How does protest look like in different parts of the world, and what does it sound like? Can listening contribute to the sustainability of counter-narratives, and what can its impact be on society? Radiophonic spaces used for resistance offer a refuge for subversive voices. Often enabled through community radio, it can enhance social alliances within grassroots movements, but instead of tuning and gathering more voices it can also enable the distinction of an exclusive group not there for everybody. How protest is being formed and how it uses transmissions and listening is being looked at in different places in the world. Forms of protest, and use of radio, or how it functions as a seismograph and can tell a lot about the surrounding socio-political circumstances.

In a group conversation, how new spaces can be established through alliances and voicing particular communities is discussed. Furthermore, access to and use of radio technology itself can shape forms of resistance. Forms and processes of collectivity, individualization, and sense-making enter into exchange with radio.

Riar Rizaldi presents a tale about anti-civilization anarchists in Indonesia. Stigmatized as terrorists by the Indonesian government, they hide in the Indonesian forests using shortwave radio transmissions not only to communicate, but also as a counterpoint to a technology-driven, accelerating world. Radio and slow-listening as aesthetics of refusal, and form of resistance.

Cali, in Colombia, was the scene for mortal violence by police, militaires and para-militaires against protestors fighting for social justice. During the protests, the government limited internet access and electricity to silence the protestors’ voices and disrupt their communication. Noís Radio collective provided their expertise in alternative communications with radio and sound and their technical equipment in the course of the protests to amplify the voices of the resistance and strengthen the communities.

Guely Morató Loredo and Víctor Mazón Gardoqui present how Indigenous communities in Bolivia use amateur radio as their own medium for expression and exchange of information outside of oppressive structures coping with environmental degradation. How the accessibility and sovereignty of the radio technology itself interplays with protests is discussed.

Moderated by Florencia Curci. With participation by Guely Morató Loredo, Víctor Mazón Gardoqui, Noís Radio, Riar Rizaldi