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Heroes

Leonardo DiCaprio shocked the fossil fuel industry with a simple but powerful move.

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League of Conservation Voters

Leonardo DiCaprio is essentially a dreamy, human version of Captain Planet.

Dude loves the environment, and he does more than just talk.

He joined in on the People's Climate Change March last fall:

Photo by Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images.

And spoke at the U.S. State Department's conference on ocean conservation:

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images.

Not to mention, he's very generous with his money and time.

And he tends to bring other celebs along on his quest to save the earth:

DiCaprio on stage with Bono at the inaugural Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala. Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty Images for the LDF.

It's safe to say DiCaprio definitely has a love for our wild and wonderful planet. And like many wonderful and giving partners, he's not afraid to splurge a little to show the good ol' earth how much he cares.

DiCaprio is one of thousands who has pledged to stop investing in fossil fuel companies.

The movie star is part of the Divest Invest Coalition, an initiative that encourages individual investors, foundations, and institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels and in businesses that contribute to climate change and instead invest in renewable energy and eco-friendly companies.

DiCaprio at the Divest Invest press event. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.

DiCaprio pledged to divest his personal wealth and charitable funds from fossil fuels. He's joined by 2,000 other individuals (including The Hulk) and more than 400 companies and institutions.

Together, their divestment commitments total close to $2.6 trillion!

"Climate change is severely impacting the health of our planet and all of its inhabitants," DiCaprio said in his announcement to the press, "and we must transition to a clean energy economy that does not rely on fossil fuels, the main driver of this global problem."

So where is DiCaprio investing his money instead?

Well, the short answer is pretty simple: in the trash.

Yes, the trash. That trash.

Trash:

Photo by woodleywonderworks/Flickr.

DiCaprio recently invested an undisclosed amount in a company called Rubicon Global, which uses software to connect businesses to waste management companies to help them find cheaper, closer places to haul trash and recycling (think Uber for garbage).

DiCaprio continues to raise funds and awareness for environmental action through his charitable foundation.

His second annual Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala raised $40 million for the group, which boasts four primary areas of focus: ocean and wild land conservation, climate change, and protecting biodiversity.

We have been able to support organizations that are working to solve some of today's most pressing environmental issues. Throughout today, I'll post about a few of them and share the incredible work they do. Want to put a spotlight on our beautiful planet and the things that you do to make a difference? Use #LDFoundation and I'll share a few of my favorites.
A photo posted by Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio) on

So hat's off to you, Leonardo DiCaprio.

Thanks for using your influence to help save the planet and inspiring celebs and us regular folks to do the same. With our powers combined, anything is possible.*


"The power is yours!" GIF from "Captain Planet."

*Except maybe getting you that Oscar. Sorry.

Community

Facebook group brings people together IRL to make meaningful friendships

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Making new friends as an adult is challenging. While people crave meaningful IRL connections, it can be hard to know where to find them. But thanks to one Facebook Group, meeting your new best friends is easier than ever.

Founded in 2018, NYC Brunch Squad brings together hundreds of people who come as strangers and leave as friends through its in-person events.

“Witnessing the transformative impact our community has on the lives of our members is truly remarkable. We provide the essential support and connections needed to thrive amid the city's chaos,” shares Liza Rubin, the group’s founder.

Despite its name, the group doesn’t just do brunch. They also have book clubs, seasonal parties, and picnics, among other activities.

NYC Brunch Squad curates up to 10 monthly events tailored to the specific interests of its members. Liza handles all the details, taking into account different budgets and event sizes – all people have to do is show up.

“We have members who met at our events and became friends and went on to embark on international journeys to celebrate birthdays together. We have had members get married with bridesmaids by their sides who were women they first connected with at our events. We’ve had members decide to live together and become roommates,” Liza says.

Members also bond over their passion for giving back to their community. The group has hosted many impact-driven events, including a “Picnic with Purpose” to create self-care packages for homeless shelters and recently participated in the #SquadSpreadsJoy challenge. Each day, the 100 members participating receive random acts of kindness to complete. They can also share their stories on the group page to earn extra points. The member with the most points at the end wins a free seat at the group's Friendsgiving event.

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friendship
Education

3,700-year-old Babylonian stone tablet gets translated, changes history

They were doing trigonometry 1500 years before the Greeks.

via UNSW

Dr. Daniel Mansfield and his team at the University of New South Wales in Australia have just made an incredible discovery. While studying a 3,700-year-old tablet from the ancient civilization of Babylon, they found evidence that the Babylonians were doing something astounding: trigonometry!

Most historians have credited the Greeks with creating the study of triangles' sides and angles, but this tablet presents indisputable evidence that the Babylonians were using the technique 1,500 years before the Greeks ever were.

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education
Family

Mom’s blistering rant on how men are responsible for all unwanted pregnancies is on the nose

“ALL unwanted pregnancies are caused by the irresponsible ejaculations of men. Period. Don't believe me? Let me walk you through it."

Gabrielle Blair/Twitter

Mom has something to say... strongly say.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as Mormons, are a conservative group who aren't known for being vocal about sex.

But best selling author, blogger, and mother of six, Gabrielle Blair, has kicked that stereotype to the curb with a pointed thread on reducing unwanted pregnancies. And her sights are set directly at men.

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women
Joy

Terrified, emaciated dog comes to life as volunteer sits with him for human connection

He tries making himself so small in the kennel until he realizes he's safe.

Rocky Kanaka|YouTube

Terrified dog transforms after human sits with him.

There's something about dogs that makes people just want to cuddle them. They have some of the sweetest faces with big curious eyes that make them almost look cartoonish at times. But not all dogs get humans that want to snuggle up with them on cold nights; some dogs are neglected or abandoned. That's where animal shelters come in, and they work diligently to take care of any medical needs and find these animals loving homes.

Volunteers are essential to animal shelters running effectively to fill in the gaps employees may not have time for. Rocky Kanaka has been volunteering to sit with dogs to provide comfort. Recently he uploaded a video of an extremely emaciated Vizsla mix that was doing his best to make himself as small as possible in the corner of the kennel.

Kanaka immediately wanted to help him adjust so he would feel comfortable enough to eat and eventually get adopted. The dog appeared scared of his new location and had actually rubbed his nose raw from anxiety, but everything changed when Kanaka came along.

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dogs
Science

She tattooed half her face and you'd never know it. Her skills are just that good.

This incredible medical tattoo technology is giving renewed hope to burn victims.

All images via the CBS/YouTube

Basma Hameed runs a tattoo shop, of sorts...


Meet Samira Omar.

The 17-year-old was the victim of a horrific bullying incident.

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Education

8 changes that were made to a classic Richard Scarry book to keep up with the times. Progress!

All the misogyny and racism you may not have noticed are now gone.

Images via Alan Taylor/Flickr, used with permission.

Updating the kitchen.


Remember those beloved Richard Scarry books?

Books from when you were a kid?

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Education

Voice recordings of people who were enslaved offer incredible first-person accounts of U.S. history

"The results of these digitally enhanced recordings are arresting, almost unbelievable. The idea of hearing the voices of actual slaves from the plantations of the Old South is as powerful—as startling, really—as if you could hear Abraham Lincoln or Robert E. Lee speak." - Ted Koppel

Library of Congress

When we think about the era of American slavery, many of us tend to think of it as the far distant past. While slavery doesn't exist as a formal institution today, there are people living who knew formerly enslaved black Americans first-hand. In the wide arc of history, the legal enslavement of people on U.S. soil is a recent occurrence—so recent, in fact, that we have voice recordings of interviews with people who lived it.

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history
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