Earlier this year, in August, devastating fires ravaged the Amazon forest. The forest fires were so intense, that they covered Brazil’s Sao Paulo city, which was actually 2,700 kms away from the origin of the fire.
However, recently the Brazilian president blamed actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio for being involved with the fires.
During a webcast, President Jair Bolsonaro claimed that the fires were actually set by NGOs, who then received money from DiCaprio in the form of a donation.
The NGO people, what did they do? What’s easier? Set fire to the bush. Take photo, film, send it to an NGO, the NGO spreads it out, does a campaign against Brazil, gets in touch with Leonardo DiCaprio and Leonardo DiCaprio donates $500,000 to this NGO. One part went to the people who were setting the fire, right? Leonardo DiCaprio, you are assisting with the burning of the Amazon, that can’t be.
He further added that DiCaprio was actually ‘donating’ money to ‘set the Amazon on fire’.
Leonardo DiCaprio is a great guy, isn’t he? Donating money to set the Amazon on fire.
Leonardo DiCaprio has often raised concerns about the effects of climate change and brought awareness to critical issues of environmental damage.
The actor took to Instagram to deny any involvement with the NGOs in question, while stating that he would always stand in support of groups promoting environmental conversation.
The future of these irreplaceable ecosystems is at stake and I am proud to stand with the groups protecting them. While worthy of support, we did not fund the organizations targeted.
President Bolsnaro is yet to respond to DiCaprio’s denial. However, he has made similar claims about NGOs in the past as well.