Dir. Leslie Iwerks, US, 2009, Dur. 73 mins
Cast: Neve Campbell
Review by Carlie Newman
In case we are becoming too blasé, believing that we are saving the earth by turning off lights and flushing our toilets at half pressure, here is an unmissable documentary to remind us that there are still parts of the world that are threatened by the expansion of fuel producing plants . Dirty Oil looks at the strip-mined area of Northern Alberta, Canada which, contrary to the views of the majority of American citizens, actually provides the US with the majority of its oil.
Narrated by actress and environmentalist Neve Campbell and written, directed and edited by Leslie Iwerks it shows the devastation caused to aboriginal communities living in the vicinity of the oil producing plants of the Tar Sands deposits. The oil also impacts on the wildlife, land, air and water so that even the communities that remain find the quality of their life adversely affected and they are no longer able to live off the land as their ancestors have done. While workers in the gigantic plants earn vast sums and are regularly bussed from Alberta to Tar Sands, the aboriginal communities are disturbed by the trucks bringing equipment which pass along the roads day and night, adversely affecting the quiet lifestyle of old. Drugs, alcohol and the constant stench of the oil also ruin their lives and indigenous culture. The local doctor talks about the rise of cancers and the general level and rareness of the diseases he is finding in the community.
Dirty Oil follows the pipelines from Canada to the US Midwest refineries to witness how American refineries are trying to increase the amount of toxic waste being dumped into the Great Lakes. We see how dirty oil is taking its toil not only in Canada where it is being produced but also across the border. The documentary concludes by urging everyone to consider alternatives to dirty oil such as wind turbines or solar energy. We learn that some nations are looking at going carbon neutral and President Obama has stated that there is a “need to end our dependency on oil.” It has become clear that new sources of energy are now a real necessity. If we continue as at present to release more greenhouse gases through the over-consumption of fuel, it will lead to the greater pollution of water and air and the effect will be disastrous, not only on the environment of the areas immediately affected, but potentially of the world.
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