Opportunities for Environmental and Social Justice Synergy in California

As most people know, California's climate change threat isn't hurricanes or flooding, but extended drought, and the cumulative impact of this situation is manifested in approximately 129 million dead trees that currently cover the state (and the number is growing). This is literally a CO2 powder keg waiting to blow a massive hole in the atmosphere, and a focused effort and dedication of resources must be brought to bear on this blight.

After watching some stellar interviews by Amy Goodman concerning the exploitation of inmate firefighters and their exclusion from the workforce through a systemic denial of occupational licenses, it occurred to me that a synergy exists to solve both issues. I invite you to explore this unique opportunity in a two-part series, "Beyond the Burn."

We need an army to fight this threat, and one awaits in our prisons and could be expanded through the training and licensing of qualified inmates who are motivated to return to their families and find a career with a living wage.

What will it cost? Not much, when you consider that the state pays ~$75,000 to incarcerate an inmate and the average mean wage of a firefighter is just under $74,000 (dollars that will circulate and provide a multiplier effect to our economy). More importantly, a similar program could train inmates in logging and forest management skills to directly address California's most pressing climate change threat.

It's time to look at all our resources and find opportunity where only threat currently resides.