Redford Speaks At UA Series

Actor and environmentalist Robert Redford had a message for Northwest Arkansas business leaders: Don’t just engage in the business of extraction of resources — embrace and understand long term, renewable resources.

Redford made the comment during a May 5 press conference in Fayetteville. Afterwards, he spoke at Barnhill Arena as part of the University of Arkansas’ distinguished lecture series. About 2,500 spectators attended.

Responding to a question at the press conference, the actor said he wasn’t aware of many fragile species in Northwest Arkansas, such as the threatened Ozark blind cave fish or the endangered Indiana bats

Redford said we live in a development-oriented society, but there needs to be cooperation between industry and environment if society wants to save the planet.

Redford is founder of the Sundance Institute in Utah, a non-profit organization that supports the cinema and theater. At Barnhill Arena, he talked about art, his film career, politics and the environment during a conversation-styled question-and-answer lecture. He repeatedly touched on the negative effects of “societal apathy” and the need for young people to take the reins of change.

Redford said he has family ties to Arkansas that date back to about 1880, and that he likes to visit the state because it’s so “lush.”

The UA paid Redford $115,000 for his time.