Activist Tim DeChristopher to Appear at SYRCL Film Festival
Utah Student Famously Disrupted Oil and Gas Leases on Federal Land
Published on Jan 5, 2009 - 12:21:48 PM

By: South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL)

Nevada City, CA Jan. 5, 2009 - Environmental activist and University of Utah student Tim DeChristopher made national headlines last month by single-handedly disrupting a Bureau of Land Management auction of oil and gas drilling rights on approximately 150,000 acres of southern Utah wilderness. DeChristopher posed as an oil and gas developer and bid hundreds of thousands of dollars on parcels of the land, driving up prices on many of them. He won 13 leases on some 22,500 acres for himself at a cost of 1.7 million dollars, without any intention of paying for them. The action has caused the Bureau of Land Management to delay by one month-and one Presidential Administration-the sale of these leases, many of which are adjacent to protected national parks and monuments.

Today, DeChristopher accepted an invitation from the South Yuba River Citizen League (SYRCL) to appear at their Wild & Scenic® Environmental Film Festival, in Nevada City from January 9-11. DeChristopher was taken into custody for his actions and his case was referred to federal prosecutors for possible fraud charges. Meanwhile, he has made numerous appearances on radio and television news programs, including an extensive interview on December 22nd with Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman.

SYRCL Board Member and founder Roger Hicks said "We felt DeChristopher's courageous action is a perfect example of how one person can really make a difference during this perilous time for our planet. We have filmmakers and activists from around the world featured in the films showcased at Wild & Scenic, and we're thrilled to have Tim contribute to this conversation."

In accepting the invitation, DeChristopher said, "I'm excited about coming to the festival because it seems to be filled with the people who motivate others to action by telling the stories that the world desperately needs to hear right now."

In discussing the disruption of the auction sale on Democracy Now!, DeChristopher stated: "I saw an opportunity to keep some oil in the ground and give us a better chance for a livable future and if I passed up that opportunity, then I wouldn't be able to live with that. And so, I just had to make that choice on my own."

Asked whether he was working in collaboration with an established environmental organization, DeChristopher asserts that he was not, "I've seen the need for more serious action by the environmental movement and to protect a livable future for all of us. I've seen that need for a long time. And frankly, I've been hoping that someone would step up and someone would come out and be the leader and someone would put themselves on the line and make the sacrifices necessary to get us on a path to a more livable future. And I guess I just couldn't wait any longer for that someone to come out there and had to accept the fact that that someone might be me."

Presented by Patagonia, SYRCL's 7th annual Wild & ScenicR Environmental Film Festival features over 120 films this year, including a number of films examining the environmental and human health impacts of coal, oil and natural gas exploration on public lands.

DeChristopher will present the "Spirit of Activism" award at the filmmakers Award Ceremony on Saturday, January 10th. He is also scheduled to appear Friday Night at the Oddfellows venue after the film "National Sacrifice Zone," and at the Wild & Scenic Gala. For details of the event and to purchase advanced tickets, visit .

DeChristopher can be contacted through his new website http://www.bidder70.org/www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org

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