On the box
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. Phone Karina at (02) 9557 3223 or John at 9569 4963. Visit the web page at http://www.cat.org.au/catv.
Isanga — "Isanga" is the Masai word for confrontation. Once these pastoralists from Tanzania had little use for the word. Isanga examines the impact of missionaries, colonialism and post-colonialism on the Masai. SBS, Friday, September 12, 8.30pm.
Children of the Revolution — The story of the Cultural Revolution in China as it was experienced by a generation of music students at the Beijing Central Conservatory. SBS, Saturday, September 13, 12.30pm.
A Great Day in Harlem — A great documentary about jazz and people who make it. The film centres on a 1958 photograph by Art Kane, who gathered dozens of jazz greats for a group shot at the unbelievably early time of 10am. SBS, Saturday, September 13, 2pm.
Non-lethal Weapons — Will war in the future be relatively harmless, or is the concept of non-lethal warfare an Orwellian trick? This program details how the US is ploughing $40 million into researching new and exotic "non-lethal" weapons. Supporters and critics are interviewed. SBS, Tuesday, September 16, 8.30pm.
ICAM — The currents affairs show for and about Australia's indigenous people returns for another season. ICAM's team of young reporters travel to all states to provide coverage of local indigenous cultural events and community affairs. SBS, begins Wednesday, September 17, 7.30pm.
Lost Lakes of the Pacific — There are few places on earth still to be fully explored — the marine lakes of Palau are among them. They are truly lost worlds, full of unusual animals. ABC-TV, Wednesday, September 17, 8pm.
Festival of the Dreaming — Three short films by Aboriginal film makers. Journey, written and directed by Ivan Sen, is the story of a 10-year-old boy's journey from a small outback town to the sea. Empire, by Michael Riley, is a visual and aural wander through the detritus of the British Empire in Australia. Catriona McKenzie's Box is about a young boxer from Redfern who uses his ability to escape a bleak inner-city existence. ABC-TV, Wednesday, September 17, 8.30pm.
No Milk, No Honey — Faced with massive unemployment and poverty after World War I, many British workers believed the promises of a land of milk and honey in Australia. They migrated, only to be dumped into unviable, remote settlements in south-west WA and told to make a go of it. This is the story of their disappointment. SBS, Wednesday, September 17, 8.30pm.
Milerum — The third in the National Indigenous Documentary Series, Robert Crompton looks at the legacy of his grandfather, Clarence "Milerum" Long. In the 1930s, Milerum decided to preserve his Narrindgeri people's culture and discover and record their history. ABC-TV, Thursday, September 18, 8.30pm.