Tim DeChristopher

Recently while I was attending Power Shift I was informed of one the the leading activists in the Green Revolution, Tim DeChristopher.  He actually was a key speaker at the convention and had very motivating words.


What really caught my attention was his unique background story.


Tim, is a 27-year-old economics major.  After a question on one of his final exams proposed wether or not a sale of public land from the outgoing Bush administration to private oil and gas developers was legal or constitutional.  He finished and went directly to the actual auction.  He participated, without contest, buying public land at $2.25 an acre.  Tim totaled about $1.8 million on 13 lease parcels that he admitted he had no intention or the money to pay.


Charges: 2 Federal Felonies
          1 count of violating the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act
          1 count of False Statement


Penalties: Each Count
          5  years Federal Prision 
          $750,000 in fines


THE  CATCH
The “leases” no longer exist as leases under national government; they were cancelled by Interior Secretary Salazar.  Only 29 of the 116 parcels up for auction went through.  Most of them were permanently dismissed, but a handful of the parcels warranted further evaluation.
Basically...
All the oil companies were given their money back and given a "do-over".  It was if the action never even took place.


The government is embarrassed by this very public trial, and wishes it would go away, but Tim has refused any kind of plea bargain because he thinks a jury of his peers should decide if he was justified in defying an unjust system that is dooming us to an unlivable future.

Outside on the White House. Monday (04/18/11) afternoon march down Pennsylvania Avenue, into Lafayette Park. Tim DeChristopher announces a second sit/sing-in protest in the Camber of Commerce.