My grandchildren will feel the heat
Striding into 2016
I’ ve finally found the time to sit down and read the Christmas Issue. What a fantastic read. I love Letter to my Younger Self, so it was great to see a round-up. And I was so proud to read‘ Paving the way to success’ about the amazing strides that your vendors have made in 2015.
In fact, there is a tear in my eye after reading about their achievements. I hope I can keep this feeling with me to inspire me to make a diference in 2016. Thank you for producing such a fantastic magazine. PS: My vendor is Mark in South End Green, NW3 – lovely, hard-working bloke! Alison George, email
Happy with Bratz
On Christmas Eve my family and I were just watching a Christmas movie when there was a knock at the door. A large box was delivered and I was puzzled. I opened it to find Bratz dolls. I couldn’ t understand why I got a delivery of them when I spotted the letter saying I won them from The Big Issue.
My eight-year-old daughter was absolutely over the moon and it made her feel very special indeed! I can’ t thank you enough. It was a wonderful surprise and she loves them. I’ ve enclosed a photo of my daughter, Natalie, and her( sur) prize. Many thanks for making us smile on Christmas Eve. Happy new year! Collette Sherriffs, email
@ alanbissett There are obvious reasons to buy The Big Issue. A feature on THE 20TH CENTURY’ S TWO GREATEST GENIUSES!( Roger Waters and Syd Barrett) is but one.
WorldMags CORRESPONDENCE. net
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COMMENT OF THE WEEK
My grandchildren will feel the heat
Re:‘ Stopdenyingtheclimateischanging’[ December 7-13 ]. Iamagrandmotherinmy70sandIamnota scientist, I can only recall how things were in the 1940s – wedidn’ thavecentralheating, onlycoalfiresinmy parents’ home. This caused fog air pollution, and as a childwithwarmclothingonIdon’ trecallfeelingcold – however the elderly possibly did. I don’ t have any central heating on in my home today, admittedly layers ofclothingcutheatingcostsbuttheatmosphereinthe home is warm. We didn’ t have food wrapped in plastics and it was mostly pesticide-free. In our road there were no cars. We didn’ t have dafodils blooming in December, we didn’ t have deforestation or intensive animal farms. Methane( from intensive animal farming) and nitrous oxide( from cars) emissions are no laughing matter. We can’ tgobacktothe’ 40s. We’ reallresponsibleforour choices. Let’ s educate more on this problem, continue to raise awareness. I’ m concerned for my grandchildren. M Scallion, Epsom, Surrey
@ Charlee _ G To the lovely # BigIssue vendor in Covent Garden, thank you for directing me when I was lost! Still can’ t use Google Maps ….
@ bigissueuk
PAW-SOME!
Reader Anthony Henderson was so delighted with his signed James and Street Cat Bob poster he sent us this pic.
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THE BIG ISSUE / p4 / January 11-17 2016
Find your path
It was an unexpected pleasure to find a image of the LISA Pathfinder satellite on the cover of the New Year issue, and a nice mention in the‘ 6 big reasons’ article inside.
But were you aware that the satellite was built in Stevenage by Airbus Defence and Space, and that a number of British universities, supported by the UK Space Agency, contributed to the scientific payload? Neil Dunbar, spacecraft engineering manager, LISA Pathfinder team
Beat to the street
Just read [ former police oicer ] Russell Monk’ s article on homelessness [ January 4-10 ], a very moving story. Thank you for sharing. Chris Hannan, Facebook
@ pjch2106 Profound article by Russell Monk in @ BigIssue this week. Makes me feel grateful for what I have. Well worth a read.
Out of our depth?
After the storms and floods two years ago, David Cameron said:“ Business as usual.” But the new defences were overtopped and flooding occurred in new locations as consistent heavy rain fell over wide areas. Here in Tring the ground, though over chalk, is waterlogged. On December 28 the Environment Agency called for a“ complete rethink” to flood defences. The buzzword is changing from sustainability to resilience, not only for cities in developing countries but in flood-prone areas and communities at home.
To blame building on flood plains ignores riverside towns which have existed there for centuries; new techniques can help here, and also reduce the impact of flooding in flood plains which are needed to prevent flooding elsewhere. More and higher defences can have unintended consequences.
One pointer to hope this year is the community spirit and generosity shown during the floods; let’ s show this nationally towards people without homes, and to refugees. Leslie Barker, Tring