Newspaper: The 2008 SunPost 50
Title: Luiz Rodrigues: Mr. Green
Author/Reporter: 
Date: April 24, 2008
Article: The tireless face behind the Environmental Coalition of Miami Beach, Luiz Rodrigues is the go- to guy for all things green.

Having grown up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rodrigues fell in love with the sea as a child and has dedicated his life to its preservation and restoration. He has a bachelor’s degree in biological oceanography from the University of California Santa Cruz and a master’s in freshwater biology from the University of California Santa Barbara. But it’s not his education that makes him stand out; it’s his absolute passion.

The guy’s worked for a multitude of nonprofit environmental groups and represented Reef Relief at the United Nations Earth Summit and Global Forum in Rio in 1992, where he conducted a seminar on sustainable tourism.

Rodrigues moved to South Beach in 2000 and fell in love with a beautiful coral reef off of Third Street beach. One day he went snorkeling and discovered that the reef had fallen victim to a beach renourishment project that buried it under thousands of tons of sand. Rodrigues is dedicated to restoring that reef.

As a member and force behind the city of Miami Beach Green Committee, Rodrigues is working the political wheels to bring more recycling, make city buildings greener and raise overall environmental consciousness.

He regularly throws beach cleanup days, was one of the sponsors of 944 Magazine’s green issue and is a regular sponsor of Green is the New Black parties at the Catalina Hotel.

If everyone had the passion and dedication Rodrigues has, the world would be a much greener place.