Information on Biography for speaker: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

"Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s reputation as a resolute defender of the environment stems from a litany of successful legal actions. Mr. Kennedy was named one of Time magazine's “Heroes for the Planet” for his success helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. The group's achievement helped spawn more than 130 Waterkeeper organizations across the globe.
Mr. Kennedy serves as Chief Prosecuting Attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and President of Waterkeeper Alliance. He 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.
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. He is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City's water supply. The New York City watershed agreement, which he negotiated on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers, is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development. He helped lead the fight to turn back the anti-environmental legislation during the 104th Congress.
Among Mr. Kennedy's published books are the New York Times’ bestseller Crimes Against Nature (2004), St. Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy (2005), The Riverkeepers (1997), and Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr: A Biography (1977). His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, 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.
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. Following graduation he attended Pace University School of Law, where he was awarded a Masters Degree in Environmental Law.
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 in Canada and Latin America, including first descents on three little known rivers in Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.

"Riverkeeper is an independent, member-supported, environmental organization founded on the premise that citizens themselves must roll up their sleeves to defend our waterways.

"Our [Riverkeeper] mission is to safeguard the ecological integrity of the Hudson River, its tributaries and the watershed of New York City (protecting the city's drinking water supply) by tracking down and stopping polluters. Since 1983, Riverkeeper has investigated and brought to justice more than 300 environmental lawbreakers. Riverkeeper believes in the rights of every citizen to enjoy and defend our nation's water resources."

Information taken from the following websites: http://www.robertfkennedyjr.com/about.html
http://riverkeeper.org/index.php

Information on Biography for speaker: Ramaswamy R. Iyer

"Mr. Ramaswamy R. Iyer has had a long association with large-dam projects. In the 80s, he served as Secretary of Water Resources for the Government of India. As Secretary, he worked to shift the Ministry's attention from big projects to resource-policy issues. He was the initiator and principal draftsman of India's first National Water Policy in 1987.

"Mr. Iyer was a member of two high-level committees designated to review the environmental and displacement/rehabilitation aspects of the Sardar Sarovar Project (1993 - 95) and the Tehri Hydro-Electric Project (1996-97). He also served as a consultant to the World Commission on Dams (WCD) from 1998-2000, and joined the team commissioned to write a country study on India's experience with large dams. From 2000-2005, Mr. Iyer intermittently served as World Bank consultant for the review of its Water Sector Strategy.

"Mr. Iyer also serves as Honorary Research Professor for India's Centre for Policy Research, where he continues to educate people on matters relating to water resources (including the dams question), and to expound, clarify and analyze issues for the benefit of the general public, policy-makers, administrators, academics, media personnel and other opinion-makers.

"As a water expert, Mr. Iyer frequently appears on television and in conferences as speaker or panelist. He has also published a variety of articles in newspapers and journals. He published his first book entitled 'WATER: Perspectives, Issues, Concerns' in 2003, and is now in the middle of publishing his second book, tentatively titled `WATER: Limits, Justice, Harmony.'"

Information taken from the following website: http://www.adb.org/Water/Champions/iyer.asp