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Leonardo DiCaprio takes on rubbish in Brussels, sort of

08:56 05/04/2016

It’s one thing to be half-eaten by a bear and left by your comrades for dead; the thing that really annoys Leonardo DiCaprio, as we know now, is the state of the planet. So he was the obvious mascot for a new campaign against rubbish in the streets, launched by one Adel on Instagram.

With his campaign #LeoNotHappy, Adel, a 25-year-old marketing student, wants to highlight the sheer quantity of rubbish lying around on Brussels streets. Adel takes photos of the rubbish, always accompanied – and this where you see the difference between a mere activist and a talented marketer – by a shoebox with DiCapriesque features pulling a disdainful face.

“I believe in the power of humour to solve even very negative situations,” Adel told brusselnieuws.be. “You don’t get anywhere with aggression and extreme points of view. That funny side peaks the curiosity. When I started, I would see rubbish on the street from time to time. Now I see it everywhere; nothing gets past me.

Campaigning turns to action on 23 April, which in Brussels is Clean-Up Day. Adel plans a major operation with the blessing of Bruxelles Properté. Point of departure: the Bourse at noon.

Photo courtesy LeoNotHappy

Written by Alan Hope

Comments

salsadancer

I hope civic minded individuals will take part in the clean up day. I did it last year and was made to look like a fool. Everyone around me was staring or ignoring me as I picked up litter. There is NO sense of civic responsibility in Brussels. They only want to take care of what belongs to them and forget the rest of society. Children are not encouraged to take care of their surroundings so the saga continues.

Apr 5, 2016 10:43
Werner Küpper

We've tried humor for decades. Look what this city looks like now.

Apr 5, 2016 17:25
Mikek1300gt

The mentality of the Belgian drone is that when he drops his rubbish, it's ok because the state will pick it up. Extend that to life in Belgium in general, and you can see why people don't give a fook.

Apr 5, 2016 23:06