade rabbit as it's called will roam the moon collecting sail samples. rob mcbride has more from baj beijing >> the rabbit landed. this was the moment the rove or

touched down on board the lander, the changi-3. arriving in an area known as the bay of rain bows, and watched live across china on tvs, like the one in a restaurant near workers' stadium. it marks a milestone, following in the footsteps of americans years ago. >> translation: i'm happy to see the way the space program developed. i'm very prou. >> translation: i never expected to see this, i'm happy my country managed to do this. >> a tangible display to the world of china's growing expertees and mite. the space program is a priority for the country's leadership. it looks to build the first space station on the moon in the 2020s. for ordinary chinese citizens, a

source of pride. >> a scale model is selling fast. >> in recent years as the space program developed, there's more tension paid to chinese spacecraft and the models are more popular. the next challenge, the rover has to venture out to begin its work, conducting tests, including the use of ground-penetrating radar to reveal more of what is fellow the moon's surface. so far, so good. >> it may be decades since russians and americans roamed the move. the instruments are more sophisticated than its predecessors. as china points out there's only one working rover on the moon, and it's chinese. >> 66 million years ago an after i had the size of a small city slammed into the earth hitting

near the ucatan peninsula, wiping out the dinosource, but it may have spread life. debris was enjected from the earth's atmosphere, rocks sent into space, hitting the moon and son. it wasn't just dirt. primitive forms of life may have hitched a ride solar systems. thanks for being here. are you guys convincedhat's theg

thing for us. >> explain to us how this would have worked. how this rock from the earth could have made it to europa, to mars, and possibly could have carried life. a lot of people assume that in space and on the

we have a reason to believe they could survive the process. >> there's a possibility it could have survived the process and on mars, although no one ha mars could have been hab itted, but whether it was is a harder question. it's hard to say for sure. >> there has been discussion

about whether it may be the reverse, that life on mars, billions of years ago, could have spread to earth. e university, thank you for your time today. >> and iran says it sent a monkey, the second one, live into space. you are looking at pictures from the state newsagency. iran says the rocket flew to a height of 75 miles m the launch is not verified. iran's president said the mop g

monkey returned to earth safely. >> time for sport. college football's highest hon your will be handed out tonight. >> i think we'll know who will win. it will be interesting to see the margin of victory. stranger things have happened. >> florida state back jameis winston is the odds-on fast. it will be a stunning surprise if he does not. he is one of six players vying for the prestigious individual award. ross shimabuku looks at the candidates. >> 2012 winner of the heisman trophy is johnny manziel. [ cheering ] >> at the start of the 2013 college football season it seemed like texas a&m quarterback johnny manziel was primed to be the second person ever to win the award twice.

archie griffin d is in "74 and "75. johnny football threw for 33 touch downs and 3700 yards. but that may not be enough to sway voters from florida state freshman quarterback jameis winston. >> i think he has shown that he's one of the best athletes in college football. >> he's had an incredible year. to watch him play, the yards he's racking up. if he doesn't win, it will be a tragedy. >> jameis winston's eye-popping numbers of 38 touchdown and 328 yards in passing and let the seminoles to the b.c. s titles game, an undefeated record. an alleged sexual assault scandal could have gepp dived his chances. >> all the adversity. sticking in there and still

talking about your team, don't go down, down two interceptions and saying, "come on guys, we've got to do it." that's rare. >> he doesn't care what people says. he's confident in his ability in the team to go out and get the job done. >> as a leader, as a quarterback, that gets the team going. >> they follow him, >> perhaps a tough contender to come out of the middiest. not only had a season quarterback throw the touchdowns, he's rushed for 22 scores. the quarterback at northern illinois, it was two different games. he ran for over 300 yards in a game, and he's a big kid, throwing the ball well. >> the final quarterback is aj mccarron, he has lost three

games while holding the reins at quarterback. unfortunately the loss in the iron bowl likely dashed his hopes. >> he's not going to have a chance to win a third national championship. that says a lot there that he barely missed his chance to bin. in his play, leadership throughout his career he had a great career in college football. >> a player that ended dominance is tre mason, gassing his way in the iron bowl, following up with a 340 yard rush against missouri in the title game. he scored one in auburn and his late surge may be enough to land him in the top three. andre williams rounds out the finalists much he's the first

2,000 rusher in the sbs since 2008. he averaged 6.4 yards per carry, scoring 17 touchdowns. the sixth heisman trophy finalists are the most since 1994. only one will take home the trophy. >> thank you so much. if jameis winston wins, he'll be the second fresh moun to win. johnny manziel last year was the first. >> coming up next the latest on the storm in the north-east. stay with us.

>> we have been talking about the heavy snow across the north-east. the same front producing snow from illinois to new england. it's producing heavy rain. the heaviest pushing into georgia, across the carolinas. we are looking at potentially strong storms around the flor panhandle. capable of producing gusty winds

and a bit of hail. we can't rule out the chance for an isolated tornado. to the north the snow coming down across the ohio valley. multiple accidents on the i70. along i80. be careful in this area. the heavy snow continuing to make its way north and east. intensifying. a foot of snow across portions of new england. it will be windy. gusting to 9 miles per hour. not that strong, but 17. as the area of low pressure tracks up the coast the winds will howl with it as well. temperatures below freezing across the north-east. where the snow fell, i want you to be careful and drive slow. winter storm warnings and advisories across the ohio valley. >> headlines coming up after the break.

>> you're watching al jazeera america live from new york. i'm jonathan betz, with a look at the top stories. >> >> a sombre anniversary as people across the country remember the sandy hook school shooting. at the white house the president and first lady lit 26 candles in honour of each of the victims. the body of nelson mandela has been returned to his boy hood home in qunu south africa. a 10 day celebration that began with nelson mandela's death is drawing to a close. his funeral and burial takes place tomorrow. >> food distribution for tens of thousands in the central african republic has beenba