USA: Leonardo Dicaprio on activism and the crisis in Haiti

Record ID: 478083

  • Title: USA: Leonardo Dicaprio on activism and the crisis in Haiti
  • Date: 30th January 2010
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK (JANUARY 29, 2010) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEONARDO DICAPRIO SAYING: "It's been a part of my life for almost 10 years now and I just decided to get more involved with these non-profit organizations. When you start to listen to these people who have committed their life to this full time and you also have this other separate job, when there is s
  • Embargoed: 14th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAKWZATFDBQLJ95YIY6FOGLU45
  • Story Text: Leonardo DiCaprio has a history of being vocal about his support for the environment, but in recent years the actor has taken his social responsibility more seriously.
    "I just decided to get more involved with these non-profit organizations," DiCaprio told Reuters TV.
    His latest appeal comes in the form of a public service announcement that was released on the heels of U.S. President Barack Obama's push to move America toward a clean energy economy.
    Called "This Is Our Moment," the campaign for the National Resources Defense Council Action Fund, kicks off with the release of a star-studded video call-to-action, urging Congress to pass the first-ever climate and clean energy bill, currently pending in the Senate. In the ad DiCaprio says "This is our moment - our moment to fight for a cleaner and more secure future."
    "It's been a part of my life for almost 10 years now," the actor says. "It's fulfilling to me and it's time well spent is what it is. I feel like if you can make a little bit of an impact in an area that may affect the planet, in a subject matter like planet Earth, you know it's something I'm happy to do."
    In 1998 DiCaprio started his own foundation, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which aims to raise awareness of environmental issues.
    The actor extended his goodwill beyond environmental concerns and donated $1 million (USD) to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, which provides fundamental aid to the survivors of the January 12th earthquake. His donation was made through the Leonardo DiCaprio fund, and will help with the aftermath of the disaster.
    The actor said that despite reports of survivors being unable to get adequate food, water and medical treatment, he remains confident that he donated his money to the right organization.
    "Well there has been a lot of confusion with stuff like that in the past. Certainly with the tsunami and hurricane Katrina. I think with the research that I did a lot of those blips in the process have gotten cleaned out and I chose to give to the Clinton-Bush Haiti fund, because I know that they are going to allocate their funds right to the organizations that need it. When you have Presidents like that they have to be very responsible in the people that they hire and where that money is allocated, they have a lot of people to answer to. That's where I chose to give but a lot of these organizations are fantastic and a lot of the kinks have been ironed out. But it's a horrible tragedy and people should keep giving, this is one of the biggest disasters of our time, really."
    The three-time Oscar nominee can next be seen in "Shutter island," which will hit U.S. theaters on February 19.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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