“Should America invest in this new sector of “green” jobs, enhancing its long-term sustainability while creating millions of new jobs, given the risk of costing a greater number of jobs than it may create?”
1.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/06/news/economy/jobs_february/index.htm
Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com senior writer, reports on March 6th, 2009, in “Unemployment hits 25-year high,” that a record number of people are now unemployed in the U.S. CNN is owned by the Turner Broadcasting Network, who’s founder has environmental ties, however, the company reports without a bias. This journalistic report focuses solely on the economic side of unemployment. Isidore’s report highlights the staggering 3.3 million jobs lost in the past six months alone. Additionally it shows that those 3.3 million jobs have caused the highest unemployment rate in over 25 years. This report reminds readers that the job side of the economy is one of the biggest factors in economic failure. The numbers create a staggering impression on anyone who reads them, and because they have occurred at a time when there has been more news than ever about the positive effects of “green” jobs, it has created additional pressure from citizens across the nation, who question why this newly improved job market is not being greater utilized. This type of staggering statistic is important to highlight the importance that a greater emphasis is placed on this market in order to lower unemployment and in turn improve the economy.
2.
http://www.uoregon.edu/~recycle/Factoids.htm
The University of Oregon Campus-Recycling Program is lead by program manager Karyn Kaplan. The program has been around since 1990 and has given over 600 students an opportunity to work with the program. The website can be found through the University of Oregon home page, as the program is run in affiliation with the school. Giving an example in the “What Happens When you Recycle,” area of the site, the facility services director breaks down the details of this, as well as how much energy they are saving by recycling, explaining what happens to each individual type of recyclable good in order to allow students to understand the difference they are making. The home page lists activities and programs of which student involvement is key. It also includes many links to outside sources for how to become more “green,” as well as to the Campus Operations, Growing Sustainability or COGS, which is a newsletter that the organization creates and makes available on their website. This institutional source is invaluable because it shows an example of a school being proactive toward becoming more “green,” by funding an organization, which uses such sustainable practices. The sites tabs list everything someone needs to, or should know about recycling and sustainability.
3.
Wilcox, Peter. Personal Interview. 25 October 2009.
Peter Wilcox is a sustainable developer in the greater Portland area. On October 25th, 2009, he was interviewed in person as a Citizen source about his affiliation to the green movement. Wilcox is a longtime Democrat who referenced a clear bias toward Barack Obama, saying how pleased he was to be done with “eight years of [George] Bush.” Wilcox’s personal connection to the movement as a sustainable developer puts him in support of the movement, as he discussed how his future business is significantly brighter as awareness of the need for sustainability has risen significantly since President Barack Obama took office. In another comment, Wilcox referenced the unfortunate timing of the plan, stating that if the plan had been implemented during a time of economic prosperity, than it would be much more successful, as there would be more free money already in the economy to invest in building a “greener” country, as well as economy. The mention of better timing is an unfortunate truth toward the “green” job plan, but it does allow for economists to look at what caused economic hardship before making such large investments in “green” jobs.
4.
McKenna, Jim. Email Interview. 5 November 2009.
Jim McKenna is the Superfund Program Manager for the Port of Portland. On November 5th, 2009, he responded to a list of emailed interview questions, responding as an institutional interview source, as he wrote on behalf of the Port of Portland. As a stakeholder in the green movement, his bias is in support of “green” jobs as it supports his organization. McKenna stated that the increase of awareness that the green movement has, along with the increased funding, has allowed the Port of Portland to better plan for their long-term future and allows them to be more active in doing so. McKenna’s responses are partially geared toward public relations, never delving too deep into responses, focusing a greater amount of attention on the works that the Port of Portland has and is doing to increase sustainability in their work. The use of McKenna as a source allows me to quote an expert stakeholder on the issue of “green” jobs. Discussing how the Port of Portland is becoming more sustainable daily, and how they recently adopted a new Environmental Policy that incorporates sustainability, McKenna is helping create and develop programs, which will hopefully provide them to a greater number of people.
5.
http://www.michigan.gov/nwlb/0,1607,7-242-49026—,00.html
The Bureau Of Labor Market Information And Strategic Initiatives’ director Richard Waclawek, put together a “Green Jobs report” for in May 2009 which can be found at Michigan.gov. The Bureau is run out of the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) in Michigan. This DELEG’s mission statement is “Promote and ensure Michigan’s Future through education, job training, innovation and collaborative partnerships in service and protection of our customer needs.” The statement suggests that they are determined to improve the current job situation in Michigan. The report highlights the economic potential of the state of Michigan, as well as covering every aspect of “green” jobs including defining it, the connection with the Green Job Initiative, as well as research data, the report combines both Institutional reporting and Academic Research. The report supports building the green movement, giving exact numbers, in which, economic questions are answered. This state data will give solid background for organizing green policies in other states. Additionally, this type of data will provide an example of which other states and organizations can look at when they are researching, as well as viewing it as a template when they make the commitment to becoming “greener.”
6.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/06/24/big_oil_and_the_war_in_iraq/
The Boston Globe’s Derrick Z. Jackson wrote “Big Oil and the war in Iraq” on June 24, 2008. The Globe is owned by The New York Times Company, which provides an impartial view on news around the world. This Op-Ed piece discusses the susceptibility of presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain being swayed by “Big Oil.” Referencing the war in Iraq’s connection to oil profiteering, as well as the political ties of the former Bush administration with Halliburton, Jackson questions both candidates leadership in pushing the country away from the influence of “Big Oil.” This piece questions the influence on political moves, thus looking beyond the obvious, to find where “the money” comes from. When Jackson makes the connection between the war in Iraq, death, oil, and politics it is important, as it’s an aspect of implementing “green” jobs that is not seen enough. However, given the fact that it promotes sustainability, it thus making the likelihood of repeating our countries endeavors into Iraq much less likely, as we will never be so reliant on foreign oil again. Showing a real life situation, with real deaths involved gives a sense of realism that many American’s have not yet realized is so deeply conjoined with this issue.
7.
http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/opinion-senate-s-green-bill-could-put-americans-in-the-red-r-1256575423
Opposingviews.com writer John Rafuse is a “verified expert” on threats to economic security in America. The website lists Rafuse having no party affiliations, yet the website strongly promotes conservative values while reporting on issues. This suggests a strong party bias toward the Republican point of view. On October 26th, 2009, “Senate’s “Green” Bill Could Put Americans in the Red,” quoted Rafuse writing an op-ed piece, which can only be classified as Citizen, when he stated, “green job creation will not outpace net job loss created by a cap-and-trade scheme.” Rafuse references a cap-and-trade policy, which is meant to reduce carbon emissions while promoting “green” jobs, yet questions changing the policies, as he feels like they will take away from our economy. The questions raised by Rafuse go along with his opinion that every positive step we take toward turning our country more “green,” is actually a step back as it will cripple our economy, and ruin the job market. Making broad statements about policymakers trying to shift jobs away from American’s, Rafuse quotes statement unemployment in California, Nevada, and Michigan, proving valuable when unemployment is discussed as part of the reasoning behind pushing for a new “green” job market.
8.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aFtS2.tI2YLs
This journalistic article was posted October 5th, 2009 on Bloomberg.com with the title “Hand Over Your Job If You Want to Dream in Green.” Bloomberg.com is a conservatively run site. Kevin Hassett has strong Republican ties as well, as he worked as an advisor in 2008 for the presidential campaign of Republican John McCain. Hassett believes that rather than focusing on creating “green” jobs, our government should create a carbon tax in order to penalize those who create greenhouse-gas emissions. Hassett references “estimates” from other countries around the globe, leading him to contest that focusing on “green,” will end up costing more jobs than it will create. Thus contradicting Obama’s plan to lower unemployment. Hassett’s appeal to tax the problem goes along with Rafuse’s piece, and thus gives a clear conservative perspective on the Green Job Initiative. Additionally, the two pieces create the ideal of the conservative scapegoat plan, of which taxation is the only solution they can get behind, despite the fact that it does nothing to improve the environmental well being of America. This provides me with the oppositional side of this issue, while also prompting me to have a clear counter-argument against it.
9.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4039603.stm
BBC’s journalistic article, “Green jobs to turn economic tide,” is written through the major news publication of the BBC, which states that they are “Independent, impartial, and honest” in sharing news worldwide. The article that is without a specified author, discusses Scotland’s Minister Jim Wallace’s plan to make the country the world leader in marine energy. The BBC shows Scotland’s efforts as an example of sustainable practices, but quotes a few who question the idea. One conservative spokesman, Murdo Fraser, worries that other jobs will be lost as a result of people believing “green” jobs to morally superior, while others who opposed the idea actually worried about its effect on the environment. This attempt by Scotland is used as an example of a country that has found a way to create energy without the use of oil, and is thus putting sustainability at the forefront of their thinking in order to turn their own economy around. This is a good example of a nation taking action to find alternatives to being reliant on other countries, while building a greater job market in the process, which is something that is extremely important if America is to follow through with its plan to become more “green.”
10.
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/07/business/careers-mba-s-told-to-look-into-green-jobs.html
The New York Times article “CAREERS; M.B.A.’s Told To Look Into ‘Green’ Jobs,” by Elizabeth M. Fowler on May 7th, 1991, is the first journalistic article written about the idea that “green” jobs is the future. The realization that environmental issues will arise is discussed as Fowler suggests that in order to optimize success, students should look into “green” fields. She suggests that the field has a bright future. The report references Fortune 500 company Proctor & Gamble, specifically hiring someone due to their environmental background. This report quotes Susan Cohn, then assistant placement officer at NYU, who cites the need to “Go green,” stating that environmental policy “can make or break a company.” Given how ahead of its time this 1991 article was about “green” jobs, the story is an example of why our country as a whole needs to build our “green” sectors in the job market now. As the issue was something to look into for the future eighteen years ago, and it turned into a problem, this article suggests that being proactive about doing as much as is possible to build the “green” sectors now, can do nothing but help our country, our job market, as well as our economy.