Environmentalist DeChristopher rallies for climate support

Eco-saboteur Tim DeChristopher whipped supporters into shape at a peace rally Saturday on the University of Utah campus.

DeChristopher, who was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on criminal charges in disrupting a land deal, encouraged the group to keep the heat on Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah. The congressman is a key member of the House when it comes to climate legislation.

"I'm asking people to step up and give Jim Matheson courage and show him that lots of us are paying attention," he said. "Those of us who are interested in a livable future — and want to protect the world for our children — are a pretty powerful group."

DeChristopher bid on Bureau of Land Management oil-drilling leases purposefully to run up the value. He didn't intend to actually buy the land, which is near national parks and wilderness areas. He has told the media his actions were specifically to protest an illegal and unjust auction.

If convicted, DeChristopher could face up to 10 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

"The case against me determines how I will spend my next 10 years, but the climate legislation that we have on the table right now will determine the rest of my future — and the future for everyone else who I care about," DeChristopher said.

Rally participant Tony Roehrig, 48, of Salt Lake City, says he writes to Matheson all the time but doesn't know if it does any good. "He won't listen unless there is a mass uprising of people telling him this is what we believe," he said.

But Stover does believe in DeChristopher. "He is pretty gutsy," he said. "This needed to happen. Somebody needed to stand up."

Saturday's Rally for Peace, Clean Air and Health Care was sponsored by myriad Salt Lake-based grass-roots organizations focusing on peace, environment, health and labor.

The event drew about 50 participants.

Members of Peaceful Uprising, a group DeChristopher has launched since his land-bidding actions, attended the event. The nonviolent environmental group focuses on climate change.

"Our key focus is to stop humanity from going over this cliff that we're headed over," said U. freshman Clea Major, 21, of Salt Lake City.

Amanda Blackmore, 19, of Salt Lake City, attended the rally and distributed fliers on her own favorite environmental issue: toxic trails left in the sky by aircraft. "It's happening all over the world," she said.

Rally participant David Stover, 26, of Park City, said he is worried about water pollution. "The ability of the ocean to sustain life is decreasing rapidly," he said. "Animals are being killed off by the species."

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