Street Seen

national | arts and media | news report

Monday March 21, 2005 12:37

by Jon Glackin - Street Seen

streetseen at hotmail dot co dot uk

07743275533

Making the Invisible Visible

Street Seen was established in November 2004, as a campaigning Anti Poverty paper, primarily to be sold on the streets of Ireland, North and South, by members of the Homeless community or those affected by Poverty directly.

Street Seen was established in November 2004, as a campaigning Anti Poverty paper, primarily to be sold on the streets of Ireland, North and South, by members of the Homeless community or those affected by Poverty directly.
Homelessness is an extreme symptom of Poverty and Street Seen through its associated projects intends to tackle the root causes of poverty locally and internationally.
Street Seen is a unique social experiment based on the philosophy of self help, a model that has been practiced successfully throughout the World. It gives homeless people a hand up not a hand out, empowering them through their own actions. Helping the homeless help themselves is one of the key principles behind Street Seen breaking people from dependency, offering an alternative to begging or crime. It allows people to make choices and develops their self-esteem. It provides empowerment; money they have earned through hard graft that comes with no rules to tell them how to spend it. They control the consequences. It teaches vendors how to run their own business
From selling the paper and earning their own living homeless people are elevated above the traditional hand out culture. Homelessness undermines human dignity and hinders the ability of people to benefit from their fundamental rights. Street Seen seeks to change the relationship homeless people have with their immediate environment, through giving them the ammunition for self initiated change.
Street Seen has not just enabled them to earn a living but it has empowered homeless people through their own actions, and thereby helped them to regain their self esteem. Equally as important, support and training is available to all vendors through our social projects. The purpose of the support and training is to enable vendors to re-integrate into society

Street Seen seeks to change the relationship between homeless people and the public by directly challenging traditional stereotypes surrounding the homeless in a number of innovative ways. Firstly by keeping the issue of homelessness and poverty in the paper, as well as in the national media - press, radio and TV, challenging stereotypical perceptions in the mainstream media. Secondly by giving homeless and marginalised people a voice in the paper, editorial which is written by homeless people locally and internationally about their own experiences.

We aim to produce a good read, not a pity purchase, so that the public buy the paper on its own merits and they are not in a sense, buying the condition of the vendor. However, Street Seen is a campaigning paper, raising issues that don't get coverage in the national press and more importantly providing a platform for homeless people and those who would not normally find space to share their experiences and opinions. Street Seen contains regular contributions from Iraq, Palestine and the many groups working towards social justice here and further afield and welcomes submissions from progressive groups and individuals.

We see working with other groups that have a common aim as crucial in helping to lay the foundations for social change. As such we have built links on the ground and with those agencies that work directly with the homeless and with the various agencies and groups that tackle poverty locally and nationally.

Current and future Projects:

· Recently held an ongoing successful Sleeping Bag Appeal, gathering enough items that will last for the next few months, with items distributed to the East Belfast Mission, The Welcome Centre (W Belfast), Home Plus and other outreach groups that work directly with the homeless Community..

· Creating Photography and creative writing classes so as to increase involvement with the Homeless Community and their paper.

· Producing a documentary, made by the Homeless so as to tell their own story, to be screened on terrestrial TV.

· Supporting and developing an International Homeless Forum where members of the Homeless Community and service providers can communicate and exchange thoughts and ideas. http://www.forums.homeless.org.au/

· Developing our own web space to increase inter reaction with our readership and supporters. http://www.streetseennews.blogspot.com/

· Working on creating Belfast’s Homeless Soccer league with associated coaching, refereeing and training courses

· Working with and promoting the Make Poverty History Campaign amongst other campaigns.

· Outreach Work with the Homeless Community addressing immediate needs and concerns

We do not rely on advertising or the backing of wealthy patrons to keep Street Seen afloat; we keep our cover price low so most people can afford it. It is more important for us to get the message out from the street than profit from poverty. At the moment we come out every three weeks with the intention to go fortnightly at the earliest opportunity. This has been a large undertaking but we feel confident for the future, the success of the Sleeping Bag Appeal exemplified to us that people really do want to make a difference.
Street Seen intends to stick around and assist anyone or group who are willing to attempt making that difference, you know where to find us…..

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Comments (10 of 10)

Briefly

by Davy Carlin - Street Seen

Mon Mar 21, 2005 15:57

Street Seen was set up, as above, on the basis of being primarily an Anti Poverty campaigning paper - which has seen it develop and expand.

Since then Street Seen due to its continued support and growth has now developed into several various avenues of activism around the issue of Anti Poverty. This while initiating and providing solidarity to various other issues

Firstly there are the social projects that Street Seen is engaged in as raised above.

The Sleeping bag appeal as was reported on Indymedia was a brilliant success for a newly formed project. With support and solidarity given and shown across the board.

Then there were the writing classes and other social projects ongoing and being set up by Street Seen.

Secondly there are the mobilisations, agitations and Street protest Street Seen has and will initiate.

Street Seen have been involved at the forefront with others in the Make Poverty History Network {MPH} - which had seen us call for and now building for a mass Anti Poverty rally in Belfast in early June.

Similarly we had also called a solidarity rally against deportation with others - and are organising another one this week.

Thirdly there is our Internationalism -with links now being built up with International campaigning groups.

Street Since while being primarily an anti poverty paper will and has initiated and supported many other issues.

The diveristy of our Editorial - organising group {which is growning weekly} sees key activists of the IPSC, AWM, ARN , RAR, Anti Bin Tax, Anti War Tax and many other activists involved on local issues - and will offer solidatity to each.

Fourthly are our publications. Street Seen - the paper- for example which sold like hot cakes {almost 100 copies} at the Belfast Anti War rally {200 -250 in attendance at march}.

We also have our website and will do up regular bulletins and more detailed publications in time. Street Seen offers fraternal engagement and debate within the movement -

For example the call by MPH to the G7 to ‘Make Poverty History’ - I and others know that this is not where it is at.

Yet through affording that space in Street Seen for the many who do believe that the G7 can deliver fundamental change, I then in the next issue will put my thoughts and therein a debate can begin

Fifthly we will organise public debates with such already being pencilled in North and South. Again another open forum for debate and discussion

The Street Seen Editorial and organising group has now expanded and already includes some of the key activists who have been at the forefront in grassroots activism.

May it be around the Anti Sectarian rallies, Anti Privatisation, the Anti War Movement and the Anti Racism movement as well as a host of other activists involved in local community based campaigns - they are now getting involved in Street Seen.

Street Seen therefore sees activists joining to get involved - may it be in one project such as a social grassroots project - or may it be seeking with us to rally thousands onto the streets against poverty and Globalisation. While others will get involved in all the projects.

Indeed Street Seen is not pigeon holed into any one function or a particular ideology but is indeed reflective of the diversity of activists, their ideas and ideologies and of the various avenues of working within the movements.

Street Seen is not funded by state or governmental bodies and so therefore we are not accountable to such, and so can organise as to how we think best and can say what we want, without worry of funding being withdrawn etc

Street Seen continues to reach out with our ideas, and with our fraternal, open, democratic and accountable style of working with others.

We will work on grassroot projects in a real and practical way while mobilising both on masse and within local campaign issues, offering both support and solidarity.

If you want to get involved contact us as per link. D

Sorry almost Forget to attach

by Davy Carlin

Mon Mar 21, 2005 16:42

Please do not forget the picket this coming Wednesday in Castle Street Belfast against deportations.

It will take place at the Irish tourist board aptly named Failte Ireland {Welcome to Ireland - symbolic}. The picket will take place at 1pm and will be reflected in several cities around Europe.

Bring banners placcards etc

SS Funding

by D. Jackson

Mon Mar 21, 2005 16:47

A new paper that sells 12000 issues and " is not funded by state or governmental bodies".
Where does the funding come from?

Street Seen Funding

Mon Mar 21, 2005 17:51

As I mentioned earlier and Davy has rose we do not recieve state funding or rely on advertising, we rely on cover sales to finance the publication.
50% of the cover price goes to the vendor and 50% goes to producing the paper and subsidising our associated projects.
The initial capital for the project came from myself and I hope maybe one day to recoup this!!
Unlike previous incarnations of 'homeless' magazines we do not use glossy paper.. that helps keep costs down..we produce on news paper and we have a good deal with our printers to keep costs down....also we do not believe we need fancy offices though we will be sharing office space with progressive groups in Dublin and Belfast and have set up an unique street distribution network... we do not have salaried office staff draining resources..

Having been involved with various incarnations of 'Homeless' magazines the key element that differentiates ourselves are the fact we are open and transparent.

We do not believe that individuals should profit from poverty and as such encourage people to join our editorial group or correspond concerns directly to us.
We realise in this 'profit driven' society that concepts such as ours unique...
Maybe the question needs to be posed to other publications that quite frankly have been allowed to screw the homeless for too long now!!!

You never know Street Seen might just make that difference!

Hi, briefly

by D

Mon Mar 21, 2005 18:04

HI,

Good name to pluck out as I was speaking to D. Jackson at Anti War Rally -

I will give you a polite and fraternal reply though.

Initially and until very recently it was very difficult and activists had to put there own money into the project - Primarily Joh who is owed at least 500 pounds sterling.

Secondly we get print done very reasonable and photo copying etc free from supportive organisations.

Believe it or not there are organisations and supporters who will help out on such projects.

Also we have no major payouts - supportive office space in Dublin and Belfast a volunteer activists based Network and vendors who get 50% of the sale.

The other fiftly per cent goes back into the project. We do it all voluntary so no wages to pay

Thirdly we are starting to sell more papers thus beginning to put ourselves on a better footing.

Fourthly like the ARN we may hold gigs and fundraisers, as Street Seen will do when mobilising for the G8
.
Indeed to date ARN as raised above has hosted mass rallies - produced lots of literature - posters -has hired out halls and lorries and PA system etc etc and much more besides and still have a decent balance.

Strange as it may seem to you - then and like now - such support and solidarity is fourth coming to Street Seen both in terms of activism and finance from activists and supporters. across the Movements.

But that -is what is all about.

That unity builds our strength

Response

Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:45

Sorry I wasn't on the march on saturday. However I'm trying to make sense of your postings. You sell 100 on Saturday but have a print run of 12000 - and you set up the paper with 500 pounds. You would need to shift a lot more than that just to standstill, where else can you get SS?

In Response to Mr. Financial Controller :-)!!

Tue Mar 22, 2005 13:47

Such interest in commerce is remarkable and I admire your interest in such matters. I could be doing with some with such grasp of economics on the editorial group or hooking up for a coffee Im easy found!! :-)

Basically... we are now into our third issue print run 12 000... we have vendors selling the publication in Belfast City Centre and Derry... we be launching in Dublin after Easter with vendors aboard to sell the publication.. as I mentioned earlier the concept underpinning the project is that it is sold by members of the Homeless community or those affected by poverty.

The problem we have is that demand outstrips supply at the moment!

The first issue of Street Seen had a printrun of 5000 that I financed at a larger figure than Davy mentioned... between cover sales and giving the paper away we shifted 4600.. Im still tripping over them as we speak...
Hence four weeks later the second coming of Street Seen had a print run of 5000.. costs shortfall absorbed by myself, my enquiring one....we had problems with this one too as were running a sleeping bag appeal, thankfully a very successful one too as Im sure you have read in your paper.. we were overwhelmed with activity with getting a number of other anti poverty projects up and running..again details in the paper ( plug plug! coming to a street near you...!)

Again we shifted approx 4600.. costs absorbed by myself again..kinda get sick of this part!!
During the short existence of Street Seen we got the message out and people began to get in touch..as I say we are usually easy to find.
I made the decision to lash out a 12 000 print run as to hell with it lets give it a proper go!!!
so my economic friend twas time to build the product!

Writers and people of the calibre of George Monbiot, Nelson Mandela, Peter McVerry, George E Bisharat...editorial submitted from across the world...submissions from our creative writing projects..indy media crew... Make Poverty History campaign...National Missing Persons Helpline North and South..who are both getting their funding axed.... the list goes on.. all onboard the paper!
As I said earlier we dont want to produce a pity purchase we want people to get value for money, and vendors a chance to make a living...
We have produced 12 000 that better pay for the next one.. I feel confident it will...

I could go on all day talking about this with you but Im kinda busy as we are trying to build for the Anti-Deportation Solidarity action tmoro in Belfast and a few other tings too... we are all kinda busy with this Street Seen Project
Get in touch if you have any suggestions my economic guru..

Tread softly,

Forgot!!

by Jon

Tue Mar 22, 2005 16:19

The paper is also available in Queens Uni. Student Union Shop and Terri hooleys Phoenix Records@ Haymarket Arcade Belfast.. as well as the streets of Belfast Derry.. also will be in UCD and Trinity when Mark gets back!
Will be on Dublin Streets next week!!!

Dublin Outlets

Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:02

In response to a number of enquiries as to the papers availability in Dublin...
Street Seen is now available at Amnesty Internationals Store @ Temple Bar and Red Ink Bookshop near the Central Bank...
We will be available on the streets of Dublin in the very near future!!!!
If you need any more info or wish to subscribe call 0877974622

vendor

by ester local - street seen

Thu Dec 13, 2007 20:43

Street seen was and still is cool but i think Jon forgot to tell you how he embezzelled both ss and issues and for alot more than his initial 'outlay' basically robbing the ppl he claims to serve.Do not be fooled by this man he done next to nothing in the campaigns execpt self promotion and take credit for the work that the actual homeless people and former homeless done.He is a fraud of the most devious and manipultive kind.There are also concerns about his temperment including a report of him holding a homeless youngster by the throat and telling him to go back home.Hmmm strange type of support work that.If you really want to help street seen then contact Mark Grehan or Davy Carlin.

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