The following is a selected sample of life beyond the newsstand gloss of Xantypa, Reflex and the like. Although the six publications I have chosen to review are not restricted to any one subject, they all do have a definite focus, or orientation. Alternativa was founded in 1990 with the intent to promote alternatives on various fronts environmental, cultural and social. Sedm generace, which is in its seventh year, stresses environmental and social responsibility. Both publications draw their themes from a common pool of familiar global issues such as indigenous land rights, ecofeminism, acoustic smog and transportation, but they often approach these issues from slightly different and sometimes complimentary angels.
Regional issues receive a significant portion of space in both publications.
Thus, for example, Sedm generace devotes the majority of its July 1998 issue to the topical problem of rural renewal as it applies locally in the Czech Republic. Through contributions from rural residents, theorists, a small town mayor and representatives of the newly established schools for rural renewal Sedm generace presents the problem in its complexity. Similarly, Alternativa tackles the problem of minority rights in the Czech Republic through an article on violent, racially motivated attacks, an interview with the head of a new program for Roma students of journalism and excerpts from the writings of Roma author Elena Lackov . The strength of both publications lies in the variety of their contributors, which include not just ecologists but political scientists, sociologists, philosophers, environmental engineers and representatives of various non-governmental organizations. In general, Alternativa comes across as the more dynamic of the two publications.