So....lets talk about Tim DeChristopher. Basically, if you're not following it, this guy is an environmentalist who heard about the auction for oil and gas leases on some land around Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. He wanted to protest along with some others so he went to the auction to do just that. It is my understanding that this was public land they were auctioning so these protesters were saying the auction was illegal. Well, while everyone was outside - Tim decides to go inside and check it out. They ask him if he's a bidder - he says "um..yeah" and they hand him a paddle after he fills out a form and they check his ID.
He proceeds to buy up about 1.7 million dollars worth of land so the oil and gas companies can't.
Tim doesn't HAVE 1.7 million dollars - as I said, he's an environmentalist.
He's in deep doodoo. Ten years in jail kinda doodoo.
I know I shock you all when I say I kinda think this guy is a hero - braver than I am for damn sure. I'm not the only one. People have been peacefully gathering outside his trial all week (singing "Imagine" and doing other VERY granola things). I would have strapped on my Birks and attended, but I have been beaten by the man and am working like a good ant instead.
Who was it who said "dissent is the highest form of patriotism"? I don't know how far that can go, but I can't help but think this guy was doing something for all of us. This isn't something he did for his benefit only - it wasn't exactly self serving. We all like open space - we visit Arches and Canyonlands - public land is our land, right? Not to mention, his dissent was peaceful and it's easy to get behind that.
NOW - it is my practice these days to consult the brains surrounding me at my office. Not only are they smarter than me on many levels, they are usually on the other side of the argument. Tangent: except on the Mormon Communist thought - they agreed - in fact, they went one step further and said the belief of the Mormons (they are all LDS so they know) on what society will look like when JC returns is the most radical form of Communism you have ever seen. The difference, of course, is that it is a choice rather than government imposed.
ANYWAY - The Brains. One said he agreed with DeChristopher. Some points the others made were:
- Civil Disobedience is disruptive and, more importantly - COSTLY. Not just for the trial etc, but these leases would have brought money AND JOBS to Utah.
- The actual footprint of this type of development is very small. The one who agreed with Bidder 70 said this was a matter of opinion because roads would need to be built, scaffold, etc. Its the same argument as Alaska. Ok, so the actual drill is tiny but the crap needed to get to it, get the drill in etc is a pretty messy operation.
There isn't really a point to this post......it's just really interesting. So - yeah, support him - or don't.
Homework:
Consider what you would risk to fudge up something you didn't agree with.
