Humans facing extinction, says DiCaprio

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio sent out a message about global warming at the Cannes Film Festival today.

The heartthrob has made a film, the 11th Hour, warning that human beings face extinction as a result of the environmental crisis.

At a press conference in the South of France following today's screening, The Blood Diamond actor, 32, attacked US President George Bush, saying: "It's very simple. He's done very little for the environmental movement."

The Titanic star's film, which he narrates, follows another environmental warming documentary by former US Presidential candidate Al Gore, shown at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

Today DiCaprio defended Gore from criticism over the amount of energy he has been reportedly using to jet around the world and to run his home.

"Don't shoot the messenger", he said. "This person is trying to relay a message to the public and the way that he travels should not be splayed out like that."

DiCaprio said it should be oil companies that come under scrutiny and that the Government should make systematic change.

The US star said he took steps in his own life to reduce global warming, telling the famous film festival: "I do try to live my life in a green manner.

"I have installed solar panels in my house and the car that I drive is a hybrid one. But it's more about the day-to-day things, being conscious about being a consumer, about looking to endorse green technology. People ask: 'What can a hybrid car do?'

"It's not about that. It's about being a consumer, the choices you make everyday."

'The 11th Hour' features interviews with a host of eminent scientists and political thinkers, including Cambridge university professor Stephen Hawking.

DiCaprio, who said he flew on a commercial plane rather than a chartered jet to the press conference, added: "I'm not an expert on this issue. I'm taking the role of concerned citizen like everybody else."

"This is really a worldwide movement. Every country in the world should be aware of the issue. In the US certainly, we should set an example to the rest of the world.

"The reality of what is happening to us is very scary. To shy away from telling the truth about that would be the ultimate disservice. In the long run it's about environmental awareness and environmental consciousness. That's what's going on now. It's a huge movement, much more so than ever before."

"If you look back to the peace and the civil rights movements there have been people in the industry that have been at the forefront of that. There are a tremendous amount of people that are very outspoken, and I'm very happy to be part of the generation that talks about these things."