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Oh the doom and gloom. I can’t even watch the news anymore as it makes me want to put my head under a pillow and come out in about two years. And though the nation’s unemployment rate is rising at a rate that Jackie Joyner couldn’t catch up to, there are some green fields that according to Brita Belli, editor for Environmental Magazine, are soon to grow.
With close to $100 billion in green investments, the new administration's bailout could promote a shift to wind and solar power, mass transit, and a modernized green infrastructure. Companies remain stagnant waiting for this money to start spilling over into the economy and to begin churning the wheels of green investment one more time.
Across every industry green jobs are popping up in unexpected places.
- Find the Green in Green Hospitality
As the need to go green is popping up across the globe, so is the need for green globe trotters. This amazing job consists of rating the world’s hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts based on how green they really are for companies like International Ecotourism Society and Green Hotels Association. For this you need to be a good writer and be able to convey your message well, in addition to of course knowing what makes these places green. - Become a Steward for Conservation in Your Area as a Green Urban Planner
Local governments are increasingly investing in "smart growth" and with that comes the need to know how to do so. The American Planning Association (APA) has developed a variety of programs in recent years to support "smart growth" initiatives, including a recently completed seven-year project to design new model laws for land-use planning. APA is a partner in a coalition of national, state, and local groups organized as Smart Growth America. Graduate programs in urban planning and design as well as environmental transportation management and law can provide you with the skills you need to become a planner. - Practice Natural Medicine
More and more people are turning to alternative medicine to treat all their ailments instead of or in addition to western medicine. With that comes the demand for practicioners in fields like massage therapy, chiropractic, or Chinese Medicine. This is a wide open field but massage therapy and chiropractic medicine both have degree programs you must attend. - Educate Green
University education is going green. Obtain a degree in Sustainability at schools like Arizona State, Western Washington, or Oregan State and become a sustainability coordinator at a university. The Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Learning is working to promote sustainability in campuses nationwide. With an array of professional development tools, the organization is a great way to get in on the ground floor of sustainability in the classroom. - Get Down and Dirty as an Organic Farmer
Organic farming is on the rise but there is still much need for expansion. According to the US Department of Agriculture, land used for organic crops increased from 48,000 acres in 1997 to 122,000 acres in 2005. Learn the ins and outs of organic farming through the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) program. See the world and eat great food. As a WWOOFer you can get no-cost board and food, where you'll have an intimate opportunity to learn about local life in that host country, by living, and working, as a member of the household. In return, you'll be expected to contribute about 6 hrs/day 6 days/wk labor on an organic farm. After learning the business you can lease land from a local land trust and start your own farm.
More on Green Jobs:
Ten Green Jobs To Stimulate Your Career, The Economy, And The Planet
7 High Paying Green Jobs, Organic Perfume and How to Reduce Home Energy Costs
Green Job Searching: From the Archives
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