2008 Woodie Awards
Kennedy speaks to full house
Emily Wuchner
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
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Kennedy said many of the environmental problems lately have been a result of the Bush administration. He said many of the officials working under the President in environmental areas are lobbyists or representatives for some of the worst polluters in the world.
"The worst thing that can happen to the environment is if it becomes a province of one party," Kennedy said. "This is the worst environmental administration we've ever had."
He said part of the reason U.S. citizens are not aware of environmental problems is because media sources are negligent in reporting all sides of the news.
"We know more about Tom and Kate than we do about global warming," Kennedy said. "Americans are the best entertained and least informed people in the world."
Kennedy said after former President Ronald Reagan abolished the Fairness Doctrine in 1988, about 80 percent of investigative reporters lost their jobs. He said investigative reporters were the only people who "connected the dots" and discovered the environmental wrongs the government was implementing on the country. Foreign news bureaus were also discontinued, Kennedy said.
"We're supposed to be leaders of the free world but we have no clue what's going on in the free world," Kennedy said. "It's a bad thing for the world and a terrible thing for democracy."
Poor environmental conditions also hit close to home for Kennedy, who said three of his sons have asthma. He said asthma attacks are caused by bad air, partially caused by the 400 illegal coal-burning plants across the nation. The Clinton administration was prosecuting the plants but Kennedy said the plants made significant monetary contributions to Bush's campaign for the presidency. After Bush won the presidency, the lawsuits against the plants were dropped.
"Then, I am going to be watching my children gasp for air because some criminals gave money to a campaign," Kennedy said.
The lecture series is sponsored by the President's Office and the Student Government Association.
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