Leo DiCaprio has pledged $5 million to aid the Amazon rainforest, which is on fire

Leonardo DiCaprio enjoys a day at sea with Girlfriend Camila Morrone while vacationing in Sardinia!

Brazil is on fire. The Amazon is on fire. Thousands of acres have burned to the ground in the past month. The devastation is unprecedented and frightening. It’s still happening and few people are doing much about it. The fire is real and it is here, but it also represents so much: the advance of global warming, the toxicity of local, national and international politics, and the lack of interest from the world’s elite to what happens in a country like Brazil. As Notre Dame was still smoldering, the world’s billionaires were pledging their money to rebuild. But where are they when the largest rainforest is reduced to ash? Well, at least one of the rich peeps has pledged some money to help. Leo DiCaprio’s foundation has pledged $5 million.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental foundation is pledging $5 million in aid to the Amazon rainforest amid wildfire in the region. Earth Alliance — created last month by DiCaprio and philanthropists Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth — launched the Amazon Forest Fund on Sunday with an announcement on their website.

“The Amazon rainforest is on fire, with more than 9,000 wildfires scorching delicate, irreplaceable landscapes across Brazil this week,” read a statement on the site. “The destruction of the Amazon rainforest is rapidly releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, destroying an ecosystem that absorbs millions of tons of carbon emissions every year and is one of the planet’s best defenses against the climate crisis.”

The alliance is also seeking donations from supporters to help repair the Brazilian rainforest. DiCaprio was just one of many A-list celebrity who boarded mega-yachts and private planes to the Sicilian seaside to learn about the scourge of global warming at a party they’ve dubbed Google Camp.

[From Page Six]

I know some people will scream about the private planes and the yachts and I agree that it’s not a good look, and I agree that Leo is a damn hypocrite about “do as I say, not as I do” environmentalism. But I also think that we can do multiple things all at once, you know? While he’s a hypocrite about some sh-t, I’m glad that he is talking about this and drawing attention to it, because the American media is just full of “Trump’s trade war” and “how is Joe Biden doing in the polls?” Literally, the largest rainforest on the planet is on fire. Pay attention.

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42 Responses to “Leo DiCaprio has pledged $5 million to aid the Amazon rainforest, which is on fire”

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  1. StarGreek says:

    He’s doing some good for that issue. Here in UK it has been barely discussed and it is awful, the Amazon forest is the lungs of the world.

    • 1979 says:

      He has pledged half of what Borris Johnson, the prime minister of the uk has pledged. It feels like neither are offering enough or pushing for real change.

    • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

      Yeah, nice, but c’mon. In his circumstances that’s like pocket change for you and me. Maybe a couple of day’s interest on his accounts. Hardly offsets HIS private jet use and his P*ssy Squad mega-yacht parties. Hypocrisy to the Nth degree.

  2. OriginalLala says:

    I mean it’s hugely hypocritical but still, 5 million dollars is better than nothing, it’s better than the deafening silence from most media channels, billionaires, and other so-called “woke” folks who were up in arms at Notre-Dame burning.

    • ME says:

      I’m still amazed by how much money and how quickly that money came rolling in for Notre Dame. Insane.

    • agnes says:

      Those french billionaires haven’t coughed up that pledged money yet, btw.

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      And where is Bezos, this is a great opp for him to show some humanity – but I guess he’s too busy playing with his blow up doll.

  3. Pixie says:

    Wanted to share this Twitter thread with everyone about Climate Change – https://twitter.com/HasBezosDecided/status/1162767410862202880 . It’s absolutely terrifying but a hugely important, educating thread and I really recommend everyone have a look. What’s happening in the Amazon is horrific, deliberate and supported by Bolsonaro – a real testament to how right wing fascism and capitalism work together to destroy lives.

  4. Eliza says:

    Doesnt his charity pledge a lot but never end up donating or donating as much as they say?

    The Amazon is burning because of farming (cattle and soy, ironically), they clear the land with fires, and they spread. We need the Amazon to exist, and fires and farming are killing us all. He’s a hypocrite and his charity is shady. If his foundation gives the full $5m to organizations that can stop fires or regrow the forest, that’s great.

    • Mia4s says:

      There’s definitely been whispers and implications of that. Attention to the issue is good, but let’s be honest he’s about as hypocritical and shady as they come.

    • ME says:

      Like someone else on-line stated the rainforest isn’t burning, it’s being burned.

      I think that 5 million Leo donated is to off-set his OWN personal carbon footprint ! You can’t be all for the environment while at the same time keep increasing your own footprint the way he does.

      • Eliza says:

        @ME If Harry and Meghan’s flight only required a $48 donation to the “cheapest” offset option (Elton revealed organization) for their carbon footprint last month, Leo probably thinks a $1000 annual check gets him off the hook.

        PS I bet Elton gave way more than that. I’m just pointing out how little one needs to do to feel less guilty about flying private.

      • Carol says:

        Oh yes, it’s a total offset. I do appreciate Leo’s environmentalism but does he need to go on a private plane? Does he need to go on those huge yachts during his vacation? Are those yachts running on solar power? Those two things are so bad for the environment.

      • marmalazed says:

        @Carol First read your comment as “toilet offset” which somehow struck me as being appropriate

      • Carol says:

        @marmalazed LOL!

    • Janice says:

      I don’t think he’s hypocritical – I’ve never seen any mention of him not donating in full what he says he will. He says he does carbon offsetting for all his travel, and I believe him. I doubt environmental charities would thank him publicly, as they’ve done for years, for his donations of $X amount if he didn’t actually give them $X amount.

      Last year he shot a full-length documentary on climate change and put it up on YouTube for free to help with awareness.

      I don’t see the hypocrisy at all. That’s such a right-wing, Fox News talking point: look at all these leftists and their double-speak on climate change! They just want attention! This whole thing is fake news!

    • Ashby says:

      Well, maybe Leo will celebrate his philanthropy with a juicy steak.
      Human greed is destroying the planet, because you know some people would die of hunger in the world, if they would try to help our Planet by having less meat and dairy.
      Maybe enjoy a LENTIL BURGER or BLACK BEAN BURGER instead of the constant meat eating.
      I think capitalism is good when it is being inclusive, a lot more considerate and a lot less greedy!

  5. Ann says:

    That’s all well and good for Leo and other millionaires stepping up to the plate, but I’m still waiting on the billionaires. Donde esta Bezos? And Elon Musk? And Bill Gates? All the Walton heirs??? Every last billionaire on this planet owes a debt to humanity and it’s crickets from them while the world burns.

    • ME says:

      The billionaires are sending their “thoughts and prayers” !

    • Kitten says:

      The billionaires are too busy working on their underground climate change bunkers.

    • agnes says:

      Musk and Bezos have nothng to spare. Traveling into space is expensive.

      • Eliza says:

        Bezos is busy hiding money so his mistress won’t take as much as his wife did. You know, when he divorces her for the next one, who tells him he’s great and understands him so much better than #2.

    • Bailie says:

      I’m waiting for every Joe and Jane to alter their lifestyle a bit, for example :

      1.) do you really need to eat meat and dairy every day of the week? How about being vegan from Monday to Friday and enjoy meat and dairy as a treat only on the weekends?

      2.) buy smaller cars that need less gas, smaller houses that need less heating.

      3.) buy glass lunch dishes instead of plastic, don’t buy water in plastic bottles, purchase compostable ziploc BIO bags instead of plastic ziploc bags for storage.

      4.) Recycle properly and compost at home.

      5.) Be more considerate and think about mother nature a bit more.

    • Ashby says:

      @ Eliza, of course it’s more complicated than just eat less meat and dairy!
      Did I say that avoiding meat and dairy is complete solution to the climate change, of course not?
      But would it be such an unbearable sacrifice to give up eating meat and dairy every day with almost every meal?
      What about eating dairy and meat sparringly?
      I certainly do not touch soy for the obvious reasons, but let’s be honest with ourselves the raising of cattle to sustain the level of meat eating today is not sustainable and is causing tremendous harm to our Planet.
      Not everybody is cut out to be vegan and everybody should not be for various reasons, but eating less meat and dairy wouldn’t hurt most people.
      There is no harm in being a bit more aware and responsible in our eating habits, we could only benefit and our PLANET.

  6. Moneypenny424 says:

    People aren’t just one thing. He’s a hypocrite, but his private plane use is nothing compared to this devastation. I applaud that he’s trying to draw attention (and funds) to this tragedy.

  7. Lisa says:

    Where’s George Clooney and his “pledge”?!?

  8. A says:

    My first, rather stupid, thought was, “That’s all??” I mean, really Leo? $5 million is what the survival of this planet and our species is worth to you? I’m not asking him to give up his entire fortune, and goodness knows there are worse people than him out there who cause actual harm to the planet because it generates profits for them, but like. I’m deflated by it all, and so thoroughly exhausted that this just feels very irritating to me for some reason.

  9. Samantha says:

    Good on Leo. The US/UK media is only concerned with Trump, Boris Johnson and whether the Brits would still be able to buy everything they want after Brexit. Meanwhile, the Amazon is on fire and the mainstream news can’t leave their pet topics alone to focus on a real crisis.
    Leo’s yachts are a problem, but he does a lot more good work than most politicians for the environment, even if it’s just raising awareness on a particular issue that politicians won’t even acknowledge.

    If Leo could see that he’s a hypocrite sometimes and change his ways, he could go so much further with this work and actually gain real respect internationally instead of the usual series of cynical comments to the articles. Oh, and stay away from the shady billionaires when looking for film funding. Bunch of crooked creeps.

  10. Susannej says:

    I am scared.
    I REALLY am.

    And I do not know.
    What I can do

    I don’r own a car,
    Recycle my trage
    My last flieht was 20 erste ago …
    … does it matter?
    Does anything from a single citizen matter anymore?

    The Rain forest is burning. Right now.

    • starling says:

      I feel the same. It feels hopeless. I am trying to do all of the right things and when the people in power don’t care and do all of the wrong things, it feels truly futile and pointless. We will kill ourselves with this behavior and take everything with us. I can only hope that the earth can heal with whatever is left. This feels like end of days to me.

  11. virginfangirls says:

    Thank you Leo.

  12. PsychicThinMints says:

    $5 million is helpful, but honestly, it’s not that much for a megastar who’s worth almost $250 mill. Plus, it’s a donation from “his foundation”: is that really the same as writing out a personal check? Maybe he could sell a few pieces from his dinosaur head hobby collection and donate that money.

    • Laura says:

      It’s not much but I guess the point is that he’s talking about it and encouraging more famous celebrities to donate money.

  13. MissAmerica says:

    The Amazon fires are so incredibly distressing. I read the biodiversity wouldn’t regenerate for 20,000 years. Not to mention many reliable sources believe the fires were started deliberately to clear the region for development. Brazil’s president has shown his vile true colors in his speeches and my heart is so heavy about the situation. I do think people care. I do think people realize how dire the calamity is. But what can they do without access to Brazil? It seems like the Brazilian government intentionally doesn’t want to acknowledge the reality of the situation. It’s absolutely tragic and horrifying. We can slow down global warming, it’s an imminent threat. These fires are an immediate threat. They should be the most urgent matter on the planet right now. Any awareness and donations of any amount are positive.