Project PEACE-Leonardo DiCaprio and his Full Fledged Philanthropy

Leonardo DiCaprio accepting his award

Way to go Leo! After six Academy Award nominations, Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his first Oscar for best actor in, "The Revenant". Instead of Leo utilizing his time up on the stage to talk about himself, he brought up several issues much greater than himself- climate change, saving the planet and being more conscientious and appreciative of the world we live in.

“I just want to say this -- 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,” he said.

A self described environmentalist, his personal Instagram account is dedicated to photographing the natural world, endangered animals, indigenous people, and calls attention to climate change in many forms. His personal Leonardo DiCaprio foundation, dedicated to long term health and well being of all of Earth's inhabitants also has a social media presence with its created hashtag of #LDFOUNDATION.

His personal Instagram account with a current following of 3.7 million people can only get so much exposure and attention to the issues. The opportunity to present his stance was compelling and passionate.

"Climate change is real, and it’s happening right now,” DiCaprio said. “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 or the big corporations, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world…and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed.” 

Ending his speech with not taking this world for granted, he left off on an optimistic note that resonated with a hope for a brighter future and better world.

The internet is currently exploding with jubilation, parodies and amazing photoshopped pictures of this historical moment. This doctored photo of Leo kissing a bear just moments before he accepts his award has me dying. If this is what the internet needs to see in order to become more aware of the issues at hand, then so be it!

Photo courtesy of The Onion