Shailene Woodley is a 24 year old American Actress who is best known for her breakthrough role in the US TV show ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’ but most recently portraying the character ‘Tris’ in the Divergent Series films adapted from the books.
While being a really current celebrity it’s more what she does with her publicity that’s impressive. While she has social media accounts which she only started using frequently more recently they aren’t stereotypically what you’d expect from a young actress. Which is why it is so impressive.
She was really supportive of the Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders and used her platform to show this and encourage others to do the same. Her use of the social status to highlight important causes has became even more prominent by helping with protests against the North Dakota Pipeline, which would go straight through sacred Native American land.
The protests are led by the Standing Rock Sixou tribe who are worried that the plans for the $3.7b oil pipeline will ruin sacred sites and mean they are at risk of contaminated water. It has became a huge issue known worldwide over the recent months.
On October 10th 2016 which is Indigenous People’s Day in North America, Shailene was one of 27 arrested while peacefully protesting. She included such a powerful statement in her article which she stated “It took me, a white non-native woman being arrested … to bring this cause to many people’s attention … and to the forefront of new publications around the world.”
Sadly this is so evidently true. This was going on long before she got involved and is still going on after her arrest however the amount of coverage compared to her actual arrest is nearly none. Unfortunately it shows the majority don’t care or are unaware unless there is a celebrity involved.
However the benefit from Shailene using her status worldwide to highlight this issue and really devote to helping people who are trying to save the life they have always known is really inspiring.
Personally I noticed the trend in the coverage on my own social media feeds, when she was arrested the story along with her jail picture was posted everywhere, and then just seemed to go away after she was released.
Only yesterday I saw a protest about it with people giving out information in my hometown. This is becoming a global issue and they are not standing alone.
At the same time as her trying to stop the project going ahead, men and women have being doing the same everyday from a number or different tribes to protect their heritage and livelihoods for their children and the future generations.
I find it really refreshing to see celebrities such as Shailene to use their social status for so much more than just its typical uses. While there is nothing wrong with that because it’s the purpose of it, it’s just great to see while also doing that you can use the platform to help spread the word and inspire others to do the same.
Law enforcements have since been at the site to try and control the issue however while you can say yes the pipeline will create jobs and increase oil supply to other cities, it’s not worth it or ok to still go ahead when people’s lives are being changed forever without any say of their own.
I really hope the Native Americans are successful in saving their land and that more celebrities like Shailene use their platform for good and to really help to try for a change, inspiring others to do the same worldwide.
You can use the hashtag – #NoDAPL to keep up to date, get involved and support the tribes in North Dakota
Read the full article from Shailene Woodley about her arrest here:
http://time.com/4538557/shailene-woodley-arrest-pipeline/
Photo Credits: Shailene Woodley in tshirt for campaign: https://www.instagram.com/p/BK3276wjoU9/?taken-by=shailenewoodley&hl=en (took from Shailene Woodley’s official Instagram) – I do not own any rights to this photo
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