Go, green jobs, go!

Environmental Victory: Blue Collar Jobs Become Green Opportunities

In an election year that saw unprecedented numbers of new voters and activists, the campaign for green collar jobs became much more than just a well-intentioned campaign promise. The goal of the green collar job movement is to train traditionally blue collar workers in renewable energy skills such as home weatherization and solar panel installation. Activists argue that making an investment in green jobs can help solve two of America’s biggest problems: poverty and global warming. Traditional blue-collar labor is disappearing and, according to the National Poverty Center, 12.5 percent of US citizens live in poverty. Green for All has helped turn the idea of green collar jobs into a national priority that would equip young workers with the skills to work in renewable energy industries.

In San Francisco, young artists and activist staged Grind for the Green, the first solar-powered hip hop show. Across the bay, the city of Oakland launched its inaugural Green Jobs Corps. On September 27th, more than 50,000 people across the nation participated in a national day of action, calling on politicians to invest in green jobs. Adding to the green momentum, Energy Action Coalition’s youth-led Power Shift initiative (including nearly 50 environmental groups) led a national campaign calling for collective action on energy efficiency. Power Shift was active on over 300 campuses, with some 300,000 young people participating across the country.