Dreadlocks was originally published as the literary journal of the School of Language, Arts and Media at the University of the South Pacific (USP), by the Pacific Writing Forum (PWF). This special issue of Dreadlocks includes the proceedings of the Oceans, Islands and Skies - Oceanic Conference on Creativity and Climate Change – The Role of Writers, Artists and the Media in Environmental Challenges in the Pacific. The OIS-OCCCC was held from 13-17 September 2010 at the Laucala Campus of the University of the South Pacific in Suva.

Authors include Cathy Koa Dunsford, Karin Maissenburg and David Robie from New Zealand and 14 other Pacific and international contributors.