From Orwellian executive orders, stem-cell research, torture, abstinence education to compromised federal appointments, broken countries, armies, educational and economic systems (short list), the undoing will take years.
Interior Secretary Salazar undid the illegal BLM auction at which Tim DeChristopher did his brilliant act of civil disobedience. Regrettably, US Attorney Brett Tolman, a Bush (Hatch) appointment, has decided to prosecute Tim on two felony charges, up to 10 years in prison.
I write today ask you for two things:
We were ecstatic when another American Hero, James Hansen called to offer his support at Tim’s arraignment (another reason to recommend this post and urge more media).
- Please recommend this post in hopes of getting some national media attention on this travesty of justice motivated by the Oil Lobby and right-wing politics.
We simply cannot let Tim go to jail for THAT!
You will recall Tim DeChristopher is the University of Utah student who disrupted a last minute, illegal oil and gas lease give-away auction of pristine public land in Utah last December. Timeline here.
Never mind that the auction was declared illegal Never mind that no one has ever been prosecuted for not paying for BLM leases awarded at auction. Never mind that we raised the money to pay the leases and the BLM rejected it and is now demanding Tim pay an $81,000 fine.
Never mind that US Attorney Brett Tolman is on his way out and simply trying to establish his anti-environmental bonafides (like this guy) in order to run against Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT).
With all the political under currents at play, it’s impossible to predict the outcome. We know Matheson has submitted candidate names for replacement US Attorneys. We also know that an unnamed oil lobbyist knew about the indictment before Tim’s lawyer did.
We as citizens of this planet understand that Tim's actions symbolize something much larger than a dysfunctional government auction but a corrupted system catering to old dirty energy. This fossil fuel pathway is the same one that will lead us over the climate tipping point if we do not ALL peacefully object to its destructive course. Our collective future is at stake, we must stand in solidarity with Tim to advocate for the world we want to see our children grow up in today or face the largest regret in human history tomorrow.
Thank you ALL (and a special thanks to Michael Raysses for his great and 'rescued diary' -Anatomy of a Clusterfuck)
...and of course JohnnyRook RIP