By: Ashley Rogers, Former NJSOC Education Intern
You may know Leonardo DiCaprio from his Academy Awards and Oscar-winning movies or from his production company Appian Way. But were you aware that DiCaprio is also a member of the environmental movement? Born on November 11th, 1974, DiCaprio was inspired to take action for the planet after witnessing documentaries about the devastation of rainforests as a young boy. When DiCaprio was 24, he met with Vice President Al Gore to demand that action be taken to combat climate change. That same year, he created the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to advance sustainable initiatives. For instance, DiCaprio used his organization as a platform to establish short environmental films, like Water Planet and Global Warning.
Throughout the years, DiCaprio helped with the production of full-length features, including The 11th Hour, Cowspiracy, and The Ivory Game. In addition, DiCaprio has served on the board of various initiatives, ranging from the World Wildlife Fund and Global Green USA to the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Oceans 5. Finally, DiCaprio was named as Messenger of Peace for Climate by the UN.
We hope that sharing DiCaprio’s story inspires others to get involved. With NJSOC’s arts-based courses, like Conservation Photography, Nature Art and Poetry, and Nature Journaling, we aim to demonstrate that there are endless means to contribute to conservation, including through creative outlets. For more information, visit the World Wildlife Fund and Climate Fact Checks.
Cover Photo Courtesy of BusinessInsider.com