Activism

Leonardo DiCaprio. I don’t take this Oscar for granted, like I don’t take this planet for granted

Leonardo DiCaprio wins the Oscar (finally) and shines a spotlight on climate change and “those voices drowned out by the politics of greed” in his acceptance speech.

“Climate change is real… we need to work collectively and stop procrastinating to help fix the environment… Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take this night for granted” (Leonardo DiCaprio)

Pubblicato da LifeGate su Domenica 28 febbraio 2016

Leonardo DiCaprio wins the Oscar. It took him over twenty years and five unsuccessful nominations but he finally bagged the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Revenant, receiving the accolade at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on the 28th of February. Like others before him, he used the awards’ stage, watched by millions of people worldwide, to make an uncompromising political statement. DiCaprio is fervently involved in the fight to protect the environment and against climate change, including through his Foundation, and during his acceptance speech he spoke of the vital, urgent importance of this struggle. In the film he plays the role of fur trapper Hugh Glass, who sustains injuries from a bear attack and, abandoned by his companions, is driven to vindicate those who betrayed him. The film is directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who received his second Oscar for Best Director in a row after the one for Birdman, which also won Best Picture, in 2015. DiCaprio’s speech is already a cult, and has even been picked up by the White House.

Thank you all so very much. Thank you to the Academy, thank you to all of you in this room. I have to congratulate the other incredible nominees this year for their unbelievable performances. The Revenant was the product of the tireless efforts of an unbelievable cast and crew I got to work alongside. First off, to my brother in this endeavor, Mr. Tom Hardy. Tom, your fierce talent on screen can only be surpassed by your friendship off screen. To Mr. Alejandro Innaritu, as the history of cinema unfolds, you have forged your way into history these past 2 years… thank you for creating a transcendent cinematic experience. Thank you to everybody at Fox and New Regency…my entire team. I have to thank everyone from the very onset of my career…to Mr. Jones for casting me in my first film to Mr. Scorsese for teaching me so much about the cinematic art form. To my parents, none of this would be possible without you. And to my friends, I love you dearly, you know who you are.

Making The Revenant was about man’s relationship to the natural world. A world that we collectively felt in 2015 as the hottest year in recorded history. Our production needed to move to the southern tip of this planet just to be able to find snow. Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating. We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people out there who would be most affected by this. For our children’s children, and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed. I thank you all for this amazing award tonight. Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted. Thank you so very much.

(Leonardo DiCaprio, acceptance speech at the 88th Academy Awards ceremony)

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