Comments for john bird

Comment on I met some amazing and inspiring people whilst In Inverness recently…… by starsandstems

starsandstems — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:13:56 +0000

Fandabbydozy!!!

Comment on I met some amazing and inspiring people whilst In Inverness recently…… by starsandstems

starsandstems — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:07:15 +0000

Interesting talk!!

Comment on Wanted to share with you my letter to the editor of The Observer after reading this article…. by bigissuebird

bigissuebird — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:05:25 +0000

Sarah, Valerie, Hi, we will look into getting more books, you’re right there should be more out there! Best, JB

Comment on Wanted to share with you my letter to the editor of The Observer after reading this article…. by Valerie

Valerie — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:35:24 +0000

I found a copy of the book in wales last year july 2011 when i took my kids out for the day to a old mine,it was actually on sale in there seating area along with hundreds of other used books,i bought it for £2!the next day while out sightseeing in Colwyn Bay i met a woman selling the Big Issue,bought a issue of her and told her about the book i had bought the previous day, she knew that John Bird had wrote a book and had always wanted to read it,i took her address and said i would send it on to her once i read it,so far have not done so,as i am reading it for the second time round!

Valerie

Comment on Wanted to share with you my letter to the editor of The Observer after reading this article…. by Sarah Anne Freeburn

Sarah Anne Freeburn — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:41:02 +0000

I like to suppport the Big Issue but am not very interested in buying the magazine. Sometimes I give a new copy of ‘How to change your life in 7 steps’ to Big Issue sellers. I wanted to buy a copy for a Big Issue vendor recently in Norwich. However, when I went to Waterstones and Jarrolds to buy a copy they were out of stock. Also, quite incredibly no Big Issue vendor I have met in Norwich, London and Bristol are aware that John Bird’s book exists.

From a personal viewpoint I think the book is marvelous and I read it over and over again.

Sarah

Comment on On Channel 4 News tonight @ 7.30pm by Ian Stewart

Ian Stewart — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:28:48 +0000

I thought your comments on the C4 news interview were spot on, uplifting and refreshing.
I run a very small bespoke furniture firm within the NHS. here we all think learning skills and making furniture is really important.
Can you help us?

Comment on My article published in today’s Independent by Flora Finch

Flora Finch — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:05:39 +0000

Hi John

Thanks ever so much for the invitation to leave a reply – and congratulations on your work with Big Issue; It’s really inspiring!

Please read some research I’ve conducted called RESEARCH for PEACE on my blog – http://www.florafinch.wordpress.com – which gives a breakdown of what folk think some of the causes and solutions are…

Also, to add to what you said in your article (and to emphasise that I don’t condone the behaviour that took place in the disturbances):

-we should remember that black Westindians were never compensated for over 400 years of slavery, rape and pillage, which many would argue still exists…

-re. the increased use of patois (by different racial groups) to me this has brought the community much closer together in ways because in the Caribbean everyone speaks with a similar accent no matter what class… unlike in England – where class and accent is seen as something that has contributed to dividing the nation…

-It’s felt that the rise of the far right in Europe, contributed to the RIOTS, especially after Norway – which alongside the tragedies appeared to be a threat to the white community to give less and increase violence towards ethnic minorities or else!!

The RIOTS to me therefore was very much the ‘undesirable’ result of an ‘enough is enough’ vibe that’s been felt by many fair minded members of the community in general – and for quite some time… The lid was bound to blow off the lid eventually therefore… and it did, further to the news of another ‘possible’ death caused by the police (which some journalists have said now stands at 333 black and mixed race males who have died in police custody)… The disturbances therefore pressured us all to finally face our problems head on…

The research I’ve conducted suggests that very few believe that that the street is owned by anyone other than the police… For one moment it was the rioters who came from many different backgrounds not just black Westindians, who many would argue are among the biggest victims on the street – as too many have been forced into a life of crime – in part because the system has failed them; also due to the fragility of the typical Westindian family and their finances…

The reasons that folk site that they don’t think the streets are owned by black Westindians is because if they did there would be no racism! Simply put – racism is not seen as a problem that black Westindians! Homophobia – yes; sexism (along with every other group) – yes, but racism… very little, almost none…!

Thanks again and all best wishes, Flora