host: hello and welcome to "focus on europe." it's good to have you with us. there is no end in sight to the war in ukraine. almost a year has passed since the war began. and as in bachmut, the eastern part of the country is constantly under attack by russian forces. as the war continues, propaganda has become increasingly important for putin. because the russian president is waging war with weapons and words. and this is very concerning for neighbouring latvia. the border city of rezekne is

home to many ethnic russians, who often have close ties to russia. latvian maria dubitska feels that many of them are influenced by putin's propaganda. she is afraid that this could fracture the latvian community. >> the ukrainians are using our and your children. >> wagner soldiers arrive -- >> along the latvian-russian border, many latvians here receive russian state television and, with it, putin's propaganda via satellite and internet >> dear friends. >> drown the children, drown them! >> there'll be nuclear war! >> threats of war drift across the border from russia. that worries maria dubitska. like her, one in four latvians has a russian background and speaks russian.

the war in ukraine has been polarizing latvia more and more since it began. >> we're losing our friends, we're losing our neighbors. it hurts. the propaganda's like a poison that divides our society. >> 66-year-old maria and her son janis have lots of russian friends and acquaintances. russian media is blocked in latvia, but russian speakers have found ways to listen in. and since the invasion of ukraine, a war of information has been raging full blast, they say. ♪ a music video by deputy to the duma denis maidanov on russian state television extolls the power of the sarmat missile, able to deliver nuclear warheads as far as the united states. ♪ >> all at once, president vladimir putin turns up with a direct threat to use them. >> yes, for humankind it'll be a global disaster.

for the world, it'll be a disaster. but what do we need the world for, if there's no russia? >> a demonstration of russian power is directed at nato. there are many people in eastern latvia who feel closely tied to russia, says maria dubitska. she feels differently. as a latvian, she's proud that her country is now a member of the e.u. instead of the soviet union. her father was once deported to siberia, she says. the war in ukraine is bringing back sinister memories. >> some of the people here are expecting war. that's completely absurd. ideas are going around about the soviet union making a comeback. and now, some are even hoping russia will come here, too. and all these politics are broadcast straight into the heads of people here.

>> this kind of soviet nostalgic fantasy is being resurrected in rezekne, especially among people who feel left behind. the highway connecting riga and moscow runs through here. nearly half the townspeople are russian speakers. and many of them find ways to watch the banned russian state television, even if, since the war broke out, few will admit it. are you satisfied with the russian media? >> very satisfied! >> how would you valuate the quality? >> excuse me, i must go. >> nowadays, it's better to leave this question unanswered. >> you're afraid to express your opinion. >> they foam at the mouth with hatred. >> i watch latvian television. >> both sides have propaganda. >> experts claim that russian propaganda is trying to influence the large russian minority in latvia and drive a wedge into society. but that could also be an

over-generalization. >> the russian-speaking population in latvia is not homogenous. they are people, they are stubborn and don't want to learn the language and they have more pro-kremlin leaning opinions. versus, there is the whole generation that was born and raised during the independent times. and they are quite loyal and european-thinking, although they of course use the russian language in their households. >> latvia is in an especially exposed position on nato's outer edge -- another point the propaganda doesn't miss. as an example, on a talk show on russian state television, a former military officer spells out how russia could invade latvia and the other two baltic republics step by step. >> the kaliningrad army corps and the belarusian forces close the suwalki corridor. simultaneously, troops from the

western military district push into estonia, latvia and lithuania. a new government is formed in latvia, lithuania and estonia -- the national people's republic of estonia, national people's republic of latvia and the national people's republic of lithuania. >> talk like that is meant to send messages of fear. but maria dubitska won't be intimidated, and she's demanding that the state do more to stop russian propaganda. >> we want to live in freedom on earth. we don't want to be ruled by anyone. we have the right to live in self-determination here. that's very important. >> maria dubitska's hoping she won't lose any more friends and acquaintances. she enjoys her free time in the countryside, far away from russian propaganda.

now, let me introduce you to an awe-inspiring woman -- philomena franz. in 1943, she was sent to the nazi auschwitz concentration camp. while most of her family was killed in the concentration camp, philomena managed to save herself from the gas chambers. she had mustered up the courage to sing in front of her tormentors. just a few weeks ago, philomena franz took her last breath, aged 100. ♪ >> auschwitz concentration camp. between 1940 and 1945, the nazis murdered more than a million people here. the majority of whom were jewish. but many among them were roma and sinti. like philomena franz, who, until her recent death, kept bearing testimony to the torture and humiliation she witnessed in auschwitz.

>> you know, it was inhumane. we were kept in the barracks down below. the crematorium, where people were burned, was above us, and our barracks just underneath. that's where i was held, too. but somehow, my time was not up. >> almost her entire family was murdered by the nazis. philomena franz herself was only 21 years old when she was deported to auschwitz. there, she experienced the nazis' delusional racist practices firsthand. >> they began by measuring my nose, my ears -- everything was measured. it was all racism! nothing else mattered to them. they wanted to know the origin of the sinti and so on. >> but philomena franz grew up in stuttgart. she came from a famous family of musicians who had lived in

germany for centuries, like many other sinti. >> we made music. we made our money in an honest way, and we had a nice house in stuttgart. back then, when i was a girl -- 12 or 13 years old, i was already singing on the stage, backed by an orchestra. i used to sing this song -- [singing in german] [laughter] >> the very song that would save her life when heinrich himmler came to visit auschwitz. the infamous chief of the ss wanted the prisoners to perform their music for him and they

knew what that that could mean. >> it was our last chance to avoid leaving through that chimney up there. and they told us, if those of you who can play don't satisfy this man now, then we're all done for. and what a stroke of luck -- i knew the song! because i always sang the newest tunes, even at home. then the camp leader gave orders to unlock the barracks where the prisoners' instruments were stored. they brought all the instruments, and i had a whole orchestra and a harp -- everything wonderful. we practiced for three whole days. and finally, i sang the song -- the one he had wished for -- together with the orchestra. beautiful.

i had tears running down my face. the orchestra was heavenly! >> years would pass before philomena franz was able to talk about all the scorn and torment she endured during this time. but finally, the urge to speak out and tell the world about her experiences prevailed. ♪ she began to write and make public appearances as an eyewitness, in the media, in schools and institutions. she told of the atrocities committed by the nazis. >> for years i've thought about what could possibly bring people to throw children into the cremation oven in front of their mothers' eyes, to commit such inhuman crimes. >> she received many awards, including germany's cross of merit, and never stopped reaching out to young people.

>> you know, when i told my story and gave lectures, the students would cry. i wanted to visit schools more than anything. i thought, you have to start with the younger generation. the old ones are set in their ways, they're already messed up. but you can still make something out of the young. >> the good will prevail. philomena franz remained convinced of that until the very end. she found strength in the christian faith. and despite all her suffering, she left no space for hatred. >> when you've been through something like that, auschwitz, those big camps, then you say to yourself, why should i hate? should i continue doing what the others did? should i hate them? hate is not an option! if we hate, we lose. love is a blessing for us

humans. if we don't have love, we give up our spirit and our virtue and then we're lost. >> a powerful message from an incredible woman. 100 years of philomena franz. host: an important message that we should all remember. moving on -- when you think of france, you have to think about its cafes and bistros. they are after all the hallmark of the french way of life. for many french people, the bistro is almost like a second living room or a home away from home. or, should i rather say they "were?" the number of bistros in france is in constant decline. and with that, a piece of french culture is disappearing too. an association in paris is fighting to keep this bistro culture alive. its members consider the bistro an important cultural asset

that should be preserved. ♪ >> at the crack of dawn in paris, the first sign of life comes from the bistros. they used to be a parisian trademark, but today they are becoming an increasingly rare sight. alain fontaine has been running his bistro for over 20 years, and now heads an association that wants to seek unesco's protection for establishments like his. >> the bistro culture means that you can talk about anything, about the important stuff, as well as the trivial. >> but for that, the ambience must be right. and it can't be too tidy. >> my bistro has a soul. there's lots of stuff that belonged to my family here, like my father's helmet and old family photos. >> but whether the main theme is family, love, or politics,

for many, the bistro on the corner is like a second home, open from early morning until late at night. >> i'm always chatting to everyone here, it's a great place to meet people. >> the bistro stands for joie de vivre. it's a place where you can unwind and simply feel good about life. >> and eat well! a steak tartare for example - at any time of day! but on the outside, the world has changed drastically. 40 years ago, there were five times as many bistros in france as today. owners are hoping that if unesco grants world heritage status to the small bistros, it might turn the tide. and though there wouldn't be any direct money in it for the owners, the bistro as a world heritage site would surely make for good advertising.

advertising that the fast-food chains could only dream of. the age-old city of paris is in high demand, and the big fish are putting more and more bistros out of business. influencers like florian on air are drawn to a very different type of restaurant. he is constantly scanning the city for the newest food trends to present to his followers. >> you're more likely to find creativity and new concepts elsewhere than in your typical french bistro. >> today, florian's blog takes him to a top of the range thai street food restaurant. but all his love for the new doesn't stop him from wanting to preserve the old -- the bistros. >> i love bistros, they're very typical of france. the baguette is already on the unesco list, so why not bistros? >> the influencers are on board, but the ministry of

culture is hesitant -- and that's where the official application to unesco must come from. bistro owner fontaine resents the officials' apparent lack of interest in their efforts. >> we've been rejected twice already. why? because we don't fit into all the boxes of the unesco convention. that convention really keeps me up at night. >> the problem? owners are having a hard time defining exactly what constitutes a bistro in the first place because each one is unique. as individual as they are, there's one thing that ties them together -- a sense of charm and tradition. [singing in french] >> alain fontaine is confident that the bistros will get the recognition they deserve. because parisians and tourists alike have long understood, france is not france without

its bistros. narrator: in europe, prices have gone up due to inflation, especially in poland. in some regions, food prices have doubled . prices for electrcity and gas have increased as well. and pensioners are having to bear the brunt. when halina goes shopping, she has to make do with as little as possible. for everything she can't afford, she has to depend on the social department store. even in these desperate times, halina is sure that she would never steal. but many store owners in poland are complaining about an increasing number of thefts, as even stable food seems to have become unaffordable for many. >> szymon siwonia hangs a sign on the fridge in his store -- "attention, butter in the refrigerator at the checkout." why? because it's no longer safe here in the far corner of his store in kielce. >> we noticed that about 30% of the butter in the fridge had disappeared. after checking the footage off the security cameras and our inventory, we decided to sell

the butter at the checkout instead. >> the price of butter here in poland has increased by almost 50%. record inflation has seen the prices for a whole range of food and drink skyrocket. especially hard hit are the elderly, whose pensions can't keep up. szymon has observed mainly these people stealing here at his store. >> if the prices double, even triple, but the pensions stay the same as they were half a year ago -- well, then they have to come up with new ways to make ends meet. >> the number of robberies has increased by almost a third in poland according to recent statistics. and time and time again, it's pensioners who are found to be the culprits. pensioners like halina here in warsaw. she says she has never stolen anything, even though her pension hasn't been enough to keep her fridge properly

stocked for some time now. after paying her rent and bills, halina is left with about one -- 100 euros a month to live on, despite receiving the state's pension. >> this store really is wonderful. everywhere else has become so expensive, from dairy products to fruits and vegetables. here, the prices are more affordable for pensioners like me. >> the store operates on donations. and recent months have seen more and more people come, especially the sick and elderly, who're already struggling with rent and medical expenses. >> so many people come and thank us, saying that, if it were not for us, they would have to go hungry for the last week of the month because they just can't afford it. >> inflation at nearly 16% and rising is seeing their standard of living reduce. older people with pensions who

are only just above the welfare payments threshold are especially affected, because they are not eligible for any further support. halina visits her local supermarket, where buyers and sellers alike are feeling the impact of soaring inflation. petty theft is now part of everyday life. >> yes, we're seeing it more and more. people might pocket a tomato, an apple -- that didn't happen before. >> halina rarely buys from the markets now as it's too expensive. but she does drop by the stall "do syta" which translates as "full." grzegorz jedrzejczak's stall operates on a generosity model. anyone who buys a meal here can donate a second one for people who are struggling. >> anyone who is hungry can me to us and get some food.

if someone doesn't really need it, they shouldn't come, but people who are in need are always welcome. >> halina comes to grzegorz's stall every day now. before, she didn't eat lunch at all. sometimes he even gives her some fresh cold cuts that he buys for her. >> thank you so, so much. from the bottom of my heart, thank you. my darlings, i wish you good health, you have been there for me, and i am so grateful for that. thank you. >> life is hard for halina. but thanks to people like grzegorz, she too can feel cared for in this difficult time. host: for ukrainians like olga osadchy, there is a unique treasure in switzerland's basel art museum: there are 100 paintings by renowned ukrainian artists. only a few weeks after war broke out in ukraine, the

artworks were taken away from kyiv and brought to safety just in time before russian missiles struck the national gallery. some of these paintings are now on display publicly. paintings by artists born in ukraine. "ukrainian peasant house," painted in 1880 by ilya repin, is a long way from home. instead of kyiv, it's now hanging in the basel fine arts museum. olga osadtschy is from kyiv herself. to her, this exhibition is a little slice of homeland she hasn't been able to visit since russia's invasion. >> this exhibition here was a great gift to us and a wonderful surprise in these sad, tragic and dramatic times. it was an opportunity to be able to actually do something productive in a very difficult personal situation -- to do something very important to all of us here at the museum, but also for me personally.

>> about 50 works are exhibited here, all of them by artists who were born in the territory of present-day ukraine. before the war started, they hung in the national museum's kyiv picture gallery. they were secretly transported from kyiv to basel to protect them from russian bombing -- and just in the nick of time. >> our museum was severely damaged. a few other museums in kyiv also were severely damaged. more than this, a few other museums in ukraine were completely destroyed by russian attacks. >> the basel gallery offered not only protection, but a public spotlight. working together with their kyiv counterparts, the curators swiftly organized an exhibition. >> it is a chance to show european people part of ukrainian culture because we want to be heard, we want to be seen. >> the creators are mostly known in western europe as

russian artists. few people here are aware, for instance, that realist ilya repin grew up in ukraine. >> we have a great deal of catching up to do. we don't really know anything about this art or these artists. what's their relation to eastern european history? and, of course, ukraine plays a very tragic and very central part. >> the great diversity of ukrainian culture may be sampled at the basel fine arts museum until april 2023. and afterwards, it is hoped, the works will be able to return home to kyiv. host: wouldn't that be great news? what do you think about it? you can get in touch with me via twitter. you can also watch the show on our website and share it with your friends and family. that's all from us today. thanks for tuning in. we will see you next week. until then, stay healthy, and goodbye. ♪ which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

02/16/23 02/16/23 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from new york, this is democracy now! >> it was not like any other earthquake. the roads were destroyed, our houses were demolished. whole cities were flattened. no one knows how we are going to live. amy: as the death toll in turkiye and syria nears 42,000, continuing to rise, go to

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