Veteran actor Robert Redford has accused U.S. politicians of blindly supporting oil chiefs in the aftermath of the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Indecent Proposal star, who worked on oilfields as a teenager, has filmed a five-minute video for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to highlight the crisis, which is threatening America's Gulf Coast.
The clip features photos and TV footage of the oil leak, which was triggered when a BP rig collapsed in April (10) and has since been branded one of the worst environmental disasters in America's history.
Redford is angry that so little appears to be being done by American officials as BP chiefs are spearheading the clean-up process - and he is calling on U.S. politicians to monitor the situation closely.
In the clip, Redford says, "Stop listening to the self-interested propaganda of the oil companies and their parrots in Congress.
"Even at the age of 16, it bothered me because I could see what was happening up there (was) that the propaganda of oil companies, and the lobbyists they hire, were selling the idea that it was going to be great for the economy, great for everybody. And I saw it differently."
And Redford has also urged Americans to move away from their dependence on oil and pursue alternate energy sources, such as wind and solar power.
He adds, "I think it is time for the American people to take charge of their own livelihood and say, let's stop this and let's move to a clean energy policy."