Don't Just Talk Green... Be the Green!
What is a green job? Lets start with that question first. Does having a green job mean working as an environmentalist? Or does it simply mean working carbon neutral. Perhaps it is even more than that. Perhaps a green job is any job where we are consciously able to restore balance to the environment (local and global), in a socially just micro-environment, while practicing our personal ideals around sustainability of community and planet. This in no way suggests a well educated person should not take an upper management position in a large company. What it does suggest is taking your personal consciousness with you into whatever job you do choose. It is also important to remember 'Green' isn't just about the environment, "Green" is also about social justice, acting with compassion towards all humankind and all the beings we share this planet with. It is realizing that your thoughts, decisions and actions impact the entire world around you, from those closes to you, to those across the globe.
If you work for a car company, or a nuclear power company, or even a logging company, you have the power to affect change on your coworkers and management that will bring a level of awareness and accountability. Just by simply being who you are. Maybe you are dedicated to reducing carbon emissions from automobiles and fossil fuel dependent vehicles, and so you choose to ride your bike or walk to work as a demonstration of this. Do so with a clear head and open heart, because if there is any resentment, others will detect this and not follow suit. If however you enjoy the freedom of the wind in your face (even on a brisk or damp day) then let this show in your smile as you greet your coworkers each day. They will eventually become curious about this smile and the happiness you bring with you, which gives you an opportunity to express why you are so happy everyday. That everyday you are contributing to the green movement by riding your bike, and also improving your own health at the same time. Riding your bike before and after work reduces stress and increases the amount of 'happy hormones' in your body.
Maybe it is not possible to ride your bike, so you carpool or take public transit. Still this can give you peace of mind which you can share in a smile with your coworkers. Carpooling or regularly taking public transit gives you an opportunity to create new friendships, which also can reduce stress while saving the environment.
Here are 5 other ideas finding 'green' at work...
1. Bring your lunch to work using local produce and organic foods, when your coworkers see you enjoying your healthful mean you can educate them on the health and environmental benefits of this action.
2. Meditate at work for 10-15 minutes everyday. This raises your level of awareness of yourself, your decisions and the impact of your thoughts. It reduces stress, illness and conflict in the workplace. Those who meditate daily also make more environmentally and socially just decisions.
3. Bring your compost home in a lunch container to go into your personal or municipal compost.
4. Research the company environmental or carbon neutral policies, make suggestions if needed, or participate in their green initiatives.
5. Participate in a volunteer community project (in your own community or any one around the globe) - habitat for humanity, community based agriculture, volunteer vacations.
Searching for a Green Job?
Though you can make any job a 'green' job to some degree, perhaps you would like to work in photovoltaics, or in green building, or in environmental policy, or at a national park... here are some job searching sites to get you started in the right direction... (Primarily Canadian and USA, some International)
Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Field Tech http://www.eco.ca/Portal/jobSeeker_viewJobs.aspx
Social Justice, some environmental jobs mostly at camps www.charityvillage.com
Environmental & conservation Jobs www.goodworkcanada.ca/
Environmental Engineering, Green Building, Conservation, Leadership, Camp & Green Internships www.workcabin.ca/
Generic Environmental Positions at workopolis
Ministry of Environment http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/
Environment Canada's employment page http://www.ec.gc.ca/jobs_e.html
Environment Canada's Youth Internships in Science http://www.ec.gc.ca/sci_hor
Policy (social & environmental) http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/Search.aspx
International Social Policy http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11707&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
International Social Policy http://unjobs.org/
Conservation (Toronto) http://www.trca.on.ca/careers/
From green retail to field tech work http://environmentaljobscanada.com/
Outdoor/Environmental Education jobtrekker.ca/
Outdoor/Environmental Education, Conservation http://www.geoec.org/job-board/index.html#postings
Environmental Education http://eelink.net/pages/EE+Jobs
Environmental Education, Eco-Adventure http://wilderdom.com/jobs/
Environmental Education, Eco-adventure http://www.backdoorjobs.com/environment.html
Outdoor Education http://www.outdoored.com/
Green Job Portal http://www.green-jobs.ca/
Green Job training, postings, internships... portal and information on the "Green Collar Job" http://www.greencollar.org/
