Comments on: A Rust Belt Revolution http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/ Dispatches from the Youth Climate Movement Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:04:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Elizabeth Irvin http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65632 Elizabeth Irvin Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:16:52 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65632 It's true that Northern Ohio and the state as a whole are still dealing with a lot of really troubling issues, ranging from pollution to racial inequality. When I was applying for college, I basically left with the conviction that I'd never come back. Now, I'm not so sure. For as many really bad, entrenched problems as I see here, I see so many more people working on solutions. And not just talking about them, but really implementing them quickly. Working in downtown Cleveland with all of these people is electric, I keep finding out new things. get this- the city has its own community foundation with nearly 2 billion in assets. And they're focusing on green development. Jen, I totally agree that Ohioans can't wait for wind turbine factories to be built. Part of the beauty of this program at tri-c is that it is at its core a construction training program. When I talked to the person developing the curriculum, he said that the planned breakdown is largely general technical training (safety, hand tools, general construction) and that the green training is a sort of competitive advantage in the workforce. He mentioned that contractors that apprenticed the women participating in his deconstruction pilot program universally said that they were better dry-wallers than the crews they had actually hired. It’s true that Northern Ohio and the state as a whole are still dealing with a lot of really troubling issues, ranging from pollution to racial inequality. When I was applying for college, I basically left with the conviction that I’d never come back. Now, I’m not so sure. For as many really bad, entrenched problems as I see here, I see so many more people working on solutions. And not just talking about them, but really implementing them quickly. Working in downtown Cleveland with all of these people is electric, I keep finding out new things. get this- the city has its own community foundation with nearly 2 billion in assets. And they’re focusing on green development.

Jen, I totally agree that Ohioans can’t wait for wind turbine factories to be built. Part of the beauty of this program at tri-c is that it is at its core a construction training program. When I talked to the person developing the curriculum, he said that the planned breakdown is largely general technical training (safety, hand tools, general construction) and that the green training is a sort of competitive advantage in the workforce. He mentioned that contractors that apprenticed the women participating in his deconstruction pilot program universally said that they were better dry-wallers than the crews they had actually hired.

]]> By: Luke http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65631 Luke Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:45:29 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65631 I'm also a Northern Ohio native (Sandusky/Kent, in the Cleveland area) who hopes that Cleveland can turn it around. But it's hard for me to imagine going back there from San Francisco at this point. The shore of Lake Erie does have a lot of wind power potential, though, I can testify to that. I’m also a Northern Ohio native (Sandusky/Kent, in the Cleveland area) who hopes that Cleveland can turn it around. But it’s hard for me to imagine going back there from San Francisco at this point.

The shore of Lake Erie does have a lot of wind power potential, though, I can testify to that.

]]> By: Jesse Jenkins http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65626 Jesse Jenkins Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:03:09 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65626 They've also got a fairly large new solar array in front of the science center too! I was in Cleveland last June for the Solar 2007 conference and the site of the wind turbine just down the street, spinning away in the strong lakeshore winds was pretty inspiring. It was a stronger lure for me this energy nerd than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next door (although I spent quite a few hours there too!). Cleveland is working hard to capture to power of green re-industrialization. A sustained commitment to invest in a new, clean, affordable American energy future can secure a new era of sustained economic prosperity AND slash our greenhouse gas emissions. Cleveland may be a model of what that future looks like. They’ve also got a fairly large new solar array in front of the science center too! I was in Cleveland last June for the Solar 2007 conference and the site of the wind turbine just down the street, spinning away in the strong lakeshore winds was pretty inspiring. It was a stronger lure for me this energy nerd than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next door (although I spent quite a few hours there too!).

Cleveland is working hard to capture to power of green re-industrialization. A sustained commitment to invest in a new, clean, affordable American energy future can secure a new era of sustained economic prosperity AND slash our greenhouse gas emissions. Cleveland may be a model of what that future looks like.

]]> By: Ashley Fidel http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65594 Ashley Fidel Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:45:40 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65594 Hi Elizabeth, I was reading your blog “A Rust Belt Revolution” and I thought it was interesting because of my work at JustMeans. Also, I’m going to be a junior this fall and I’m studying abroad in London too! As you mentioned about Cleveland, the infrastructure and opportunity for green jobs is exploding. Through the JustMeans social media platform, individuals have access to over 2000 jobs that are offered by socially responsible companies or in the field of sustainability, environmental management and more. If you think JustMeans could be interesting to your readers, let me know and I can arrange a tour of our platform or I can answer any of your questions. Thanks, Ashley Fidel JustMeans New York Associate www.justmeans.com afidel@justmeans.com Hi Elizabeth,

I was reading your blog “A Rust Belt Revolution” and I thought it was interesting because of my work at JustMeans. Also, I’m going to be a junior this fall and I’m studying abroad in London too!

As you mentioned about Cleveland, the infrastructure and opportunity for green jobs is exploding. Through the JustMeans social media platform, individuals have access to over 2000 jobs that are offered by socially responsible companies or in the field of sustainability, environmental management and more.

If you think JustMeans could be interesting to your readers, let me know and I can arrange a tour of our platform or I can answer any of your questions.

Thanks,

Ashley Fidel
JustMeans New York Associate
http://www.justmeans.com
afidel@justmeans.com

]]> By: Jen Angel http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65589 Jen Angel Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:23:22 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65589 I'm also an Ohio native, and while I think all this is super exciting, my concern is that Ohioans just can't wait for the "green revolution" to get here and provide jobs for everyone. One of the reasons that I moved from Ohio was the lack of well paying jobs not just in my field, but in any field. Combine that with the devaluation of homes (far preceding the current mortgage crisis), it's really tough to live there. I've seen attempts by other cities, like Toledo where I lived for eight years, to reinvent themselves as "green economies" or focusing on a "creative class" by taking advantage of the cheap rent and low home prices. But, these cities have not taken anything beyond the beginning steps to nurture small entrepeneurs or create a real social safety net for its citizens. So yes, there's a huge opportunity there, but I have yet to see cities really invest in them. Thanks for your post! I’m also an Ohio native, and while I think all this is super exciting, my concern is that Ohioans just can’t wait for the “green revolution” to get here and provide jobs for everyone. One of the reasons that I moved from Ohio was the lack of well paying jobs not just in my field, but in any field. Combine that with the devaluation of homes (far preceding the current mortgage crisis), it’s really tough to live there.

I’ve seen attempts by other cities, like Toledo where I lived for eight years, to reinvent themselves as “green economies” or focusing on a “creative class” by taking advantage of the cheap rent and low home prices. But, these cities have not taken anything beyond the beginning steps to nurture small entrepeneurs or create a real social safety net for its citizens.

So yes, there’s a huge opportunity there, but I have yet to see cities really invest in them. Thanks for your post!

]]> By: Mattie Reitman http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65574 Mattie Reitman Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:29:55 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65574 Hey Elizabeth, if you wanna get engaged in Climate Challenge and Power Vote work this summer, get in touch: matt [at] energyjustice [dot] net / 315.450.6628 -Mattie from Columbus, Ohio Student Environmental Coalition- Hey Elizabeth, if you wanna get engaged in Climate Challenge and Power Vote work this summer, get in touch: matt [at] energyjustice [dot] net / 315.450.6628
-Mattie from Columbus, Ohio Student Environmental Coalition-

]]> By: melch http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65557 melch Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:14:40 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65557 elizabeth, you make me feel hoooottt in here!!!! elizabeth, you make me feel hoooottt in here!!!!

]]> By: elizjirvin http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65555 elizjirvin Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:01:13 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65555 er, May of 2006, make that. er, May of 2006, make that.

]]> By: elizjirvin http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65554 elizjirvin Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:59:48 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65554 Yes, the windmill's real, it went up in May. It's right in front of the Great Lakes Science Center. You can get more info about it at http://www.gcbl.org/blog/david-beach/new-symbol-for-the-lakefront Yes, the windmill’s real, it went up in May. It’s right in front of the Great Lakes Science Center. You can get more info about it at http://www.gcbl.org/blog/david-beach/new-symbol-for-the-lakefront

]]> By: RS http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2008/06/23/a-rust-belt-revolution/#comment-65552 RS Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:52:28 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.wordpress.com/?p=4909#comment-65552 Is that windmill real? I don't remember seeing that in Cleveland. Is that windmill real? I don’t remember seeing that in Cleveland.

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