The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) concluded its 59th General Assembly with a blunt assessment of journalistic liberty in North and South America: "Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are violated, or at least threatened, throughout the hemisphere."

The Miami police escalated their tactics against unarmed FTAA protesters by firing at them with rubber bullets.

Kuttner analyzes the present Medicare bill. He argues that this program is being prepared for replacement by a voucher scheme that will benefit corporations.

U.S. ratchets up debate on `usable' nuclear weapons
Critics fear fallout from Bush cadre's pro-nuke strategy

The Bush administration has asked Britain to waive immunity if US snipers and special forces with guns kill people in the UK. In other words, they feel the need to preemptively kill people in the country of their closest ally.

An interview with Vandana Shiva on the social movements and the struggle against neoliberalism. The conversation took place in Cancun, Mexico in context of the protests against the World Trade Organization.

Ignacio Ramonet comments on the recent uprising against neoliberalism in Bolivia. He concludes "Bolivians have had enough.... The export of Bolivia’s ... silver, tin and oil did nothing to help the poor and never allowed Bolivia to modernise. Just as the Ecuadorians rose against Jamil Mahuad in January 2000, the Peruvians against Alberto Fujimori in November 2000, and the Argentinians against Fernando de La Rua in December 2001, the Bolivians, in overthrowing Sanchez de Losada, are rejecting an economic model that has fed corruption, driven millions of people into poverty, and increased social exclusion all over Latin America."

Is Israel a racist, apartheid state? Leila Farsakh examines the historical differences and similarities between South Africa and the Israel/Palestine conflict. While pointing to substantive historical differences, since 1993, argues Farsakh, the similarities have increased.