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Could you ask for a more peaceful place to live, work
and raise a family? Maybe, but you would be hard pressed to find it.
Minnesota tops the charts in many national
opinion and statistics polls, where the topic rates quality of life and
sustainable/eco-friendly living practices. Is this actually so? Do we
truly live greener? Are we a happier state than others? Hmm…
Who knows.
I would submit, however, that based on Google searches
for “green jobs”, we fall far short. It makes no sense that the green jobs
would be so far removed from a geographic region that endorses, embraces
and envelopes the very sentiment of those would-be jobs. California seems
to be where we all must go to work for green-minded companies. How will
we all fit?
Last night, a nationally broadcast radio talk show had,
as its guest, an author detailing some of the lesser-debated facts about
this country’s dependence on liquid fuels. He was educated, open-minded
and non-accusatory. All three impressive characteristics for a guest on a
talk show that fielded several calls from people on all sides of the
debate.
One point that he illustrated was particularly
noteworthy. In the 50’s, the fuel costs were low and the masses sought
jobs in the city, as it seemed the right direction for our country at
that time. In the 70’s, the fuel shortages (for a time) catapulted many people back to conserving fuel and
perhaps a chosen few were able to stay home and earn a wage by selling
Avon, Tupperware or other catalog-based sales. In the 80’s and 90’s we
relaxed again. Ebbs and flows in national economics are normal, so where
is the crisis here? Fuel costs sky-rocketing, limited availability, plus
– you guessed it – global warming.
The guest basically summed up the situation by stating
that we now need a new kind of farmer, new incentives for the average
consumer to grow their own produce and a push for greener jobs. Public
transportation and/or working from home (telecommuting) are integral
pieces to a cleaner/greener future.
Try Googling “green jobs in Minnesota” and see how many solar
systems installer, wind turbine technician and telecommuter positions YOU
can find. Pretty scarce.
The time and market is begging for us to lead the way.
Will you be first?
Submitted by Staff Writer
Where are
the green jobs?
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