The Trial of Bidder 70

By scott parkin

Tim Dechristopher“At some point we must draw a line across the ground of our home and our being, drive a spear into the land and say to the bulldozers, earthmovers, governments and corporations, “thus far and no further.” If we do not, we shall later feel, instead of pride, the regret of Thoreau, that good but overly-bookish man, who wrote, near the end of his life, “If I repent of anything it is likely to be my good behaviour.” — Edward Abbey

In December of 2008, college student Tim DeChristopher (aka “Bidder 70”) entered into a Bureau of Land Management auction and bid on millions of dollars in oil and gas leases. Tim’s action monkey-wrenched the plans of oilmen and the Bush Administration to develop those leases for profit in the last days of their regime.

Subsequently, Tim was charged with two felonies and, after a long legal process, finally has a court date on February 28. The federal government (yeah, that’s Obama) has made it clear that they are using Tim’s case to intimidate any activists effectively fighting back against the destruction of the climate, the earth and the people living on it.

While Tim is inside facing down the federal government, many others will be outside in solidarity. If you’re able to make it to Salt Lake City, the last weekend of February, please join Peaceful Uprising (the group Tim co-founded) as we call out the wanton destruction of the planet at the hands of corporations and the system that puts us on trial for resisting it.

It’s time to take risks and make sacrifices for this issue. Tim and many others around the world have taken the first step, but climate activists in the U.S. now need to step up and do more than click “send” on an email or post an article on Facebook.

Watch this video of Tim from the RAN offices: