■ >> hello, and welcome to “focus on europe” it's nice to have you here with us. for today's show, we're starting with a little story from portugal one that's not only about making the most out of your life, but more importantly, about having the courage to try something that's new, and difficult. this story takes place on the atlantic coast of portugal, which is a renowned surfer's paradise. that is especially true in winter, when the huge waves attract athletes from all around the world. and if you want to follow some

of the toughest surfers, then i'd like to introduce you to maria sousa. the young woman is more than happy to plunge headfirst into the waves of portugal despite facing an extra hurdle in getting up on her board, she suffers from a nerve disorder. but on the beach of carcavelos, near lisbon, she together with the other members of her surf group know that it is not the size of the wave that matters most, it's the feeling of riding it. >> surfing, in portugal, it's more than a sport it's a way of life. the atlantic's waves draw surfers from across the globe to carcavelos beach near lisbon. and 14-year-old maria sousa is here, too. for her, it's second nature to jump into the waves. despite her spastic paraplegia.

>> we're surfers. it's pretty hard if you haven't done it before. but it's no problem if you've been at it for years. >> caiá asis has down syndrome, and brain damage because he didn't get enough oxygen at birth. but he's 47 now and unstoppable. caiá and maria are involved in surf-addict, an association for adapted surfing. >> i've been a regular ever since i first met the group. before they head out into the water, the surfers and helpers warm up. trainer teresa abraços knows what it comes down to, having fun. about being there and doing something for your body and mind.

>> everybody loves surfing, everybody loves to be at the beach, everybody loves to socialize. this is a therapy not only for the surfers, but also for the volunteers and their families. >> and then it's time. caiá and his friends want to finally ride some waves. they're in their element. out here on the surfboard, they get a better feeling for what they're truly capable of. >> that's freedom. you're in thwater and you just scream, you're so happy. and you're free to do so, because you're out in the sea.

>> and their trainer teresa also keeps experiencing new things with the group. >> i've learned a lot from disaed people. they made me think about my life why do i complain about small things? i should be grateful to be able to do things on my own and to go surfing. >> but her work also entails a great deal of responsibility. and things don't always go smoothly. alfonso just got washed off his board. everyone pitches in, including caiá. he wants to be a role model for people with disabilities. >> i want to help others learn to surf even despite their disabilities.

>> two hours later, maria is exhausted. but she's already looking forward to her next training session on carcavelos beach. >> my dream is to learn to surf even better. but things are fine the way they are. the main thing is i want to keep going. ♪ >> caiá, maria, and the others say basically anyone can surf. and in portugal, surfing is a way of life. >> they don't want to die for putin. alexander and alexei are young russians, and they are against the ukraine war. and, they've left their country because of it. the two were deeply worried that they'd be used as cannon fodder on the front lines, and

so they fled russian mobilization to the neighboring country of georgia. there, they are trying to build a new life in the capital, tbilisi, just like tens of thousands of other russians. but at the moment, that's not very easy. many georgians are opposed to the recent influx of russians largely due to a bitter past with their hostile next-door-neighbor. >> tbilisi, the georgian capital. russ's war ainst ukraine has changed the south caucasus nation. the signs of popular opposition to putin's aggression are everywhere. now in their midst, young men who've left russia fearful of being forced to join the war their country is waging against ukraine. >> some may call me a traitor. but i think those who go to war are the traitors they're betraying their homeland and humanity. so who am i betraying? putin.

yes, i'm betraying him, and now i've run away from him. >> i'm against this war, in this conflict i'm completely for ukraine. they want to send me to death for putin's ambitions, for this notorious russian world that's so alien to me. >> my name's alexander. i'm from st. petersburg and i'm 26-years-old. >> alexander worked as a lathe operator in st. petersburg. when russia invaded ukraine in february, he joined a protest rally and was detained. when putin ordered the mobilization in late september, he decided it was time to leave. he packed his things and fled. >> i live in our hippie community here. this is my bike, i cycled over

the russian-georgian border on it. >> he had to wait at the border for two days. >> i was afraid they wouldn't let me out of russia. all along the queue, police were checking papers and threatening to issue conscription orders. but i didn't care, i just wanted to reach my destination. >> when we crossed the border, the sun rose. these mountains freedom. >> once in tbilisi, alexander was in luck. >> this is uncle enrike. he took us in and gave us clothes. >> i feel sorry for them. they don't want to fight or to die for putin. the mobilization forced him to come here. they didn't think it would come to this, people running away like rats from a sinking ship.

they're all intelligent and nice. i don't know who is staying in russia. >> unlike baltic countries and finland, georgia hasn't closed its borders to russians. many georgians take a skeptical view of this, what if putin supporters, or even spies, are entering the country unchecked? i see such a big, drastic change in the amount of people. >> i hear russian constantly from all over, and it's really unpleasant. we have been in the same war as ukraine, we had this two times, first was abkhazia, then it was 2008, they have invaded two parts of georgia. i just simply cannot be warm and generous towards these people. >> first of all, when they are coming to communicate with you, they start to talk with you in russian. bro, it's georgia. we can speak english. right? it's so disrespectful. it's so rude. >> of course, i appreciate that i'm a guest here, and that my country is also guilty because of its actions against georgia.

i understand that this could be a trigger for some georgians and that they might be suspicious of me because of that. >> b up to now everyone's been friendly. >> my name's alexey and i'm 32-years-old. i'm from cheboksary in the chuvash republic. >> alexey was a professional soldier until 2016. an experienced gunner, he was needed on the frontline. >> i was surprised that the conscription order wasn't sent immediately. it arrived after i'd gone. my sister sent me a photo on telegram. they were too late you won't get me. >> he's been in georgia for a few weeks now, trying to make

the best of things. after his years in the military, alexey wanted nothing more to do with the russian army. he preferred the life of a migrant worker. he simply doesn't understand compatriots who don't resist the mobilization. >> they can't imagine what awaits them in war. everything there is just chaos. rusting weapons, drinking, brawling. just seeing it brings tears to your eyes. if they'd sent me to the front, there'd only be one way out, to be taken prisoner. >> his mother would've preferred him to fight. my mother said she would even go to war in my place, for the motherland. >> she believes nato and the us want to conquer us.

i said, what you're saying is a huge lie. all off the tv. >> he feels safe airing his political views in georgia. alexey wants to go back to russia but only after the end of the war and a regime change. alexander has made a number of friends in tbilisi. he's still living at enrike's and is looking for work. his girlfriend will be joining him soon. also in tbilisi, alexey's looking for new accommodation and keeping afloat with casual work. his mother has now accepted his decision to leave russia. they talk, but not about the war russia's war in ukraine has not just triggered an energy crisis in europe. it has meant that normal europeans simply have less money in their pockets due to inflation.

estonia's residents have been hit particularly hard, with the loss of purchasing power in the baltic state at a record high of 20%. for estonians, like the family of maarja tinn, that has meant months of quiet suffering and saving. but even if the heating has to be turned down, or the sunday roast cancelled, many people there are ok with making those sacrifices this winter out of solidarity with ukraine. >> making an omelet is a pleasure maarja tinn's family enjoys together. father aron and dauger elvira watch as 4-year-old teodor seasons the eggs. in the past, the family also liked to order something for lunch. but now their coffers are tighter. they even notice it when they make an omelet. >> a pack of 10 eggs goes into an olet breakfast for the family but the price has gone up a lot.

>> prices have quadrupled in estonia, where people earn much less than in germany. maarja works half-days at the university in tallinn, where she earns 850 euros a month. her husband, aron, is a photographer. in the fall, he raised his fees to make ends meet. >> i saw the money melting away. you work, but there's nothing left. so i had to charge more. >> the electricity and heating bills in particular eat up the budget. aron watches in an app how the prices rise and cost him more every month. depending on the contract, the government helps out with a few cents per kilowatt-hour, no more. but the family remains calm. >> to rebel now against the state or specific companies

would be wrong. the problems are complex. putin's regime in russia has caused this energy crisis, using energy as a weapon. >> winter has settled into estonia's capital tallinn. dark, cold months lie ahead. in the supermarkets, the selection is as wide as ever, but estonia has to import many of these goods. the increased prices are passed along. at a record high of over 20%, inflation is hitting everyone. but not everyone can shoulder it on their own. the state is helping thousands of ukrainian refugees and many needy citizens. in the last months, the requests have quadrupled. >> we haven't seen such a rise since the financial crisis of 2008.

the latest figures show the elderly and pensioners are especially vulnerable. most single pensioners live in relative poverty. >> those on a meager pension often come here to tallinn's seniors' self-help association. the place fills up every day at lunchtime. a meal can be had here for a few cents. later, over handicrafts in the next room, they often talk about their situation. women like vaike used to work in a textile factory. today they have to somehow eke out a living. >> i always watch for special offers. if i had to pay full price, i couldn't get by. >> i sent caps and scarves to the ukrainians. in estonia, we know how terrible it is there.

this is our war, too. but we'd rather put up with inflation than bombs. many in estonia share this sentiment. few protest against the government, though not everyone can count on aid. pensioners have received a one-time subsidy and families receive more child support. the rest just have to manage, says the minister from the pro-business reform party. >> estonians are resilient, even now. the vast majority are just trying to cope with the situation, and we as a state try to help. >> more child support helps maarja tinn's family a little too. but they only get real relief if they turn down their heating in the winter.

>> now we just put on a woolen sweater and woolen socks. we can do that. you have to think about others. when you think about how they're living in ukraine, you can't complain about 19 degrees in the house. >> with their resilience, they may have already made it through the hardest part. forecasts are optimistic that inflation will slow in the coming months. >> even though some european countries are seeing a slight increase in corona numbers again, many people are taking a more relaxed approach to the pandemic. like in strasbourg, france, where life has pretty much gone back to normal after all the lockdowns and the restricted contacts. but some of those rules have had a pretty undesirable side effect. and if you're thinking this story's about gaining weight, well in a way, you're right. but it's not about french people packing on the pounds which happened to many of us

during those lockdowns it's about some animals doing that. and multiplying in massive numbers. >> the rats are out in france, thriving in major cities. he works nonstop. he goes from cellar to cellar laying out the poisoned rat bait. you can't have weak nerves. >> there are more rats than before the lockdowns. the rat- catchers were confined to their homes leaving the rodents to. breed freely. >>a rat bears 8to10 young every 2to3 months.in 2years thats more than 100,000 rats.a never ending battle.

>> in strasbourg, the rats enjoyed optimal conditions due to the pandamic numbers have surged and they are everywhere. >> it's a plague.strasbourg is actually quite clean.but it's a pity that the residents are not more attentive. >> the rats must be annihilated. i hate them.they frighten me. >> the infestation is bad here in poorer parts of strasbourg. you see them over there.they are everywhere.when you walk through the neighourhood you see them at every corner.it is a disgrace. >> you can't have people ling with rats ancockroaches.

>> he is furious with the city authorities. >> people live among rats and have been bitten. city council is discussing if they belong in our ecosystem. these people live on another planet; or they're crazy. >> he films the rats.and posting the videos online his social media success is forcing strasbourg to act. a counselor doesn't want to exterminate them, but force them to stay underground. starting at this rubbish dump >> if you put down this grate, they can't get out.

but as many residents complain, it doesn't get rid of the rats. they complain it's because the french cooked more at home and throwing out the leftovers. restaurants were closed. >> that applies to the whole country. it's estimated today that for every french city dweller,there are two rats. and now they even have a political lobby.the city council is divided into pro and contra- rat groups. >> they have no where to go. >> the question is how to helps

exterminator thinks.he has just completed further training in more efficient mehtods form combatting rats. there will always be rats. we will always be needed. >> now they are putting new knowledge into practice. so french rats could face tougher times ahead. i'd like to introduce mo. he's a refugee from sudan who is made a new life for himself in england.he's famous, a social media star, he's one who's admired. using craft for charity and kindness

to strangers.especially in the run-up to christmas. >> hi guys, my name is mohammed ali, people call me mo. i'm from bandarbi, and give free haircuts to the homeless. >> he grew up in sudan and was cutting hair there at 11-years-old. far from having his own salon in england. today he's in sheffield. >> what's your name, brother? >> darren. >> how old are you? >> 38. >> i'm gonna make you 21, i'll do my best. >> he fled political persecution in his native sudan in 2016. >> some of his family were killed during the 2005 genocide. >> it's been a long, hard road to a safe life. >> i lost my family, and then i used to live on the streets in the village. >> i used to get help from the people, like what i'm doing here for the homeless. that's why when i came here.

>> people recognize him. with 1.5 million followers, mo is a social media celebrity. he posted his first video on tiktok last december and his content went viral in no time. his selflessness moves many. >> that is crazy. followers and comments and views give me power. i can do more videos, more haircuts for the homeless. i like it. thank you very much. >> a fine result, and a happy moment for darren and mo who plans to continue doing good with his craft next year. >> a nice reminder for all of us to look after the needy this holiday season. that's it from “focus on europe.” on behalf of the entire team, thanks for joining us, stay healthy, and until next time. goodbye.

01/05/23 01/05/23 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from new york, this is democracy now! >> this is a toxic environment. the international community has to speak with one voice in rejecting this extremism and ejecting those terrorists and those relevance of fascist in the israeli government. amy: the united nations security