Editing Neil Young (section)

===Indigenous rights, Fossil Fuel, and Old Growth logging activism===
[[File:Neil_Young_for_Fairy_Creek.jpg|thumb|Neil Young performing "Heart of Gold" in support of [[Fairy Creek old-growth logging protests|Fairy Creek]] Old Growth activists, at the legislature, Victoria, BC, Feb 24, 2023]]
Young has been a vocal opponent of the proposed [[Keystone XL]] oil pipeline, which would run from Alberta to Texas. When discussing the environmental impact on the oilsands of [[Fort McMurray]], Alberta, Young asserted that the area now resembles the Japanese city of Hiroshima in the aftermath of the atomic bomb attack of World War II.<ref name="huffingtonpost1">{{cite news|title=Neil Young: Pipelines Are 'Scabs on Our Lives,' Doesn't Care If Activism Hurts Record Sales|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/11/10/neil-young-pipelines-oilsands_n_6131170.html|first=Camille|last=Bains|publisher=thehuffingtonpost.com|date=October 11, 2014|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref>

Young has referred to issues surrounding the proposed use of oil pipelines as "scabs on our lives".<ref name="huffingtonpost1"/> In an effort to become more involved, Young has worked directly with the [[Chipewyan|Athabasca Chipewyan]] First Nation to draw attention to this issue, performing benefit concerts and speaking publicly on the subject. In 2014, he played four shows in Canada dedicated to the Honor the Treaties<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/neil-young-set-to-kick-off-honour-the-treaties-tour-1.2491818 |title=Neil Young Set to Kick off Honour the Treaties Tour |author=Angela Sterritt |date=January 10, 2014 |publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada |access-date=August 2, 2018}}</ref> movement, raising money for the Athabasca Chipewyan legal defense fund.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/culture/arts-entertainment/neil-young-plays-honor-the-treaties-anti-tar-sands-benefit-tonight/ |title=Neil Young Plays 'Honor the Treaties' Anti-Tar Sands Benefit Tonight |author=ICMN Staff |date=January 12, 2014 |website=Indiancountrymedianetwork.com |access-date=July 11, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912152545/https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/culture/arts-entertainment/neil-young-plays-honor-the-treaties-anti-tar-sands-benefit-tonight/ |archive-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>

In 2015, he and [[Willie Nelson]] held a festival in Neligh, Nebraska, called ''Harvest the Hope'', raising awareness of the impact of oilsands and oil pipelines on Native Americans and family farmers. Both received honors from leaders of the [[Rosebud Indian Reservation|Rosebud Sioux]], [[Oglala Lakota]], [[Ponca]] and [[Omaha (tribe)|Omaha]] nations, and were invested with sacred [[buffalo robe]]s.<ref>[http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/gallery/photo/willie-nelson-and-neil-young-rock-against-keystone-xl-harvest-hope-157114 Willie Nelson and Neil Young Rock Against Keystone XL at 'Harvest the Hope'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308035252/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/gallery/photo/willie-nelson-and-neil-young-rock-against-keystone-xl-harvest-hope-157114 |date=March 8, 2016 }}. ''Indian Country Today'', September 30, 2014.</ref>

Young participated in the Blue Dot Tour, which was organized and fronted by environmental activist [[David Suzuki]], and toured all 10 Canadian provinces alongside other Canadian artists, including the [[Barenaked Ladies]], [[Feist (singer)|Feist]], and [[Robert Bateman (painter)|Robert Bateman]]. The intent of Young's participation in this tour was to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by the exploitation of oilsands. Young has argued that the amount of {{CO2}} released as a byproduct of oil and oil extraction is equivalent to the amount released by the total number of cars in Canada each day.<ref name="straight1">{{cite news|title=Neil Young Featured in Vancouver on David Suzuki's Blue Dot Tour|url=https://www.straight.com/news/691966/neil-young-featured-vancouver-david-suzukis-blue-dot-tour|first=Charlie|last=Smith|publisher=straight.com|date=July 23, 2014|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref>

Young has faced criticism from representatives from within the Canadian petroleum industry, who have claimed that his statements are irresponsible.<ref name="huffingtonpost1"/> Young's opposition to the construction of oil pipelines has influenced his music as well. His song, "Who's Going to Stand Up?" was written to protest this issue, and features the lyric "Ban fossil fuel and draw the line / Before we build one more pipeline".<ref name="huffingtonpost1"/>

In addition to directly criticizing members of the oil industry, Young has also focused blame on the actions of the Canadian government for ignoring the environmental impacts of climate change. He referred to Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] as "an embarrassment to many Canadians&nbsp;... [and] a very poor imitation of the George Bush administration in the United States".<ref name="straight1"/> Young was also critical of Barack Obama's government for failing to uphold the promises made regarding environmental policies during his election campaign.<ref name="straight1"/>