If you've read Van Jone's The Green Collar Economy, then you might know about the movement to green the United States economy via jobs based in "green" industries. In simplicity, a "green new deal", this proposal argues that there is the opportunity to create thousands of low- and medium-skill jobs that help conserve energy (for example, insulating older homes and buildings) or use alternate energy sources (solar panels). While providing jobs that can't be exported these positions also produce sustainable results in terms of construction, renovation, and community development. With appropriate incentives and programs these jobs can be created in inner cities and thereby also lift people out of poverty, providing an argument for environmental justice.
While building this new economy, one population to keep in mind is America's youth. President Obama recently identified the youth of America as one of the economically hardest hit populations and as a result has promoted the National Parks Service, and its affiliated components, as an outlet for teens and young adults to obtain a job while also restoring and rebuilding the National Parks. Though this is a great idea, I couldn't help wonder how this is helping inner cities, and overpopulated urban areas where the teen population is massive and the green works are lacking... Couldn't there be governmental work study programs implemented that apply this population while bettering concrete communities?
Just some thoughts.
Here are the links to Obama's touted programs for getting youth involved in environmental restoration in the National Park System.
* Youth Conservation Corps http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/ycc.htm
* Public Lands Corps http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/plc.htm
* Student Conservation Association http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/scaopportunities.htm
* The Corps Network http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/thecorpsnetwork.htm
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