Neil Young blasts the Alberta government about the Oilsands

[oilyfan]

Neil is at it again...

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/enter...863/story.html

"Canada is trading integrity for money," said the environmentally engaged 68-year-old rocker. "That's what's happening under the current leadership in Canada, which is a very poor imitation of the George Bush administration in the United States and is lagging behind on the world stage. It's an embarrassment to any Canadians."

"The name Canada's based on a First Nations word. The word Ottawa's based on a First Nations word, Ontario's based on a First Nations word, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec — these are all First Nations word. This is where Canada came from," said Young.

"We made a deal with these people. We are breaking our promise. We are killing these people. The blood of these people will be on modern Canada's hands."

[-TC-]

...yeah, ok, whatever Neil.

[troutman]

He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun.

On the shore lay Montezuma
With his coca leaves and pearls
In his halls he often wondered
With the secrets of the worlds.

[Ozy_Flame]

I think the comments section is the best on the various news sources reporting it. People talk like they've had extensive experience working in or around oilsands development. I'd wager to say 99% of Canadians haven't even been close to a project let alone stand in one.

He's also doing a tour of Winnipeg, Regina and Calgary. I hope he plans on taking a horse-drawn buggy and wears organic and hand-sewn duds to his concerts.

[Erick Estrada]

Celebrities and politics = Dumb and dumber.

[Hockeyguy15]

A rockstar criticizing for trading integrity for money, that's rich.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

He's also doing a tour of Winnipeg, Regina and Calgary. I hope he plans on taking a horse-drawn buggy and wears organic and hand-sewn duds to his concerts.

It's possible, being Neil Young and all.

[19Yzerman19]

Sigh... "I somehow have credibility and a voice on an issue despite knowing less than zilch about it" celebrities are just so bloody irritating.

[You Need a Thneed]

Neil Young, what exactly are you good at? Certainly not knowing the energy marketplace or singing.

[Table 5]

Whether I agree or not, Neil Young can say whatever he wants and I'll still love that guy. He's our Willie Nelson.

Keep on keepin on, Neil.

[CaptainCrunch]

Maybe if some of these celebs criticized the country that they lived in that's building coal fired power plants and building massive amounts of pipelines. Or went after China for polluting so much that you can walk across their air, take a spoonful out of it and chew it like gum.

Look I agree that there is a huge issue of living up to treaty rights that needs to be addressed.

But until the celebrities of the world actually get educated on something and maybe give up their big houses and jets and private islands and multiple cars, I can't take them seriously, its the rich telling everyone else do what I say not what I do.

And no carbon offsets don't mean that your suddenly not polluting and leaving a massive energy footprint.

Seriously Neil, this man don't need you round anyhow.

Janeane Garofolo: As actors, it is our responsibility to read the newspapers, and then say what we read on television like it's our own opinion.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

But until the celebrities of the world actually get educated on something and maybe give up their big houses and jets and private islands and multiple cars, I can't take them seriously, its the rich telling everyone else do what I say not what I do.

Exactly. You have these celebrities living in mansions that consume the energy of a block of houses that comes primarily from coal fired plants, own multiple gas guzzling exotic cars, private jets that consume gasoline and hydrocarbons from refineries. I just don't understand how anyone can take these hypocrites seriously with their "do as I say not what I do" attitudes.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

A rockstar criticizing for trading integrity for money, that's rich.

Neil Young is pretty much the definition of NOT selling his integrity for money in the music business.

I see a lot of the expected responses here. Rock stars shouldn't talk about politics, blah blah blah.

People from all walks of life have a right to express their opinion on any issue, just because he's a musician doesn't mean he hasn't educated himself on the issue, and doesn't mean he has no validity.

I'm not even saying I agree with him but blatant dismissal and disprespect towards him expressing his viewpoint is just annoying and immature.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I'm not even saying I agree with him but blatant dismissal and disprespect towards him expressing his viewpoint is just annoying and immature.

So I expressing my viewpoint on Niel Young (actually it's less about him and more about celebrities in general) is annoying and immature but Neil Young's viewpoint on the oil sands is sound, good stuff (despite the fact you have no proof or evidence he's done real homework on the Oil sands). OKAY.

[PsYcNeT]

Igottago has a point though.

No one here has countered his claims, only attacked his person Ad Hominem, or put forth Inconsistent Comparison fallacies.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

So I expressing my viewpoint on Niel Young (actually it's less about him and more about celebrities in general) is annoying and immature but Neil Young's viewpoint on the oil sands is sound, good stuff (despite the fact you have no proof or evidence he's done real homework on the Oil sands). OKAY.

It is when your reason is that he's a "celebrity", and that is the basis of your remarks. All I'm saying is that "he's a rock star and shouldn't speak" isn't really a sound argument for or against the issue.

[Table 5]

If Neil Young shouldn't be able to express his thoughts on energy-policy because he's a rock star, half of this forum shouldn't be able to express theirs either because they work in the energy sector and have a conflict of interest.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I'm not even saying I agree with him but blatant dismissal and disprespect towards him expressing his viewpoint is just annoying and immature.

When he has gems like this quote I don't feel bad for 'disrespecting' him, as you put it.

"The fact is, Fort McMurray looks like Hiroshima," said Young, who visited the city earlier this summer. "There's fumes everywhere. You can smell it when you get to town."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...ands-1.1701224

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

If Neil Young shouldn't be able to express his thoughts on energy-policy because he's a rock star, half of this forum shouldn't be able to express theirs either because they work in the energy sector and have a conflict of interest.

The difference between us discussing here and celebrities going in front of the media is the amount of persuasion a celebrity has over people. As we saw with Jenny McCarthy's war on vaccines damage can be done when non-experts with access to media influence citizens with poorly researched information. I'm not saying Young hasn't researched but there's also no indication that he has the slightest clue about how the oilsands operate.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

When he has gems like this quote I don't feel bad for 'disrespecting' him, as you put it.



http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...ands-1.1701224

LOL it's like the man has never stepped within a mile of a sour gas plant or pulp and paper mill. This is the issue though when a person that's never worked in industry steps foot at a plant and draws immediate conclusions.