The completely destitute Ãlbaron.

Creative protest against new oil fields: U.S. student Tim DeChristopher offered with summarily, when companies in an auction promotion rights in the vicinity of nature wanted to secure. He got the contract for 1.7 million U.S. dollars - which he did not have. Now the threat of eco-heroes a penalty.

 

He is a law-breakers - from the prosecutor's office.

He is a rebel - from the perspective of the U.S. environmental movement.

DeChristopher Tim is a business student, with a lot Chuzpe against the interests of a powerful industry aufbegehrt: He has an auction to profitable corporations vied country. And so that drilling for oil and gas in the vicinity of nature prevented.

AP
Renitenter Student: Tim DeChristopher be in court

In a highly controversial all-must-get-action had George W. Bush's government shortly before the elections of 2008 pristine areas for drilling for oil and gas released. Specifically, it was a matter from the perspective of environmentalists very ecologically fragile region in the southeast of the state of Utah, between Arches National Park and Canyon Country. On 19 December, the auction for leases for the land instead. Tim DeChristopher came around to protest. Then he followed a spontaneous inspiration, as he put it in a
Posted television said: The student gave himself out as a bidder, grabbed one of the paddle with which their bids auctioneers show - and with increased wacker.

In fact, he had neither the intention nor the means to acquire the land. Finally, he was awarded the contract for about 9000 hectares of land - 13 parcels for 1.7 million U.S. dollars. A sum over the course the student does not have. When it became clear at the auction broke from chaos.

The end of last week, three months after the coup, the now 27-year-old from the grand jury in Salt Lake City indicted. Accused of a federal auction disruption and deception in the auction. On 28 April needs to be before the District responsibility.

Million-dollar spreads for nature

"I wanted something about the exploitative nature of the business," said DeChristopher, "I wanted to the lack of transparency and democratic participation in this auction out." The student of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City does not belong to any major environmental organization, but acted on their own. And drove in the auction as a bidder and the price of another country, without in the end awarded the contract.

In the vicinity of the area to the early promotion of oil and gas was provided, there are natural wonders such as the Nine Mile Canyon and Arches National Park. Conservationists feared the sandstone formations, the holes could be damaged. Already in advance environmental activists had therefore voted against the auction and brought before the court exemptions for some areas was obtained.

In interviews DeChristopher justifies his actions. In his eyes it was an act of civil disobedience: "This auction was a fraud on the American people and a threat to our future." His behavior in the auction, he does not regret - it was a legitimate form of protest have been.

Many Americans seem to see the same. On the Internet sympathizers have a fund-raising platform and collect money for legal fees. According to DeChristopher are already about $ 100,000 came together.

Exact penalty is still pending

Financial support is DeChristopher need for him to come to significant exposures. The U.S. Agency for Land Management calls $ 81,000 from him - and this is only the civil part. Criminal law, it could come much harder.

AP
Arches National Park in Utah: Environmentalists fear of the sensitive nature

In the case of a conviction is the discretion of the judge, according to prosecutor Brett Tolman large. So while DeChristopher could get away with impunity - but also ten years imprisonment or a fine of $ 750,000 would be possible. Tolman was implying that he could hardly demand the maximum punishment, but rather a procedural arrangement is interested. In such deals, the defendants committed often one less serious offense guilty and receives a correspondingly lesser punishment.

The auction was organized by the U.S. Agency for Land Management, the Ministry of Interior - and specifically its former director Patrick Shea represents DeChristopher legally. He also said that the prosecutor had already signaled a willingness to close the case as misconduct and not as an offense worthy. DeChristopher would be to get round a prison sentence. Finally, nobody was injured and no property has been destroyed, so Shea.

Reversal of the Obama Administration

Daniel Gunnell sees it differently. The managing partner of the Twilight Resources, LLC, one of the exploitation of the country seriously interested company, is "angry. DeChristopher Tim comes into the auction, driving without a penny to have high prices and costs our company $ 600,000."

7.2 million U.S. dollars, the auction brought a total, 116 lots were auctioned off - for 13 of them were DeChristopher the maximum bid. Especially hard-liners of the energy industry would like to use his case to an example statuieren.

Meanwhile, however, the oil companies have very different concerns. After Bush
Last-minute regulations Barack Obama took a U-turn quickly, the new U.S. Interior Ken Salazar to its authority, the controversial leases for 77 of the 116 parcels auctioned unacceptable. Reason: They were too close to the National Park and had never been offered for sale may be.

This gives rise to new litigation. The successful auction of the lessees have to imply that they want to challenge Salazar thrust.

For DeChristopher should it be a triumph, that he is aware of the new US-backed government gets.