3 September 2002 The AIDS Consortium, the Treatment Action Campaign , Cosatu, faith based - all part of the BIG coalition will be handing over a memorandum to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Social Development today. Details: Tuesday, 3 September- from 10h00 to 12h00 the South African BIG Coalition will be making The BIG Link: a 1,8 km human chain between the George Lea Park and the inter-governmental summit in the Sandton Convention Centre to draw attention to the poverty in places such as nearby Alexandra and the need for a Basic Income Grant. Participants can meet at the stadium in Alexandra at 10h00 for cultural events, or simply introduce yourself to one of the marshals stationed along the route (through Marie Street, Sandton Drive, Grayston Drive, to the speakers' corner on Fifth and Alice Streets, Sandton) and join the chain at that point The memo to be handed over will make reference to the findings of the Committee of Inquiry into a Comprehensive System of Social Security for South Africa and endorse the recommendations. The key recommendations of the Committee were: 1. The development and implementation of a comprehensive social protection package to address holistically income poverty, capabilities poverty, asset poverty, and special needs; 2. The introduction, in the medium term, of a universal income support grant as a central pillar of a comprehensive social protection package; and 3. The immediate extension of the Child Support Grant as a short-term poverty alleviation strategy capable of preparing the way for the roll-out of a universal Basic Income Grant. The Memo will also be making demands on the government on the way forward with the implementation of the Basic Income Grant. You are invited to join us. Sharon Ekambaram Advocacy Officer AIDS Consortium Fax: 011 403 2106 Tel: 0111 403 0265 cell: 083 6348924