>> hello and a very warm welcome to "european journal" coming to you from dw studios in brussels. it's good to have you with us. let's look at the next half-hour -- romania -- why hydropower plants have sparked a controversy. the baltics -- looking back at the world's longest human chain. and britain -- the god bless church. reuse, repair, recycle is the motto. the eu has just announced plans to recycle 70% of its waste by 2030. sustainability and environmental

protection are considered important goals for which to strive. alternative sources of energy, for example, received except cities in many european countries. the romanian government invests heavily in hydropower plants. hundreds of kilometers of rivers make the carpathian mountains in romania a particularly suitable place to build hydroelectric plants, and who would argue against this source of energy that does not produce co2 emissions? you would think environmentalists would love it, right? think again. >> rivers full of fish with overflowing banks and lots of room for floods. there can be a bitter habitat for a fish otter. place like this still exist in the southern carpathian mountains, a region especially popular for flyfishing.

he has been fishing here since his childhood, or rather, he used to. that's because further downstream, the riverbed has changed a lot. a hydropower plant has reduced water levels. the remaining water in the riverbed warms up too quickly, and it is depleted of oxygen, thereby suffocating the fish. >> just 5% of the original water levels remain. in 2010, the plant was simply barbarically set up here in the midst of nature. here where the riverbed is quite narrow, squeezed together, the heavy machines have destroyed everything. >> and it is all promoted by the government, right in the middle of the european wildlife sanctuary that belongs to the

network connector at 2000. turbines have been installed in long pipes in the river to produce energy. it actually is an eco-friendly model, but not when seven such facilities are built on a single river. it is the steep location of the wild streams here that makes the remote location especially lucrative for investors. as a result of the construction boom, local residents have to live with the fact that even the old water sources for their livestock dried up. >> when you look at the obvious link between the authorities and private investors, you have to ask whether this is a case of carelessness, bad intentions, or worse -- corruption. >> the environment ministry in bucharest, however, denies the allegations. it says it is proud of its push for renewables and insist all

the permits in southern carpathian were approved legally . >> we stuck to the law. we even sent a report to du in which the technical university for construction concluded there would be no significant impact on the environment -- we even sent a report to the eu. we constantly monitor these investments and regions, and i can confirm there are no effects on the environment. >> the subsidies and construction continue unabated. the government and private investors point to the clean energy generated and say other environmental factors are responsible for the decline in fish stocks. experts say 500 50 small hydropower plants have been built or planned in just teed of years, mainly in the south carpathian region. >> if you take a close look at romania's energy supply, you can

see that the goals formidable energy have already been achieved -- the goals for renewable energy have already been achieved, but we do not have the capacity to export electricity. at the moment, there are no economic reasons for such investments because rivers that have so far been untouched are precisely the ones being destroyed. >> the government has now promised to review its plans, even though a study has already identified 4000 new potential sites for small hydropower plants. >> i have to ask -- are we the fishermen, the romanians, to blame for this to happen? everything is happening under the noses of the authorities, but they simply do not want to stop his development. should we, the citizens, do something against it? >> he wants other brooks and streams to be spared the same

fate in the heart of europe's last remaining wilderness. >> the soviet union collapsed exactly 25 years ago this year. in our summer series "secret heroes," we visit people who helped bring down the iron curtain back in 1989. in this second part of our series, we take you to the baltics. estonia, libya, and lithuania were forcibly integrated into the soviet union through the hitler-stalin pact in 1940. mikhail gorbachev introduced a certain amount of liberalization, which allowed people to hold her tests without being arrested. people in estonia, latvia, and lithuania seized the opportunity to set a joint world record, forming the longest human chain in history -- 600 kilometers of people holding hands.

>> from above, it looked like a traffic jam, but on the ground, it was the largest demonstration in the history of the soviet union. august 23, 1989 -- never before had so many people turned out. some dressed up for the occasion. others came straight from work. they formed a human chain six hundred kilometers long across the three soviet baltic republics -- estonia, latvia, lithuania -- signaling the beginning of the end of the soviet union. a quarter of a century later, a quickstart is a stroke of luck -- a quick start is a stroke of luck for this vehicle. jonas had no second thoughts about taking his family to the original demonstration. their granddaughter was two years old when she joined the

demonstrators. half the country was there, so nobody was left to babysit her. >> we saw lines and lines of cars and buses. many people even came on foot. they were coming from every direction -- out of the woods. even the side streets were packed. >> they drove 20 kilometers east on the highway to lithuania. today, it's a sunday drive into the past. at the time, it was a daring show of defiance. moscow called it nationalist hysteria. >> i was never afraid, not at all. i sensed the solidarity of the three baltic republics. we had already survived 50 years under a foreign power. this was like a little ray of hope that things could be different. >> the family has only one photo

of that hot day in august. he holds the flag he inherited from his father. that day was the first time he dared unfurl it. >> we were listening to the radio the whole time. for us, that was the most important medium for news. there was not much in the papers. it was the radio that reported on everything. we all listened very closely with such excitement and the radio brought us here to the human chain. >> they had never identified with the soviet union that way. >> it was 100% soviet union, with everything that entails. she was born in an era of shortages. shops were empty. you could not buy anything. no shoes, no socks, nothing at all for a baby. >> the fact that the family and

most others found her places on the road was a masterpiece of logistics, pulled off by a popular organization founded the year before. it set up headquarters in this community center. it was tolerated by the soviet authorities. this physicist was one of the founders of the popular front of latvia. lithuania and estonia had similar organizations. >> all three of the major opposition movements in lithuania, estonia, and latvia included people from a broad spectrum. they range from communists to absolutely radical anti-communists, but they all stood together. >> the leader served as independent latvia's first prime minister. he knew the struggle for independence could not be won by force.

>> when you've got so many people together, just try to stop them from doing anything. they were very peaceful. they came with nothing in their hands but flowers. just try to do something against them -- it's not that easy. you can answer force with force, but what happens when they are peaceful? that was our policy from the start, the parliamentary pass, a peaceful revolution -- the parliamentary path. >> songs, candles, and prayers took the place of shouted slogans. many of the former dissidents are now serving in government. lithuania's parliament building is a holdover from the soviet era, but inside, activists proudl the mementos of

the day the inconceivable became reality. an original chart shows the organization of the chain at a time when there were no cell phones or internet. >> you see the border crossing between latvia and lithuania, and here you can see a pregnant woman and small children along the road. an estimated 2 million people took part, of whom one million were lithuanian. not everyone got to be where they wanted to be. i know of one granny and her granddaughter who could not reach their position because they could not get a ride. instead, the granny hugged the cherry tree and imagined she was part of the chain. >> the biggest demonstration in the history of the soviet union was also one of its last --

eight months later, lithuania declared its independence, followed by latvia and estonia a few months after that. at first, moscow sent in tanks, but the use of military force proved ineffective against peaceful resistance. the singing revolution could no longer be stock - stopp. >> there are some 30 million in turkey, iran, and iraq, and the kurdish people have long yearned for their own state, and the kurds in iraq could be one step closer. they have regional autonomy, but the crisis in the country could be their opportunity to demand more. this has also given hope to kurds in neighboring turkey. the prime minister is hoping to get the support for presidential elections in a few weeks time, but the kurds also want more -- the prime minister is hoping to get the support for presidential elections in a few weeks' time.

>> young kurds come to istanbul to cultivate their music and language, a right that they long fought for. after 35 years of civil strife, the government in and kara -- in ankara has extended a hand to help them. the kurds in iraq are standing on a brink of a national state of their own. >> that would mean an opportunity for us to express our demands even more forcefully, and the iraqi kurds ought to support us, just as we support them, but we also should not forget our brothers and sisters in iran in syria. >> the capital of the iraqi kurdistan region is far away geographically from the iraqi capital baghdad, geographically and politically. the autonomous region is taking advantage of the ongoing conflict to advance the cause of an independent state. a fully independent kurdistan would be a dream come true for the mayor of the town since 2004, when the city's population

was 500,000. now it has more than doubled inside. the traders at the bazaar think highly of him. many of the older generation fought for their peoples freedom -- for the people's freedom. the mayor says those days are gone now, at least for the kurds of northern iraq. >> the freedom we have now makes us feel secure. everyone here makes an effort to support and defend this freedom. we have our own military organization, secret service, and police. >> another factor is the spectacular economic development of iraqi kurdistan. new high-rises and shopping centers are popping up all over, most of them built by turkish developers. turkey, the kurds' one-time arch nemesis, has turned into kurdistan's biggest investor.

the kurdish leadership is delighted that turkey no longer treats the kurds as enemies. >> kurdistan is pursuing its own national security, and kurdistan really wants to have balanced relations with all the neighbors. it is a win-win situation, not only that kurdistan is benefiting from the relationship with turkey, but turkey is also winning in that relationship, and that is the way of doing politics on the neighborhood. >> the kurdish administration is still a work in progress. whatever problems crop up, the mayor steps in personally. he lived in germany over 20 years where he learned about western systems of government, but his booming city is attracting more people than it can accommodate. >> i remember very well that up until three or four years ago, we had to demolish over 12,000 houses that had been put up illegally.

but we provided residents with locks and funding to build their own homes according to the building code, to establish more order in the city. >> most of the iraqi kurds welcome the support of turkey and would like to see more. some can even imagine a turkish-kurdish federation. voices around the bazaar say that would bring them closer to the european union. >> just look at the history of the kurds -- we have always been the pawn of the world powers. now the west can help make up for it by supporting us. our future depends even more on the eu and the united states than on turkey. >> many of the kurds in istanbul also dream of an independent kurdistan, but they are watching developments in iraq and waiting . >> to me, personally, the kurdish leader in northern iraq

is too futile and conservative -- too feudal and conservative. i'm happy to see them make progress, but politically, i would like a different kurdistan . >> with or without independence, many kurds see a brighter future. >> britain may have its first female bishop right christmas this year. women have been allowed to become priests in britain for 20 years now, but the post of the ship, up until this week, was strictly reserved for men -- the post of bishop was strictly reserved for men. the latest decision is, at least in part, a desperate attempt to reconcile people in britain with the church. three in four brits say they are not religious, but that does not mean they no longer you're in for extensive community and a congregation -- that does not mean they no longer you're in -- that does not mean they no longer yearn for extensive

community and a congregation. >> basing in unison like a church choir -- they sing in unison like a church choir, engage in quiet medication like in a place of worship -- engage in quiet meditation like in a place of worship. there's just one thing missing -- god. >> this is a godless congregation that celebrates being alive. we have an awesome motto -- live better, help often, wander more. >> after the singing, there is a talk. today's is about death, yet it is not gloomy. they seek the positive in sad experiences. >> my mother died when i was 10. she was an amazing woman, and then she was not there.

this wonderful woman. it's not that i lost her when i was 10. it's that i had her for 10 whole years. >> his talk moved some in the congregation to tears. the service is an emotional roller coaster. many here cannot believe the change in themselves and others. >> especially the british people, to talk to someone they have not met before, to make eye contact like on the underground, brits find it very embarrassing, but here, they find a way of making you feel welcome. >> the first a simile was held in london a year ago. in the anonymity of a big city, many long for closeness and spirituality. -- the first assembly was held in london a year ago. is this the next spiritual guru? >> i am not a group -- guru.

it could not be said more clearly. we happen to have come across a thing which people have reacted to strongly. >> jones is actually a comedian. he founded the sunday assembly because he also wanted to talk about the serious side of life. jones wants to spread joy, and his idea is catching on worldwide. >> if people want to do the sunday a simile, we say sure -- if people want to do the sunday assembly, we say sure. if it is seven people sitting in a darkened room for seven hours once they hit a drum every 10 seconds, that's a wonderful thing if you like it. it is not sunday assembly. >> jones is a showman attracting a growing legion of fans. but this expert at atheism

thinks sunday assembly is a flash in the pan as, unlike the church, adherents are not united by a common belief. >> they are unified by what they lack -- a sense of community and belonging -- or what they do not believe. that will keep people together for a certain amount of time, but over a longer period, a sustained, large-scale group needs to have more agreement about what they believe, a positive agreement. i think that is what they lack. >> for now, sunday assemblies are growing by leaps and bounds. 40 have sprung up in the u.k. rosa and her husband andrew, who run a t-shirt shop here, say the assembly makes their lives more complete. >> it is another part of life that is fulfilling, and something to give you pause and make you stop and think and breathe and all those good

things that everyday life stops us from doing sometimes. >> now, rosa, her husband, and their son enjoy spending sunday in the company of others. they do not just sing. they plant trees and take part in other community projects. these atheists hold their gathering in an empty church. that irony is not lost on rosa. >> i felt alienated first of all by all the languages about men. >> 76% of britons state they are not religious.

these are dark days for the church of england. prime minister david cameron has spoken publicly about his personal faith and declared britain a christian country, but that unleashed a wave of protests from leading intellectuals. meanwhile, membership in the decline. it is sunday, and this church is full with nonbelievers. >> every single person has a vocation. >> the man at the mike is a vicar, but he is just a guest. david thompson used the sunday assembly as an inspiration, not a threat. >> i do not think faith needs to be threatened by that. it always has to be reborn again and again through history. right now, if the church is not reborn, if our faith is not reborn as something that is appropriate and makes sense

today, then it would die, and i think it would deserve to die. >> in london, jones says christians are welcome to sunday assembly, provided they leave god at the door. >> go to sundayassembly.com, and we will help you start one. >> while some may prophesies the doom of the sunday assembly -- while some may prophesize the doom of the sunday a simile, this godless congregation looks alive and well. >> that report wraps up this edition of "european journal." from all of us here in brussels, thanks for watching. auf wiedersehen and bye for now. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--

>> garrison keillor: the nicaraguan author daisy zamora has written five books of poetry in spanish. during the 1970s, she joined with the revolutionaries who opposed the nicaraguan dictator anastasio somoza.

after somoza was ousted, she became vice minister for culture for the new government. her poems, essays, and translations have been published in magazines and literary journals all over the world. >> i do not doubt you would have liked one of those pretty mothers in the ads-- complete with adoring husband and happy children. she's always smiling, and if she cries at all it is absent of lights and camera, makeup washed from her face. but since you were born of my womb, i should tell you ever since i was small like you i wanted to be myself-- and for a woman that's hard. (even my guardian angel refused to watch over me when she heard.) ( laughter ) i cannot tell you that i know the road. often, i lose my way and my life has been a painful crossing--

navigating reefs, in and out of storms, refusing to listen to the ghostly sirens who invite me into the past, neither compass nor binnacle to show me the way. but i advance, go forward, holding to the hope of some distant port where you, my children-- i'm sure-- will pull in one day after i've been lost at sea. ( applause ) !x??z77

>> welcome to "newsline." leaders from israel and pal stin y palestinian militant group will lay down their arms for 72 hours starting tuesday at 8:00 a.m. local time. and they say the israeli government accepted, too. the egyptians proposed representatives of both sides meet in cairo to discuss a