Proposed New Charge

Michelle, Brenna, Allyson, and Daniel each have one additional felony charge proposed to be added to their current misdemeanor and felony charges. The new charge would be criminal damage to property, due to a complaint from the prosecution claiming damage to the valve in excess of $1,000. The previous charge, aiding and abetting attempted damage to pipeline property implied there was no actual damage, perhaps recalling that the previous Valve Turner case in Minnesota was thrown out because the charge (property destruction to a pipeline) could not be proven. Our team is still learning the extent of maximum penalties associated with this new charge. Additional charges may be added up to and, in some cases, during a trial, while the defense will have time to contest charges and defend innocence up to and throughout the trial.

In this time of waiting and considering the uncertainty ahead, your thoughts, prayers, and support are incredibly helpful for our defendants. We would love to see some of you for our 'contested omnibus hearing' May 8th in Itasca County, more information here.

Victory for Necessity Defense!

The Four Necessity Valve Turners speaking last month in Duluth, on a panel facilitated by Tara Houska

The 2016 Valve Turners cases are largely wrapped up, but Ken Ward, a dedicated climate activist, is still appealing his case. The most recent finding of the Court of Appeals is that the lower court was wrong to exclude expert witnesses and evidence supporting his use of the necessity defense.

The Court of Appeals found that: (1) “Ward presented sufficient evidence that he reasonably believed the crimes he committed were necessary to minimize the harms that he perceived[;]” (2) “Ward’s past successes in effectuating change through civil disobedience in conjunction with the proposed expert witnesses and testimony about Ward’s beliefs were sufficient evidence to persuade a fair minded, rational juror that Ward’s beliefs were reasonable[;]” (3) “Ward…offered sufficient evidence to show that the harms of global climate change were greater than the harm of breaking into Kinder Morgan’s property[;]” and (4) that “Ward…offered sufficient evidence to create a question of fact on whether there were reasonable legal alternatives.”

Ken Wad's action was taken in concert with four other Valve Turners including two in Minnesota, Annette Klapstein and Emily Johnston, who were granted the necessity defense before their case was acquitted for lack of evidence that they had caused harm.

These precedents are useful as the Four Necessity Valve Turners prepare for their ongoing hearings and eventual trials.

Permaculture and Activism

Diane, our media spokeswoman, Allyson, and Daniel prepare to speak on a panel at St Stephen's Church last Friday

Last week Allyson, Daniel, and Diane talked to an audience in Minneapolis about how permaculture principles rooted their activism as Four Necessity Valve Turners.

One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from an audience member, a member of the Minnesota 8, a group of Vietnam War civil disobedience activists,. He stood up and said, "The act itself is a gift, and that you are able to speak on it, that's also a gift." We couldn't agree more! If you would like the Valve Turners to speak, or if you have questions for them, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are currently very interested in podcasts and other opportunities to share their story as human-interest pieces.

There was so much good content shared in this talk, we will need to revisit it, but for the moment the following quotes and snippets are among the best soundbites:

How does faith practice intersect with permaculture practice and radical hospitality?`

• Daniel: The three ethics of permaculture work together: earth care, people care, fair share, and permaculture further works with new forms of community. These can be understood through the Gandhian principles of structural program, inner work, and satyagraha or confronting systems of destruction with love. We need all three for societal transformation.

• Allyson: my favorite part of Catholic Social Teaching is the intrinsic value of all life. The use of something to me is not important, but the intrinsic value of all things - from people to dogs to the microbes in the soil. Activists are really paying attention to what is going on and responding. Society takes our attention away from what matters. In permaculture we first sit and pay attention for a long time without doing anything. I will sit and notice and write it all down. I believe all life has dignity so I pay attention and notice what is happening in order to take action. Both Direct Action and Permaculture require the same practices.