Friday, August 10, 2007

In which Leonardo DiCaprio totally validates my middle school crush on him.

I haven't really thought Leo was cute since I was in tenth grade, but maybe I need to reconsider that.

No matter what, I still like his politics. From People:

Leonard DiCaprio traveled to 14 states in 2004 to stump for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry – but the actor and environmentalist isn't planning to campaign for any of the 2008 candidates just yet.

"I'm still on the fence about it, to tell you the truth," DiCaprio, 32, told reporters at Wednesday's press conference for The 11th Hour in Beverly Hills. "I have yet to hear a candidate that has clearly laid out their environmental policy in a way that is inspiring to me."

The 11th Hour is DiCaprio's new global-warming documentary, which he narrates and produces.

Sen. Kerry's candidacy prompted DiCaprio to become active in 2004's presidential campaign, the actor says: "I thought he had an amazing environmental policy. But I have yet to hear a candidate that has compared in that regard."

The Blood Diamond star says he's looking for specifics from the 2008 candidates. "I'm waiting for the right questions to be asked, and for these candidates to give really clear responses to what they're going to do in a tangible way – not a lot of rhetoric," he said. "I want to hear hardcore facts."

Aw. Well said, Leo! Way to Kerry On!

posted by democrafty @ 4:11 PM   2 Comments »

In which Leonardo DiCaprio totally validates my middle school crush on him.

I haven't really thought Leo was cute since I was in tenth grade, but maybe I need to reconsider that.

No matter what, I still like his politics. From People:

Leonard DiCaprio traveled to 14 states in 2004 to stump for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry – but the actor and environmentalist isn't planning to campaign for any of the 2008 candidates just yet.

"I'm still on the fence about it, to tell you the truth," DiCaprio, 32, told reporters at Wednesday's press conference for The 11th Hour in Beverly Hills. "I have yet to hear a candidate that has clearly laid out their environmental policy in a way that is inspiring to me."

The 11th Hour is DiCaprio's new global-warming documentary, which he narrates and produces.

Sen. Kerry's candidacy prompted DiCaprio to become active in 2004's presidential campaign, the actor says: "I thought he had an amazing environmental policy. But I have yet to hear a candidate that has compared in that regard."

The Blood Diamond star says he's looking for specifics from the 2008 candidates. "I'm waiting for the right questions to be asked, and for these candidates to give really clear responses to what they're going to do in a tangible way – not a lot of rhetoric," he said. "I want to hear hardcore facts."

Aw. Well said, Leo! Way to Kerry On!

posted by democrafty @ 4:09 PM   No Comments »

Monday, August 6, 2007

Cracking Down on Illegal Logging

You know when you hear about something that seems so surreally awful and rife with greed and stupidity that you kind of can't believe it goes on?

Democrafty, meet illegal logging.

Thankfully, JK is, as ever, on it.

US Senator takes aim at illegal logging in Asia

Wed Aug 1, 4:23 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former US Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry on Wednesday unveiled a landmark assault on illegal logging in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The proposed law, hailed by environmental groups as the most significant such measure in the world, would ban the import and sale in the United States of illegally harvested timber and carry fines of up to 10,000 dollars.

"Illegal logging is a criminal activity that is damaging our environment, destroying communities and undermining efforts by developing countries to protect their natural resources," Kerry said.

"We have responsibility to protect developing countries from exploitation of their natural resources by big corporations."

The United Nations warned earlier this year that illegal logging by international companies could lead to a 98 percent loss of South East Asia's tropical rain forests by 2022, threatening the habitat of tens of thousands of endangered orangutans.

The problem is also leaving a swath of environmental destruction in the Amazon basin and in rain forests in Africa's Congo Basin.

Environmental groups called the measure, co-sponsored by Kerry's fellow Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, a watershed moment in the fight against illegal logging.

"This Combat Illegal Logging Act represents a huge stride forward in curbing one of the most significant environmental and social challenges facing our planet," said Carroll Muffett, Deputy Campaigns Director for Greenpeace USA.

"In addition to its direct impacts on biodiversity, tropical deforestation accounts for up to 25 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, making it a major contributor to global warming."

Similar legislation is expected to be brought up in the US House of Representatives.

The international campaign group Environmental Investigation Agency said that the United States is the world's leading consumer of wood products and imported 58 billion dollars' worth in 2005.

posted by democrafty @ 8:52 PM   2 Comments »