Neil Young Calls For Starbucks Boycott


For many, a little Neil Young music combined with sipping a Starbucks coffee on a rainy morning in the Pacific Northwest paints an idealistic portrait of rootsy cool. But not so fast.

Neil Young, judging by his announcement on his website that he’s boycotting Starbucks, isn’t much of a fan, so is asking his fans to follow suit and choose a different purveyor for their morning coffee fix. Neil Young’s disillusionment with Starbucks stems from the coffee giant’s support of a lawsuit against the state of Vermont which has adopted new requirements to label genetically modified ingredients, reports Rolling Stone.

In the announcement, Neil Young makes clear he doesn’t appreciate Starbucks’ complicity with the often villainized Monsanto corporation in the lawsuit against Vermont.

“I used to line up and get my latte everyday, but yesterday was my last one. Starbucks has teamed up with Monsanto to sue Vermont, and stop accurate food labeling. Tell Starbucks to withdraw support for the lawsuit — we have a right to know what we put in our mouths. Starbucks doesn’t think you have the right to know what’s in your coffee. So it’s teamed up with Monsanto to sue the small U.S. state of Vermont to stop you from finding out.”

Last spring, the citizens of Vermont passed a law requiring all GMO-containing food products to announce so on their labels by July 1, 2016. Dairy products, meat, alcohol, and food served in restaurants are exempt from the law.

On the heels of the law’s passing, some organizations from the food industry filed a lawsuit questioning the law’s constitutionality. Those joining the lawsuit effort include the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and guess who are members? Starbucks and Monsanto, of course.

Neil Young makes note of Starbucks’ connection with the organization, but takes it a step further by questioning Starbucks’ character and their attempt to make their connection with the lawsuit elusive.

“Hiding behind the shadowy ‘Grocery Manufacturers Association,’ Starbucks is supporting a lawsuit that’s aiming to block a landmark law that requires genetically-modified ingredients be labeled. Amazingly, it claims that the law is an assault on corporations’ right to free speech. Monsanto might not care what we think — but as a public-facing company, Starbucks does. If we can generate enough attention, we can push Starbucks to withdraw its support for the lawsuit, and then pressure other companies to do the same.”

Starbucks is not alone when it comes to criticism from Neil Young, however. The impeachment of President Obama because of his alleged support of fracking is another action Neil Young has publicly called for, reports NME.

On The Colbert Report, Young said, “I think we should impeach him (President Obama) for fracking. It’s not in the interest of the American people… I am part of the free world, and he is the leader of the free world!”

As for Starbucks, Neil Young concludes his statement by saying that the organization SumOfUs has already taken up the fight against the likes of Monsanto, members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association such as Starbucks, and that his fans should too.

SumOfUs is already fighting back — they helped Vermont raise almost a quarter of a million dollars to defend themselves against Monsanto’s bullying! Help them by going to SumOfUs and registering to donate or sign a petition. The next strategic step is to pressure and call out members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the shadowy body leading the lawsuit. Your backing can help… Add your voice now. Tell Starbucks to stop supporting the lawsuit against Vermont.”

[Image via Google Images]

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