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 Sunday, 9-11pm. 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. Ph 9633 6976.
The West — In the 1870s, on the Great Plains, Sitting Bull defeated General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn, but despite his victory it marked the end of the Sioux as a free people. Further west, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, pursued by army after army, finally succumbed to starvation and the freezing cold. SBS, Friday, August 25, 12.30pm.
Forgotten Volunteers — When World War II broke out in 1939 the British Viceroy in India, without consulting a single one of India's 350 million people, declared that the country was at war. Indian provincial governments resigned in protest and Gandhi launched a policy of non-cooperation. This documentary reports on the lack of recognition of the volunteer Indian army. Indian volunteers fought to save British "democracy" despite being denied it themselves under British rule. SBS, Saturday, August 27, 7.30pm.
Beyond the Fatal Shore — Robert Hughes has been getting a hiding from right-wing newspaper columnists and other ruling-class ideologues lately — so he must be saying something right in this fascinating series. Hughes explores the reality of Australia. ABC-TV, Sunday, August 27, 8.30pm.
Koiki (Eddie) Mabo — Follows Mabo's life from his childhood on Mer and Murray islands, his exile on the mainland, his 10-year legal battle for the land his family had owned for generations, and the historic Mabo decision by the High Court of Australia in 1992. ABC-TV, Monday, August 27, 11.55am.
The Goldrush — The Olympic Games are sold as the being based on such ideals as "it's not the winning that's important, but the taking part". But today the games have become a commercial extravaganza, a sports show that is as much about sponsors, money and media exposure as it is about sports excellence. The first episode of this three-part series examines the competition to make as much money as possible from the performance of the athletes. The athletes are commodities, bought by sponsors who fight among themselves to sign up gold medalists. SBS, Tuesday, August 29, 8.30pm.
Banana Wars — A handful of giant US companies — Chiquita (formerly United Fruit), Dole and Delmonte — have dominated the banana trade in the Americas and Europe. With operations based in Central America, their legacy is one of pollution, unsafe working conditions and low wages. Weak governments have been unable or unwilling to confront these multinationals. SBS, Wednesday, August 30, 4pm.