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. Ph 9565 5522.
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 9633 6976 to contact the producers or make a donation.
Movie: Land and Freedom (1996) — Ken Loach's stirring film about revolutionary commitment and Stalinist betrayal during the Spanish Civil War. ABC-TV, Friday, February 12, 8.30pm.
Lost in Music: Deep into Dub — Dub grew out of reggae music in the 1970s. The B-sides of tens of thousands of reggae singles were instrumental versions of the A-sides. These tracks over time became more adventurous and experimental with reverb, delay and distortion. As dub waned in popularity in Jamaica, it was adopted in Britain by Asian and Caribbean youth and white punks. More recently it has become the favoured medium of young environmental campaigners in Britain. SBS, Saturday, February 13, 7.30pm.
Populate or Perish — Set the video. What is Australia's optimum population? This documentary reveals that population debate is not just about numbers, but a highly contested vision of the country's future. ABC-TV, Tuesday, February 16, 2.05am.
Tug of War: the Story of Taiwan — A renegade province of China or a separate country? This two-part documentary draws on archival footage and interviews to survey a century of tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Scenes include the Japanese colonial era, the tragic 1947 massacre and stories of harsh government repression and vibrant cultural revival. SBS, Tuesday, February 16, 8pm, and Wednesday, February 17, 8pm.
Movie: Clando (1996) — Sobgui is a "clando" — an illegal taxi driver in Cameroon — who witnesses a murder. He heads to Germany, where a meeting with a young political activist fighting for immigrants' rights helps Sobgui gain a perspective on the struggle of his people against political corruption. From Cameroon. SBS, Tuesday, February 16, 9.30pm.
Better Dead than Gay — Simon Harvey, unable to reconcile his religious beliefs and his homosexuality, killed himself. This film pieces together the last six months of his life and examines how religious belief can be used to justify social prejudice. SBS, Tuesday, February 16, 11.20pm.