Super Eco

Photo credit: Michael Kumm

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a self-titled "resolute defender of the planet" and one of Time Magazine's "Heroes for the Planet" thanks to his work as Chief Prosecuting Attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and President of Waterkeeper Alliance.

Kennedy was the third of 11 children born to Ethel and Robert F. Kennedy, and was raised into the political dynasty that is the Kennedy family. He earned a BA from Harvard College, a JD at the University of Virginia School of Law, and an LL.M. from the Pace University School of Law. He went on to practice law, but in 1983 was arrested in the Rapid City, South Dakota airport for possession of heroin, and subsequently sentenced to two years' probation and 1,500 hours community service. In order to satisfy his sentence, Kennedy joined the Riverkeeper organization, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Hudson River and its tributaries, and keeping the New York City drinking water safe. He helped sue polluters of the Hudson River, and was hired by the organization as chief prosecuting attorney when his community service hours were complete.

Later, Kennedy founded the Waterkeeper Alliance organization, an umbrella group which trademarked "Riverkeeper", as well as "Lakekeeper", "Baykeeper", or "Coastkeeper," and spawned over 175 other groups protecting waterways worldwide.

In 1987, Kennedy began working as Clinical Professor of Environmental Law and co-director of the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University School of Law, and he serves as senior attorney for the National Resources Defense Council.

He has long been a writer, with many published books, including Crimes Against Nature (2004) and The Riverkeepers (1997), in addition to publishing articles in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Outside Magazine, The Village Voice, and others. He is a licensed falconer, and loves white-water paddling, having organized and led expeditions in Canada, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Notable Eco Activity

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is noted for using his political-celebrity family name and connections to promote green causes of many sorts. One of his highest-profile ventures is a bottled water company, Tear of the Clouds LLC, which donates all its proceeds to the Waterkeeper Alliance. Another has been arguing a link between global warming and Hurricane Katrina; in 2005, he wrote a piece in Rolling Stone magazine accusing the United States government of conspiring to cover up connections between the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal in inoculations and childhood autism. He also came out against a wind farm off Cape Cod, Mass.

As speculation abounds that Kennedy will seek a U.S. Senate seat, there were rumors that Barack Obama would name him as head of the EPA, but ultimately the new administration nominated Lisa Jackson.

• Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Details

  • Birth Date

    January 17, 1954

  • Born In

    United States

  • Home Page

    http://www.robertfkennedyjr.com/

  • Lives In

    United States

  • Organizations

    Unavailable

  • Occupation

    Environmentalist and attorney