john bird is the founder and editor-in-cheif of the big issue. he is also a member of the worker revolution party he was also asked to be part of the conservatives party in 2007 but turned it down due to his beliefs.
John bird believes he would not of risen to the position if he did not go through the hardships in his early life.
he was born in a notting hill slum to a poor Irish English family. by age 5 he was homeless and lived in an orphanage from ages seven to ten. he became a butchers boy after leaving the orphanage and supplemented is income by stealing. he also spent several years in prison where he learnt to read write and the basics of printing. in the early 1970s he began to build on his prison career and start a small printing company in London.
in september 1991 bird began the big issue with gordon Roddick the co owner of the body shop after he met a man selling magazines in New York the man explained that he was selling the magazines to support his drug habit and that he can not go back to his home town because of poverty. like a lot of the people who sell the big issue today.
The Big Issue magazine started as a London venture but expanded with specific editions and services to other British cities, and then to other countries. Bird is also the founder of the International Network of Street Papers, which now incorporates over 100 street papers, and is published in 34 countries in 24 languages.
the big issue aims to give poor and homeless people means of making money and a way to help themselves out of difficult situations. It helps people who want to help themselves.
gordan and anita roddicks company "the body shop" believes it 'exists to fight for the fairer' the body shop was created with the idea that we should fight for what is good, what is just and what is beautiful.
both the body shop and the big issue share ideas about standing up for your believes and making a difference in a cruel world.
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