The Big Issue Edition 375

Celebrities might do it far too often, but tweets have also helped report on disasters and topple regimes. Ginger Briggs examines how the Twitter revolution is changing the world.

Also in this issue:

Emily Blunt talks about clever sci-fi and her latest film, The Adjustment Bureau; singer Darren Hanlon riffs on touring, song writing and being labelled an urban-folk singer; Patrick Witton hitches onto an idea that could help ease traffic; and Roving Eye looks at the moving top shots of the World Press Photo Contest.

Our ‘Vendor Profile’ is Greg from Adelaide. This issue’s ‘Streetsheet’ contributors are Ben and De from Melbourne, James D (aka ‘Zero Pressure Salesman’) from Brisbane and Adrian from Melbourne, who provided an illustration. There is also a note about Brisbane vendor Grant’s participation in the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave.

The Big Issue

The 1960s are back in style, thanks to hit TV show Mad Men and its leading man, actor Jon Hamm.

Also in this issue:

The funny side of fighting Burma’s military junta in ‘A Meeting With the Moustache Brothers’; photographer Rodney Dekker discusses his exhibition portraying the human cost of climate change in ‘Holding Back the Tide’; Gareth Liddiard, frontman of the Drones, talks about his solo album in ‘Off His Chest’; director Sean Byrne tells about his new film, The Loved Ones, in ‘Horror With Heart’; activist and lawyer Julian Burnside shows his artistic side in ‘Something From Nothing’; and this issue’s ‘Roving Eye’, by Conor Ashleigh, looks at the brick-makers of Nepal in ‘Kith and Kiln’.

Our ‘Vendor Profile’ is Glenn P from Sydney. This issue’s ‘Streetsheet’ contributions come from Nicole C in Geelong, Vic, Kerrie in Sydney, David in Semaphore, SA, Les in Bendigo and Echuca, Vic and Sue in Brisbane. We also have a picture from Eddie in Adelaide of the barbecue he bought with money he made selling The Big Issue.

The Big Issue

Behind the microphone with some of Australia’s finest comedians (who happen to be female). In-house comic Fiona Scott-Norman tackles sexism, stereotypes and argues that being a female comic is all it’s cracked up to be.

Also in this issue:

Robert Lastdrager unloads secrets from the skip in ‘Things That Get Dumped in the Night’; Australian minstrel Paul Kelly takes us ‘To His Door’ with insights into songwriting and touring; Anthony Morris finds out how three Sydneysiders turned a beached whale into an internet phenomenon, and became ‘Successful Az’; and in this edition’s ‘Roving Eye’, we expose snapshots of the 1950s and 1960s as seen through the lens of documentary photographers, Group M. 

Our ‘Vendor Profile’ is Dennis from Canberra. This issue’s ‘Streetsheet’ contributions come from Douglas in Leederville, WA, Glenn F in Sydney, Michelle in Canberra, Ted in Brisbane, Colin in Adelaide and Owen D in Melbourne. And Sydney vendor Jason M makes a special appearance with B-Real and Eric Bobo of, Cypress Hill.

The Big Issue

U2 is bigger than ever, and the band will tour Australia in December. But, after 34 years, can anyone claim that the band is better than it once was? And why do Bono’s efforts to save the world attract so much mockery?

Also in this issue:

Ricky French talks to Ben Butcher, officially Australia’s worst artist, who may be so bad he’s good. Lannon Harley gives us a snapshot of the annual Ute Muster in Deniliquin, NSW, a two-day celebration of rural Australia. Hugo Award-winning author China Miéville talks to Chris Flynn about his latest novel, and Glenn Dunks examines the depiction of same-sex relationships on the big and small screens. Editorial Assistant Tyler Jefferson writes a My Word on nostalgia, sibling relationships and video games. Roving Eye this issue focuses on an Armenian Gymnasium, where the effects of an earthquake 22 years ago are still being felt.

Our ‘Vendor Profile’ is Wayne from Bentleigh, Melbourne. This issue’s ‘Streetsheet’ contributions come from Chris in Canberra, James D in Brisbane, Mick F in Sydney and Jenny in Melbourne – and there is a photo of Aaron, who was one of two runners up for the Courage Medal in the Victorian division of the Pride of Australia Medal Awards.

Edition: 363

On the 10th anniversary of the Sydney Olympics, Alan Attwood asks: what is the legacy of “the best Olympic Games ever”?

Also in this issue:

Photographer Charlie Sublet offers a snapshot of the election experience in one of Australia’s most remote towns in ‘Oombulgurri Votes’; Nick Cave discusses Grinderman’s second album; George Dunford talks to author Bret Easton Ellis about his latest book, Imperial Bedrooms; and in this edition’s Roving Eye, Christina Simons, takes on Roller Derby, the fast-growing full-contact team sport with a punk-girl aesthetic.

Our ‘Vendor Profile’ is Eddie from Adelaide. This issue’s ‘Streetsheet’ contributions come from Frank in Perth, Peter G in Melbourne, David K in Brisbane and Wayne in Melbourne – and a photo of Billy from Brisbane.

The Big Issue Edition 362

Anthony Morris discusses the highs and lows of a series that changed television. Acclaimed Australian animator Bruce Petty contributes a Simpsons cartoon especially for The Big Issue, while Max Attwood tells us what it’s been like to grow up with the iconic show.

Also in this issue:

Claire Dunn travels to a remote corner of Australia to form a lasting bond with a land and its people in Weaving Worlds. In Through Their Eyes, Top-End teenagers redefine themselves with photography. In The Year of the Wagon, Jenny Valentish shares the diary of her dry year. Our Roving Eye, by Matteo Armellini, is The Buenos Aires Boxing Club, where an old-fashioned sport is giving Argentine youth a fighting chance.

Our ‘Vendor Profile’ is Tony from Brisbane. This issue’s ‘Streetsheet’ contributions come from Campbell B in Sydney, Owen D in Melbourne, Jagman in Perth, and Marcus in Melbourne.

The Big Issue

We take a provocative, non-partisan, look at an issue that won’t go away. In a country of immigrants, ‘boat people’ can mean many things – not only refugees. We call for compassion, and for the focus to be on people, not boats.

Also in this issue:

Acclaimed author Sonya Hartnett discusses her new novel, The Midnight Zoo. In a double-treat for movie-lovers, Australian director Nadia Tass talks to us about the pleasure and pain behind her new film, Matching Jack, while Thomas Caldwell reflects on the life and work of Roman Polanski, whose long career has been at turns inspiring, sordid and controversial. Our Roving Eye, by Dave Tacon, is Dog Daze – exploring the complex relationships between people and dogs in Arnhem Land.

Our ‘Vendor Profile’ is John from Perth. We have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Mick F in Neutral Bay, Sydney, Margaret H in Melbourne, Colourful Dave in Perth, Glen F in Sydney, and a picture of Steve S from Melbourne getting some help from a young customer on his pitch.

The Big Issue

What do Cameron Diaz, Hillary Clinton, and Julia Gillard have in common? They’re all strong women, making waves.

Also in this issue:

Ricky French gets ‘All Fired Up’, finding out what it takes to (almost) become a firefighter; the diary of Grace McQuilten, who runs The Social Studio, a non-profit cafe, fashion house and support centre that provides education and training for refugees; job-seeking advice from the other side of the desk in ‘Tell Us About Yourself’; and Roving Eye takes a look at the rhythms of life around a hot-doughnut van.

Our ‘Vendor Profile’ is Glenn from Sydney. We have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Mick F in Neutral Bay, Sydney, Cheryl in Melbourne, and an interview with Sheynell in Sydney by The Big Issue reader Liz Dore.

Here it is: our annual, much-anticipated, short story edition – bigger and better than ever. And what stories they are: an infamous old explorer takes history to task; a young man endures a harsh legacy; four Beijing sophisticates get some unexpected home help; a lone traveller finds a moment of connection in the company of strangers… These are a few of the tales you’ll find in The Big Issue’s sixth short story edition, from a mix of emerging and established writers, accompanied by images from an impressive range of artists. There’s so much great content – including some of the popular regular features – that we had to stretch this issue an extra eight pages.

Also in this issue:

Our vendor profile this issue sees the return of Raph from Brisbane, who featured in the same section back in Ed#190. There’s a bumper edition of Streetsheet, twice as long as usual, with contributions from Chris from Woden, ACT,  Peter G from Melbourne, Kelly from Melbourne, Jenny from Melbourne, Bryan from Canberra, and David from Norwood, Stirling and Blackwood, SA.

Ms Kent will offer her personal insight on the Prime Minister’s take on female leadership, drawing on the interviews she conducted for the 2009 biography.

She joins keynote speaker, Carol Schwartz AM, a leading Melbourne philanthropist and businesswoman, member of the City of Melbourne Enterprise Advisory Board and Chairman of Our Community.

The Third Sector Women’s Leadership Seminar is an event for professionals interested in leadership in business, the community, and politics.With an initial focus on women, speakers will also draw more widely on their greater experience to provide insight into leadership development of relevance to all sectors. There will also be ample professional development and networking opportunities in the panel session and interactive workshop.

The program includes:

• Presentation from acclaimed biographer Jacqueline Kent, author of The Making of Julia Gillard.
• Keynote Address by Carol Schwartz AM, a leading Melbourne philanthropist and businesswoman. Ms Schwartz is Executive in Residence at the Melbourne Business School, member of the City of Melbourne Enterprise Advisory Board, director of the philanthropic Trawalla Foundation, Chairman of Our Community and Deputy Chair of the Australian Women Donors Network.
• Presenters Jo Swift CEO of Kids Undercover and Patrizia Torelli Chair of OnSide Victoria. Ms Swift will talk about organisational change and the leadership required to achieve business goals, and Ms Torelli will talk about leadership interaction amongst culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Victoria.
• Professional development and networking opportunities during the interactive panel session, workshop, and during the buffet-style lunch.
• Workshop with SACS Consulting, a human resource and organisational psychology consulting firm, on the myths and truths of leadership development.

The Seminar will be held on Wednesday 21 July, from 9.00am–4.00pm at Rydges on Swanston, Carlton, Victoria.

Registration has been discounted to $479 for all not-for-profit and community organisations. A donation of $50 from each registration will be made to the International Women’s Development Agency.

Visit www.celebratethirdsectorwomen.com.au for more information, or contact Stephanie Fielden on 03 9248 5175 or at conferences@gs-press.com.au

Register NOW to avoid missing out!