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 9525 3551 to contact the producers or make a donation.
My Life as I Live it — As a tribute to Aboriginal activist Essie Coffey, who died in January, SBS presents her documentary. Her first film, My Survival as an Aboriginal, made in 1978, focused on her community in far north-west NSW — a place under white domination, where indiscriminate arrests by the local police were the order of the day and where the Aboriginal population struggled to balance survival with a positive image of themselves. Essie Coffey returned to her home in Dodge City to reflect on the changes occurring there in 1995. SBS, Saturday, February 21, 3pm.
The Coolbaroo Club — Weaving drama, music and revealing first-hand accounts, this documentary looks at the famous postwar Perth Aboriginal club where black and white met to listen to jazz, dance and discuss. ABC-TV, Sunday, February 22, 1pm.
Movie: Cloak Without Dagger (1957) — This Cold War stinker might be worth a laugh, or perhaps be a cure for insomniacs. A former intelligence agent is pitted against a sinister group of commie agents hell-bent on nicking nuclear secrets. Up the Reds! ABC-TV, Monday, February 23, 1.30am.
McFeast at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras — Elle McFeast welcomes viewers to Sydney, the "City of Love", as it glams it up for the spectacular explosion of colour, sequins, leather and lust that is the annual Mardi Gras. ABC-TV, Monday, February 23, 10.10pm.
Dying Shame — Aboriginal life expectancy is 16-20 years less than for the rest of the Australian population. This documentary examines the reality of Aboriginal health. SBS, Tuesday, February 24, 8pm.
Where Angels Fear to Tread — Follows the introduction of the groundbreaking legislation to permit voluntary euthanasia in the Northern Territory from the point of view of the campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke. ABC-TV, Tuesday, February 24, 8.30pm.
Inside Burma: The Land of Fear — John Pilger leads another covert filming mission to expose the brutality of the military regime in Burma. Set the video. ABC-TV, Friday, February 27, 2.05am.