Robert Kennedy Jr. told a nearly-full Plachta Auditorium Thursday night we are living in a “science-fiction nightmare.”
His speech covered a wide range of topics, from mercury-poisoned fish to the need for a national grid to supply our nation with alternative energy sources.
“We need a grid that can intelligently deploy solar (power) at night and wind during the day,” he said.
Kennedy was named one of TIME magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” for his success in helping environmental watchdog organization Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. He was brought to CMU by the Speaker Series for $35,000.
Kennedy said eliminating people’s carbon needs and developing alternative energy sources would lead to an explosion of economic growth. He cited similar cases in Iceland, Sweden, Costa Rica and Brazil.
“We don’t need to abolish carbon to discover that our addiction to it is the principal drag on our economy,” he said.
California recently made its energy more efficient, Kennedy said. Now, California uses 6,000 kilowatt hours of energy a year in electricity and other forms of energy, while Michigan doubles that number at 13,000 kilowatt hours a year.
The Great Plains and prairie states can provide the wind power, and southwestern states can provide the solar power to run the country. But the nation needs a grid that can stretch across the nation and use these types of energy.
“This is not about the destruction of the environment,” he said. “It’s about the subversion of American democracy. Today, we’re going to be building things that provide prosperity.”
The Kennedy name
Students and Mount Pleasant residents alike came out to hear Kennedy’s speech.
Fruitport graduate student Gabe Kuchar said he liked Kennedy’s style, as he cracked jokes and went off track occasionally.
“He was up there talking and didn’t seem to have a structure,” he said. “It was good. He had ideas, but could go off on tangents to tell a story and help his argument.”
The Kennedy name was a big drawing point for students. Kennedy is the son of Robert Kennedy, a former presidential candidate assassinated in 1968, and the nephew of former president John F. Kennedy.
“I wanted to hear someone intelligent and well-respected,” said Beverly Hills freshman Kate Kelly. “I think it’s really cool to have someone this passionate.”
Brighton freshman Colleen McNeely said Kennedy’s name and reputation as an environmentalist drew her to his speech, but his ideas were what stood out.
“It really resonated with me,” she said. “He spoke about information that students really need to know.”
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Ryan Czachorski
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35,000! huh, I thought for speaking about something that he is that passionate about he would have done it for nothing. I thought he was good but I do not know if 35k is what he should have been bought for.
35k for this man was money well spent, especially compared to the 25k flushed down the drain by the Program Board on some no-name hip-hopper the school couldn’t even sell tickets for. The university’s sole purpose is to teach students and anyone in the audience definitely learned something last night.
That said, this story is abysmal. Even under deadline pressure, it’s clear most of Kennedy’s presentation went right over the reporter’s head. A “wide range of topics” is rookie reporter code for “I didn’t get most of it.”
Kennedy spoke at length and in great detail about the destructive hidden costs of nuclear AND coal power (of particular relevance to this state) before turning his focus to the promise of renewables and his vision for a national energy grid. He paid special attention to the plight of West Virginia and the Appalachia country — important context that is missing here.
Beyond that, this story makes no mention of the odd tremble in his voice all night. It was noticeable, like the worst case of frog-in-the-throat you’ve ever heard. Is he sick? Was he drunk? What gives? It made him kind of hard to understand.
No mention of the fact that he was animated. No script. He didn’t stand behind a lectern. He obviously knows this stuff so well that he can speak extemporaneously for hours about it. And he took questions from the audience.
Also no mention of the fact that Interim President Wilbur stood there in front of a FULL (not half-full) auditorium and lavished praise upon the Speaker Series, which to my knowledge still has not been given secure funding beyond arbitrary one-time allocations as administrators see fit. Either resuscitate and fund it, or shut up and stop taking credit. Or stop wasting MILLIONS on medical school and subsidizing the football team.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vocal difficulties are caused by spasmodic dysphonia. I drove over from Saginaw for his speech at CMU last night, and, while I was very impressed at his passionate two hour oration made with no notes, I was profoundly moved by the devotion one would require to get up and speak while enduring the effects of such a disease. I am not convinced of the scientific truth of global warming, but I was so impressed by his grace under pressure and commitment to his ideals that I bought his book, asked him to sign it, and he then kindly posed for a picture with my freshman daughter and me. Thank you for coming to CMU and Godspeed Mr. Kennedy!
Garret,
Well written response. Right up until you question whether R.F. Kennedy was drunk or not because of his voice. I’m sure you were not seriously considering that as an option but so you know Kennedy has a condition called spasmodic dysphonia, a specific form of an involuntary movement disorder called dystonia that affects only the voice box. If you can remember he did ask the audience to accuse his voice since he was having a bad day with it. Besides that kudos to your argument.