Rifkin, Jeremy (1945– )

US social activist and author. He lectured and wrote vigorously about a variety of issues, usually stressing the ‘true story’ hidden from most people, most especially on the dangers of technology and science, such as genetic splicing. He raised important issues in the contemporary debate over the role of science and technology. In the 1980s he was a key figure in the movement to restrict bovine growth hormone as a means of increasing milk yields.

To advance his message, in 1977 he established the Foundation on Economic Trends, which he financed by a continual round of lectures and many books. Among these are The Emerging Order 1979, Entropy 1980, Algeny 1983, Declaration of a Heretic 1985, Beyond Beef 1992, and The Biotech Century 1998, which discusses the biotechnology industry.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University. The USA's role in the Vietnam War so disturbed him that he helped organize the first national rally against the war in 1967. He founded and directed the People's Bicentennial Commission 1971–76 to counter the official, establishment US bicentennial celebrations.