Leonardo DiCaprio urged to end support for Indian river project
Source: The Guardian
Leonardo DiCaprio urged to end support for Indian river project
Charities warn actor that Cauvery tree-planting scheme could harm endangered waterway and its environs
Vidhi Doshi
Thu 26 Sep 2019 07.01 BST
Leonardo DiCaprio has been urged to withdraw support for a controversial tree-planting programme in India, which could result in catastrophic environmental damage.
An open letter, signed by more than 90 Indian environmental and rights groups, warned that the Hollywood actor and activist’s endorsement of the Cauvery Calling campaign was ill-advised. The signatories said the campaign could lead to the “drying up of streams and rivulets, and destruction of wildlife habitats”.
The Cauvery is an endangered river in southern India.
The letter praised DiCaprio’s work in “promoting rights of indigenous communities, protecting wildlife, case sensitively promoting conservation strategies, and, needless to state, pushing for clear action to tackle global warming”.
But the charities added: “It appears to us, the Coalition for Environmental Justice in India, however, that you may not have been appropriately advised in supporting the Cauvery Calling campaign.”
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/sep/26/leonardo-dicaprio-urged-to-end-support-for-indian-river-project