Canadian rock legend Neil Young has pledged a whopping $100,000 to a David Suzuki Foundation campaign pressuring the government to recognize environmental rights.
The 69-year-old rocker announced the donation on Monday, hours before his hotly anticipated Vancouver concert, promising part of his proceeds from the show will be going to the Blue Dot movement.
“I think the Earth needs to be protected,” Young said. “When I see situations that I think that I can make a difference in, I try to get involved.”
The Blue Dot movement’s goal is to have the right to a healthy environment enshrined in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Suzuki, who appeared alongside Young at the announcement, said such rights are already recognized in more than 110 nations across the globe.
“We believe that it’s every Canadian’s right to expect a guarantee from our constitution for clean air, clean water, clean soil and a diversity of other living things,” Suzuki said.
Young added that while he’s unhappy with Canada’s recent record on environmental issues, he doesn’t want to turn the movement into a “political contest.”
“I strongly believe in this. I think it’s a great idea,” he said. “I think Canada should have this and show some leadership in a good direction, instead of what we’ve been experiencing.”
For more on the David Suzuki Foudnation’s Blue Dot movement, click here.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Shaheed Devji
