Deseret News | Activist defends his lease tactics

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Activist defends his lease tactics

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Re: Marie | 4:54 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Where do I begin? Maybe it's in the water, or maybe it's the liberalism that seems to isolate the people who share your sentiments, but I am profoundly horrified by the ignorance that you have demonstrated over this matter. As I sit and contemplate what you said, I feel the need to correct you. After all, God gave us this Earth, but we are NOT destroying all of it's beauty. Yes, I am religious and yes, I am open-minded. Shocking isn't it! Not really, I've just learned the special secret that you can be religious and still be a good person. Maybe some of you should try it. It gives life more substance. I don't think we are the clueless ones. We think things through, and then we take action.

Johnny Bravo | 4:54 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

*** "This is truly an act of civil disobedience central to the America tradition of social justice when other avenues of discourse fail and I applaud you, Tim, for your courage." ***

There's another term for civil disobedience - a more accurate term that saves you the trouble of a few extra syllables: anarchy. Perhaps, Ms. Williams, I should exercise my "rights" to civil disobedience by drilling for oil on federal land without a permit. Perhaps I should round up illegal aliens on my own and imprison them or drive them across the border. Perhaps I should withhold my taxes because I don't like how they're being spent. When DeChristopher and Throeau do it you call it "civil disobedience." When conservatives do it you call it criminal.

*** "what about the selling off of our public lands at the last minute of the last hour of a rogue administration who has broken the back of this country" ***

What about the declaration of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument by Bill Clinton as a favor to an Indonesian billionaire? What about the fact that legally purchased held by several businesses were rendered worthless?

Independent | 5:22 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Booo. Bad form my friend, bad form. I hope they prosecute for fraud.

Comments continue below

geedub | 5:47 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

The BLM should make him pay for his purchases or prosecute him. He should get a REAL job and pay up. Maybe SUWA or the Sierra Club will kick in too.

Its just like the liberals to resort to anarchy when they can't get their way through the democratic process.

Liberty | 5:55 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Civil disobedience isn't truly civil disobedience unless the law is enforced. He committed fraud. He should be tried for his crime. If he is found guilty, they should throw the book at him. Gandhi demanded it.

Jordan | 6:09 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

The guy entered a contract to buy $1.4 Million dollars worth of leases of BLM land for oil and gas exploration, so make him pay up. Garnish his wages, take his car, his home whatever so he can purchase the leases that he entered into a contract to buy.

full support | 6:12 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

for this man, I have no sympathy for these multi-million-dollar companies, do you?

Yep, I'm a supporter | 6:16 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Tim DeChristopher is a hero unlike the blind sheep and Bush loyalists who condemn him. He finally stood up to a government agency that is corrupt the core. The real criminals here are the BLM and the Bushies for 8 years of absolute criminal activity in administering our public lands for the fossil fuel profiteers. All the close-minded bigots calling for his hanging should do their homework. Google Gale Norton, Steven Griles, Rejane "Johnnie" Burton, or Julie McDonald just for a sampling of the MANY Interior appointees who have been the foxes guarding the hen house. We need more people with Tim DeChristopher's courage, not less.

Anonymous | 6:19 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Someone please clue me in. How does disrupting the process and driving up the price for these lands save them? This country will never become energy dependent with this extreme attitude. Isn't it possible to exploit our resources without also exploiting the land? I suspect the time will come when we'll have to make the hard choices.

BigJN | 6:21 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Not surprising, another dishonest and deceitful environmentalist activist. A know nothing kool-aid drinking fool.

Sus | 6:45 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Selling off our land and our future for a bowl of pottage (a few gallons of oil, and some temporary jobs) IS A CRIME against our people! DeChristopher did nothing illegal; he was just more effective than the average activist at making his point heard. My hat goes off to him.

washcomom | 6:49 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

3arwax - Crack me up! a "dishonest liar". Is there any other kind?? I like the idea of conservationism, but to swing the pendulum the complete way of totally abdicating all the modern progress that we have made is going against all that we have learned in our past. While we do need to find alternatives for the present fuels, we also need to be mindful that we cannot completely stop that process until another one is securely in place. We build upon what was built before, and make it stronger, faster, leaner, and more efficient. I, for one, don't want to revert to the horse and buggy days. Now do you?

Nuts | 6:55 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Having worked in both the energy and mining industries for a number of years, I have seen my share of "activists" and their antics. It's okay for you to have an opposing opinion. It's okay to voice it in the proper forums and to publicly protest. it's okay to fight for your cause using the legal system. But when you disable a transmission line because you don't like nuclear power, or destroy excavation equipment because you don't like mining, or fraudulently bid up prices and win bids at a government auction because you don't like the system, you're no longer an activist. You're not practicing civil disobedience like some college student chaining himself to a gate. You're a criminal. And as a criminal, you have no voice.

Anonymous | 7:42 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

He should be required to honor his bids. If not it should be handled the way it is handled when anyone defaults on there financial obligations. What a dufus!!!

Surely ye jest | 7:53 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

RE: Yep, I'm a supporter | 6:16 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

If courage is defined as disrupting a legitimate government process of selling leases, then word is now irrelevant. I forgot that only "environmentalists do their homework". Whenever someone opposes the green global warming view, they are labeled as uneducated, ignorant and most importantly--not allowed to ever question anyone, in anyway, who are for environmental causes.

If someone disrupted a Greenpeace action out at sea or somewhere else would be labeled a criminal by the left instead of a "civil disobedient".

RL | 8:09 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Bravo Tim
Sometimes a person has to bring to light the illegal activities of our government by what ever peaceful means necessary . This sale has been forced on the public (without any meaningful opportunity to comment) by the same lame duck President that has brought us a record budget deficit , massive unemployment , and the largest corporate bailout in the history of this country (700 billion Dollars ) . And heres the hilarious part they sold 110 parcels for a mere 7 million dollars . Where is the outrage about that , its another corporate giveaway and to this Presidents buddies and all you people can do is muster moral outrage against Tim for doing you the favor of standing on his principals.We should be on our knees thanking him .

Metalgimp | 8:16 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Many stand ready to defend this person. Consider this: the results of this case lie not in public opinion rather in courts who either have been suborned by socialists, communists, or anarchists or have been intimidated by them.
We are no longer in a healthy society, because too many of us are willing to blog instead of calling on the real effective powers-that-be. Get off the couch and call your courts and elected leaders. Time to draw the line and not allow us proponents of freedom to be dissuaded any further.
Legal defense is constitutional, but I want to know WHO is funding the defense.

Tim | 8:32 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Bravo ma friend. Ya did it! Ya went and got yur name in the newspaper. Ya gocher self all these not-so-swift environmentalist types fawnin' all over ya. By golly, even Terry Tempest Williams laks ya! Maybe, jes maybe, ya can get on the Tee Vee....

P.S. Ah hates awl too. Ah drives a Prius.

w8atick | 8:43 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Why so quick to judge this dude? He's offering to procure something that he clearly can't afford. This thinking seems to be all the rage lately...kind of like the US government (our tax dollars) trying to procure everything from toxic housing assets/CDOs to bailing out the US automobile makers/UAW with no clear way to pay for said purchases :(

go | 8:54 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Tim,

go directly to jail
do not pass Go
do not collect $200

What a wast of an article | 9:02 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

This is the biggest no news article I have ever seen. Why should I even comment. This person deserves no attention and and the lawless behavior shouldn't be rewarded by poorest journalism judgement.

A miracle | 9:06 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

It took 4 tries ( being banned 3 times) and finally desnews let me post my non vulgar post. Miracles do happen still.

Naive | 9:22 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

How sad to see such poor misguided people thinking that they are doing some wonderful thing. No, they look stupid and are breaking the law....it's called fraud.

mark | 10:00 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Johnny Bravo and Surely ye jest, both of you state that maybe you should practice civil disobedience through actions like disrupting green peace activities or rounding up "illegal aliens" and imprisoning them on your own.
Usually civil disobedience is seen as taking action against oppressive authorities. Now your ideas of not paying taxes as a protest against a government you do not agree with, Johnny Bravo, would be seen as legitimate protest, rounding up people and imprisoning them would not be. You do see the difference, right?
Also for everyone complaining that the man committed a crime, well yes, of course he did, that is the essence of civil disobedience. That is what is at the core of all civil disobedience.
Someone should set up a website to gather donations to pay off his bids.

Don't Bring Charges | 10:56 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

He doesn't deserve to be a hero, but he doesn't deserve to go to jail. Fine him, and give him a chance to make something out of his life. He just got filled with hippie nut job ideas at the U of U. Classes telling him to fight the man, and commit crimes. It is just sad that good people are wasting there talents in vain pursuits.

Courageous? | 11:00 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

He needs his butt kicked! He's done nothing more than perpetuate a crime and if I did that my dad would kick my butt. It sounds like less and less discipline is resulting in more and more undisciplined actions. Just another example of our wayward youth.

I hope he gets the full wrath of our legal system. There has to be accountability for this type of action. Let's see how much courage our law makers have...

full support... | 11:09 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Show your sympathy by paying his dues to the system.
We operate under the rule of law here in Utah. As a newcomer you should have been more careful. He does the crime, he does the time. This man made a promise and a covenant, let him keep it.

Oregonian | 11:46 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

What kind of a home do you people live in? A. Wood. What kind of clothes do you wear? A. cotton/poly. How did your grocery store get the produce your eating? A. Trucking industry.

Point- Environmentalism is about using resources smartly... not putting fences up and wasting our own resources while we blindly (and withought any inhibition, or BMP's that we can control)use the resources of other countries. It's completely irrisponsible.

rohjo | 11:52 p.m. Dec. 21, 2008

Bravo DeChristopher. Like frogs in hot water, not knowing they're cooked till they're boiled, hypnotized society continues business as usual. Viable energy independence will come from long-overdue alternate energy. Climate crises are already being banked on by international reinsurance firms and were reported on several years ago by the Pentagon in terms of civil disruption. To fully bloom, they need only state agencies and commerce wearing blinders and a public asleep at the wheel.

Disgust | 12:14 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

All this goes to show is the radical ideas of extreme environmentalism and their belief in creating a zero population world. I don't know if they can ever face reality

Respond | 12:16 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I think the BLM should handle the situation just like the liberal environmental nut jobs would. File a law suit against DeChristopher for being racist and discriminating against the BLM, Oil and other companies involved.

Civil Disobedience? | 12:30 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

I wonder if those of you who commend DeChristopher for "Civil Disobedience" would share similar sympathies for a those who employ "Civil Disobedience" in shooting California Condors or Spotted Owls? How about civil disobedience in removing or damaging historic or Native American sites or artifacts? What about bombing abortion clincs? I doubt it. Apparently, "Civil Disobedience" is only acceptable for liberal causes. People defending his actions as "Civil Disobedience" are hypocrites.

mark | 12:46 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Oregonian, you did not answer my question to ya. Is that because you did not have a good answer?
Or maybe you did not see it. So I will ask again.
You say that all the extraction industry does is clear "a 50x100 spot of desert in Utah to drill a whole the size of a softball"
So how does the industry get the equipment into this 50X100 (foot I assume) spot of desert? By helicopter?
And how do they remove and transport any product? By blimp?

Lew Jeppson | 12:55 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Back in the robber barons days of American capitalism speculators routinely engaged in such bluffs for their own interests. Today they are revered as the inventors of our economic system. This kid did the same kind of thing in defense of the environment. Those of you who drip venom towards this guy might think about how consistent you are.

Always right | 1:12 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

An example needs to be made of this guy that there are real consequences to being a fraud. I hope he is fully prosecuted and convicted and then forgotten like all those before him and all the rest to come.

Rosa Parks | 10:10 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Wow. Just wow. I mean, how dare this guy try to preserve some of the pristine Utah landscape. How dare he care more about preserving the earth than his own convenience and comfort. The comments here have convinced me that many of you would have urged a judge to "throw the book" at Rosa Parks for her audacity to defy city ordinance and refuse to give up her bus seat for a white person. After all, she "broke the law." But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, this is Utah, where any speaking out or thinking for yourself is discouraged. Anyone who breaks any law is subjected to the clamor of the mob demanding their pound of flesh. Mercy, compassion, and understanding have no place here.

Its funny | 11:15 a.m. Dec. 22, 2008

This is just funny. If there were no rules in place that prevented just anyone from bidding, no credit checks, company backgound, etc. Then hopefully, this will inspire the BLM to put those rules in place.

Of course it does cost money, so that will be lost, but everything costs money. It will probably cost us more to imprison him than to re-auction the land. Also, all the parsels should be re-auctioned, since he changed the prices.

Come on, let's do it again

Too those praising this radical. | 1:40 p.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Too those praising this radicalized environmentalist...

You are no better than those who praise Osama bin Laden and others for radicalising Islam just because what they are doing fits YOUR agenda.

The environment is "Religion" to many. Radicalizing it to this point that you praise breaking the law, lashing out at the opposition at all times, in all places and at all costs (even at the cost of your life just to strike fear into the infadels...)???

You are becoming radicals! No better than those who have hijacked Islam to serve their self-ish agendas.

Get back into the mainstream and use legal methods to carry our your agenda. Don't turn weak-minded kids like this into the next generation of Timothy McVeigh's!!!

@Steve Glaser | 1:20 p.m. | 2:08 p.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Are there really people out there that have no clue what law this guy broke?

If you're really that daft you have no business contributing to an opinion page. Go back to reading the funny papers.

It's called "Fraud". You have to sign an agreement to participate in an auction that promises you will honor your bids (I had to sign a similar agreement just to participate in a car auction and the agreement and the legal implications of backing out on your bids is clearly stated in the agreement). You usually have to put some money up front that can be refunded after the auction (to bid on a car it was $200). I assume to bid on these contracts the guarantee money would be much more.

But signing an agreement you knowingly intend to violate is "fraud", especially when you know your actions will cost other's large sums of money and lost business opportunities.

Who would ever hire this guy? | 2:15 p.m. Dec. 22, 2008

Who in their right mind would ever hire a guy with no moral compass like this? No integrity? No realization that anyone else exists, that anything matters except his selfish agenda?

Who would hire a guy who has proven his word means nothing?

Could you let him work within your company knowing he just does his own thing? and rules, laws, company policy, etc, are nothing to him?

One thing's for sure... He's almost radicalized to the point where he would be PERFECT for a position at SUWA. I'll be the not only defend him but eventually hire him to do their bidding.

Think before speaking liberals! | 2:35 p.m. Dec. 22, 2008

All this anti-Bush rhetoric from the liberals who fully support this guy are going to come back to haunt you guys in about one month when Obama takes the wheel.

When he does, he will need the support of all of America, not just you radicals. Yet in spewing your costic rhetoric and continuing the "Attack Bush and Conservatives at all costs" tactics, you are driving a wedge that will ruin-obama's-chances-of-success. The more radical YOU get the more radical your opposition will get.

Do you really want about 50% of the population radicalized to the point of this bozo of above... to the point where the law has no meaning anymore and they feel they are all crusaders for a cause... Fighting tooth and nail, life and limb, with total disregard to any laws or rules of integrity just to insure Barak Obama fails???

This is a time for you guys to be cooling the rhetoric and trying to round up support from both sides for your guy! NOT driving wedges and offending as many people on the other side as you can (who you will eventually be needed for Obama's agenda to succeed).

You need to-realise-the-need-to-cooperate-and-organize. You-can't-just-disregard-the-rule-of-law-and-ram-your-agenda-down-people's-throat!

Work-on-building-more-consensus...NOT-on-radicalizing-your-mind-controled-activist-fools-like-Tim!

To: Really, Rosa Parks | 3:52 p.m. Dec. 22, 2008

You said, "Part of civil disobedience is accepting the consequences of your actions, which Tim in no way will do." You obviously know nothing of the situation because Tim has repeatedly stated that he is willing to go to jail, if necessary. This statement was quoted in both the SL Trib and in his interview with Democracy Now! that was recorded this morning. Sounds like an apt comparison to me. Google the program and you can read the transcript of the interview, but don't look at anything else on the site, it might open your eyes and mind to the world outside your little shell.

basement writ | 10:21 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

It is really interesting to me that some people that support Tim in his fraudulent actions protest that those calling for Tim's conviction in that fraud as being hateful. They are not being hateful - they are commenting on the fraud. FRAUD. That IS a pretty strong word, but it's not about hate. It's about justice, and doing what is right. Two WRONGS don't make a single little piece of "RIGHT".

There is an equally strong word - BLIND. People who are blind in their own ambition can't see the difference between TRUTH and FRAUD, LIBERTY and the supposed "freedom to do whatever you want" kind of "freedom". We have plenty of THOSE kinds of people behind bars. Which would you rather meet with, do business with, be friends with? Would you want something like this to happen to YOU? NO? Then be JUST and RIGHT with all. We are all accountable for our actions.

Aaron | 12:22 p.m. Dec. 23, 2008

Why is everyone fighting for big oil?

And, he didn't hurt anyone. How can you relate spiking trees and killing construction workers to wasting super rich people's time?

I believe that the current president sneaked this land grab in at the last minute so no one would notice. I also believe that we may now have a chance for the president elect to do something about the current president's trick on the American people.

Is the solution to bulldoze our wilderness to make way for a polluting energy source or is it to put money into new forms of cheaper renewable energy? Both create a lot of jobs. I am simplifying it, but isn't it simple?

jc | 12:43 p.m. Dec. 23, 2008

He bought the stuff, why is no one making him pay for them. He owes the BLM 1.7 mil. and he should have to pay it off. It's a pity we don't live in the day and age of debt prisons.

Nicely done | 2:50 p.m. Dec. 23, 2008

Way to go Tim.

Stephen | 7:36 a.m. Dec. 26, 2008

Kudos. Absolutely perfect in every respect.

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