Yes. He's done it. Leonardo DiCaprio has finally bagged himself that Academy Award, an award we all wanted for him more than he probably even wanted for himself, and it just gives you that proud feeling inside, a little like justice. But what he did next, during his time at the podium, is what speaks volumes to more than just his acting skills but to his character.
For those who didn't get the chance to see it yet, go ahead and get your fix below.
What you'll see, near the end of his acceptance speech, is a prime example of an individual who understands his level of influence as a cultural icon, recognizes the opportunity to be heard by millions, if not billions, of ears across the globe, and then uses that moment to bring awareness of a grand scale to undoubtedly one of the most pressing matters facing our world today – climate change.
I wish I could tell you I was surprised by this addition to his speech, but I totally called it. My only basis for speculating that he might bring it up was seeing a video about a year and a half ago of him addressing the United Nations on the issue. In 2014, the UN appointed him as their "Messenger of Peace," and in his address to our world's leaders, he implored them to realize a greater sense of urgency in regards to the issue of climate change, calling for a global effort that goes far deeper than changes any one individual can make.
It's beyond the point of simply using energy-efficient light bulbs or buying a hybrid car. This change needs to start from the top down, with the governments and industry giants of the world making overarching decisions to move away from inefficient and harmful means of energy. He goes on to speak about the need for a dramatic alteration off this pollution ridden course we have so willingly put ourselves on. Basically, the point he's trying to make is that the threat is real.
“As an actor, I pretend for a living. I play fictitious characters often solving fictitious problems. I believe that mankind has looked at climate change in that same way, as if it were a fiction. As if pretending that climate change wasn't real would somehow make it go away.
"Every week we're seeing new and undeniable climate events, evidence that accelerated climate change is here right now. Droughts are intensifying, our oceans are acidifying with methane plumes rising from the ocean floor, and the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are melting at unprecedented rates, decades ahead of scientific projections."
It wouldn't take much digging to see that Leo has been a stalwart for climate change awareness for a while now and is probably the most valuable asset in terms of being able to spread this information to the masses. He's spoken on the subject many times and on many other occasions, where his audience has consisted of leaders and big wigs from all over the world, yet his message is unwavering. The time to act is now, there can be no room for hesitation or skepticism.
The issue of climate change
has nothing to do with these fictional partisan lines we've drawn in the sand
around ourselves; it transcends the invisible borderlines we draw on maps, and
all the other ways in which mankind has continually tried to isolate themselves
from one another. This is an issue that calls on our basic sense of humanity,
tethering every one of us to our core. The fight to take back our Earth is no
easy one, but at least we've got Leo in our corner.
Recommendation: Watch "Our Rising Oceans," an all-encompassing look at the issue of glacial melt and the affect of sea level rise.
Fore more updates on climate change, follow Leonardo DiCaprio on Twitter here.
