Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Job and Internship Opportunities as of March 2, 2016


ON the Market
1.       Summer camp leader/tour guide | Schoolhouse of Wonder | Durham, NC
2.       Principal Planner | Columbia River Gorge Commission | White Salmon, WA
3.       Canvass Director/Organizer/Outreach| Fund for the Public Interest| USA
4.       Project Assistant | Land Conservancy of NJ | Boonton, NJ
5.       Various Seasonal Positions @ multiple levels | Maine Appalachian Trail Club | ME
6.       Trailblazer/Hands on Conservation | ACE/AmeriCorps | Flagstaff, AZ
7.       Sr. Environmental Project Manager | AvMed Healthcare| NY, NY
8.       Seasonal Park Ranger | City of Brookline | Brookline, MA
9.       Sr. Project Development Analyst| Sunpower | Boston, http://www.eco.org/career/895607/Senior-Project-Development-Analyst-Boston
10.   Ecofellow | Center for EcoTechnology | Northampton, MA
11.   Director, Fish Conservation | Ocean Conservancy | DOC
12.   NorthWest Campaign Rep | Our Wild America | Seattle, WA
13.   Environmental Land Manager | LafargeHolcim | Saugus, MA
14.   Renewable Energy Analyst | AWS TruePower | Albany, NY
15.   Communications & Research Fellow | Sustainable Endowments Center | Boston
16.   Policy Program Associate | Ceres | Boston, MA
17.   1 year real world training and internships | Greencorps | CO & CA
18.   Enviro Stewardship Program Coordinator | SWBCDC| Boston, MA
19.   Executive Coordinator | The Nature Conservancy| Boston, MA
20.   Paid Intern | Greenovate Boston | Boston, MA
21.   Policy & Program Associate | The Product Stewardship Institute| Boston, MA 
22.   Ecology Educator | The Ecology School | Saco, ME
23.   Quality/Commissioning Specialist | REC Solar | Oahu, HI
24.   Jr. Wind Resource Engineer| AWS Power | Mexico City, Mexico
25.   Young Professionals Program | Asian Development Bank | Manila, Philippines 
26.    Senior Environmental Consultant | OHES | UK


Good Job Sites for Sustainability / Environmental roles as well as career (transition) advice


General Environmental Job Sites
*Acre
*Action Without Borders / Idealist.org - nonprofit jobs
*ACTrees 
*BlueGreenWorld--Environmental Jobs and Best Practices Search Engines
*Chronicles Careers: Jobs in Higher Education
*Commongood Careers
*Community Career Center - non-profit jobs
*Cyber-Sierra - environmental, natural resource, ecology
*Earthworks-jobs in environmental sciences
*EcoEmploy
*
EcoJobs
*Environmental Education Directory
*Environmental Expert
*EnvironmentalCareer
*Great Green Careers
*GreenJobs
*HigherEdJobs
*
Idealist
*NCSE
*New England Jobs: Nonprofit Jobs Cooperative
*Non-profit Career Network
*North American Association for Environmental Education
*Opportunity Knocks - nonprofit jobs
*Orion Grassroots Network
* Sustainable Careers
*The Top 200 Environmental Firms
*University of Wisconsin's Environmental Job Website 

Climate Change & Energy Job Sites
*Airtricity
*Alliance To Save Energy
*American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
*American Wind Energy Association
*BP Global
*British Energy
*Cambridge Energy Research Associates
*Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
*Center for Resource Solutions
*Chevron Corporation
*Chicago Climate Exchange, Inc.
*Clean Air-Cool Planet
*Clean Edge
*Climate Investment Network for Carbon Sequestration and Sustainable Energy (CINCS)
*Connecticut Clean Energy Fund
*Consolidated Edison Company of New York (Con Edison)
*Consumer Energy Council of America
*Cool Climate Change Jobs
*D&R International
*Duke Energy
*Ecofys
*Energy Trust of Oregon
*Environmental & Energy Study Institute
*Evolution Markets LLC
*ExxonMobil
*Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
*GE Energy
*Green Energy Jobs
*Iberdrola Renewables
*MidAmerican Energy
*National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
*New Energy Finance
*Northeast Utlities Systems
*Pacific Gas & Energy (PGE)
*Pew Center for Global Climate Change
*PPM Energy
*Professional Energy Jobs
*Shell
*The Climate Group
*The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
*Trexler Climate + Energy Services, Inc. (TC+ES)
*United Illuminating 

Conservation/Ecology/Natural Resources/Wildlife Job Sites
*Alaska Conservation Foundation weekly events on behalf of Alaska WomenÕs Environmental Network (AWEN), Alaska Center for the Environment (ACE), and Alaska Conservation Alliance (ACA)
*American Fisheries Society Job Board
*City Parks Alliance
*Conservation International
*Defenders of Wildlife
*Ducks Unlimited
*Earthwatch Institute
*IUCN The World Conservation Network
*Land Trust Alliance
*Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition Newsletter
*National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)
*National Wildlife Federation
*Natural Resources Conservation Science
*NatureServe
*Piedmont Environmental Council
*Pinchot Institute for Conservation
*QLF/Atlantic Center for the Environment
*Rainforest Alliance
*RARE
*Sierra Club
*Society for Ecological Restoration
*Soil and Water Conservation Society
*The Conservation Fund
*The Ecological Society of America
*The Nature Conservancy
*The Society for Conservation Biology
*The Student Conservation Association
*The Trust for Public Land (TPL)
*The Wildlife Habitat Council
*The Wildlife Society
*The Wildlife Trusts (TWT)
*Wildlife Conservation Society
*World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

A Student's Journey to a Sustainable Alternative to Plastic Bags


Today, when I look back on my career of 20+ years of management in the field of plastic processing and manufacturing, I recall the entire life cycle of plastics, from the birth of commercial plastic products to the declining demand for plastic products due to climate change, global warming, and consumption of natural resources.
My childhood passion for plastics encouraged me to study chemical engineering. At the time, there were not enough schools to study plastic engineering, but I maintained my interest and began my career in 1989 in Styrofoam cups and containers manufacturing (single use products) in India. I slowly learned that my products were creating municipal waste that could not be easily recycled and therefore were not environmentally friendly. I refocused my career towards plastic injection molding, because many plastic molded products can be recycled and much of the material can be reused. With time, however, I realized plastics manufacturing and processing of all sorts cannot help but consume natural resources, produce pollution, and fill up landfills.
I was torn and deeply saddened. Plastics had long been my passion, but I could not look away from the difficult truth: they are dangerous for our environment and planet. As a major factor in the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, plastics production has been causing environmental pollution, natural disaster and resource consumption. Realizing this, I began to study “green manufacturing”, “clean energy” and “renewable material” in hopes of learning to build management systems that could accord with our natural world. Sustainability guru Ray Anderson’s thinking began to inform my own: 
“Linear must go; cyclic must replace it. That’s nature’s way. In nature, there is no waste; one organism‘s waste is another’s food. For our industrial process, so dependent on petro-chemical, man-made raw materials, this means technical “food” to be reincarnated by recycling into the product’s next life cycle. Of course, the recycling operations will have to be driven by solar energy too.”
When I asked about how to make all these changes, I learned that adopting and practicing awareness for sustainability can help us to bring “The Green Spring” on planet earth where we can hear birds singing, rivers flowing, and live with no draughts and no hurricanes. 
My love and concern about nature motivated me to continue my learning at Harvard University with courses in Sustainable Management and Environmental Science. Through this coursework, I have come to understand that sustainability is not a profession but a practice, that is, a consistent enactment of awareness in daily life, on all levels. Sustainability is micro process that requires 24/7 conscious efforts at practice by an individual or by any organizations. 
At present, I am working on various projects of bioplastics, such as products which are available in regular non-degradable plastics with short “use” phases as an effort to cut-down landfill waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint.
Our latest product launch is “bioDOGradable Waste Pick-Up Bags”. Our new generation bioplastic product in an effort to eliminate the use of trillions of plastic bags each year. Made with natural and renewable resources, bioDOGradable bioplastics bags promote minimized environmental pollution and improved sustainability. Our mission is to support pet waste disposal efforts in the most eco-friendly approach that results in a positive momentum towards healing our planet. We strive to make a difference in the life you live, with the pets you love.
The foundation of my approach to nature’s needs stems from a professional knowledge and learning in sustainability from the extremely talented staff of Harvard University Extension School during my study for Online Professional Certification in Sustainability at Harvard, and a continuous search for alternative, environmentally-friendly material sources and processes.

Derived from renewable resources, the bioDOGradable bag material benefits from the Vincotte “OK Compost” and “OK Compost Home” labels, which is in accordance to the European standard (EN 13432) for compostability in industrial composting installations and home garden compost heap.

After the use and responsible disposal, bioDOGradable bags are broken down by microorganisms. This process produces good quality humus, suitable for use in gardening or agriculture. It is a natural process for reusing waste.

My passion for sustainability comes from our innermost care for the health of humans, pets, and the environment overall.

We define sustainability as the consistent enactment of awareness to reduce the consumption of natural resources and the production of waste at both the individual and organizational level while maintaining current and long-term economic prosperity alongside minimizing negative impacts on the environment and human health progressing towards a net positive outcome for the future.


Remember! Responsible disposal of pet waste is a sustainable act. In other words, Sustainability is a 24/7 act. My urge to whole world is "Be Aware, Be Sustainable".

Energy and the Environment


What is Energy? It is a wellspring of moving our lives. It's a fundamental segment of our way of life, it moves our organizations, powers our homes, make technological innovations happen and a great deal more. Energy beyond question is a standout amongst the most critical part of life and economy. The fact that energy has gained an essential spot in today's reality is because of its need and usefulness.
Individuals need better personal satisfaction, they work for it, they look for it, For this reason they even migrate from their native lands to much developed places, one thing which we fail to realize is the fact that in order to satisfy our temporary wishes we harm the environment in the long run, to relate we shall be more focused on improving our own backyard rather than being ignorant. The misuse of these fossil energy sources produces huge amounts of carbon dioxide contamination, which advertently contribute to the global warming phenomenon, that is now being given attention because of the adverse effects it is bringing with it, whether it be submerging of the Maldives islands, Excessive floods in Pakistan, or California’s wild fires. 
The methods by which dominant part of the energy today is achieved is extremely hazardous as the majority of it is obtained by exploiting fossil fuels. This consumption of ignitable land stores of natural materials and the abuse of it has brought on contamination accordingly and has adversely contributed towards the World's surroundings. World utilization is expanding by 2.3% every year as indicated by Energy Information Administration, since utilization is expanding so is an expansion in the misuse of these fossil assets, which is contrarily affecting the earth and the environment around us, hence ultimately reducing the quality of life, additionally to remember that fossil fuels are thought to be non-renewable assets since they take significantly additional time as contrasted and the sum with which they are drained. The concerned authorities are presently bringing their voices up in the support of depending on alternative forms of energy which are more sustainable and renewable. New voices for adopting alternative energy are indeed a source of renewed attention, what we need to realize is to convince our lawmakers and business leaders to adopt and start supporting sustainable sources of energy, which will not only decrease their budgeting cost, reduce their subsidies yet will likewise contribute towards the betterment of the environment. According to the International Energy Agency, Europe spent $600 billion in 2012 just importing fossil fuels. Subsequently wind energy projects in Europe saved it $10.5 billion worth of fossil fuel costs.
The eventual fate of energy as I would see it, lies with the adaptability of sustainable energy. We should educate the masses about the effect and the part of sustainable energy in our lives and the amount of significance is in it there for us and for the future eras. How this energy will utilize from Earth’s natural resources in an effective way without harming the environment. The investment in wind power, solar power and bioenergy is fruitful like anything. In separating the fossil fuels it requires a considerable measure of exertion, parcel of assets, part of energy and yes a great deal of cash. As the procedure to achieve something turns out to be more costly and requires a great deal of work and capital, the end buyer needs to pay the value, hence same is the case with fossil energy. Fossil fuel cartels which most prominently include the oil cartel OPEC, decides to shorten the supply for their benefits despite the high demand, financial aspects say the cost is going to soar, thus more non affordability for the masses, events like these have happened in the past. The point is that by educating the people to adopt these sustainable energy initiatives will only do the betterment for them. They won’t have to rely on some cartel based high prices. The method to obtain energy through these sources is also not very expensive, every part of the world have the resources required for clean energy, on a lighter note countries will not have to bear the struggle of importing sunlight.

I was perusing this report issued by the UN on environmental sustainability popularly known as “The Burtland Report”, in which I believe sustainability is defined most accurately which goes like this “development that meets the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Even the UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon pointed out that renewable energy has the ability to lift the poor nations to new levels of prosperity. It is absolutely disastrous that in 2013 fossil energy got about $550 billion in subsidies when contrasted with $120 billion which were spent on renewable energy venture. I believe that Innovation is having exceptionally conspicuous impact with regards to energy in headways better for the earth, yet the worry is that the legislatures and the global institutions should consider this field worth their attention, if we can burn through billions in the research for making new weapons, why not spend this cash on investing so as to enhance the fate of this world in supportable energy ventures, which will benefit our mother nature.
The developed countries on one hand are paying attention to solve their problem using clean energy to fulfill their consumption demands which is a positive step, but on the other hand addressing this problem when it comes to developing countries is a major challenge, the question that arises is to educate the masses in the developing world to confront energy issues with increased adoption of sustainable energy, which is not only going to be beneficial for their economy, but will also contribute to the world in the form of reduced carbon emissions. The gathering of the world leaders at the worldwide stage in Paris at Cop21 gathering and framing an accord to decrease the carbon discharges is an accomplishment in itself.
 In a developing country like Pakistan positive steps have been taken to adopt clean energy in the framework, as the country has been adversely affected by the climate change. Pakistan's economy is quickly developing, the populace is significantly youthful, new commercial enterprises are being set up, which have bought new challenges for Pakistan in satisfying it's energy necessities at such fast rate. The fortunate thing about our legislature is that it is investing in sustainable energy so as to overcome these energy challenges. Pakistan in spite of the fact derives a major part of it's clean energy from the hydel sector, it is broadening the clean energy portfolio with new undertakings in the bioenergy, wind and sunlight based force ventures. Pakistan has as of late built up the world's biggest solar based energy park in Bahawalpur which bears the country’s founder name Jinnah, which will add up to 1000 MW to the national power grid. The administration's part is excellent in empowering the general population both in Urban and the country areas to embrace solar energy framework, the procedure is fairly constrained yet however productive. It is an incredible accomplishment to see less developed towns in Pakistan embracing this innovation. 
The US and China are partners and associates with Pakistan in setting up a spotless energy framework in the country. Pakistan came late in adopting wind energy, it has made great progress in this sector and is going to develop 22 wind ventures which are going to increase the electric capability from 250MW to 1520 MW. At the same time Pakistan is taking a shot at building up new hydel power plants with the cooperation from China, US and the Asian Development Bank. It is likewise concentrating on upgrading the old energy ventures. Pakistan is additionally rapidly working on wind projects to deliver wind energy. There are additionally illustrations from numerous other creating nations which have indicated striking results in the perfect energy part. 
Finishing on a short note, energy is a critical part in advancing our lives, a segment in making the world a more resourceful place, however the traditional methods of obtaining energy needs to be substituted with more sustainable processes which are not only beneficial but less expensive and can be within the reaches of the masses. We need to ensure that the strategies for acquiring energy does not trade off the world's spirit which I believe is the environment.


Shahnawaz Afzal Qureshi
LUMS Environmental Action Forum, Pakistan.