Speak from the heart

Winning an Academy award is no easy feat. No one knows this better than Leonardo DiCaprio, who took home the Oscar for best actor on Sunday after a wait that has lasted his whole career. So when you are bestowed with what is considered the highest recognition in the world of cinema, you’ve got to make it count. And that is exactly what DiCaprio did. Exuding elegance and  class, the actor chose to use his acceptance speech to make a statement about climate change.  

“Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating,” said the actor in his speech, adding, “Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted. Thank you so very much.” While his speech will go down in Oscar history as one of the most noteworthy of all time, there have been a host of award winners before him who have used the platform to raise awareness about issues close to their heart.

Early last month, African American actor Mya Taylor took home the Best Supporting Female award at the The Film Independent Spirit Awards  for her role in Tangerine. The first transgender woman to be given a major film acting award, Taylor took to the podium and addressed filmmakers. “There is transgender talent. There’s very beautiful transgender talent. You better get out there and put it in your next movie,” she said. Kendrick Lamar, who took home the most number of Grammys this year, from Best Rap Song to Best Music Video, chose to make a statement about racism. After his stirring performance, he took the mic to rap, “2012 was taken from the world to see. Set us back another 400 years, this is modern day slavery,” in reference to the murder of Trayvon Martin, whose non-black killer was acquitted.

Talking about the impact of DiCaprio’s speech, professor J. Srinivasan of Divecha Centre for Climate Change feels that while it was admirable, it’s doubtful it would have a major difference. “Just because a famous actor makes a statement about a social issue, I don’t think it’s going to effect much change. Perhaps his fans might do something about it, but I wonder how much that will help. Of course if they were to make a movie about issues they feel strongly about, it could have an impact,” says Srinivasan.