A rotating group of activists who have spent time in the Palestinian territories serving as international monitors of human rights violations are now traveling in the U.S. as part of what's called the "Wheels of Justice Tour." The tour promotes education on nonviolence and encourages activism against war and occupation in both Palestine and Iraq. The tour bus, decorated with artwork and peace slogans, made several stops recently in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

At the tour's stop in New Haven, Slava Davidson described two recent visits to the West Bank, where he spent three months over the past year, departing in March. He is a member of the International Solidarity Movement, or ISM, a group founded by a Palestinian, an Israeli and American Jew and a Palestinian-American. Over the past two years, two ISM members -- American Rachel Corrie and Briton Tom Herndahl -- were killed by the Israeli military when they nonviolently intervened to protect Palestinian homes and children.

Davidson, who lives in New York City, spoke with Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus about his observations in the West Bank and expressed hope for a peaceful settlement through collaboration between Palestinians and Israelis.

For more information about The Wheels of Justice Tour, call (773) 505-1870 or visit their website at www.justicewheels.org

Despite deepening violence and instability in Iraq, harsh questions what about the White House knew about possible attacks before Sept. 11, and a succession of scandals, Bush is holding his own or gaining ground in recent public opinion polls. Some critics of the Kerry campaign say his early support for the Iraq war, and later contradictory positions, make it difficult for the candidate to differentiate himself from the president. Others point out that Kerry's pro-corporate economic platform, designed to appeal to moderate voters, will fail to motivate the party faithful in numbers large enough to win in November.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with New York-based commentator Doug Ireland, who takes a critical look at the direction and strategy of John Kerry's campaign for president.

Doug Ireland's work regularly appears in the Nation magazine and the L.A. Weekly. Read Ireland's recent piece on John Kerry titled, "All Profile, No Courage" online at www.tompaine.com

This week's summary
of under-reported news

Compiled by Bob Nixon

• In March 2002, Macedonia security forces killed seven undocumented Pakistani immigrants, which at the time authorities said were part of a Balkan terrorist group "looking to attack vital installations." The story has now been exposed as a fraud. The deadly fabrication was designed to impress the Bush administration as being tough on terror and to win U.S. support. ("Macedonia faked militant raid," BBC News, May 1, 2004; "Killings staged to win U.S. support," The Guardian, May 1, 2004)
• China's repression of worker rights has led to job flight from industrial zones in the U.S., Mexico and developing nations. China's crackdown on labor depresses factory wages anywhere from 45 to 85 percent. ("The China Syndrome," In These Times, April 26, 2004)
• Thirty-nine members of the Congressional Black Caucus are hoping to arrange a meeting with Ralph Nader to persuade him to abandon his independent run for president. ( CBC Tells Nader to Drop Out," The Hill, by Klaus Marre, April 28, 2004)
  

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Credits:
Senior news editor: Bob Nixon
News writer: Genette Nowak
Program narration: Denise Manzari
News reader: Zelphia Hunter
Segment producer: Melinda Tuhus
Distribution: Anna Manzo, Harry Minot, Jeff Yates
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Web producer: Jeff Yates
Newswire Editor: Hank Hoffman
Web editor: Bill Cosentino
Executive producer: Scott Harris
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