Leonardo DiCaprio’s Loud Voice Celebrates Lula’s Win in Brazil that Ousted Bolsonaro

Washington (GGM) Analysis | October 31, 2022 by Noreen Wise, Founder & CEO of Gallant Gold Media; Image Credit: Leonardo DiCaprio

In a nail-biter runoff election victory, former Brazilian President Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva ousted right-wing strong man Jair Bolsonaro from his tyrannical grip on power that threatened the longterm survival of Earth as we know it, as well as millions of its species, and humankind itself.

The vote count was decisive, with Lula receiving 50.9% versus Bolsonaro’s 49.1%. In Brazil, the winner is required to receive at least 50% of the vote. Congratulations to Lula da Silva for crossing the finish line.

Celebrities, environmentalists, climate scientists and activists, and sustainable investors around the world quickly celebrated Lula’s harrowing win, many of whom had used their extensive platforms and networks to help elect Lula in a global effort to save Earth’s lungs, the Amazon rainforest, along with its brave defenders, the indigenous communities that are scattered throughout the dense, tangled tropical landscape that encompasses 490 million hectares in Brazil.

For Leonardo DiCaprio, Lula’s success seems to have an extra dose of personal satisfaction. Bolsonaro had been repeatedly harassing, and even threatening DiCaprio (the way strong men do, that subtle, in your face, yet equally deniable, soft threat) on social media dating back to 2019 and more recently in April and August 2022, seemingly every time Dicaprio tweeted about protecting the Amazon along with its defenders.

Bolsonaro has an apparent obsession with the negative impact popular icons had on his strong man policies (that undermine the well-being of the global public, especially in light of the deadly climate crisis). With DiCaprio in Bolsonaro’s crosshairs from the start of his presidency, who knows how this conflict would have played out if not for Covid.

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DiCaprio, a vocal environmentalist, has been using his fame and fortune to help protect the Amazon for more than 20 years. DiCaprio was designated the United Nations Messenger of Peace by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2014, with a particular focus on climate change. DiCaprio is on the board of multiple environmental nonprofits, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Pristine Seas and Oceans 5, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

As soon as Lula was declared the winner last night, DiCaprio tweeted:

“The outcome of the Brazilian election presents an opportunity to change the course of history, not just for Brazil & the Amazon, but for the world.”

The best way for the public to show appreciation for all the effort that so many like DiCaprio extended to protect the rainforest by helping get Lula elected, is to follow DiCaprio’s advice, and take advantage of this opportunity to change the course of history. This translates into changing our consumer habits in order to drive down demand for the products that are supplied through Amazon deforestation.

In his victory speech last night, Lula promised to protect the Amazon and pledged to undo many of Bolsonaro’s policies, as well as work to minimize illegal logging, mining and land grabbing that’s been the catalyst behind the destruction of millions of acres of rainforest under Bolsonaro’s watch.

Bolsonaro has remained silent since news broke that Lula would be the next president of Brazil. According to Reuters, Bolsonaro is behind closed doors at the presidential palace writing a speech he is expected to give tomorrow, although it’s still unclear if he’ll accept defeat.