DRUG WAR POLICIES NEED A STINT IN REHAB

The "war on drugs" waged by various governments around the world is a complete failure that more often than not only leads to an escalation of violence. This is according to a comprehensive review ...More

BAHRAIN STICKS TO HIV-POSITIVE PEOPLE BAN

Bahrain may be dependent on expatriate labour, but that has not stopped it from deporting migrant workers who are found to be HIV-positive.   The bigger surprise, though, is that this tiny isla...More

CHILD VICTIMS OF MASS GANG RAPE IN DRC STEP FORWARD

At least 28 children have been identified as victims of the four-day mass gang rape raid of more than a dozen villages centred around Walikale, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), last month, Unit...More

NUMBER OF MASS RAPE VICTIMS IN DRC RISES

The number of women raped by rebel groups during last month's raid of more than a dozen villages centred around Walikale in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has risen to over 240, United Nat...More

WORLD’S MOST STREETWISE NEWS AGENCY LAUNCHES TO THE PUBLIC

The Street News Service, an online news agency supported by the International Network of Streetpapers (INSP), has been launched to the public. The SNS brings together the best content from 110 INSP s...More

Cuba's subsidised cigarettes going up in smoke

Cuba is phasing out its longstanding monthly allotments of subsidised cigarettes as President Raul Castro works to jump-start the island's sputtering economy.  Beginning next month, some 2.5 mill...More

TOP SA MUSICIANS TO PLAY CHARITY GIG FOR STREET KIDS

Ard Matthews (Just Jinger), Theo Crous, Vusi Mahlasela, Zolani (Freshlyground), Plush, iScream & the Chocolate Stix, Jack Mantis and Louise Day are just some of the big names in South African musi...More

SHARK SLAUGHTER: OCEAN’S APEX PREDATOR AT RISK

Six Yemeni fishing boats captured in Egyptian territorial waters in June might have gone unnoticed if not for their unusual cargo - kilometres of long lines and over 20 tons of dead sharks.   "...More

MASS GANG RAPE IN DRC EXPOSES SYSTEMATIC SEXUAL VIOLENCE

A United Nations human rights investigation mission will be launched in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today after gruesome reports surfaced in of the systematic gang rape of nearl...More

US FEARS PAKISTAN FLOODS MAY GIVE MILITANTS POWER

Before they are picked up by US rescue helicopters, flood survivors in Pakistan's Swat valley are checked for weapons and explosives - twice. For the United States, which is providing naval helic...More

METRO COP BUST IN TIK RAID

A Metro Police Officer and his wife have been arrested on charges of dealing in tik following a raid on their Mitchell's Plain house by SAPS and Metro Police officers last night.   A City of Ca...More

YOUTH VIOLENCE ENDEMIC IN SADC REGION

Young people in Southern Africa are easily drawn into a cycle of violence and urgent steps need to be take to put in place the support structures to break this cycle.   This is according to the f...More

NEW TOURISM NODE TO BLAST CAPE TOWN’S OLDEST TOWNSHIP OUT OF THE SHADOWS

At the same time as the Athlone power station is taken out of service in explosive fashion, a new tourist node will, quite literally, rise out of its shadows. It's a dramatic image loaded with sy...More

MEXICO’S SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS GAY RIGHTS

Mexico's Supreme Court has taken two fundamental steps in recognising the rights of gays and lesbians. On Monday, it voted to uphold a Mexico City law that allows same-sex couples to adopt. And on Aug...More

FOOD CARTELS FEAST ON RAMADAN PROFITS

Opportunistic food traders have been blamed for the soaring food prices across the Middle East that have added a financial burden on families observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. "Every ye...More

UN PUTS OUT APPEAL FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR PAKISTAN FLOOD RELIEF EFFORT

With an estimated 14 to 16 million people affected by what the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) calls "the worst monsoon-related floods in living memory", the United Natio...More

BURGLARS DECIMATE WYNBERG DEPOT

The Big Issue has suffered a major setback after its Wynberg depot was robbed and vandalised in the early hours of August 8.   “They not only broke in and took everything right down to kitc...More

FUGEES FRONTMAN TURNS HAITI PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER

In a widely expected but slightly surreal move, former Fugees star, Wycleff Jean, has confirmed his transition from hip hop star to political leader by announcing his candidacy for the post of pres...More

WOMEN’S WEEK TO UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL POWER AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL

Harnessing the formidable power of women’s groups at grassroots level will be the focus of a week-long training and awareness campaign kicking-off on Women’s Day.   “Through ...More

MENTAL ILLNESS ADDS TO BURDEN OF HIV SUFFERERS

One third of all people diagnosed with HIV suffer from a mental illness, most commonly depression, which experts have warned can adversely affect their management and treatment of the virus.  ...More

CITY OF CT GOES ON VEGETARIAN DRIVE

The City of Cape Town is urging Capetonians to give up meat one day a week under a new campaign aimed at tackling health issues, climate change and animal welfare with one fell swoop. “This ...More

ALL-WOMEN SHIP IN BID TO BREAK ISRAEL’S SIEGE ON PALESTINE

The Maryam, an all-female Lebanese aid ship, currently docked in the northern Lebanese port of Tripoli, is getting ready to set sail for Gaza in the next few days. The ship, which aims to break Isr...More

TUTU BIDS FAREWELL TO THE PUBLIC LIFE

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has announced his retirement from public life at a press conference in St. Georges Cathedral, Cape Town. “On the 7th of October I turn 79-years- old, and withdraw fr...More

SCIENTISTS PROMISE TO REVEAL MORE ON AIDS VACCINE

Scientists participating in the 18th International Aids conference currently taking place in Vienna have promised to share more information on vaccine research. Dr Alan Bernstein, Global HIV Vacci...More

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED HAITIAN FARMING COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE SUPPORT

Although swift food aid and agricultural supplies helped ward off a post-earthquake food crisis in Haiti, a funding shortfall for farmers is hampering efforts to boost food production six months af...More

POLICE FAIL TO INVESTIGATE MURDER OF TEENAGE STREET PAPER VENDOR

Police have still not identified any suspects responsible for the murder of Homeless Talk vendor Mbali Nkbinde more than three weeks after the 19-year-old was gunned down on her way back from celeb...More

THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL SIDE OF WORLD CUP FOOTBALLS

England coach Fabio Capello has bemoaned the unpredictable trajectory of South Africa’s Jabulani World Cup ball, calling it "the worst ball" in the history of the tournament. But labour right...More

BIG PRIZES BIG ISSUE STYLE

Sinethemba Mlanjana (pictured below) was the lucky winner of the original Lucas Radebe signed Leeds United testimonial jersey from the game played on May 2, 2005.   ...More

MAYOR CHALLENGED TO ATTEND THE POOR PEOPLE’S WORLD CUP

The Western Cape Anti- Eviction campaign (AEC) will today challenge the mayor of Cape Town to attend the Poor People’s World Cup, a soccer tournament running parallel to the Fifa World Cup. &...More

BIG ISSUE STAFF ON THE PITCH

The Big Issue tradition holds that new staff members must brave the traffic and the elements and hit the streets to sell the magazine. This is done primarily so that staff members can understand exact...More

ADVERTISING SALES POST

Based in Cape Town, THE BIG ISSUE is an established non-profit job creation and development initiative, which publishes an exciting general interest magazine, sold by a vendor force of unemployed and ...More

HELP US SHOW OFF YOUR CAPE TOWN

Everybody's talking about how they can make some moolah out of the soccer fans coming to Cape Town for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, so The Big Issue thought we'd do something different and give something ...More

The Big Issue has a new Editor

Melany Bendix has joined The Big Issue as editor. Prior to joining TBI, Melany was editor of a leading travel industry magazine and her work has been published in extremely diverse publications, rangi...More

 

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