Nowadays, the topic of ecology is a huge issue. The world has got lots of environmentalist speakers and activist, all of them working together in order to raise people’s awareness of our planet’s future. I am particularly impressed and inspired by one of them. His strong belief and high level of dedication inspires me day after day and motivate me to keep researching the topic and make changes in my daily life.
Let me introduce him to you.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Born on the 11th of September 1974 in Los Angeles, Leonardo Dicaprio is an American actor, screenwriter and producer. He started his acting career very young in the 90’s, on television and in cinema. His world renown explodes after his roles in the play Romeo and Juliet, and the hit movie Titanic.
Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
Besides being a well-known and admired actor, he is above all a fervent and dedicated environmentalist activist. He founded in 1998 the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF), a non-profit dedicated to the "long-term health and wellbeing of all Earth’s inhabitants".
His organisation already gave $100 million grants awarded to organisations in 50 different countries around the world and founded more than 200 projects.
His foundation has many aims such as "helping in the preservation of all the vulnerable wildlife on earth, while also restoring balance to threatened ecosystems and indigenous communities, marine life and ocean protection, and taking actions toward Climate Change". LDF wants to preserve any species of animal in the world, its actions are not focused on a single species in particular.
In order to achieve its goal, this 20-year-old foundation works in partnership with other non-profit by financing their project or engaging in missions around the planet. It has been working with organisations, including World Wildlife Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Geographic’s Pristine Seas, the funders’ collaborative Oceans 5, and International Fund for Animal Welfare.
United Nations Messenger of Peace for Climate Change
But the Hollywood star and success producer didn’t stop here. In 2014, he has been appointed as the United Nations Messenger of Peace for Climate Change and received the 2014 Clinton Global Citizen Award for his work to protect the environment and endangered species.
Here is the remarkable speech he gave at the opening of Climate Summit 2014, hosted in New York by Ban Ki-moon, eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Here is another one done in December 2015 in Paris for the UN Climate Change Conference:
Blackadore Caye: Leonardo's Eco-Resort Island
During one of his many trips, Leonardo discovered the wonderful Island of Blackadore Caye located on the coast of Belize, Central America. This region has the second largest coral reef in the world. Leonardo said he literally “fell in love”. What is a pity with this island is that it has been extremely damaged by the hand of Human beings. After a century of exploitation, deforestation of the mangrove trees, overfishing, erosion of the coastline, etc., the Island isn’t in a good health. Like the good environmentalist that he is, he decided to buy the island and change its destiny.
Indeed, Leonardo DiCaprio bought this Island ($1.75 million) in order to build an eco-conscious resort on it, together with Paul Scialla, CEO of Delos.
This resort should include 104 acres of luxurious villas elevated on platforms above the lagoon, infinity pools, etc., and will be centred on health, wellness and sustainability, with eco-friendly houses and a research station on climate change and habitat impacts, leading restoration programs and more.
“With artificial reef and fish shelters. A nursery will grow indigenous marine grass, mangrove trees will be replanted.” says The New York Times.
“My goal was always the fact that I wanted to create something not just environmental, but restorative.” says Leonardo DiCaprio.
They don’t just want to be zero-waste living and to be no harm to the island, but they also want to heal it and restore it.
The resort is supposed to open around “the end of 2018”, but I had a look on google earth and I couldn’t see any trace of construction. Have a look by yourself…
Eco-Resort's Island's Map
Here is a map I uploaded for you to appreciate the region of Blackadore Caye Island:
Nepal Wild Tiger’s population has now doubled over the last 5 years
The partnership between LDF and WWF has done one of the most incredible and efficient action in favour of endangered species ever undertaken.
Indeed, they managed not only to protect the few amount of those wild tigers remaining in Nepal, but also they led their population to double in a matter of 5 years only. How beautiful is that?
Marine life and Ocean
LDF has been working very tightly with the Oceans 5 organisation. LDF has supported it tirelessly with multiple grants since 2011. Oceans 5 works for the well-being of ocean life. They fight overfishing and create marine reserves in order to provide shelters for endangered species.
Engaged in clean & renewable energies
The aged 42-actor is also very concerned about the use of energy and advocates uses of renewable energies. In 2015, Leonardo announced that LDF would join the Divest-Invest movement, a pledge that encourages investors to invest their financial assets towards clean renewable energies rather than fossil fuels.
Today, around 500 organisations have already joined the pledge, total worth $3.4 trillion.
“Climate change is severely impacting the health of our planet and all of its inhabitants, and we must transition to a clean energy economy that does not rely on fossil fuels, the main driver of this global problem”, says Leonardo.
An engaged producer
2007 - The 11th hour
This documentary aims to show how humans act negatively on our environment and biodiversity, from the 19th century until today.
Leonardo gives the floor to many scientists, politicians and experts, such as Stephen Hawking or Mikhail Gorbachev, to demonstrate the causes and consequences of nature’s destruction, and think about solutions to preserve and even restore the biodiversity of our planet.
2014 - Cowspiracy
Cowspiracy is a documentary that deals with animal exploitation, abuse of industrial farming and the consequences on our planet and our health.
This film is just amazing and I deeply recommend you to watch it!
2016 - Before the flood
This film deals with the climate change issue. It was made in order to make people realize that our planet can still be saved, that we DO can stop extinctions of animal species and global warming!
Hope you have been inspired.
Noémie.
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