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LOUISVILLE -- During remarks in Louisville on Saturday, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., framed the environmental movement in dramatic terms, arguing it was an effort with motivations similar to those that inspired the foundation of the United States.

"This is a battle for the values that define our country," Kennedy told an audience of about four hundred on Sunday afternoon.

Kennedy was the keynote speaker at Louisville's Forecastle Festival, a three-day event centered on musical performances and environmental activism. A noted activist against water pollution and an advocate for alternative energy, Kennedy was well-received by the friendly crowd.

Louisville's Democratic U.S. representative, John Yarmuth, was also in attendance, and he lauded Kennedy in his brief introductory remarks.

"This is someone who really is at the forefront of every activist movement in this country," said Yarmuth. "He is someone who is an example for all of us to follow."

While the crowd listened in sweltering heat as Kennedy took the stage previously host to a series of rock bands and rappers, Kennedy spoke at length, linking topics as diverse as mountaintop removal, mercury pollution, free market capitalism, and spirituality to the efforts of the environmental movement.

Kennedy connected a significant amount of responsibility for perceived environmental threats to political lobbying and campaign contributions. Part of his speech was reserved for an assault on the Bush administration, which he said created a "revolving door" system, placing lobbyists from energy companies into high-level administrative positions with significant domain over environmental policy.

Kennedy particularly targeted Philip Cooney as an example of this practice. Though he is no longer in the position, Cooney served the Bush administration as chief of staff for the Council on Environmental Quality - the executive agency that which works closely with other environmental agencies to coordinate policy.

In his speech, Kennedy suggested Cooney's previous employer provided insight into where the motivations of Bush's environmental appointees stands.

"His last job was as the chief lobbyist of the American Petroleum Institute," said Kennedy, referencing the group which advocates for American petroleum companies.

Suggesting large contributions to President Bush's campaigns were responsible, Kennedy said a series of lawsuits against coal-burning power plants operating illegally were dropped as Bush took office.

Noting he had three children with asthma, Kennedy remarked "I'm going to watch my children grasping for air because someone gave money to a politician."

The son of the former Presidential candidate and attorney general, Robert Kennedy, Sr., the younger Kennedy also tailored his remarks for the Kentucky audience. He spoke at length about the coal mining practice of mountaintop removal - a controversial extraction technique that extensively alters the geography and environment of the surrounding areas.

Kennedy - quoting his father - predicted the impact of mountaintop removal would be permanent.

"They are not just destroying the environment, they are permanently impoverishing these communities," said Kennedy.

Touching on a specific topic presently dominating the state's political landscape, Kennedy also addressed American oil consumption and calls for extended oil production.

"You don't get rid of addiction by giving a crack addict more crack," remarked Kennedy to the cheers of the crowd.

Kennedy argued there was significant economic growth in nations that plan to ban petroleum, such as Sweden and Iceland. He said "decarbonization" and a switch from petroleum reliance could provide an economic boon to the United States.

"Entrepreneurs will rush into that space to create new forms of energy," said Kennedy. "It will happen more quickly than any pundits expect."