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(mysterious music)
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NARRATOR:
We start our trip in Kansas, USA.
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Here, we meet the creator of
what is said to be
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the safest place in the world.
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We’re not allowed to reveal
the precise address
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as people are constantly
trying to break in.
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- ...that other people show up with
guns, and our guns were bigger
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than their guns.
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And they got arrested, and you know,
it's been...
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it's a serious business.
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NARRATOR: We arrive after a
half-hour drive through a land
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devoid of people.
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First impression:
A maximum security prison.
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Cameras and heavily armed
guards everywhere.
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- You'll see the level of security
when we get out here.
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It's nothing to be messing with.
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If you try to climb the fence and
damage the property,
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and try to hurt people that are
there, we can shoot back.
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- How are you doing?
You guys have your ID on you?
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You don't have any weapons,
or any bombs, or any dead bodies
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- or anything on board, do you?
- No.
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- You wouldn't mind if I pat you
down before you come in
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just to make sure you don't have
anything on you?
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- I can get out of the car.
- If could step out of the vehicle,
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I would appreciate it.
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NARRATOR:
We're checked from head to toe.
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This is how every visitor is
welcomed - no matter who they are.
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At least two members of security
staff continuously monitor the site.
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They can even arrest people,
in coordination with the police.
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But what is so valuable?
The answer is in here.
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In a disused nuclear missile silo
from the Cold War,
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which owner Larry Hall has turned
into a luxury residential complex.
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Here, the inhabitants should be able
to survive any kind of catastrophe.
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What's known as the Luxury
Survival Condo extends across
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14 storeys under the ground and
offers space for up to 75 people.
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There is a pool, a cinema,
a doctor's surgery,
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a supermarket and much more here -
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an autonomous town spread out
over 17,000 square metres.
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If you have enough pocket money -
1.2 million euros is all you need.
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- Residential Level Five.
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NARRATOR: Larry spends most of his
life down here.
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As the founder of the complex,
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he is responsible for the safety of
all the apartment owners.
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Each morning he checks whether
a catastrophe is imminent.
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Through his former job in the
government and NASA,
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he knows the secret websites that
provide him with such information.
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- Today we have a 45 percent chance
of an X-flare,
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which is the strongest rated
solar flare.
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These are the kind of flares that-
with their coronal mass ejection,
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and it's pointed towards
the earth right now.
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So, we're keeping our eye on this,
cause we're in a kind of
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a dangerous situation there,
that could definitely impact a lot
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of people globally.
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NARRATOR: The bunker is fitted with
a specially developed alarm system.
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Each of the residents has an app
that informs him immediately
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of possible danger.
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Yellow indicates a possible
catastrophe, and red means
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that all residents should
immediately head to the bunker.
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The solar storm could change
the alarm from green to yellow.
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Despite the threat, Larry has
an appointment for a viewing
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with a potential buyer.
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Dawn Snyder has three children
and is looking for safe
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accommodation if
catastrophe should strike.
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Larry wants to show her that she
wouldn't need to go without
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any comforts here.
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- Is that easy to open then?
- Very easy.
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- Yeah. It's also a very protective.
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NARRATOR: A pool and spa area behind
steel doors is intended to provide
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the necessary
distraction for the residents
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and stave off depression
during prolonged stays.
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Larry has sought advice from
psychologists on how life down here
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can be made as normal as possible.
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- You can get a cup of coffee in the
morning, come up here,
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be around some trees, have some
high-volume ceilings.
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If you have any little dogs,
we've got a pet park over here.
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NARRATOR: Provisions are also made
for any little deposits left by
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the residents' four-legged friends -
an anti-odour spray keeps the air
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at the neighbouring climbing wall
clean.
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The guided tour continues
eight storeys underground.
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Down here, a library awaits for
people to read
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and while away their time.
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Next to it is another project that
is close to Larry's heart -
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he has even thought about
the education of the children
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in the event of a catastrophe.
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- We envision the moms maybe coming
down here, and being next door
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while the kids are in the classroom
over here.
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NARRATOR: A digital classroom.
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Dawn’s children could go to school
here one day.
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They would learn on computers, on
which an extensive digital library
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and even parts of the Internet
are stored.
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- And teachers and instructors?
Do you have them on site then?
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- You rotate. You will be a
teacher for one month.
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I will be a teacher for one month.
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NARRATOR: In the event of a
disaster, when the bunker is closed,
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each resident must spend four hours
a day working in different jobs.
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Dawn would have to regularly
teach her own children.
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According to psychologists,
the rotating jobs should help
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the residents cope
with the confinement.
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And now the luxury apartment: here
Dawn could live with her children.
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The entire floor measures around
170 square meters
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and offers space
for up to 10 people.
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Price point:
around 2.5 million euros.
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And it's so luxurious that you don't
even need to be able to see outside.
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- What is this?
- Those are electronic windows.
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Those let you know that you
are not underground.
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Everything has these electronic
iPads that let you control
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what you have.
So we're in this room.
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NARRATOR: You could say these are
the windows onto the outside world.
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You can choose between three cameras
that are installed outside.
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Or other programmes.
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At any rate,
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Dawn seems to be impressed by
the features of the apartment.
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- Next best thing!
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If it's not safe to go outside...
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..at least to be able to look out.
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NARRATOR: At the end of the viewing,
Dawn is sure:
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she could imagine living down here.
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The world out there
no longer feels safe to her.
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- What are we scared of?
Just the world falling apart.
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I think every day we get
closer and closer to it.
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And I feel better already knowing,
you know, we're planning for
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our future and for our safety,
and we're going to be OK.
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NARRATOR: Larry now has to make all
the preparations for a possible
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solar storm.
Mark Menosky will help him.
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They have known each
other for 15 years.
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Larry developed the concept
for the bunker with him.
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Mark also spends most of
his time down here.
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The solar storm could cut the power
supply, so they check
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the diesel generators.
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- We have 20,000 gallons of diesel
fuel stored underground.
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Let's open up the generators
and check their status.
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NARRATOR: The bunker is equipped
with two of these
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high-performance generators,
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which can produce electricity for at
least two and a half years.
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(engine starts)
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- I'm going to put it back
in the automatic mode so,
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if there is a power outage,
it will be available for service.
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NARRATOR: But Larry and Mark are
ready not just for solar storms -
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they have devised solutions for all
possible catastrophes.
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Especially important:
the air the residents will breathe.
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Various filter systems protect
against air affected by
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nuclear or biochemical
contamination.
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A project that lies very close
to Mark’s heart can be found three
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storeys down
- the aquaponics system.
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The name refers to a technique
used to produce fish
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and crop plants underground.
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A self-sustaining water
and nutrient cycle.
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The system is
the centrepiece of the bunker.
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Mark wants to cultivate
over 70 different varieties
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of vegetable here.
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For each vegetable there is
a different light frequency -
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and so sunlight becomes unnecessary.
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If one were to live permanently in
the bunker, the inhabitants would
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be supplied from here with fresh
foods - even fish are included.
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Until that happens, we go on
shopping tour in the bunker's
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own supermarket.
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Which offers a huge range of
different meals -
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all of which can be kept
for 25 years.
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- Maybe for lunch we'll have, uhmm,
for dinner we'll have chicken.
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So we'll get some chicken here.
Chicken and rice sound good.
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NARRATOR:
Shopping here is somewhat different
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than in normal supermarkets -
Mark is particularly proud of that.
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- It's almost like you see
in the Star Trek series,
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where there's no money
changed hands.
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When the people buy into
this condo concept,
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everything here is included as part
of the basic survival package.
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It's a free supermarket.
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NARRATOR:
That's not completely true.
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The residents actually have to pay
a monthly flat rate of up to
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4,000 euros for incidental expenses.
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Larry's luxury bunker is not only
protected against catastrophes.
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It is protected with
an electric fence,
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by dozens of high-resolution
security cameras
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and by a remote-control drone.
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Larry can monitor and control all of
this from a room underground.
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Today, a suspicious vehicle
attracts his attention.
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- Hey Mark, hey! Can you come on in?
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I have to show you something.
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NARRATOR: Steven is responsible for
security across the whole site.
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- ...but I did see some other
activity at the end of the driveway
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down here.
Some other vehicles came by.
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Do you want to check with the guard
on duty up there,
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and see if there's
any cars lurking around?
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- If they've been coming and going?
- Sure.
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NARRATOR: Steven sets off with one
of the two military vehicles,
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each weighing over 10 tonnes.
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This means that, in the event of
a catastrophe,
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residents could be brought from
one bunker into the other.
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Today, Steven is using it as
a reconnaissance vehicle.
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- Anything suspicious,
that could be of any danger.
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That could be people laying in
the field here with military gear,
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any gear, or a riffle.
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- Did you ever have that happen?
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- Hmm... no comment
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NARRATOR: The security team works
closely with the police.
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They can even take people
into custody.
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The car features shooting hatches
and is fully equipped with
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various weapons.
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Steven spent a long time
in the US army.
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After he returned from Iraq,
he accepted a job from Larry
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around a year ago.
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He takes his job very seriously.
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- We don't break any laws, but
we're prepared for whatever happens.
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If we were not worried about safety
we wouldn't have any security.
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Cause security is safety.
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I don't know it's just in my blood,
it's what I do.
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NARRATOR: Today, apart from a few
farmers in the field,
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there were no anomalies.
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Everything has been quiet this
evening for his colleagues
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at the gate, too.
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In the event of a catastrophe,
Steven would have to stay outside -
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he cannot afford the luxury bunker.
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Nevertheless, he would perform
his duties until the end.
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- Well, I'll stay here until
we get all the residents in,
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buttoned in, taken care of.
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When chaos hits, we're warrior
within else, you see so many
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people going, everybody is
out for themselves.
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There's got to be some
kind of humanity
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NARRATOR: While Mark has dinner,
Larry phones his young son.
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He sold his house,
car and much more for the bunker.
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He has created a safe place,
above all for his family.
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However, during term time, his son
lives six hours away in Denver.
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- Hey Luke!
- Hi!
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00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:22,880
- I'm going to be home on Thursday,
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what else do you want to do
when I'm home?
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00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,040
- Maybe indoor-soccer
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NARRATOR: Mark makes himself
comfortable alone in the bunker
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cinema 13 storeys under the ground.
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The alarm system is on green:
no danger today.
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And so Larry is out enjoying the
heavenly sunset over Kansas.
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Sheer luxury in safety
and glittering future prospects.
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- This is a 1000 year structure.
It will just be here forever.
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NARRATOR: And so ends the day at one
of the world’s safest places.
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00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,040
NARRATOR:
A village hidden in the forest.
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In front of every house:
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The mysterious boxes.
237
00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:26,720
Stacked on top of each other
and tightly closed.
238
00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:30,520
They may look unimportant, but
inside each box is every resident's
239
00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:34,960
greatest source of wealth - and at
the same time, their greatest foe.
240
00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:44,360
King cobras.
241
00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:49,120
Their scientific name, Ophiophagus
hannah, means 'snake-eater'.
242
00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:53,800
Like cannibals, they prey almost
solely on their own kind.
243
00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:56,640
They are the world's largest
poisonous snakes.
244
00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,200
Their venom can kill humans
within just a few hours.
245
00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,440
They are feared and avoided
all over the world,
246
00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,360
but here in the northeast of
Thailand,
247
00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:09,360
in the 'Village of the King Cobras',
they are the centre of life.
248
00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,200
1,000 species of snakes live close
to the village and their presence
249
00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,200
can be felt all around it.
250
00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,160
Snake fighters enter the ring on
a weekly basis to fight what
251
00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:22,720
they fear the most.
252
00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:30,080
Three people lost their lives last
year taking part in this tradition.
253
00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:43,960
Tam was in a coma for two weeks.
254
00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,400
The doctors had given up on him and
he had been declared dead
255
00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,360
by the local press. But he lived.
256
00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:54,480
A medical miracle, that just
two years ago nobody believed in.
257
00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,280
Like his father and grandfather
before him,
258
00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,280
the Thai spent his childhood
fighting king cobras.
259
00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,320
He was one of the most talented
fighters in the village.
260
00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:12,920
But the bite changed him.
Tam used to be slender and athletic.
261
00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,600
Until one day he made
a near-fatal mistake.
262
00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,280
(speaking Thai)
263
00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:48,200
NARRATOR:
Although it almost took his life,
264
00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:49,960
he couldn’t kill his cobra.
265
00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:53,880
Like everyone else in the village,
Tam has a love-hate relationship
266
00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,800
with his Nung Nim, whose name
translates into ‘lucky charm’.
267
00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,600
Up until now, however, it’s done
anything but bring him luck.
268
00:17:26,120 --> 00:17:28,560
NARRATOR:
Tam has been bitten three times.
269
00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:32,240
The last time he went into a coma
and wanted to stop keeping
270
00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:34,280
king cobras and fighting them.
271
00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:36,280
Yet it's an old tradition,
272
00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,400
which has been passed down from one
generation to the next.
273
00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,440
If you give it up,
then you betray your family.
274
00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:49,080
For more than 100 years snakes have
been kept here as pets,
275
00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:54,520
yet at the same time they're also a
commodity, like the spitting cobras.
276
00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:56,840
Tam has to sneak up from the side.
277
00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,240
Then the spitting cobras feel
threatened and spit their venom into
278
00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:04,800
the eyes of their opponent and blind
them, from up to three meters away.
279
00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,600
Tam sells the cobras to Malaysians
who drink their blood.
280
00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,680
It's said that spitting cobras
make men virile.
281
00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,400
But why are there so
many cobras here?
282
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,960
There used to be a jungle here,
which made it a natural habitat
283
00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:26,360
for snakes.
284
00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:28,480
When humans came
and built their village,
285
00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,240
they started to actively hunt
the cobras.
286
00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,600
Since there was no hospital nearby,
287
00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,360
the villagers wanted to find
an antivenin.
288
00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,320
They ritualised this
tradition into fighting.
289
00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,280
Tam will also compete tomorrow.
290
00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:53,640
It will be the first time since
the last bite by Nung Nim,
291
00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,800
his king cobra.
292
00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,760
Tam goes into the forest to get
the antivenin before every show.
293
00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:03,480
There is no doctor or pharmacy
in the entire village.
294
00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,640
A long time ago, the Thais
discovered a root in the forest
295
00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:10,840
called ‘Wanpayangu’
and swear by it as an antivenin.
296
00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:13,880
Doctors are sceptical of its effect.
297
00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,800
Yet the villagers believe
that it gives them time.
298
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,320
If they're bitten,
they have to travel to the clinic,
299
00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,360
which is 45 minutes away.
300
00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:56,840
NARRATOR: The actual 'antiserum'
which is made from snake venom
301
00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,680
and which inactivates the venom
from a bite,
302
00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:02,600
can only be administered by doctors.
303
00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:04,920
But what happens to
a body when it's bitten?
304
00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:08,440
The poison attacks the nervous
system, among other things.
305
00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,760
It attacks the synapses, which are
the points of contact between
306
00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:13,640
neurons and other cells.
307
00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:17,200
If they are impaired, then no
information can be relayed,
308
00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:19,000
which leads to paralysis.
309
00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,200
The lymphatic system spreads
the venom throughout the body.
310
00:20:24,360 --> 00:20:27,880
At the beginning of the poisoning,
cranial nerves are attacked.
311
00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,840
That's why the eyelids,
facial muscles, tongue and throat
312
00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:32,840
are the first to be crippled.
313
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,640
If the venom spreads further,
314
00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,800
the respiratory muscles are
also paralysed.
315
00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,720
The bite victim is in danger
of suffocating.
316
00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,720
In the meantime, the village has
turned the snake infestation
317
00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:46,040
into a business.
318
00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,760
While some grow the antivenin root,
others, like the trader Yod,
319
00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:53,120
travel to neighbouring villages
to sell the root as a remedy.
320
00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,280
The neighbouring towns don't have as
many snakes as
321
00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,200
the 'Village of the King Cobras',
322
00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:01,360
but as is typical
for Eastern Thailand,
323
00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,720
superstition and alternative healing
methods are also deeply rooted here.
324
00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:10,680
Yod always has his king cobra with
him, in order to carry out
325
00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:12,760
the 'job of educating',
as he puts it.
326
00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:18,520
He earns around 250 euros per month
selling his 'remedies'.
327
00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:26,320
Even today the first customer has
already taken the bait.
328
00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:29,480
(speaking Thai)
329
00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:52,720
NARRATOR: The woman pays roughly
1.25 euros for the root.
330
00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,440
NARRATOR: The fear of reptiles is
great, and as experience shows us,
331
00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,520
there's also a reason for it.
332
00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,880
On the other hand, our camera team
was surprised at just how calmly
333
00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:27,320
the villagers confronted
a tiger python slithering
334
00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,400
through their village.
335
00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:31,560
The women and children don't care.
336
00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:33,680
Constrictors may not be poisonous,
337
00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:37,200
but they are capable of
breaking all the bones of a man.
338
00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,160
A call to the snake hunter known
throughout the village.
339
00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:46,360
Everyday he catches about ten snakes
that get into the villagers’ homes.
340
00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:50,840
Once again, it's made quite clear
that every job in the village
341
00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,600
has some connection with all
the snakes around.
342
00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:04,400
NARRATOR: The cobra fighters have
easily the most dangerous job.
343
00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,600
While Tam sets out with his king
cobra for the first time
344
00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:10,920
in two years,
345
00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:15,120
numerous spectators gradually
begin to meet at the stage.
346
00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,520
The village isn't advertised in
the travel guide,
347
00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,800
because visitors to the fight are
mainly Thais and locals who attach
348
00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,480
a certain spiritual meaning
to the fights.
349
00:23:28,360 --> 00:23:33,240
Before the show, Tam and his oldest
colleague Komthai show us
350
00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,440
that the animals aren't milked
before the fight.
351
00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,800
In other words,
their venom glands are still full.
352
00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:46,880
(speaking Thai)
353
00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:02,360
NARRATOR: Komthai has been fighting
with cobras for 59 years,
354
00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,360
and he has been bitten 21 times.
355
00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,800
In this part of the world, limbs are
frequently and too quickly
356
00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:12,200
amputated after snakebites,
because they swell up.
357
00:24:12,360 --> 00:24:16,480
The venom may damage the tissue,
but amputations are rarely necessary
358
00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:18,800
in the case of
subsequent infections.
359
00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:23,840
Before every fight, Tam is the only
fighter to put on a vest.
360
00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:26,920
It offers him an additional
layer of protection.
361
00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:31,560
If the cobra bites the chest,
he hopes that its teeth will get
362
00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:33,720
caught in this mesh.
363
00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:35,680
The first fight begins.
364
00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,000
The 69-year old Komthai
is ahead of him.
365
00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:48,640
The oldest man in the village claims
to be immune to snake venom by now.
366
00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:52,720
If he's bit,
he no longer goes to the hospital,
367
00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,080
but simply sucks out the poison.
368
00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,760
Whether this is true, nobody knows.
369
00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:07,200
After all, there's no scientific
evidence that a person can
370
00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:10,280
become completely immune after
being bitten many times.
371
00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,280
Tam knows he is not immune.
372
00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:18,880
He almost didn't survive
the last bite.
373
00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,200
It was Nung Nim, this king cobra.
374
00:25:22,360 --> 00:25:26,040
It's allowed to drink once before
the fight and to cool down.
375
00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:28,080
Then it's down to business.
376
00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,960
NARRATOR: The goal of the fight is
to last one-and-a-half minutes with
377
00:25:58,120 --> 00:26:01,280
the snake that bit Tam and sent him
into a coma two years ago.
378
00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:06,760
King cobras don't usually attack
humans out in nature.
379
00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:09,800
But since here on the stage they
are continuously provoked
380
00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:15,120
by movement, they start a
'mock attack' or a 'defensive bite'.
381
00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:17,760
In this case,
the snake doesn't really bite.
382
00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:20,520
The cobra doesn't have many
natural enemies
383
00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,840
and doesn't want to waste its venom.
384
00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:27,160
That's why it will only bite
at the place where it registered
385
00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:29,000
the last movement.
386
00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:33,000
The marking shows Tam's last
position where he provoked
387
00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:37,400
the snake. And in fact,
the King Cobra goes no further.
388
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,800
Eye contact is important.
389
00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,120
Tam has to recognise when the snake
will attack in order to leap
390
00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:48,240
out of the way at the right moment.
391
00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:51,880
If the cobra is serious about
biting, it would not flare its hood
392
00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:55,440
into a threatening position,
but would rather creep up.
393
00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:58,760
Then Tam would have no chance
of dodging the fangs.
394
00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:04,520
Three fighters lost
their lives this way.
395
00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:09,200
Tam's weight does not work to
his advantage in fights.
396
00:27:09,360 --> 00:27:13,120
After the last bite, the 25-year old
put on ten kilos
397
00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:15,000
because of the infusions.
398
00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:16,720
At the high-point of the fight
399
00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:20,320
the 25-year old is supposed
to kiss the snake.
400
00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:24,080
It’s the critical moment at which,
last time, he was bitten.
401
00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,040
The spectators are
thrilled and give money.
402
00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,000
In the meantime, the fighting
rituals have become
403
00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,840
the village's greatest source
of income.
404
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,160
Getting the next generation excited
about the village tradition
405
00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,320
is all the more important for them.
406
00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:51,280
The youngest fighter is called
'Focus' and is four years old.
407
00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:55,000
The Beauty rat snake isn't
poisonous, but it is aggressive.
408
00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:58,960
The vicious but harmless snake is
meant to teach him that a bite only
409
00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:03,240
hurts for a little while, and it
also helps him get rid of his fear.
410
00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:08,200
Yet the fear remains
throughout life,
411
00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:13,200
for nobody knows when
the next king cobra will bite.
412
00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:19,760
The next mysterious place is
located in Shanghai.
413
00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,680
Even satellite images show
that there is a building in China's
414
00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:29,040
metropolis that looks like
the U.S. Department of Defence,
415
00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:30,360
the Pentagon.
416
00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:34,800
The comparison makes it clear:
417
00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,200
The Chinese copy is almost
as big as the original.
418
00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:42,160
Why did the Chinese copy
an American government building?
419
00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:44,000
And what's inside?
420
00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:49,720
Its 24 million inhabitants make
Shanghai one of the largest
421
00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:51,600
cities in the world.
422
00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:55,400
We drove far into the eastern part
of the city on our search for
423
00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:57,320
the Chinese Pentagon.
424
00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:01,360
A rural area. People here know
the building very well.
425
00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:05,320
(speaking Chinese)
426
00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:17,720
NARRATOR: The building is known by
the name Wu Jiao Da Lou
427
00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:22,920
in China. Literally translated,
it means 'five-corner building'.
428
00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,680
We want to ask about it in this
restaurant,
429
00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,880
but why it is so empty here,
although it's lunchtime?
430
00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:43,560
NARRATOR: The building changed
the lives of many people
431
00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:45,040
here in the region.
432
00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:48,280
We follow the directions given at
the restaurant and end up
433
00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:50,280
in front of this gate.
434
00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:53,160
Although the Chinese version is not
as well secured as
435
00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,640
the U.S. original,
the flags are waiving inside
436
00:29:56,800 --> 00:29:59,360
just like at
the U.S. Department of Defence.
437
00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:05,480
We finally find an open gate
in the east wing and drive right in.
438
00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:09,160
To our surprise, this takes us
to a large supermarket.
439
00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,280
Shopping at the Pentagon? Indeed.
440
00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,160
But bizarre images await us
here too -
441
00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:19,000
no shoppers;
empty aisles and shelves.
442
00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:22,120
The supermarket management is
watching us sceptically.
443
00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:25,000
We thus continue shooting
with a hidden camera.
444
00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:44,160
NARRATOR: Forklift driver Jin Lui
has worked here since the 'Pentagon'
445
00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:45,560
came into being.
446
00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:48,160
We want to find out more from him.
447
00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:51,520
His house was right where
the Pentagon now stands.
448
00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:53,600
He sold it for a lot of money.
449
00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:58,080
This was actually supposed to become
a huge shopping centre, but...
450
00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:13,800
NARRATOR: The construction project
has already swallowed
451
00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:15,640
180 million euros.
452
00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,920
There were supposed to be luxury
shops here in a new super mall.
453
00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:20,840
But the plan didn't work out.
454
00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:39,480
NARRATOR: We are still accompanying
Jin Lui when security suddenly
455
00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:41,200
appears in front of us.
456
00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:44,000
Camera crews are not welcome here,
we are told.
457
00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:46,560
We must leave the premises
immediately.
458
00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:49,840
The security guard prohibits us from
returning and threatens
459
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:51,520
to call the police.
460
00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:56,720
NARRATOR: New day, new attempt.
461
00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,200
We want to find out what else is
in the building
462
00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,280
and why it has been abandoned.
463
00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:03,680
We send another team to
the Pentagon
464
00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,440
and get inside through a side
entrance.
465
00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:09,640
Broken glass, smeared walls.
466
00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:13,600
This looks nothing like the
Pentagon. The lifts don't work,
467
00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:15,800
escalators: out of order.
468
00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:19,480
Apart from the supermarket,
the huge building is empty.
469
00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,360
But is someone there?!
470
00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:28,120
No security this time, but who's
the man with the camera?
471
00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,640
NARRATOR: Jian Zhichao works
as an account manager
472
00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:52,520
and is a photo blogger
in his spare time.
473
00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:56,240
We follow him into the mall's
underground parking area.
474
00:32:56,400 --> 00:33:00,160
Not a single car is parked
in the oversized parking garage.
475
00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:13,080
NARRATOR: The empty parking garage
is constantly filled with the sounds
476
00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:16,080
of Western music -
although there's nobody here.
477
00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:20,000
But it gets even stranger.
A gigantic unused area.
478
00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,440
Endless corridors and
an infrastructure that is
479
00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:25,600
gradually falling into disrepair.
480
00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:32,320
Alongside all the garbage,
we suddenly discover a chic office.
481
00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:34,800
The locking system makes
funny noises, though.
482
00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:51,520
NARRATOR:
Even after waiting for some time,
483
00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:53,560
we do not find the owner
of the office.
484
00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:57,320
Jian Zhichao tells us that ghost
malls like these
485
00:33:57,480 --> 00:33:59,320
are not uncommon in China.
486
00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:02,240
Another ghost mall is
located in Dongguan
487
00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:03,920
in southern China.
488
00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:08,800
It looks even worse in Ordos
where an entire town is empty.
489
00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:11,600
The main reasons for the failed
construction projects:
490
00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,280
massive overestimation
of the market situation
491
00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:16,760
and lack of government controls.
492
00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,520
The operators have badly
miscalculated in case of
493
00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:21,120
the Pentagon too.
494
00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:24,440
And the empty building
continues to incur costs.
495
00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,240
NARRATOR: We make our way
to the centre of the Pentagon.
496
00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,960
The huge inner courtyard is
beautifully maintained.
497
00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:48,760
The plants have been trimmed and
it still looks quite tidy
498
00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:50,800
despite years of lying fallow.
499
00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:53,880
What are these visitors waiting for?
500
00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:10,200
NARRATOR: This year, Asia's biggest
Disney World is scheduled to
501
00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:14,600
complete construction at a distance
of 8km from the Pentagon building
502
00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:17,960
- and is expected to attract
millions of visitors to the region.
503
00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:21,320
It is currently still a big
construction site, however.
504
00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:26,720
Amateur photographer
Jian Zhichao also hopes Disney World
505
00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:28,640
will attract more visitors.
506
00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,200
NARRATOR: Shanghai's empty Pentagon.
507
00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:45,240
Whether the new theme park impacts
the letting situation in
508
00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:49,560
the monumental building complex
only the future will tell.
509
00:35:49,720 --> 00:35:54,720
Until then, this place will remain
an exceptional lost place.
510
00:35:56,960 --> 00:35:59,040
After watching a copied
American building,
511
00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:01,720
we visit an original one
in New York.
512
00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:08,760
39 storeys, a total area of 69,000
square metres
513
00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:11,040
and several thousand employees.
514
00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:13,960
The United Nations headquarters
is an essential part
515
00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:15,800
of New York's skyline.
516
00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:20,120
Yet the United Nations isn't located
on American territory at all!
517
00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:23,160
And inside there are several
baffling spots.
518
00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:33,280
Main objectives of the UN in
New York: Ensuring world peace
519
00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:35,600
and collaboration between nations.
520
00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:39,360
The UN headquarters is located in
Midtown Manhattan on the site
521
00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:41,400
of a former slaughterhouse.
522
00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:45,280
John D. Rockefeller donated the land
to the international organisation
523
00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:47,120
in 1946.
524
00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:52,800
But why is it nevertheless not
located on American territory?
525
00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:55,520
Let's take a closer look.
526
00:36:55,680 --> 00:36:58,280
Here, it looks like a heavily
guarded border:
527
00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:02,440
fences, cameras,
armed security personnel.
528
00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,080
The UN is extraterritorial!
529
00:37:06,160 --> 00:37:08,920
It officially does not
belong to any nation!
530
00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:15,240
The UN even maintains its
own small police force.
531
00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:18,880
They are also responsible for
hoisting the 193 flags
532
00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:22,320
of the member states every
morning at 8 o'clock.
533
00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:25,840
Officer Juan Reyes
has been working here for 15 years.
534
00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:30,840
- Sometimes we have a lot of
demonstrations going on,
535
00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:32,640
when you have to use some force.
536
00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:36,600
As well as demonstrations that come
from outside coming in...
537
00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:38,920
but it's very rare.
538
00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:41,840
We had some instances where we had-
I don't know if you've heard,
539
00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:46,000
back in 2003 or 2004,
540
00:37:46,160 --> 00:37:48,200
there was a shootout here
in the United Nations,
541
00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:51,640
where a Korean national came in
and did some shootout.
542
00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:54,320
NARRATOR: Every visitor to the UN
has to go through this
543
00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:55,960
security check at the entrance.
544
00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:59,760
Just like at the airport, they have
to pass through an x-ray machine
545
00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:02,960
and hand over dangerous
objects such as knives.
546
00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:12,000
Next, we'll take a look at what's
probably the best-known part
547
00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:14,640
of the UN building:
the General Assembly.
548
00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:16,040
Once a year,
549
00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:20,080
all 193 member nations gather here
for official proceedings.
550
00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:24,800
The first surprise comes right away
- in the entry area.
551
00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:28,280
Why is there a set of stairs here
that is obviously prohibited
552
00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:29,720
from use?
553
00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:33,760
It connects the entry area with
the main entrance
554
00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:35,360
to the General Assembly.
555
00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:40,120
It doesn't look dilapidated. So why
is there a protective grating?
556
00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:43,720
Werner Schmidt, who's responsible
for architecture at the UN,
557
00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:45,080
knows the answer.
558
00:38:45,240 --> 00:38:49,400
He reveals to us that the stairs
were built this way on purpose!
559
00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:52,280
(speaking German)
560
00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:07,920
NARRATOR: It's true:
If you take normal steps,
561
00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:12,040
you'll quickly lose your balance on
the extremely long stairs.
562
00:39:13,160 --> 00:39:17,840
That's why they're opened only once
a year for the General Assembly.
563
00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:24,760
These doors lead to the General
Assembly's official ceremonies.
564
00:39:24,920 --> 00:39:30,120
The UN's largest hall has space
for over 1,800 people.
565
00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:34,440
Every year, from September to
December, representatives of
566
00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:39,440
all member nations meet here,
for example to adopt resolutions.
567
00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:43,920
More or less every politician of
note has been a guest speaker here.
568
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:49,880
For example, then-President of the
Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev's
569
00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:52,280
angry outbursts are legendary.
570
00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:58,680
Fidel Castro of Cuba held the
longest speech to date here in 1960;
571
00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:00,880
it was four and a half hours long.
572
00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:04,840
And the former
President of Palestine, Arafat,
573
00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:08,800
is said to have once appeared at
the lectern with a loaded revolver.
574
00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:13,440
The seating arrangement
of the individual countries
575
00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:15,560
is alphabetical.
576
00:40:15,720 --> 00:40:19,880
Right at the front,
there's the next exciting UN fact:
577
00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:22,160
this metre-tall golden wall.
578
00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:29,400
It's 230 square metres long and
completely covered in gold leaf.
579
00:40:52,360 --> 00:40:54,920
NARRATOR: There are headphones at
every delegate's seat.
580
00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:57,560
These aren't cutting-edge models.
581
00:40:57,720 --> 00:41:02,840
Is this ancient technology really in
use at such a famous institution?
582
00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:24,720
NARRATOR: The UN is currently
undergoing major renovations.
583
00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:27,920
Although everything is digital
today, this tried-and-true
584
00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:29,920
analogue technology has survived.
585
00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:33,840
The interpreters' booths are located
up above - they're sort of
586
00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:36,480
the box seats of the UN theatre.
587
00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:39,080
The UN has 6 official languages:
588
00:41:39,240 --> 00:41:43,120
English, French, Russian,
Spanish, Chinese and Arabic.
589
00:41:43,280 --> 00:41:46,840
Jennifer Kearns is one of 100
UN interpreters.
590
00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:51,040
She pays attention not only to what
she hears but also to what she sees.
591
00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:53,680
(speaking German)
592
00:42:13,160 --> 00:42:16,520
NARRATOR: In this age of cell
phones, what role do these old phone
593
00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:19,400
booths play in the General Assembly?
594
00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:22,280
They stand in the side aisles and
look like something out of
595
00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:24,000
a black-and-white film.
596
00:42:24,160 --> 00:42:27,560
Somehow they just don't fit in
at a modern global institution
597
00:42:27,720 --> 00:42:28,760
like the UN.
598
00:42:28,920 --> 00:42:31,400
What's more,
they don't even work any more.
599
00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:53,760
NARRATOR: You can't make calls in
these old phone booths any more.
600
00:42:53,920 --> 00:42:55,920
But they remain as mementoes.
601
00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:00,560
We're changing buildings.
602
00:43:00,720 --> 00:43:04,080
The Secretariat tower
measures 155 metres.
603
00:43:04,240 --> 00:43:07,240
Several thousand people from
almost every nation work here
604
00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:09,760
peacefully across 39 storeys.
605
00:43:09,920 --> 00:43:13,360
The heart of the UN is located
on the seventh floor.
606
00:43:14,680 --> 00:43:17,320
What's hiding behind
this security gate?
607
00:43:17,480 --> 00:43:20,720
And why do so few people
have access?
608
00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:23,640
This is the way
to the Situation Centre.
609
00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:27,080
It's the office of the UN's
intelligence service.
610
00:43:27,240 --> 00:43:31,280
Only a small handful of
people have access here.
611
00:43:31,440 --> 00:43:35,720
Most employees previously worked for
other intelligence organisations
612
00:43:35,880 --> 00:43:37,320
or the military.
613
00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:42,880
But what exactly happens here?
614
00:43:45,160 --> 00:43:48,400
- We maintain a 24/7
watch around the clock.
615
00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:51,640
What we do is,
we monitor UN field presence.
616
00:43:51,800 --> 00:43:55,360
So we're simply gathering
information from our missions,
617
00:43:55,520 --> 00:43:58,120
and we summarise it very early in
the morning,
618
00:43:58,280 --> 00:44:00,080
so we can produce a product
619
00:44:00,240 --> 00:44:04,440
that we send to all the seniors by
10 past 8 in the morning.
620
00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:07,560
NARRATOR: Here, the UN-employees
gather important information
621
00:44:07,720 --> 00:44:11,120
and make decisions that
could change the world.
622
00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:15,080
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