Grant Neufeld
Encyclopedia
Grant Neufeld is a social justice
and media activist, as well as a politician
in Calgary, Alberta
, Canada
. He also works in the field of community economic development
on a local currency
project at the Calgary-based "Arusha Centre". He was raised in Calgary.
In the November 2004 Alberta general election
, he ran, unsuccessfully, as the Green Party of Alberta candidate in the provincial riding of Calgary-Buffalo. He placed third out of seven candidates, with about 8.5% of the vote.
issues, feminism
, the Peace movement
, Environmentalism
and anti-poverty
work.
He founded the "Calgary Activist Network", a largely internet-based project in August 1999, and served as Director and primary programmer of the project until the end of December 2003. The Network serves as a clearing house for a diverse range of social justice and environmental activism efforts. In identifying the intended diversity of the project, Neufeld stated "Everyone should be able to find something on the Network that offends them. If that's the case, then it's diverse enough."
Opposed to Canadian oil company Talisman Energy, Inc.'s operations in Sudan
, Neufeld and a small group of Calgary-based activists founded "Project Sudan" in February 2001. Working in coalition with other social justice groups, they were eventually successful in getting the company to withdraw from Sudan.
After the July 21, 2001, announcement that the G8 Summit
would be held in Kananaskis, Alberta
, Neufeld and other local activsts co-founded "Calgary G8 ACT", a group established to coordinate protests against the summit.
In early 2003, with the emergence of mass global resistance to the then-impending invasion of Iraq by U.S.-led forces, activist groups in Calgary working on peace related issues came together to form a loose coalition that came to be known as "Peace Calgary". Since its founding, Neufeld has served as a co-ordinator.
Beginning in the summer of 2004, he served as a co-chair and co-ordinator of the "Alberta Social Forum
" which was held February, 2005, in Calgary.
projects, publications and internet based independent news services.
In the first half of 2000, he published the short lived independent newspaper The Independent Reporter.
Neufeld joined with other local independent media activists to establish "Calgary Indymedia". in anticipation of significant protests being held at the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary in June 2000. In 2001, he participated in the expansion of the project to become "Alberta Indymedia", and continued to work with and support the project through 2004.
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
and media activist, as well as a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Calgary, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He also works in the field of community economic development
Community development
Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....
on a local currency
Local currency
In economics, a local currency, in its common usage, is a currency not backed by a national government , and intended to trade only in a small area. As a tool of fiscal localism, local moneys can raise awareness of the state of the local economy, especially among those who may be unfamiliar or...
project at the Calgary-based "Arusha Centre". He was raised in Calgary.
Politics
On October 2, 2004, Neufeld was elected to a two-year term as President of the Green Party of Alberta. He did not seek reelection in 2006, and was replaced by Susan Stratton.In the November 2004 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 2004
The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, he ran, unsuccessfully, as the Green Party of Alberta candidate in the provincial riding of Calgary-Buffalo. He placed third out of seven candidates, with about 8.5% of the vote.
Activism
Neufeld has been involved with activist causes, projects and organizations including social justiceSocial justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
issues, feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, the Peace movement
Peace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
, Environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
and anti-poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
work.
He founded the "Calgary Activist Network", a largely internet-based project in August 1999, and served as Director and primary programmer of the project until the end of December 2003. The Network serves as a clearing house for a diverse range of social justice and environmental activism efforts. In identifying the intended diversity of the project, Neufeld stated "Everyone should be able to find something on the Network that offends them. If that's the case, then it's diverse enough."
Opposed to Canadian oil company Talisman Energy, Inc.'s operations in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, Neufeld and a small group of Calgary-based activists founded "Project Sudan" in February 2001. Working in coalition with other social justice groups, they were eventually successful in getting the company to withdraw from Sudan.
After the July 21, 2001, announcement that the G8 Summit
28th G8 summit
The 28th G8 Summit took place in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 26 and June 27, 2002.-Overview:The Group of Seven was an unofficial forum which brought together the heads of the richest industrialized countries: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada...
would be held in Kananaskis, Alberta
Kananaskis Improvement District
Kananaskis Improvement District is an improvement district in Alberta, Canada. It is located within Alberta's Rockies, sharing much of its boundaries with Kananaskis Country.The administrative centre of the improvement district is Kananaskis Village....
, Neufeld and other local activsts co-founded "Calgary G8 ACT", a group established to coordinate protests against the summit.
In early 2003, with the emergence of mass global resistance to the then-impending invasion of Iraq by U.S.-led forces, activist groups in Calgary working on peace related issues came together to form a loose coalition that came to be known as "Peace Calgary". Since its founding, Neufeld has served as a co-ordinator.
Beginning in the summer of 2004, he served as a co-chair and co-ordinator of the "Alberta Social Forum
World Social Forum
The World Social Forum is an annual meeting of civil society organizations, first held in Brazil, which offers a self-conscious effort to develop an alternative future through the championing of counter-hegemonic globalization...
" which was held February, 2005, in Calgary.
Independent media
Neufeld has worked on, and contributed to, a number of independent and alternative mediaAlternative media
Alternative media are media which provide alternative information to the mainstream media in a given context, whether the mainstream media are commercial, publicly supported, or government-owned...
projects, publications and internet based independent news services.
In the first half of 2000, he published the short lived independent newspaper The Independent Reporter.
Neufeld joined with other local independent media activists to establish "Calgary Indymedia". in anticipation of significant protests being held at the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary in June 2000. In 2001, he participated in the expansion of the project to become "Alberta Indymedia", and continued to work with and support the project through 2004.