Leonardo DiCaprio talks about Delhi's air pollution: Details here

By Sagar

Nov 19, 2019

02:06 pm

What's the story

Oscar-winning Hollywood actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio has raised serious concern over the tormenting air pollution levels in Delhi. The 45-year-old mentioned the efforts of several groups and organizations working toward the improvement of air quality in the capital city. Notably, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) is expected to slip back to 'Severe' category by Thursday. Here's what DiCaprio said.

Details

DiCaprio highlighted the importance of public protests

Taking to his Instagram account, DiCaprio posted several pictures from a protest at India Gate in New Delhi, where over 1,500 people gathered to raise awareness over the harrowing pollution in the city. Listing out various measures that the protests triggered, DiCaprio summed, "Despite these promises, the air is still unsafe and activists will keep the pressure on until air pollution reaches safe levels."

Instagram Post

You can read the full post here

#Regram #RG @extinctionrebellion: Over 1500 citizens gathered in at India Gate, in New Dehli, to demand immediate action on the cities hazardous pollution levels.⁣ ⁣ According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution in India is estimated to kill about 1.5 million people every year; these statistics make air pollution the fifth-largest killer in India. ⁣ ⁣ People of all ages joined the demonstration, which succeeded to directly trigger action for Indian citizens:⁣ 1. The Indian Prime Ministers office set up a special panel to address the issue, within a few hours of the protest. The panel is due to report on the issue within 2 weeks.⁣ 2. The Supreme Court of India asked the Central Government and respective state governments to fix the crop and waste burning issue of Dehli within a week. ⁣ 3. The Center accepted that Green Fund will be used to combat toxic air pollution. ⁣ 4. The Indian Prime Minister asked the Agriculture Ministry to distribute equipment urgently so that crop burning is no longer necessary. ⁣ ⁣ Despite these promises, the air is still unsafe and activists will keep the pressure on until the air pollution reaches safe levels. ⁣ ⁣ The protest was organised by a collaboration of movements; @xrebellionind @LetMeBreathe_In @FridaysForFutureIndia_ along with other activists. ⁣ ⁣ Photography by Arjun Mahatta and co, via @FridaysForFuture ⁣ ⁣ #RightToBreathe #ExtinctionRebellion #IndiaGate #SolutionNotPollution #ActNow #RebelForLife

A post shared by leonardodicaprio on Nov 18, 2019 at 7:24am PST

Crisis

Meanwhile, Delhi's residents are gasping for clean air

Worryingly, Delhi and its neighboring areas have been battling with traumatic levels of air pollution, for a long time. Every year, during this time, thick smog adversely affects the health of the residents of National Capital Region (NCR). On November 3, the AQI had reached a whopping 494, the most hazardous level since 2016. In fact, schools were also ordered to remain shut.

Information

Earlier, DiCaprio had posted about the Chennai water crisis

For the uninitiated, DiCaprio has been working toward environmental issues and curbing climate change, since long. He started the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) back in 1998, to raise awareness about environmental problems. Also, this isn't the first time that DiCaprio has opined about an environmental issue in India. In June, he had posted about the devastating water crisis in Chennai.

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Separately, DiCaprio last appeared in Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time...'

Separately, on the work front, DiCaprio was last seen in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), alongside Brad Pitt, in which he portrayed the role of a former television actor, struggling to make a name in Hollywood during the early 1970s.