Vice Season 9 Episode 4 The Price of Oil & Chasing Ghosts

In the fourth episode of Vice's ninth season, titled "The Price of Oil & Chasing Ghosts," viewers are taken on a journey to explore the impact of the global oil industry and its often devastating consequences. The team investigates how the pursuit of oil has led to environmental disasters, political instability, and human rights violations around the world.

The first half of the episode focuses on the oil industry's impact on the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador. Correspondent Gianna Toboni speaks to local indigenous tribes who are fighting against multinational corporations that have polluted their land and water sources. The team also visits polluted areas and speaks to scientists who explain the long-term effects of oil contamination on the environment and public health.

Toboni then travels to Nigeria, where she meets with oil rebels who have taken up arms against the Nigerian government and foreign oil companies. The rebels argue that the government and corporations have exploited the country's resources, while neglecting the needs of the local population. Toboni examines the roots of the conflict and the ways in which oil extraction has fueled corruption and human rights abuses in the region.

The second half of the episode focuses on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada. Correspondent Alzo Slade speaks to First Nations communities and activists who are demanding justice for the hundreds of indigenous women who have vanished or been killed in recent years. Slade delves into the systemic racism and discrimination that indigenous women experience, and the ways in which law enforcement and government officials have failed to address the crisis.

Throughout the episode, Vice journalists highlight the complexities and contradictions of the global oil industry. On the one hand, oil remains one of the world's most valuable resources, providing energy and powering economies around the globe. On the other hand, the pursuit of profits has come at a heavy cost for many communities, particularly those on the front lines of extraction and production.

" The Price of Oil & Chasing Ghosts" is a powerful episode that sheds light on crucial issues facing our world today. By exploring the human impact of the oil industry, the team reveals the often-hidden costs of our consumption-driven global economy, and the urgent need for more sustainable and equitable approaches to energy production and distribution.