Prince Harry just gained a high-profile ally in his fight for the suspension of oil and gas drilling in the Okavango River Basin. Actor and fellow activist, Leonardo DiCaprio, has also officially joined the cause.
According to a press release from Re:wild, the Duke of Sussex and DiCaprio are just a couple of the big names to team up with local Indigenous and civil society leaders and conservationists in Namibia and Botswana against Canadian oil and gas company ReconAfrica,
In a recent op-ed piece for The Washington Post, Harry and local Namibian activist Reinhold Mangundu opened up about the imminent threat of oil drilling on the Okavango and encouraged individuals to educate themselves and get involved.
“The Okavango River Basin is under siege by ReconAfrica, a Canadian oil and gas company that has been granted licenses for exploratory drilling in an area of Namibia and Botswana larger than some European countries. We believe this would pillage the ecosystem for potential profit. Some things in life are best left undisturbed to carry out their purpose as a natural benefit. This is one of them,” the duo wrote. “There is no way to repair the damage from these kinds of mistakes. Drilling is an outdated gamble that reaps disastrous consequences for many, and incredible riches for a powerful few. It represents a continued investment in fossil fuels instead of renewable energies.”