eco-friendly careers?

what are some that come to mind?

 

do you mean just, not harming the environment so much (like organic farming) or proactively helping the environment?

 

either, both, all of the above.

 

activists...lol, and volunteers

 

Well... there are many careers that are not inherently eco-friendly but can be made as such by the actions of the individual. For example... a grade-school teacher who recycles and rides a bike (or even takes the bus) to work. It just depends on the person. More intrinsically ecological careers include forest ranger, employees of recycling companies, gardeners at chemical-free nurseries, alternative energy engineers, etc. There are a lot - just be creative.

 

thanks

 

you could always be a hippie....

but i'm gonna be a potter. i don't think thats harming the environment too much...

 

Haha... I like pot(s). Pot(s) is/are very useful.

 

Watch the chemicals in your glazes. Are you using a kick-wheel or an electric model? The power source for your kiln; does it need petro-chemicals (like natural gas) or electricity or ...? How are you marketing your goods? How are you transporting them to the buyer? Does your vehicle run on gas or bio-diesel or veggie oil? Do you have artificial lighting in your studio or is it designed to be used only with natural light. How about the heating? I could go on, but won't.

The point I am making is that the anyone's ecological impact is determined more by their choices than the career they have. Any life has an ecological impact, what that impact is depends on us.

Before you think I was beating up on potters, let me point out that localy produced products provide an alternative to the "buy cheap stuff from China at Walmart" lifestyle. Potters and other artisans are the best answer to the globilized wasteful corprate world. But every lifestyle has impact.

 

i would love to become a wildlife reserve worker. Being able to live and work in national parks, to help maintain the area.

 

Would oil company exec. be a good job for someone who wanted to help the environment? Where else could you have as much impact?

[foolish optimist]

 

Most likely a kickwheel.( i already have one) I had planned on working from home.... i will do all i can to be eco-friendly tho. thanks for all these considerations......i never really thought about it all that much till now... but everything was well said. thank you mike.

 

Unfortunately wildlife reserve officers spend little time doing preservation work. You might want to talk to some people first before you chose this as a career if you are hoping for something that is eco-friendly.

There are plenty of eco-friendly careers
any of the natural healing arts, ie. herbalist, acupuncture, chiropractor. All take care of people in eco responsible ways.
organic farmers, many kinds of artists, muscians, and those that work hard for non-profit agencies that work to better our world.

 

what about traveling eco friendly jobs? I always wanted to find a way to go to other countries and do something impactful that would benefit the world. The main thing is to be able to afford getting there. any suggestions?

 

I'm trying the Peace Corp. True, you need a degree or work experience in the field for which you are applying, but it is still an open opp.

hope it helps

 

I've got a little one so I wouldn't be able to do that........any other orgs out there that would let you go oversees but not full time?

 

Honestly, people, there's no such thing as an eco-friendly job. Every occupation has some sort of impact on the environment, directly or indirectly. I'm not trying to put you guys down, because I've thought about this quite a bit, and it bothers me that ultimately, there's no getting around being destructive to the environment.

 

I would have to disagree, people are not nessesarily destructive to the environment. People are a part of the environment. Our actions are a part of the environment.

Consider the beaver. Cute animal with a funny tail. Build dams and changes the local ecosystem dramaticaly. Is it being ecologicaly destructive? Or is it creating a new style of ecosystem?

Every part of an ecosystem effects the other parts. There is no getting around effecting the environment.

 

Oh, I see, by driving a car then you're doing just what the beaver does and "creating a new style of ecosystem" by contributing to global warming?

There's absolutely no comparison between what the beaver does and what humans are doing. None. Humans ceased being a part of the ecosystem when were became technologically advanced enough to divorce ourselves from it. The problem most people have now is truly understanding the contribution that they're making to the destruction of the environment because; as they are now no longer attuned to Nature, they fail to recognize the effects of their destructive bahaviour.

 

There absoulutly is a comparison between us and the beaver. Both of us evolved from the planet and we both are a part of it. We have just as much a right to be human as the beaver does to be a beaver. We both have effects on the environment.

I doubt that you and I have many disagreements about actions. I am coming from the point of view that we should be aware of the implications and impact of our actions. However, I don't think that we owe the other creatures on this planet anything. I hold that we can (and will) do with this planet what we want, limited only by our own abilities.

Knowledge of those limitations and the effect our actions have on the environment will lead us to sustainable practices that will allow our great-great-great---grandkids to do with the planet what they want.

I repeat, I doubt that you and I have many disagreements about specific actions (recyling is good, reducing waste is good, GMO's are bad). Until our knowlege and technology increase greatly, those who act with enlightened long term self intrest will act similarly to those who perceive a moral obligation to the rest of the Earth's species'.