Rainforest Action Network

- classified as grass roots
-concern is destruction of environment by humans
-assist individuals and groups in organized protests, assemblies, etc.
-outreach to students, companies, organizations, communities, worldwide
-raise awareness, tell of consequences, get everyone involved in prevention and protection
-focus is not only on education but on direct action which results in publicity
recognize that individuals need to take a stand against corporations that are pollutng the environment, speak out, push for legislation
-apparently, govt. laws are the main influence in forcing companies to change their ways
-when employees, consumers, residents, citizens become aware of what their companies andcities are doing, then they realize they do not want to be part of the destructive process
-public awareness makes all the difference

"global finance=ending destructive investment"
"old growth=preserving endangered forests"
"freedom from oil=cleaning up the carmakers"
www.ran.org

Notes for Waterways Lead

-people are more concerned with the here and now
-do not realize the consequences of lack of water, see it everywhere, how can we run out?
-do not understand poor quality bc good quality is readily available
-unsure what we can do personally to restore areas and prevent future damage
-water is taken for granted, has not affected many of us negatively, can't imagine how we would react
-difficult to plan so far into the future unless we can see the damage firsthand

*add guest speakers and date
*specific timeframe
*specific knowledge and outcomes to be achieved for each well defined public

Waterways Lead

Water is such a simple substance, yet it profoundly affects our daily lives. Waterways 2007 is a conference designed specifically for this issue. People of various backgrounds will gather and discuss the concerns regarding water, such as scarcity, quality and quantity, restoration of riperian areas, and cultural perceptions. This event, held at the University of North Texas in Denton, is in conjunction with other student programs. It hopes to raise awareness of the little known problems with water and offer new ways to respond.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City's water supply, but his reputation as a resolute defender of the environment stems from a litany of successful legal actions. The list includes winning numerous settlements for Riverkeeper, prosecuting governments and companies for polluting the Hudson River and Long Island Sound, arguing cases to expand citizen access to the shoreline, and suing treatment plants to force compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Mr. Kennedy acts as Chief Prosecuting Attorney for Riverkeeper. He also serves as Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and as President of the Waterkeeper Alliance. At Pace University School of Law, he is a Clinical Professor and Supervising Attorney at the Environmental Litigation Clinic in White Plains, New York. Earlier in his career Mr. Kennedy served as Assistant District Attorney in New York City.

The New York City watershed agreement, which he negotiated on behalf of environmentalists and the city's watershed consumers, is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development. He helped lead the fight to turn back the aggressive anti-environmental legislation during the 104th Congress.

Mr. Kennedy has worked on environmental issues across the Americas. He has assisted several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands.

Mr. Kennedy has published several books, including The Riverkeepers (1997) with John Cronin. 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.

Mr. Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University. He studied at the London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. He also received a Masters Degree in Environmental Law from Pace University.

He is a licensed master falconer, and as often as possible he pursues a life-long enthusiasm for white-water paddling. He has organized and led several expeditions to Latin America, including first descents on three little known rivers in Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela."

http://riverkeeper.org/our_bio_rkennedy.php

Personal Notes:

-strong voice, passionate about his beliefs, willing to stand up to anybody

-believes we are responsible for our environment

-government, companies, and citizens all should be held accountable

-has used his law expertise to push and keep environmental laws/ issues in the public eye

Dr. Natarajan Ishwaran

Mr Natarajan Ishwaran
UNESCO
Director, Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences
Secretary, Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme
Biography:
"Dr. Natarajan Ishwaran is a Sri Lankan national who has worked with UNESCO's World Heritage Convention since he joined the organization in 1986. In his UNESCO career he has served as a specialist in Environmental Sciences and Natural Heritage conservation based at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France (1986-1993 and 1996 - till present) and at the UNESCO Office in Jakarta, Indonesia (1993-1996). Currently he is the Chief of the Natural Heritage Section at the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Paris. Dr Ishwaran has a BSc (Honours) degree in Zoology and an MSc in Animal Ecology from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology and Management from Michigan State University, USA. He has co-authored more than 20 scientific and technical articles and 2 books on subjects dealing with ecology, conservation and protected area management. Mr Ishwaran has more than 25 years of working experience in the field of nature conservation and has worked with projects and programmes involving governments, NGOs, the private sector and the local communities."
http://www.ecotourism.org.au/conference/s_Ishwaran.asp

Personal Notes:
-mission is to save the environment, nature and animals who inhabit it
-protect natural resources
-position allows him to travel and not only see but talk to residents
-works with others who also understand the importance of nature and the impact its loss would have on humans
-knows we need to manage the resources that are left to prevent future damage