‘Divergent’ Star Shailene Woodley On Why She’s Passionate About Her Advocacy To Protect The Environment

Shailene Woodley’s advocacy to protect the environment made headlines after she was arrested while protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline earlier this month. Since Woodley is best known for her role as Tris in “The Divergent Series,” a lot of people were surprised when they found out that the actress is also an active supporter of pro-environmental causes.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Woodley opened up about why she’s so passionate about being an environmental activist.

“For me, it’s not about helping the environment or saving the environment. It’s about recognizing that if I want my children to know a world where Manhattan isn’t all the way under water,” she told the news outlet at the Environmental Media Association Awards where she was honored for her activism. “Because guess what … [the] world is not too distant and it’s a reality that we must start facing and waking up to. We’ve gotta work our asses off now to make that happen. And I’m down for that cause because I love this Earth. I love humanity.”

In her acceptance speech, the 24-year-old actress emphasized that protecting the environment is the only way to ensure the survival of the human race.

“Thousands of people are committed to fighting and winning a battle against corporate greed with nothing but love and compassion,” Woodley said on Oct. 22. “Live a more compassionate life, because the ripple effect of that is what is going to save our oceans, our planet, and our race.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, Woodley was arrested on Oct. 11 in Saint Anthony, N.D., for criminal trespassing and engaging in a riot at a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Golden Globe-nominated actress pleaded not guilty to both charges.

In a rally outside the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. last August, Woodley explained why she’s against the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would transport crude oil from the Bakken region in North Dakota through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois.

“When the pipeline breaks because all pipelines break, a large amount of crude oil would spill into the Missouri River and sacrifice not only the water of the people living on Standing Rock reservation,” Woodley said (via CNN), adding, “but it would also compromise the water of 18 million people in our country who depend on the Missouri (River) for tap water, for drinking water, for shower water.”

Aside from Woodley, Jaden Smith and Moby were also honored at the Environmental Media Association Awards on Saturday night.