Working together, we can leave our children a living planet.
Environmental Updates
- May 2005: Leonardo accepts an award in NYC for his environmental work.
- March 22 2005: DiCaprio helps launch clean water campaign
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Actor Leonardo DiCaprio helped environmentalists launch an international campaign Tuesday to draw attention to the billion people worldwide who don't have access to clean water.
"We are here to help raise awareness about what is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today," said DiCaprio, speaking on World Water Day at the Clift Hotel with Global Green USA President Matt Petersen.
DiCaprio, who earned a best-actor nomination this year for playing Howard Hughes in "The Aviator," signed a petition that calls on President Bush and other government leaders to commit to a legally binding United Nations treaty declaring clean water as a basic human right.
DiCaprio screened a short film he helped produce that highlights the need to conserve the world's limited supply of fresh water and provide greater access to it for more than 1.2 billion people.
The film, called "Water Planet," will be distributed starting next month on the Internet, at film festivals and to television stations and schools to educate the public about what DiCaprio calls the "growing global water crisis."
About 2.5 billion people worldwide lack water sanitation services, and five million people die from waterborne diseases each year, according to Global Green USA.
- July - November 2004: Leo joins the election campaign stumping for Kerry/Edwards and their demand for a change in environmental protection policies. Related pictures are here
- August 2004: Leo's Earth sign rising
DiCaprio will back eco films.
Leonardo DiCaprio apparently finds it easy being green. Lowdown hears that the 29-year-old actor and ecomaniac is planning to launch his own production company dedicated to making environmentally friendly documentaries.
Word is that DiCaprio is teaming with Global Green USA president Matt Petersen, with whom he collaborated on a global-warming campaign last year, as well as Tree Media Group, helmed by Petersen's wife, Leila.
Yesterday Matt Petersen confirmed to Lowdown, "The three of us are partnering to produce a film on climate change and the need to see water as a basic human right, and we've had conversations about documentary possibilities."
Petersen, who was in town for Monday night's Global Green awards honoring Mikhail Gorbachev and "The Day After Tomorrow" director Roland Emmerich, added: "It's nothing to announce publicly, just conversations about documentaries about the environment and the need to reach people to take action to do something."
DiCaprio's PR rep, Ken Sunshine, told Lowdown: "It's the germ of a great idea at its most preliminary stage, which eventually may happen."
Lowdown hears that the venture could present a contractual conflict with DiCaprio's existing film production company, Appian Way, but, either way, Leo isn't waiting around to find out: Today he'll be campaigning in Madison, Wis., for John Kerry and will deliver two environmentally themed speeches on the candidate's behalf.
- May 6 2004: Earth to LA Benefit For The Natural Resources Defense Council at the Wadsworth Theatre. Deemed: The Greatest Show on Earth"
- April 27 2004: SOURCE: Natural Resources Defense Council - Tom Hanks, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Jack Black, Sheryl Crow, Larry David, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Ferrell, Eric Idle, Diane Keaton, Willie Nelson, Meg Ryan will perform and present at 'Earth To L.A.! - The Greatest Show on The Earth May 6th "
The Evening of Music, Message & Comedy Has Already Raised Over $2.5 Million Dollars To Help Save the Planet
LOS ANGELES, PRNewswire -- NRDC's (Natural Resources Defense Council) biennial fundraiser "Earth to L.A.! - The Greatest Show on the Earth," featuring Tom Hanks as host and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as keynote speaker, has emerged as the hottest ticket in town.
The irreverent evening of music, message and comedy, to be held on Thursday, May 6 at the Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles, sold out in record time. It has also already exceeded NRDC's financial goal by raising over $2.5 million to advance the environmental organization's mission to safeguard the Earth's natural resources; far surpassing previous benchmarks.
"The level of support for this event is truly unprecedented," said NRDC trustee Laurie David, who created "Earth to L.A.!" four years ago. "The entertainment community cares deeply about what is happening to our environment. From the writers, to the talent in the show, to all of the people donating their time to make this event happen -- everyone wants to support NRDC."
"Earth to L.A.!" is designed to raise awareness about environmental problems, particularly global warming. More than 90 cents of every dollar raised from the event will be used for NRDC's programs to protect the planet. The live show will include standup comedy, musical performances and sharp-edged commentary and appearances by Jack Black, Sheryl Crow, Larry David, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Ferrell, Diane Keaton, Stephen Colbert, Eric Idle, Willie Nelson and Meg Ryan.
The night also features a "green carpet" celebrity arrival event with some of Hollywood's top talent who are NRDC supporters, including: Toby Maguire, Ben Stiller, Pierce Brosnan, Albert Brooks, Carole King, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tom Ford, Rob Reiner, Rita Wilson, Martin Short, and Mark Burnett.
"We have had tremendous support from great friends, supporters and sponsors including Ralph Lauren Fragrances, who have been instrumental in helping us raise money and awareness for NRDC's critical work," said Elizabeth Wiatt, NRDC trustee and event co-chair. Wiatt co-founded NRDC's Action and Executive Forums, which lobby the government on environmental issues.
Event chairs for "Earth to L.A.!" are Larry David, Cindy Horn, Jim Wiatt and NRDC trustees Laurie David, Alan Horn, Peter Morton and Elizabeth Wiatt. Emmy Award-winning producer Joel Gallen is overseeing production, and Academy Award-nominated designer Michael Riva will once again create the sets. Ralph Lauren Fragrances is the premier sponsor of the event's after-party. Underwriters include Warner Bros., MTV Networks, HBO and Village Roadshow Pictures.
NRDC is making the concert Climate Cool™ by purchasing clean power from Vermont-based NativeEnergy, which will offset every ton of global warming emissions generated by the event, including all power for the sound and lights. Clean power proceeds will help build a wind farm on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and support Northwest wind farms that generate energy without the heat-trapping pollution that causes global warming. NRDC's lawyers, scientists and policy analysts are often described as the most effective environmental advocates in the nation. NRDC's purpose is to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.
In 1970, when there were few environmental laws on the books to protect our water, air and wilderness, several leading attorneys identified the need to create a law firm with one client -- the Earth. For over 30 years, NRDC has helped craft, pass and defend some of the nation's key environmental statutes, including the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. NRDC's strategy is to get results using the most effective tools available, whether it's working with the construction industry to promote wood-efficient building techniques, or mobilizing public opinion to force the Environmental Protection Agency to enact stricter guidelines to protect children from harmful chemicals. Today, NRDC has more than 1 million members and online activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Santa Monica and San Francisco. For more information visit http://www.nrdc.org.
- April 2004 - Thanks to Chris for typing the article - From TV Guide Canada: THEY’RE GOING GREEN
 Stars with a social conscience throw their energy behind
THE GREAT WARMING by Janet Rowe
When Karen Coshof, a Montreal producer with a mission, appealed to A –list stars to Narrate her series THE GREAT WARMING, she really didn’t expect much. After all, she wanted someone to provide voice-over, for free, on a 3 hour documentary about the unsexy topic of climate change. “But the very next day, “says a still in awed Coshof, “ I got a call from Keanu Reeves manager saying: “He’ll do it!” I said: You’re kidding!” He said: “No, no. This is a very important issue.
It’s not only Reeves who thinks so. Charlize Theron, Sting, Robin Williams and Will Ferrell all rode electric powered “green limousines” to the Oscars. Dennis Quaid over the top disaster flick, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW , with a climate-change theme, opens next month. THE LORD OF THE RINGS hobbits, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan, all wear – and this may be too much information – biodegradable underwear. Holy organic veggies, Batman! Has Hollywood, that bastion of spending and excess, finally gone green?
There’s no question that THE GREAT WARMING’S 2 narrators, Reeves and Canadian Rock star Alanis Morissette , are earnest. “It’s just hard for me not to be so deeply touched by the environment”. Says an enthusiastic Morissette, on the phone form her LA Home. “Even as I look outside the window as I speak with you: trees, grass, canyons, the Ocean. The environment and women’s issues are my top passions.”
Passion is also the right word for Leonardo DiCaprio , who’s hosting and executive Producing the American version of THE GREAT WARMING, to air on PBS in the fall. Coshof still marvels at the coincidence that brought DiCaprio on-board. While CMIYC was filming in Montreal in 2002, one of the crew, Rick Nish, mentioned he’d been hired for an environmental documentary. “Middle of the night, “recalls Coshof, “some- body said: Leonardo wants to see you.” The star peppered Nish with questions and the rest is history. “We’ve been working on the project ever since.” Said Coshof .”He really cares about getting the message across. This really is his issue. “
For Coshof, involving stars in THE GREAT WARMING was vital. “ We’re living in a Celebrity culture, “she says, and it seems to be the way you can attract people to issues. Climate change is the most important environmental issue we may ever face. So we’ve Got to get as broad an audience as we possibly can, by harnessing the power of famous People.”
So far, so wonderful, but a few stars do not a movement make. Apart from truly Committed celebs like DiCaprio, Morissette and Reeves, does Hollywood really care about saving the planet? Coshof scattershot her request for a narrator across a spectrum of stars. Did any others say yes?”Some, “ she says wryly, “but they wanted to be paid.”
Beyond that, one might wonder if Hollywood really has the power to make an impact on a issue such as this. “The overarching message that we get from celebrities has to do with materialism and consumption and ways of being in the world that the environment can’t sustain,” says Dr. Jennifer Good, of Brock University’s Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film in St. Catherines, Ontario. “The lifestyles of the rich and famous epitomize what needs to change.”
But, arguably the same mismatch existed on the AIDS issue – stars in general aren’t known for their single-partner lifestyles – yet celebrity activism greatly helped reduce the stigma of AIDS and raised millions for research and medical care. Can celebs now help the environment to go mainstream?
THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW places its climatologist here in the throes of an Apocalyptic disaster kickstarted by global warming. “We’re not all going to die in a giant tidal wave!” says Coshof with a laugh. “It’s a hoot. But I guess (such a movie) is a sign of mainstream. We’ll have to promote ours by saying now that you’ve seen that, maybe you’d like the truth!”
The truth according to THE GREAT WARMING is this: climate change is real, the Consequences are serious, but something can be done. “We tried to tell the story with real people,” says Coshof, “we tried to show that it effects everybody in some way or another. Global warming means climate change: Its about erratic weather, its about disease, its about all the kinds of things. But you have to …show people that we can address this, if we are prepared to do something about it.”
And that’s where celebs such as Morissette are ready to make a difference. “ I went through the very self-absorbed, in-pain phase, “ she says and you can hear the smile in her voice, “and then as I heal myself, I feel like the natural tendency is to look outside of myself and contribute.
“I don’t know the direct effect of narrating the show itself,”she adds. “Most effect that I’ve seen have been in simple ways. I have a trash can and a recycle can in my kitchen. When I have parties, people come up to me and say: Oh, wow…that’s a good idea.”
Morissette has also invested in solar panels to heat her pool and just bought a hybrid car. “I don’t want to portray myself a 100% green person, because I am still learning,” she cautious. “But we all can do little tiny things that we may think may not make a difference, but if we’re all doing it, it’s a pretty huge change.”
Even Good, who thinks celebrities don’t really have the credibility to talk about green issues, has hope for the future. “There needs to be a backlash.” She says firmly. “People need to start pushing back against what we’ve done so far with stars – celebrate and dream of this wonderful fantasy way of life. Now we need to say: we expect different things from you.”
Good’s tone softens as she continues: That’s great if somebody like Alanis Morissette is not showing up to narrate something, but is living it, struggling with how to live one’s life in a thoughtful and less impact way. I certainly would like to see the day where part of what we admire and want to emulate in celebrities is how incredibly generous they are.”
As her recording on THE GREAT WARMING finished, Morissette turned to Coshof and said:”I what to thank you. “ It startled me,” says Coshof, “because ….they do this for nothing. I said: For what? She said:” For doing me the honour of thinking of me for this project. “
- April 2004 - Thanks to PatMtl:Inside the TV Guide along with the article there is also a picture with a great caption: "Our planet's alarm is going off, and it is time to wake up and take action" said Leonardo DiCaprio in his Earth Day 2000 speech. The 29-year-old star, who has been interested in the environment since he was a child, launched the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998. The organization provides grants to various non-profit groups and runs a kid-friendly Web site (www.leonardodicaprio.org) explaining environemntal issues and suggesting solutions. DiCaprio is heavily involved in the American version of The Great warming, helping develop the script and obtaining a donation from Steven Spielberg and a sponsorship deal with Toyota.
- March 24 2004 - "Leonardo DiCaprio signs a 'Pledge of Allegiance to American Energy Indpendence' at the Global Green USA event in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 24, 2004. DiCaprio was a presenter at the event that paid tribute to Mihkail Gorbachev's 'commitment to a peaceful and sustainable world in the 21st century.'
- February 2004:Thanks to Chris - From vfs.com
Dino Congonidis:
"I am currently writing a proposal to Stonehaven Productions and PBS for the production of a behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the American version of The Great Warming. This version will deal primarily with issues within the United States and will be hosted and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio. Also, I was accepted into the Communication Studies program at Concordia University. Since VFS taught me the art of making movies, I plan on complimenting that education by focusing my university studies toward television production and post-production."
- January 20 2004: The Leonardo DiCaprio e-Activism Center is opened at 1314 Second Street in downtown Santa Monica, California.
- January 8 2004 - Thanks to Gabi for alerting us to this article from the NRDC website: Actor and NRDC Trustee Leonardo DiCaprio has championed environmental causes around the world for many years. Most recently, he was instrumental in funding the “e-Activism Zone” in NRDC's new Southern California green building.
A conversation with Leonardo DiCaprio:
Q. What motivated you to start speaking out for the environment?
A. Ever since I was a kid, environmental issues have sparked my interest. My grandfather, who lived in Germany, told me a story about an industrialist who owned the coal mine my grandfather worked in. When the town demanded that the mine owner build his smokestack high enough to prevent smoke and soot from overwhelming the town, he reluctantly agreed. During construction, though, he proclaimed that the smokestack should not be built too high, as it would be a sacrilege if anything were built higher than the town's church steeple. And, of course, conveniently, it would save him money. Eventually, he lived to regret that decision. Not only did all his workers get sick, including my grandfather, but he also ruined the ecology of the town. His shortsighted decision took into account only the monetary costs, but eventually he had to pay a much higher price -- the hidden environmental costs. This same story is taking place today on a much larger and more frightening scale the world over.
Q. What most concerns you -- and encourages you -- about the state of our planet fifty years from now?
A. Global warming concerns me the most. Our dependence on oil means sacrificing vital bioregions, irreplaceable cultures and native people's rights -- plus we're increasing the chances of catastrophic climate change. What encourages me are rapid advances in green technology and the unified will of people. We mustn't be fooled into believing that people who wish for a cleaner environment are in the minority. A great many people, all over the planet, want to develop sustainable energy sources. The future is ours to re-invent.
Q. Why are you so deeply committed to NRDC's new e-Activism Zone in Los Angeles?
A. Because it gives visitors all the information and tools they need to become environmental participants. The on-site computers let you take action immediately. You can send faxes, e-mails and letters to government officials and corporations. It's so easy to just walk into the Center and participate.
- December 8 10 2003 - Leonardo attends the 1st Annual Oceana Partners Award Dinner. Oceana is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the world's oceans.
- November 4 2003 - Redford to Open New NRDC "Green Building"
New SM office is showcase for environmentally savvy design:
Actor/director and conservationist Robert Redford will join John Adams, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), in opening the national conservation group's new Southern California office. Constructed to the highest green building standards, the building has been named for Redford, principal spokesperson for NRDC.
The opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 13 at 10 a.m. at 1314 Second Street in downtown Santa Monica. Combining cutting-edge technologies and materials with energy-efficient architecture, the building was designed to be a showcase for green building design and environmental activism. It is currently being considered by the U.S. Green Building Council for a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Version 2 Platinum green building rating - the highest possible level of sustainable design - and may become the first structure in the United States to receive this status.
The building, previously on the site at 1314 Second Street, was demolished and 98 percent of its materials were recycled for use in the new building. It demontrates how man-made structures can be constructed with little harm to the environment by minimizing the use of land, water, energy and materials, as well as employing them in ways that are not only attractive and healthy for occupants, but also practical for owners. "Using advanced but off-the-shelf technology, this building shows it's possible to protect our natural environment, achieve greater energy independence, and also save money," said Redford, a member of NRDC's Board of Trustees since 1975. "As more buildings in the U.S. follow suit, we'll protect substantially more natural resources and significantly lessen our dependence on foreign sources of oil."
The 15,000-square-foot Southern California office also houses the David Family Environmental Action Center and the Leonardo DiCaprio e-Activism Center, which is scheduled to open to the public in January. The building uses 70 percent less water than a standard building of its size by capturing and filtering rain, shower and sink water to irrigate landscaping and flush toilets. It has cut consumption of electricity nearly 60 percent by maximizing natural light and using efficient fixtures and appliances, task lighting, dimmable electronic ballasts and occupancy sensors. In addition, the building generates 20 percent of its electricity needs via rooftop photovoltaic cells. The structure is made of 100 percent recycled or recyclable materials.
Designed by Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists, the building features a durable composite clapboard exterior with three "lighthouse" atria that improve indoor environmental quality and reduce reliance on artificial cooling and lighting.
"As NRDC commits increased resources to protecting the health of Southern California's people and fragile ecosystems, the regional office for our outstanding staff is a living, breathing example of environmental responsibility," Adams said. "At the same time, the Environmental Action and e-Activism Centers on the first floor will help inspire and make it easy for people to become involved with urgent global issues."
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, non-profit organization of scientists, lawyers, environmental specialists and public policy experts dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, it has more than one million members and activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, DC, and San Francisco, as well as Santa Monica
- October 10 2003 - Thanks to Aria: A day for protecting elephants Xiao Chao, China Daily staff
Thousands of students in Beijing and Haikou of Hainan Province celebrated World Animal Day on October 4 by participating in International Fund for Animal Welfare's Animal Action Week, a public awareness event highlighting the need to protect elephants.
The fund initiated the week 11 years ago. This is the fifth year it has been carried out in China.
Students from colleges, middle schools and primary schools gathered at Beijing's Parkson Centre and Haikou Pearl Square in Haikou of Hainan Province to simultaneously launch opening ceremonies for the event.
In Beijing, a huge painting by 20 students depicting the homeland of elephants was displayed on the ground. The youngsters expressed their desire to protect the giant and wise - but highly endangered - elephant and its habitat. In Haikou, thousands of people joined in signing a petition supporting the international ban on ivory trade, a major problem in the devastation of the giant mammal.
In other areas of China, the programme has provided schools with elephant information packs and a film that is introduced by the US movie star, Leonardo DiCaprio. The pack includes a classroom quiz, video, and elephant games, with many other activities associated with the theme of protecting elephants.
The fund's China Office has also built bridges of friendship between Beijing schools and those in rural communities, particularly around nature preserves. Children from big city schools have donated books on conservation to their friends in rural schools, helping one another to jointly understand environmental conservation.
"The week is now a popular activity in schools across the country thanks to the efforts of teachers who are animal welfare and conservation advocates," said Zhang Li, country director of IFAW China. "It has helped bring alive conservation education to kids."
Both African and Asian elephants are facing unprecedented threats from excessive illegal poaching, habitat losses, and, even bush meat consumption.
Indeed, in some central African countries, elephant trunks are served as an expensive wild delicacy. In India, where most of the Asian elephants live, poaching for the ivory of male elephants (only male Asian elephants have the substance) has severely affected the population's male to female ratio. In China, there are only 300 wild elephants.
Dr Meng Xianlin, deputy director general of the convention's China Management Authority says the Chinese Government has taken a firm stand on this issue.
"We will abide by the international Convention and severely punish those that engage in illegal activities," he said.
- July 20 2003 - Be carbon neutral and eliminate your carbon emissions with Leonardo!
- June 20 2003 - An email plea from Leonardo...get involved!
- June 9 2003 - Leonardo DiCaprio and Gale Anne Hurd to Co-chair Reef Rescue 2003 Benefit for UCLA’s Reef Check Program on June 25 2003. Tickets can be purchased - the telephone number can be found in the link. Thanks to Peanut and Chris for the news.
- MAY 9 2003: Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was honored with the Green Cross Millennium Award during the Seventh Annual Green Cross Millenniumm Awards at the St Regis Hotel in Century City, California
- May 2003 - From the International Fund for Animal Welfare site, Protecting Elephants and Their Habitats, Leonardo is working hard to save that magnificent species from extinction.
Special Message from
Leonardo DiCaprio. Our help is needed!
Leonardo DiCaprio's video report on IFAW's efforts to protect elephants in Kenya's Meru Park can be viewed here A big thanks to Chris for the link!
- February 2003, Leonardo joined an event in support of the NRDC's fight against Global Warming. The event, the speech, and the pictures are HERE
- August 13 2002, Leonardo spoke at the Global Green Press Conference to call on President Bush to attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa that was held September 2002. The President did NOT attend!
- Congratulations Leonardo, on being chosen Chairperson and Official Spokesman for Earth Day 2000.
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