Can Leonardo DiCaprio Save The World?

His remarks at the 2016 Golden Globes may have surprised some of his fans, but Leonardo DiCaprio caring about the earth is not a new thing. The man has been crusading for Mother Earth for years, and a simple YouTube search for “Leonardo DiCaprio climate change” will illustrate that as he’s grown into a Hollywood megastar, he’s grown into one of the leading activists of our time. This week, he ravaged the corporate greed of big oil right after receiving his Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum, saying:

“We simply cannot afford to allow the corporate greed of the coal, oil and gas industries to determine the future of humanity. Those entities with a financial interest in preserving this destructive system have denied, and even covered up the evidence of our changing climate.

Enough is enough. You know better. The world knows better. History will place the blame for this devastation squarely at their feet.”

After lambasting the .01 percent, Leo announced that his foundation would give $15 million in new grants to various environmental protection funds this year. Cynics may point to these philanthropic acts as tax write-offs, but the fact is that cash helps. You can’t deny it. And as for using his star to illuminate the ills of the environment, it’s hard to brush off the impact of his fame. The overfishing of our oceans isn’t going to get a front page story by itself, but Leonardo DiCaprio explaining the negative impact many industries are making on the world is. Not many UN Messenger of Peace speeches at the Climate Summit get as much attention as Leo’s, you know.

So, can Leo save the world?

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