"A critically important and timely documentary" Amity Doolittle, PhD, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

OIL ON ICE exposes the risks of oil extraction in this extreme environment. What happens if another oil spill occurs on the coastal plain or under an ice-covered Beaufort Sea? How can one rationalize development of irreplaceable wilderness areas or ignore the cultural survival of indigenous populations? Already, Eskimo residents and leaders of the North Slope Borough are criticizing the impacts of oil development to their lands and seas. Gwich'in Indian residents of Arctic Village, on the southern boundary of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, fear their community's caribou hunting will be severely impacted by oil development in the Refuge.

OIL ON ICE also examines the effects that improved fuel efficiency standards for vehicles and development of alternative sources of energy will have on this nation's oil consumption. The issue of oil extraction from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge brings into sharp focus the broader debate over energy conservation vs. unbridled consumption. It also dramatizes the choice between technologies based on fossil fuels and those that draw upon renewable, efficient, and non-polluting energy resources.



Grade Level: 9-12, College, Adult
US Release Date: 2004     Copyright Date: 2004
DVD ISBN: 1-59548-158-4     VHS ISBN: 1-59458-157-6

Reviews "Moving, lucid and aptly told, Oil On Ice is quite simply the best documentary to date on the ANWR issue. And beyond the politics, expect your people compass to be pulled north, magnetized by the observations of folks like Gwich'in elder Adeline Peter Raboff, singing us back into the mystery of a place too few know and even fewer understand." Art Goodtimes, The Telluride Watch "This one-hour film pulls you in with stunning footage of one of the most remote places left in America, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge...You have likely heard about the controversy, but may not have experienced the splendor of the place. Here's your chance." Sierra Magazine "Oil on Ice is a critically important and timely documentary on the complex factors surrounding the oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The film combines all the elements of the drama: stunning footage of the ecology and wildlife of the region, scientific debates over the toxicity of oil spills to the wildlife and ecosystems; views from indigenous Gwich'in peoples as well as Alaskan residents who make their living as fishers and hunters; the political jockeying at the state and national level; and local grassroots activists working against the opening of ANWR. All these factors are situated against the backdrop of our impending energy crisis and over-dependence on fossil fuels. Weaving all these complex elements into a single narrative is no easy feat, but the film's producers and editors have done a heroic job. This film is an important introduction for any student interested in learning more about anthropology and the environment, environmental justice, and local responses to the globalization of natural resources. What is clear is that the control over and access to the oil beneath the refuge is a highly contentious situation. Without a doubt the people that will benefit from the potential extraction of the oil will never have to live with the inevitable environmental and economic burdens that will result from the destructive exploitation of a non-renewable resource." Amity Doolittle, PhD, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies "An intimate portrayal of the native Gwich'in Indians taking on powerful global energy interests to prevent invasive oil operations threatening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's fragile caribou calving grounds on which the Native people's subsistence has always depended." Sierra Club "Has a strong political point of view and lots of surprises for those who have heard that the vast refuge is barren." San Francisco Chronicle "An excellent resource for teaching about ANWR, oil dependence, climate change in the north, and the situation of contemporary Alaska Natives in the Far North... I would recommend [Oil on Ice] for institutions with environmental policy, environmental science curricula." Thomas F. Thornton, Ph.D., Department of Anthropology, Trinity College "The heart and soul of the film is its depiction of the Refuge itself, replete with stunning images of the landscape and wildlife. In pictures, sounds and words, the film shows that the Refuge is much more than the blank white posterboard that former U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski (R, AK) snidely holds up in his now-famous diatribe in Congress about ANWR... As a teaching tool the Oil on Ice DVD provides plenty of information for students, while potentially inspiring them to action. At the very least, it makes clear that our personal behaviors, such as driving gas-guzzling SUVs, are what drives the continued push for developing new oil sources at the expense of places like ANWR. The accompanying website, which viewers can link to directly from the DVD, provides additional resources and suggestions for personal and community involvement. While the President and Congress have had their say, the debate over ANWR is far from over. For those interested in learning more about the issue, Oil on Ice is a good way to start. It's also a nice way for those already engaged in the debate to introduce the issues to their friends, neighbors, and students." Kreg Ettenger, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Southern Maine "Oil on Ice brings secondary and higher education yet another reminder that each of Earth's citizens is affected by changes in the ecosystem, however far away from home... Teaching opportunities abound: environmental issues, global warming, traditional cultures, as well as critical thinking for the student exposed to the half truths and rhetoric of our Senators and Representatives. Not only will the video tend to inflame activist passions, the CD itself popped into a computer and played as a CD/ROM, provides excellent web access to important resources for those who will get involved, perhaps stay involved, in the political process that may slow or stop the environmental exploitation juggernaut before it's too late. Highly Recommended" Cliff Glaviano, Educational Media Reviews Online "Excellent... A maddening and depressing document of common sense and eco-friendly activism being effectively subverted by greed and deceptive manuevering, the film demonstrates how political power was abused to utterly disregard the well-reasoned warnings enumerated here. Even staunch Republicans would have to admit that Oil on Ice makes a solid, irrefutable argument against unneccessary oil drilling in Alaska... a powerful warning and wake-up call. Recommended." Video Librarian "Demonstrates how promises of safety and responsibility made by politicians and oil companies can never totally protect the land from human errors and natural forces... Oil on Ice is an informative and moving documentary that examines the consequences of oil drilling in the ANWR, as well as alternative solutions to the United States' energy needs. The filmmakers excel at educating the audience about the issues at hand, as well as spotlighting the natural beauty of one of the most remote places in Northern America." Cultural Survival Quarterly "This visually stunning and exhilarating documentary... presents both sides of the issue." Focus On: Planet in Crisis, Media Picks, School Library Journal "Breathtaking...it's a timely argument against exploiting this area for the sake of short-term energy supply. Recommended for public library collections on environmental media." Library Journal