Daily Loaf

We’ve been hearing about the plethora of environmental films and docu-dramas out today that preach about changing our ways concerning our food, climate change, pesticide use, and so on (Food Inc., The Age of Stupid, Fresh, A Chemical Reaction, etc.). But did you ever look at Mad Max as an “eco film”? Its portrayal of a dystopian future where fuel is scarce and society collapses as a result, thus leaving humanity with a ravaged Earth and living in anarchy. (The scenario now sounds more and more like a possible future of our own.)
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A report released earlier this year by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works claimed that green and clean energy jobs were lower paying than similar non-green jobs. For instance, it said that workers in renewable energy manufacturing facilities were making around $7-$10 an hour less than their non-green manufacturing counterparts. But a report from Clean Edge and PayScale released this past week says it may be quite the contrary for green collar jobs, which comes as good news to all of those who have lost their prior jobs due to the recession.

According to this Green Inc. article: “The median earnings found in the survey range from $36,100 a year for an insulation worker to $112,000 a year for design engineering managers in alternative energy, according to Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis at PayScale.” Mr. Lee also went on to say that several entry-level positions — including jobs as solar-energy system installers and solar fabrication technicians — require only high school or associate’s degrees and pay more than $40,000 annually.
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I attended a preview of Maria’s Song and I have to say I’ve scarcely been so moved by a play.  The story is about Maria, an illegal worker who has been caught in a raid on a labor camp and is making every attempt possible to keep her American-born son.  The emotional authenticity of the author and performers is rarely seen in local theater.

The play starts with an off-screen raid, and then we see Sister Margaret ushering Maria and her son into their church.  Immigration officers want to deport Maria, leaving her son behind. Read the rest of this entry »