Hello Charles - it is great to read your comments and think about what you are saying. Do you really think we are 'dark' or simply 'realistic?" I do agree that the idea of participatory communication is widely talked about and written about today much more than the 80's - but that is the problem. In the 80's there was some room for experimentaiton. Today it is high on talk and paper and very low on action. Ideas get coopted and discussed and analysed but seldom actually implemented. I still think it is the Don Snowden's and others like him who work outside the development business (using it for support when they can) who make progress - clearly Nick Lunch is amongst that crowd.

In writing the book Ricardo and I came to understand that all that fighting within Aid Organizations for an acceptance of communication was really a fight to demand a better approach to development. Good communication became a metaphor for good development. Now I guess we are joining the growing crowds of people who are fed up with the mess of the aid business and try to figure out how to speak about it.

I think the military hope for communication as a tool in the battle for Hearts and Minds along with the assumption that donor designed development projects will change a tide is a whole new topic - hope to see you soon - its been a long time

Wendy Quarry