Politics, cultures and histories of Latin America from the other South
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SONIDO 33
SONIDO 33: Latin American stories from the other south
A radio documentary series
Ten life stories connected by and recorded at the 33rd parallel south, the geographical latitude crossing the main urban regions of the Southern Cone and Australia, linking the Latin American and Oceanian continents and histories.
Sonido 33 assembles stories of asylum, migration, and solidarity, and the sounds of the key political and social events that shaped them. Ten one-hour (plus) episodes portray the modern history of Latin America, focusing on the crucial period from the 1970s to the 1990s. This was a time when the continent radically changed, becoming a political laboratory for the world. It was also during these decades that Latin American migration to Australia peaked, in what was arguably the last refugee wave to be fully welcomed. A powerful solidarity movement helped Australians learn about Latin America and created a widespread popular awareness of the continent for the first time in the nation's history.
Eight episodes feature Chilean, Argentine, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Venezuelan-Italian refugees and migrants speaking in their own language. Two episodes in English present in-depth accounts by Australian solidarity activists. Young members of the Latin American and Australian communities introduce ten compelling stories of political militancy and imprisonment, underground activism, musicianship, internationalism, and plain heroism.
Prominent community leader Gustavo Martin-Montenegro recounts his
upbringing in southern Chile, his political role within Salvador
Allende’s government in the 1970s, and his involvement in the agrarian
reform program that ceded land rights for the Indigenous Mapuche people. Gustavo also narrates the 11 September 1973 coup d’état, his ensuing
imprisonment under the civil-military dictatorship, and how he became
one of the first Chilean refugees to receive asylum in Australia in
January 1974 (oral history in Spanish).
Episode 2: Víctor Hugo Muñoz
Leading community activist Víctor Hugo Muñoz narrates his life growing up in Guatemala and his advocacy work as a university student in the 1970s, when he campaigned for the Maya Indigenous population and peasant farmers. Víctor Hugo recounts the death threats he received due to his professional and solidarity work, his urgent escape to Mexico, and his humanitarian asylum in Australia in 1984 (oral history in Spanish).
Episode 3: Juan Campos
Key community leader Juan Campos tells the story of his upbringing in El
Salvador, where his political conscience was shaped by Catholic
activism in the 1960s and evolved into political militancy in the 1970s.
Juan recounts his imprisonment by the military dictatorship during the
Salvadoran Civil War in the early 1980s, his release from prison, and
his urgent humanitarian asylum in Australia in 1983 (oral history in
Spanish).
Episode 4: Justo Díaz
Musician Justo Díaz recounts his early life in central Argentina and his
youth in Patagonia, describing how Latin American music profoundly
influenced him and shaped his path. He also narrates the censorship and
death threats he faced around the Argentinian 1976 military coup, which
led to his migration to Australia in 1979 and his long musical career,
as well as his cultural and solidarity activism (oral history in
Spanish).
Episode 5: Peter Ross
Academic and activist Peter Ross tells the story of his upbringing in
Queensland, his Catholic religious vocation in the 1960s, and his
political militancy in the 1970s. He also narrates his early connections
with Latin America, which led him to participate in and lead multiple
solidarity campaigns for Chile, Nicaragua, El Salvador and other causes
over several decades.
Episode 6: Paula Castro
Renowned community leader Paula Castro recounts her upbringing in Chile under the socialist government of Salvador Allende and her political activism during Pinochet’s dictatorship. She narrates her imprisonment in 1987 as a member of a local insurgency in northern Chile, her subsequent humanitarian asylum in Australia in 1988, and her long-standing solidarity activism based in Western Sydney (oral history in Spanish).
Episode 7: Gerardo Díaz
Leading community activist Gerardo Díaz tells the story of his upbringing in El Salvador, and his work in nursing, unionism, and political organisation during the Salvadoran Civil War. He also reminisces his experience of surviving the October 1989 paramilitary bombing of a national union headquarters, a pivotal event that led to the insurgence’s final offensive and the peace accords that ended the war (oral history in Spanish).
Episode 8: Mario Rojas
Musician Mario Rojas recounts his upbringing in Chile, his migration to Australia in 1971, his musical path, and his solidarity and cultural activism in Sydney’s Inner West for more than a decade. He also describes his move to Nicaragua in the mid-1980s and his return to Chile, where he became a key figure as performer and redeemer of popular and traditional Chilean music (oral history in Spanish).
Episode 9: Bruno Di Biase
Prominent community leader Bruno Di Biase tells of his upbringing in Italy and his formative years in Venezuela. He also narrates his migration to Australia in 1971 and his long-standing solidarity activism for Latin America, which he has expressed through publications, campaigns, and his leadership of the musical group Bella Ciao (oral history in Spanish).
Episode 10: Jim Levy
Academic and activist Jim Levy narrates his father’s and his own deep connections with Latin America from the early to mid-twentieth century, detailing his scholarship and multiple extended stays in Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador and other countries. He also recounts his key contributions to solidarity committees and campaigns for Chile, Guatemala, and Nicaragua since the 1970s.
