America. By Jennafer Yellowhorse.

How America Kicked Ass of Smart Ass John Bird.

By Jennafer Yellowhorse at Santa Monica, California.

Edited & Comments By Uncle Monty at Brussels, EU.

Part One of Two.
::
They came in and set up shop. Got an office right down

the street from us and everything. Ignored my calls, till

I started showing up on radio shows talking about them,

and physically at events. By "scars" I mean, (bad)

experiences with The Big Issue at Los Angeles.

::

The entire episode was quite destructive to any sense

of stability I had at the time. It really hurt our (street)

paper in the long run just expending the energy to get

them (John Bird and his sidekick and "yes man" Nigel

Kershaw) out of LA. There was really no one on our

side, except a handful of others. I liked Nigel, his

(business) partner. But they weren't interested

in being friends, lets say.
::
The Big Issue typically funds their start up papers quite

well. They refuse to fund homeless organized papers. They

might hire homeless as "face" staff. Like answering phones

for $5 an hour etc. But they have no intention of empowering

the homeless. I smacked INSP up the head a few days ago,

for using an idea I presented at a past NASNA conference -

http://www.nasna.org/ - which they eviscerated the part

of the idea that included assisting street

papers with grants or ads, etc.

::
(TBI would have) moved in if I didn't fight them. And

all it took was standing up. And I quickly saw how fickle

people are when the "big cheese" was around. I felt alone

in Los Angeles, if you can believe that. I would like to

think it was my words, or the concepts that I was promo-

ting that won over the LA/TBI battle. But I think it was

a picture of John Bird in the LA Weekly that made him

pull out. He didn't like how he was being portrayed.

.

The Big Issue: Jobs, Not Begging
December 30, 1998. By Beverly Beyette, LA Times.
http://articles.latimes.com/1998/dec/30/news/cl-58734
::
The Big Issue's "Hatchet Woman"

= Icy Cold Samantha Woolock.

Big Issue under fire for vendor sponsorship by wine company.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1295181/Big-Issue-vendor-sponsorship-wine-company.html#ixzz11aCBV2BJ

::

“The Big Issue did itself attempt some expansion into inter-

national markets, but with mixed success, and its attempt

to move into the US was perhaps the most controversial.

According to some critics, when the magazine first attempted

to establish itself in New York, it was perceived as competing

directly with the existing street paper, Street News, which

ironically, was the original inspiration for The Big Issue in the

UK. There was also a move to set up in San Francisco, which

again was unsuccessful, partly due to strong competition from

The San Francisco Street Sheet edited by Paul Boden, and

Street Spirit edited by Terry Messman. A final attempt to

establish The Big Issue in Los Angeles also failed. Some critics

have argued that these efforts went against the mission of the

International Network of Street Papers, which states that no

paper should set itself against another member in direct

competition.” Title: The Big Issue. Case Study by

G. Mulgan, R. Ali, R. Halkett & B. Sanders.

::
The Big Issue's Biggest Gob

= Vile Billie Bickley.

Big Issue, Sir?
http://www.oldholborn.net/2010/06/big-issue-sir.html

::

Former staff lay the blame firmly with

Bird's own role in The Big Issue:

“John Bird, although providing the original drive behind

The Big Issue, was also seen as the magazine’s biggest

liability. Financial woes and consequent restructuring of

the organisation have been blamed on his reckless approach

and his tendency to spend substantial resources on schemes

for which he rapidly loses enthusiasm. His combative manage-

ment style often alienated staff. As a former staff journalist

stated, “John could be a complete nightmare - he would walk

in ten minutes before press time and demand that the cover be

changed. He can also be a bit of a bully, though he is immensely

charismatic. He preferred us to be in a state of crisis, as he

thought we'd be more cutting edge.”

::

“It's founder's syndrome. He set it up and couldn't let go,

and really resented not being a good enough editor to run

the magazine. As a result, he made his editors' lives

absolute hell.”

::
The Big Issue's Ist Edition, 1991.

::
"Big Issue Is SHIT," Says Cliff, age 60.

::
:: Feedback & Comments ::

allaboutthebigissue@britain.com

::
Ever So Glittering ~ By Uncle Monty.

http://thebiggerissueorg.blogspot.com/2010/10/glittering-by-uncle-monty.html

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Sunday Comments From Brussels.

By Uncle Monty.

.

I have embargoed for now Part 2 of my "Street

Interviews" due to Jennafer Yellowhorse having

unexpectedly contacted me about her nasty ex-

periences with The Big Issue trying to then invade

on other existing street papers inside America at

the start of the new 2000. The bitterness in

America against Bird himself and his Big Issue

dirty tactics are still palpable after 10 years.

John Bird engenders either love or hate, but I

see and hear more amd more hate against him

and his little honcho brother Peter Bird. I

must have at least 100 e-mails in the past six

months alone castigating the Bird Brothers.

.

John Bird is a classic rule breaker, but who is

quick to throw out those who break his rules

along with his peanut brother Peter Bird who

even arbitrarily removes vendors like me who

haven't broken any of their rules except on

the basis of their catch-all trap: "Bringing

The Big Issue into disrepute." Peter and

John Bird are basically nasty buggers.

.

Much like Sir Terry Leahy's attempt to in-

vade the American grocey industry with his

Tesco billions of dollars to form "Fresh &

Easy" in America, The Big Issue likewise

soon failed to secure a lasting foothold in the

U.S. street papers network. All too often

British business folkz misunderstand the

psychology and mindset of the American con-

sumer to their own peril and huge financial loss

in America. Leahy and Bird thought America

was an easy place to conquer, but what they

don't realise is the antipathy of many

Americans towards the British intruding on

their terrority is firm and steadfast and grow-

ing more pronounced by each passing year.

Many Americans also resent today's ill-man-

nered and rude Brits. And, rightly so, I say ...

.

Fresh & Easy: How Tesco's great American disaster has unfolded ...
Fresh & Easy: Tesco's great American disaster. Tesco in America ...

What Tesco offers is quick, fresh and easy meals for those who do not ...

::

Jennafer Yellowhorse also wrote to me saying:

"I'm sorry to hear about your experience as a vendor.

Especially when it comes to tearing down someone

who has a complaint. Mediation and Grievance process

is something that all agencies should have, and there

should be places where people are allowed to express

themselves as their experiences with any organization."

Not so, Jenneafer, at The Big Issue under the tyranny

of Peter and John Bird, who don't give a damn about

anybody but themselves and their greedy attitude.

No wonder Brit Cliff, age 60, instantly stated to me -

"Big Issue is SHIT." I didn't even ask him what he

thought, he just spoke out against the Vauxhall gang

at The Big Issue HQ at London, UK. What he other-

wise said about The Big Issue is unprintable here!

.

Jennafer Yellowhorse also said to me: "(Having)

dealt with the big issue when they tried to invade

los angeles, (I) wanted to say hello and solidarity

(to you) ..." I then promptly wrote back to her

and told Jennafer that "john bird frankly is a big

conceited bastard between u and me. he has

exploited the homeless for years and is seen as

the country's leading "guru" on homelessness.

it's largely crap and bs, i think."

.

The Big Issue will stoop to almost any level to

get its filthy hands on more godless money at

the expense of its street vendors and the ideals
it allegedly stands for. Such is the latest case of
having its street vendors wear red jackets advert-

ising a wine company when The Big Issue knows darn
well that one of the major health and social problems
of vendors is drink and alcoholism. The flawed rationale
to use such jackets is part of the long irrationale fetish

by The Big Issue to have the vendors wear street jackets
advertising something or other while selling on the cold

streets of the UK. They want to turn every vendor into

a walking advertising billboard and yet not pay them for

doing so as The Big Issue’s Bird Brothers rake in more

and more dough under the guise

of “helping the homeless.”
.
Perhaps its time to ask the UK Charity Commission
to formally investigate the charitiable status of The
Big Issue Foundation based on the latest money

gimmick of its parent company The Big Issue using

vendors for purposes that don’t help the homeless

but perhaps helps hinder them instead? I'm care-

fully considering submitting a formal complaint to

the commission and requesting it either suspend

or remove The Big Issue’s charitable status at the

earliest time possible. While sods John and Peter

Bird may consider my option an empty threat,

they may well be in for a big and nasty surprise

should the commission uphold my formal

complaint or any other member of the public
who might also write a complaint about

TBI to them.

::

The Big Issue is an active member of the

International Network of Street Papers, which is

the independent news agency of the International

Network of Street Papers (INSP) and is the corner-

stone of their work to foster a strong and united

street front at www.street-papers.org/. From

what I hear, there are also some bad rumblings

against John Bird and The Big Issue at INSP, too.

::

The problem is clearly The Big Issue has now lost

its social and ethical compass in its constant greed
for big money while trampling on the rights and

concerns of its street vendors who have become
unpaid slaves to them over especially the past 5 or
6 years it seems to me. And so, like America that
once kicked ass of smart ass John Bird and his money

buddy Nigel Kershaw, perhaps its finally time for the
UK Charity Commission to kick ass against The
Big Issue, too!! I hope so ....

.

"Boycott Big Issue street newspaper," says

Street Spirit editor Tom Boland. Such

speaks the American loudest against the ilk of

John Bird and his money buddy Nigel Kershaw,

who I am told is a secular Jew. That aside,

Jennafer Yellowhorse, who is presumably a

worthy Native American, was a bright light

for me after what The Big Issue has illegal-

ly and unjustly done to me like so many of

its past street vendors. My advantage is I

am now freer than ever to take The Big

Issue to task and expose it for what it

really is - Greedy & Heartless.

.

Honestly, Uncle Monty at Brussels, EU.

On this day of 10.10.10 @ 10.10 am.

+World Homeless Day, 2010.

.

The big issue is the modern day victorian workhouse,

people are paid a pittance to sell this mag while John

Bird rakes in a fortune. Bird's a Thatcherite.

End of story. imonthebox

.

I mean - what's so "inspiring" and "ethical"

about supporting a ban on soup kitchens?

badnewswade

.

Anyone who describes themselves as an

"entrepeneur" should substitute the

word "bastard.”

Concerned Citizen.

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Who's Exploiting Whom?
The Big Issue 19-02-1992

By Christopher Long.

www.christopherlong.co.uk/pri/exploit.html

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:: Google Images By Uncle Monty ::

Nigel Kershaw, John Duffy, Tom Woolock,

Billie Bickley, John & Peter Bird, et tal.
...
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=john+bird+and+nigel+kershaw+and+uncle+monty&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

...
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=john+bird+and+uncle+monty&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

...

http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&tbs=isch:1&ei=zPGsTPmGFOKW4gbG3-W4Bw&q=john+bird+and+uncle+monty&start=20&sa=N
...
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&tbs=isch:1&ei=8fGsTIi9EZD44Abk0uCiBw&q=john+bird+and+uncle+monty&start=40&sa=N
...
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&tbs=isch:1&ei=LPOsTM6LPIWe4QaYkdStBw&q=john+bird+and+uncle+monty&start=60&sa=N

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http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=john%20bird%20and%20nigel%20kershaw&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

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The Beatles Forever. By Alex Albion.

Now after "The Passage" Super Concert,
my next big concert date and invitation is The
Beatles 50th Anniversay Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra Tribute that is set for October 28th,
2010, at London's Royal Albert Hall. Bravo! I
am going with three friends who are mad about
the songs and records of The Beatles. Then on
Armistice Day, I'll attend The Order of St.
Larazus of Jerusalem Concert at Cadogan Hall.
Earlier on the same day, I shall be present at
the Annual Commemoration Service to the
Homeless Dead at St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

.

Hopefully, The Big Issue will not send staff

distributor and hack poet Steve Farrell ever

again after he fell asleep on the front pew for

all to see at the last commemoration service

I attended. I actually woke him up due to

the severe embarrassment he caused at St.

Martin-in-the-Fields. So much then for the

homeless dead from The Big Issue!! It was

pathetic to then see disrespectful Steve

Farrell representing the Bird outfit in the

name of the homeless dead that included

the names of some dead ex-Big Issue ven-

dors. I also presented a batch of names from

the podium and to the packed members

present at the annual service that I was

so proud to stand before. So for godsake,

no more Steve Farrell ...
.

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{ To enlarge any image, just click on it }

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