RFK Jr. keynote speaker for Stella Centennial

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, March 1, 2008

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and president of Waterkeeper Alliance, will be a keynote speaker at Stella Niagara, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. His appearance is part of Stella’s Centennial Celebration, said Shari J. Alderman, Stella Development coordinator. Free and open to the public, Kennedy’s talk, “Our Environmental Destiny,” will be held in three locations on the Stella Niagara campus. Reservations are required. Marking their Centennial Year of Stella Niagara, 1908-2008, the Sisters of St. Francis are celebrating a century of service, education and peace. Plans are already underway for a number of events to mark this anniversary year. In addition to the appearance by Kennedy, there will be an alumni reunion in June and a special presentation, “The Marble Orchard: Star of Niagara” set in the campus cemetery in August. A noted author and environmental activist, Kennedy is also a clinical professor and supervising attorney at Pace University School of Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic and is co-host of “Ring of Fire” on Air America Radio. Earlier in his career, he served as assistant district attorney in New York City. He has worked on several political campaigns, including the presidential campaigns of Edward M. Kennedy in 1980, Al Gore in 2000, and John Kerry in 2004.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy’s reputation as a resolute defender of the environment stems from a litany of successful legal actions. He was named one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” for his success in helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. The group’s achievement helped spawn more than 125 Riverkeeper organizations across the globe, including the Buffalo-Niagara Riverkeeper group on the Niagara Frontier.

He has worked on environmental issues across the Americas, and has assisted several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands. Through his work on the New York City watershed agreement, he is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City’s water supply. Kennedy also helped lead the fight to turn back the anti-environmental legislation during the 104th Congress.

Among Kennedy’s published books are The New York Times best-seller “Crimes Against Nature” (2004); “Riverkeeper” (1997); and “Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr.: A Biography” (1977). His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Atlantic Monthly, Esquire, The Nation, Outside magazine, The Village Voice, and many other publications. His award-winning articles have been included in anthologies of America’s best crime writing, best political writing and best science writing.

For reservations and additional details on Kennedy’s visit, contact the Stella Niagara Development Office at 754-2193 or e-mail fund14144@yahoo.com.