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. Ph 9633 6976.
Destiny of Empires: The Spanish-American War (part 1) — The 1898 Spanish-American War was the first war to be filmed, and this documentary uses some of that remarkable footage. The war was a conflict between Spain, a waning imperial power, and the United States, the rising power. Cuban rebels had been fighting to win independence from Spain, and the US stepped in, posing as an ally. However, the US soon abandoned all pretence that it supported independence, and Cuba was seized as a neo-colony. SBS, Friday, February 5, 8pm.
Sperm Whales: Back from the Abyss — Scientists are beginning to unravel the complexities of the life cycle of the sperm whale. Using new film techniques while swimming with these giants, a camera team has recorded behaviour and sounds never seen or heard on television. ABC-TV, Saturday, February 6, 6pm.
Blood Upon the Snow — First episode in a 10-part series exploring the period between Lenin's death in 1924 and Stalin's death in 1953. The first episode deals with Stalin's rise to power and its bloody consolidation. SBS, Sunday, February 7, 8.30pm.
Black Gold, Kindred Spirits — Set your video or your alarm clock! This film traces the history of the Wonthaggi state coalmine, where a small and isolated working-class community fought for better conditions, which benefited all workers in Australia. ABC-TV, Tuesday, February 9, 2.10am.
Globalisation and Human Rights — Uprisings in Indonesia and Nigeria, massive lay-offs of miners in South Africa and protests against child labour throughout the world — all have been reported in the capitalist media as separate and distinct events. This program explores how these and other current events are linked to the world economic system. SBS, Tuesday, February 9, 8pm.
People's Century: 1914 Killing Fields — In the first world war, more soldiers were slaughtered, more quickly, for less gain, than in any previous war. With graphic original footage, survivors retell their experiences. ABC-TV, Tuesday, February 9, 11.05pm.
Licensed to Kill — looks at violence against gay men and the social atmosphere that allows it to continue. SBS, Tuesday, February 9, 11.05pm.
The Dammed — ABC-TV's special time slot for the discussion of serious issues, this morning features a documentary about the environmentally disastrous Three Gorges Dam project in south-east China. ABC-TV, Thursday, February 11, 2.05am.