Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

(joefelso.files.wordpress.com)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was born into a fortunate, wealthy, large family of 11 children. His uncle was President John F. Kennedy and his father was Senator Robert F. Kennedy. His mother was Ethel Kennedy. His early childhood was full of family outings including fishing with his father, playing football, and went sailing and skiing with his large family. In 1968, however, something tragic happened to this happy family. His father, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated while running for the office of the President of the United States.

On his way to a rehabilitation centre, Mr. Kennedy was convicted of heroin possession. Believe it or not, this was how he began his career in fighting for the environment. As punishment for his crime, Kennedy was required to accomplish 800 hours of community volunteer work for the organization Riverkeeper. At the end of his work, the organization was so impressed that they hired him as their Chief Prosecuting Attorney.

(www.depauw.edu)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a graduate from Harvard University. He studied law at The London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. He also has a Masters Degree in Environmental Law from Pace University. With this experience, he went on in his career to win many legal settlements for Riverkeeper and Long Island Sound. He argues cases to expand citizen access to shorelines, and he sues sewage treatment plants for failure to comply with the Clean Water Act. He is Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and he is President of the Waterkeeper Alliance. He is also the Supervising Attorney at Environmental Litigation Clinic in White Plains, New York. He is a Clinical Professor at Pace University. He negotiated the New York City Watershed Agreement for environmentalists and the city's watershed consumers. He helped lead the fight to turn back the anti-environmental legislation during the 104th Congress. In the past, Mr. Kennedy served as Assistant District Attorney and he is currently fighting to keep New York's water supply clean. He has also assisted several indigenous tribes on Latin America and Canada in negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a Master Falconer (riverkeeper.org)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is my hero because he could have used his intelligence and experience to do many other things with his life. Instead, he has chosen to take his advantage to help the environment and keep the world clean. He also fights for environmental organizations to bring environmentally unfriendly companies and organizations to justice.

Interesting Facts!

1. He has had many books published

2. His articles have appeared in the New York times, Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, The Village Voice, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, Pace Environmental Law Review and other publications.

3. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a licensed Master Falconer

4. He pursues a lifelong enthusiasm for whitewater paddling and has lead several expeditions in Latin America.