Actively Radical TV — Sydney community television's progressive current affairs producers tackle the hard issues from the activist's point of view. CTS Sydney (UHF 31), every Thursday, 10pm and Saturday, 7pm.
Access News — Melbourne community TV, Channel 31, has excellent coverage of industrial, environmental and community actions throughout Victoria. Access News broadcasts every Monday at 8pm. Phone (03) 9525 3551 to contact the producers or make a donation.
CATv — Subverting the one-way media via CATv's regular Sydney program. CTS Sydney, every Thursday, 10.30pm, CTS UHF 31. Ph Karina at 9557 3223 or John at 9569 4963. Visit the web page at Yirrkala: This Is My Thinking — Daymbalipu Munungurr was one of the most respected leaders in the Yirrkala community. This film deals with his concerns during the early years of the bauxite mine against which his community had struggled. SBS, Sunday, October 5, 12.30pm.
Yirrkala: Singing in the rain — A troubled time for the Yirrkala community with a mine on its doorstep which has been operating for four years. The effects of alcohol from the mining town are causing the leaders grave concern. This film shows the Yolngu people's attempts to come to terms with and solve these problems. Despite the gathering storm clouds, Yolngu culture is still vibrant. SBS, Sunday, October 5, 1.25pm.
Stories My Country Told Me — Follows Desmond Tutu, South Africa's first black archbishop, through a typical day, culminating in an emotional reunion with a veteran anti-apartheid campaigner, Archbishop Trevor Huddleston. SBS, Sunday, October 5, 7.30pm.
Malcolm X: Make it Plain — First of an in-depth, three-part portrait of Malcolm X. SBS, Sunday, October 5, 11pm (Part 2, Sunday, October 12, 11.05pm).
Amazon: The Invisible People — South America's biggest oil fields, discovered in the headwaters of the Amazon in Ecuador, have a devastating impact on the lives of the local indigenous people and the environment. SBS, Wednesday, October 8, 8.30pm.
Movie: Agonia (1981) — Elem Klimov's long-suppressed epic looks at the two crucial years before the Russian Revolution — the politics, decadence and especially the stormy relationship between Rasputin and Tsar Nicholas II. From Russia. SBS, Wednesday, October 8, 11.10pm.
People's Century: 1917 — The Red Flag — A BBC mega-series that purports to tell the history of this century in easily digestible chunks. This episode covers the history of the Russian Revolution and Soviet society up to the Nazi invasion. ABC-TV, Thursday, October 9, 9.30pm.
Movie: Ladybird, Ladybird (1994) — Ken Loach's heartfelt and emotional story revolves around Maggie, a woman trying to keep her kids and relationship with refugee Jorge intact, having lost four children from previous relationships to social services. SBS, Thursday, October 9, 10.05pm.
Movie: Hands Over the City (1963) — Francesco Rosi's sombre and realistic drama focuses on his favourite theme, political corruption. When deaths result from the collapse of a building in a poor district of Naples, the disaster becomes an important factor in the municipal elections. From Italy. SBS, Friday, October 10, 9.30pm.
The Struggle for Russia — An analysis of Boris Yeltsin's presidency, exploring Russia's economic and social chaos and examining what went wrong with Yeltsin's "shock therapy" economic reforms. This first program looks at the battle between Yeltsin and his political opponents and documents how the resulting power vacuum was skilfully exploited by the ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky. SBS, Sunday, October 12, 11.50pm.
Movie: Daughter of the Puma (1994) — A Guatemalan girl and her family are forced to flee to a Mexican refugee camp after a massacre in their village, but she returns to her home country to search for her brother. Based on a novel inspired by the achievements of Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu. SBS, Monday, October 13, 11.50pm.