Virgil Grandfield
Encyclopedia
Virgil Grandfield is a Canadian whistleblower
and international aid worker. In 1999-2000, he worked with a project evaluation unit for the Disasters Emergency Committee
(the UK funding agency for disasters) in Central America after Hurricane Mitch
. He became an Overseas Delegate for the Canadian Red Cross in 2002, after serving as Red Cross team leader on floods on the Blood Reserve in Standoff, Alberta
. In 2003-2004 he researched a cover story on migrant worker issues on the U.S.-Mexico border for Red Cross Red Crescent magazine. In 2005-2006, he was Information Delegate for the tsunami operation of the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies in Aceh
, Indonesia. He returned to Aceh in 2007 to work for the Canadian Red Cross and resigned as a delegate in 2008.
After leaving the Red Cross, in 2009 he returned to Aceh with an investigative and advocacy organization called Brigade Cahaya ("The Light Brigade") which has been responsible for uncovering and making public a scandal in which some 50,000 or more Javanese construction workers were victims of human trafficking
on UN, Red Cross and other NGO tsunami projects in Aceh.
Grandfield was the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) spokesman when in June 2005 an international aid worker was shot in Indonesia's tsunami-hit Aceh province, leading to temporary suspension of aid worker access. In December 2005, Grandfield warned that the new Tsunami warning technology would only save lives if it was combined with a community based communication network. In January 2006, Grandfield commented on the effective use of aid funds in relation to fishing boat increases that might threaten fish stocks.
In June 2009 Grandfield was publicly critical of the government management in the health care system in his home province of Alberta
in relation to specialized long term care of elderly disabled patients.
Grandfield quit the Canadian Red Cross in 2008 after many efforts to have his complaints addressed that contractors hired by the Red Cross to rebuild after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
used slave labor. The allegations were that workers brought in from distant jurisdictions, were not paid and were subjected to manipulation and harsh conditions. This was reported in the Canadian national media in mid-March 2010. The controversy has given rise to two documentary television reports produced by CBC Television
and Radio Canada and aired in March 2010. On March 30, 2010, the Green Party of Canada
hosted a press conference at the Canadian Parliament, which generated conflicting media reports. On April 6, 2010, it was reported in the media that the Canadian International Development Agency
(the main Canadian governmental central international aid agency) had known about the slave labor allegations for two years and did not ask to view the Canadian Red Cross
' commissioned investigative report (the Ernst and Young investigation report) on the matter, which has not been released to the media. The Canadian Red Cross had earlier stated that it would release its Ernst and Young report to the media. On April 13, 2010, the media reported that, based on leaked Canadian International Development Agency
documents, the Harper
federal government knew in 2009 that child labor was used in the Canadian tsunami reconstruction effort; and questioned what else the Ernst and Young report might contain that the Canadian Red Cross did not disclose.
In August 2010 it was reported in the media that Grandfield had formed Fish and Dragon Fair Traders out of Lethbridge
, Alberta
, a cooperative for marketing traditional Indonesian hand made batik, as a method to help alleviate the causes of human trafficking in that country.
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
and international aid worker. In 1999-2000, he worked with a project evaluation unit for the Disasters Emergency Committee
Disasters Emergency Committee
The Disasters Emergency Committee is an umbrella group comprising fourteen UK charities. These charities are all associated with disaster related issues such as providing clean water, humanitarian aid and medical care....
(the UK funding agency for disasters) in Central America after Hurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch was the most powerful hurricane and the most destructive of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph . The storm was the thirteenth tropical storm, ninth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the season. Along with Hurricane Georges, Mitch...
. He became an Overseas Delegate for the Canadian Red Cross in 2002, after serving as Red Cross team leader on floods on the Blood Reserve in Standoff, 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...
. In 2003-2004 he researched a cover story on migrant worker issues on the U.S.-Mexico border for Red Cross Red Crescent magazine. In 2005-2006, he was Information Delegate for the tsunami operation of the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies in Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
, Indonesia. He returned to Aceh in 2007 to work for the Canadian Red Cross and resigned as a delegate in 2008.
After leaving the Red Cross, in 2009 he returned to Aceh with an investigative and advocacy organization called Brigade Cahaya ("The Light Brigade") which has been responsible for uncovering and making public a scandal in which some 50,000 or more Javanese construction workers were victims of human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
on UN, Red Cross and other NGO tsunami projects in Aceh.
Grandfield was the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) spokesman when in June 2005 an international aid worker was shot in Indonesia's tsunami-hit Aceh province, leading to temporary suspension of aid worker access. In December 2005, Grandfield warned that the new Tsunami warning technology would only save lives if it was combined with a community based communication network. In January 2006, Grandfield commented on the effective use of aid funds in relation to fishing boat increases that might threaten fish stocks.
In June 2009 Grandfield was publicly critical of the government management in the health care system in his home province of 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...
in relation to specialized long term care of elderly disabled patients.
Grandfield quit the Canadian Red Cross in 2008 after many efforts to have his complaints addressed that contractors hired by the Red Cross to rebuild after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
used slave labor. The allegations were that workers brought in from distant jurisdictions, were not paid and were subjected to manipulation and harsh conditions. This was reported in the Canadian national media in mid-March 2010. The controversy has given rise to two documentary television reports produced by CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
and Radio Canada and aired in March 2010. On March 30, 2010, the Green Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000 registered members as of October 2008. The Greens advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and...
hosted a press conference at the Canadian Parliament, which generated conflicting media reports. On April 6, 2010, it was reported in the media that the Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
(the main Canadian governmental central international aid agency) had known about the slave labor allegations for two years and did not ask to view the Canadian Red Cross
Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross Society is a Canadian humanitarian charitable organization and one of 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies....
' commissioned investigative report (the Ernst and Young investigation report) on the matter, which has not been released to the media. The Canadian Red Cross had earlier stated that it would release its Ernst and Young report to the media. On April 13, 2010, the media reported that, based on leaked Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
documents, the Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
federal government knew in 2009 that child labor was used in the Canadian tsunami reconstruction effort; and questioned what else the Ernst and Young report might contain that the Canadian Red Cross did not disclose.
In August 2010 it was reported in the media that Grandfield had formed Fish and Dragon Fair Traders out of Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
, 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...
, a cooperative for marketing traditional Indonesian hand made batik, as a method to help alleviate the causes of human trafficking in that country.