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THIRST FOR JUSTICE focuses on three battles for clean water—on the Navajo Reservation, in Flint MI, and at Standing Rock—united in the belief that Water Is Life.
Armed only with facts and their illnesses, extraordinary citizens take on industry and government, risking arrest to protect clean water. From Flint to the Navajo Nation, via Standing Rock, this is their story.
THIRST FOR JUSTICE follows Janene Yazzie as she searches for the source of contamination in her son's school's water in Sanders, Arizona. She suspects drinking uranium-contaminated water from the 1979 Church Rock dam spill caused her ovarian cancer. Armed with a geiger counter she begins investigating radioactive waste on the Navajo Nation and finds areas hotter than evacuation zones in Chernobyl.
When the epic movement for water justice ignites in Standing Rock, Janene is compelled to join. There she meets Flint water activist Nayyirah Shariff and their struggles converge. Janene travels to Flint, where she sees first hand the similarities between what's happening in this inner-city and the Navajo experience. The sacredness of water flows through the film, with the water ceremonies and teachings from water carriers, like Mary Lyons and other Water Protectors.
58 minutes
SDH Captioned
Directed by Leana Hosea
Produced by Leana Hosea
Co-Producers: Tony Infante, Fateh Ahmed
Editor: Rich Smith
Cinematography: Leana Hosea, Lauretta Prevost
Music: Anthony Bruno, Sara Kay
Executive Producers: John Carver, Tim Wadhams, Howdie Holmes, Jeremy Hosea, Maureen Vanderputt, Kandy Martin
We offer two basic screening options: in-person or virtual. Book an in-person screening using the button below. For an online screening, fill out the virtual screening request form.
For more information on virtual screening options, visit our Learn About Screenings page.
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Screening options: COMMUNITY SCREENINGS (single events with license to charge admission) |
Michael Mascarenhas, Professor of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California-Berkeley, Author, Lessons in Environmental Justice: From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter and Idle No More
Randy Hayes, Founder, Rainforest Action Network
"Motivating and inspiring...THIRST FOR JUSTICE tells the stories of two of the communities that are among the hundreds that experience water injustice across the country. It's a problem of priorities, racism, and classism. Watch the film, get informed, and support people and organizations doing something about it. Stand up with the people asking for clean water and not with greedy corporations."
Dr. J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida, Bilingual Senior Climate and Water Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists
"Galvanizing."
Nora Lee Mandel, Maven's Nest
This spirit of resistance is at the heart of the film, and serves as a much needed silver lining around the bleak cloud of angry, toxic rainwater. Whether it's rallies outside the Flint town hall, or demonstrations at the Standing Rock Reservation, the message they send is clear - 'we're not gonna take it'."
Ben Johnston, Take One Cinema
"Hard hitting."
Elliot Grove, Founder, Raindance Film Festival
"Everyone deserves access to safe, clean, affordable water that we can drink, use in our homes, and doesn't harm or make us sick. Thirst for Justice shows us that this is not a guarantee. We can and must do better. We must become advocates and allies, demand action from utilities, elected officials, and others, and work together to find durable and equitable solutions that raise our sights to include healthy rivers and clean water for all."
Nicole Silk, President and CEO, River Network