click here to WATCH DOWNSTREAM FOR FREE ONLINE

At the heart of the multi-billion dollar oil sands industry in Northern Alberta, Dr. John O' Connor's career is jeopardized as he fights for the lives of the aboriginal people living and dying of rare forms of cancer downstream from one of the largest oil operations in the world.

Making the short-list for this year's Academy Award® Nominations for best short documentary, Downstream provides an in-depth look at the toll oil sands extraction is potentially taking on the residents of Ft. Chipewyan. A community affected by high rates of unusual cancer, the people of Fort Chip have struggled for years to have their concerns addressed by government and industry.

Downstream has raised unprecedented awareness in Canada and the U.S. regarding the environmental and social impacts of the tar sands. In conjunction with high level members of the NRDC, it is now being viewed by members of the Obama Administration.

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editor's note: i spent some of my younger years in northern alberta, in a town where most of the employment was in the petro-chemical or mining industries. many of my friends travelled to the tar sands for even higher paying jobs. one friend, i'm still in contact with, prefers to take lower paying jobs now - he says the fort mcmurray of today is very different - they're raping the land and taking the oil as fast as possible, and he doesn't feel it's a safe working environment. he told me a story about a plant sending its workers home one day because of some safety concern, but when the media went there they were told it was a 'free day', no problems at all. there's a lot more going on there, i think, than any of us have been told.