Crisis and Opportunity: It's Time for a Progressive Economy
Parkland Fall Conference 2009
Last year, Alberta was in a boom—and then the world economy collapsed. What happened? What do we do now? Naomi Klein in her book The Shock Doctrine described how neoliberal regimes around the world have used crises to implement rapid-fire corporate reengineering of societies still reeling from shock. This conference is about providing the information and the ideas that can be used to promote an alternative, better future for the common good.
Keynote speakers: Jim Stanford
The Moral of the Story: Art, Culture, Media and Politics
Parkland Fall Conference 2008
This was a conference about the role of arts, culture and (new) media in political discourse and what it takes to change the way our society generally thinks. The two major questions that were addressed were “Why do we talk about what we talk about?” and “How can ideas with social justice values become the dominant discourse?”
Keynote speakers: Megan M. Boler, Tariq Ali
From Crisis to Hope: Building Just and Sustainable Communities
Parkland Fall Conference 2007
This conference was about consuming less and valuing people more. Our speakers explored the implications of a transition to a post-carbon society and how we can and must make this transition in a way that is built on a foundation of social justice. This conference covered: A Post Carbon Economy, Transportation and Interconnectedness, Governance, Spending Our Time Differently, Where We Live, and What We Eat.
Power for the People
Parkland Fall Conference 2006
This conference, instead of discussing the oil and gas sector in Alberta primarily in terms of economics and the environment, examined this extremely influential sector through the lens of democracy.
The Alberta We Want
Parkland Fall Conference 2005
Building on “Debt Free Alberta” and the centennial celebrations in Alberta and Saskatchewan, this conference looked at both the path Albertans are on at a provincial, federal and global level, and new directions we could go to make Alberta a good place for everyone to live.
Uncommon Dreams: Visions of the Public Good
Parkland Fall Conference 2004
Shortly after the release of Joel Bakan’s film The Corporation, we held this conference on the “Public Good.” This conference included sessions on Public Spaces, Public Security, the Power of the Public, Public Resources, Expanding the Public, Public Interest, Public Services, and more.
Bringing it Home: Reclaiming Democracy
Parkland Fall Conference 2001
This conference, taking place shortly after the 9/11 attacks and the “criminalization of dissent,” covered the crises in all aspects of democracy.
