Equitable access to information and knowledge is a key principle of communication rights and participatory development. At stake is the kind of enabling environment that offers adequate and relevant resources aimed at strengthening people’s capacities to determine their own futures. In other words, there is a range of information and knowledge that should be available to all people and which enables them to act in order to safeguard their lives, livelihoods, cultures and traditions. If access to such resources is unreasonably denied or estricted, people’s rights are infringed.

Climate change, caused by human activity, is threatening the lives and livelihoods of billions of people and the existence of millions of species. Tackling climate change is a matter of social justice requiring urgent and radical action. This issue contains resources and articles intended to communicate environmental concerns, share knowledge, and advocate action in the run up to the United Nations Climate Conference that takes place in Copenhagen, 6-18 December 2009.

Media reform scenarios vary according to current political and economic contexts. In many countries civil society faces an uphill task in the struggle for democratisation,  a struggle ignored by the mainstream media. Independent media offer alternatives, although ‘dissident voices’ are constantly threatened by censorship or worse. Afghanistan is no exception to this trend. As a modest contribution to reforming attitudes to this ancient land, this issue includes four articles offering perspectives on Afghanistan’s people, culture and media.

WACC's Congress 2008 on the theme 'Communication is peace: Building viable communities' took place in Cape Town, South Africa, 6-10 October. Attended by some 300 people from all over the world, the Congress keynote presentations and related materials are published here in English.

Media coverage of scientific research and discovery, including questions of ownership and control, can promote democratic and ethical accountability. Five simple questions need to be addressed: Who needs it? Who will benefit from it? Who will pay the costs? What happens when it goes wrong? Who will regulate it, how, and on whose behalf? Articles explore science coverage in the media, technological fundamentalism, the relationship between communicating science and participatory education, and between scientific knowledge and empowerment.

A collection of articles examining the role of the press inside and outside Haiti in creating and maintaining the country current public image. Censorship and misinformation are discussed as well as journalists' self-censorship for economic or political reasons. Community radio and citizen's journalism are seen as two possibilities for greater transparency and rebuilding trust. This issue also includes pieces on Victor Jara, media reform, and media and social change in Venezuela.