Culture Club: Viewing and Discussion of 'Necessity - Oil, Water, & Climate Resistance'

The Necessity Defense is a legal argument for the innocence of those acting in the public interest; a justification of actions taken to avoid a greater harm. The film Necessity: Oil, Water & Climate Resistance (2023) follows the fight to stop the expansion of pipelines transporting hazardous tar sands oil through critical waterways in Minnesota. Set against this backdrop, activists argue for civil disobedience on moral grounds, invoking the necessity defense. Attorneys representing them in court must demonstrate that the urgency of the climate crisis justified these actions and that no lawful alternatives were available. Indigenous leaders, together with white allies, bring their knowledge of resistance as well as personal histories of loss and trauma to this struggle, working to protect sacred lands and seek justice. Ultimately, the film raises questions about whether legal strategies alone can adequately address the magnitude of the global climate crisis.

Please join CHN's Culture Club to share in community and discuss the film including: naming parallels we see here in California, protest tactics used in the film, and more. Please note: You will need to watch the 60 minute film - viewable here on Tubi - prior to participating. 

Register here to join us for the discussion! We want to be in community with you.