| Grant Neufeld’s work space looks like that of a self-admitted computer geek. His desk is supported by empty hardware boxes, old keyboards are strewn about and a Lego Star Wars starfighter watches over all the proceedings.
There is a big difference, however, with the work that goes on here. Neufeld spends much of his time developing the Calgary Activist Network Web site (www.activist.ca), an online listing of social and environmental organizations and events that is changing the way activists throughout Alberta use information.
What started after Neufeld and a friend were disappointed by the turnout at a rally against Chevron has turned into a provincewide forum and listing service that has grown so popular its software infrastructure is barely keeping up.
Neufeld says he works on the Web site nearly full-time – he earns enough money working as a part-time computer programmer to dedicate himself to activism (while living modestly, he adds) – and may soon expand the site into B.C. and across Canada.
"It operates a little differently than most Web sites because I want people to spend as little time as possible on the site, and get out there and do something," he says.
Neufeld admits he has been a full-fledged computer geek since he got his first Macintosh nearly 15 years ago, but he has been involved in social and environmental activism for even longer than that. He has become a fixture in Calgary’s activism community, helping organize protests against the World Petroleum Congress and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) meetings. He has been involved in peace, aboriginal and feminist movements, belongs to groups such as Council of Canadians, and develops other projects like his Revolutionary Knitting Circle (seriously – check out www.knit.activist.ca).
Neufeld launched the Web site in the late summer of 1999. At the end of that year, Arusha Centre offered its old network newsletter of social activism, and the Calgary Activist Network was born.
"Just informing people doesn’t cut it. What has to be done is helping people do every little thing they can," Neufeld says.
"There are a lot of great books out there to read and a lot of great magazines to read, but better yet, there are a lot of great people out there to talk to.... I want people to get out there and do something."
Neufeld has been the driving force behind the Web site since its inception. Though he talks dreamily about hiring an administrator and technicians, he puts a "monstrous" amount of time voluntarily into the site, and has seen only a handful of donations.
Despite his dedication to the Activist Network, he is realistic about the impact of technology on the world – while computer communication has helped foster a new wave of activism, computers have hurt society in many ways. He calls the Internet one of the "great tragedies."
"I’m quite a Luddite when it comes down to it. (Computers) have been a force of further stratification and... general divide. But the reality is, they’re here and they do present a lot of opportunity."
Neufeld takes great pains to ensure the Activist Network is completely user-friendly, even for the visually impaired. He comes from the school of thought where information is more important than esthetics, although his skills as a graphic designer do slip in occasionally.
Ultimately, he says the Web site is for the community – he hopes it helps those pushing for social change in Calgary and the other cities where the Activist Network takes hold.
"This a great city to be an activist because we are confronted with the oil industry every day, which is one of the most blatant forces... (behind) social and environmental problems," Neufeld says.
"Not to get biblical, but Jesus wasn’t hanging out with people who were moving in on nirvana. He was hanging out with the tax collectors, the criminals, the prostitutes and the people who were in trouble. There is a lot of trouble in Calgary."
To add your organization or post your event to the Activist Network, or to find out how you can become more involved in the community visit www.activist.ca. |
