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BIDDER 70 tells the story of Tim DeChristopher's extraordinary act of civil disobedience drawing attention to the need for action on climate change.
BIDDER 70 is Tim DeChristopher, the student who monkey-wrenched the 2008 fraudulent Bureau of Land Management Oil and Gas Lease Auction. Bidding $1.8 million to save 22,000 acres of pristine Utah wilderness surrounding Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, with no intention to pay or drill, Tim brought the BLM auction to an abrupt halt. A month later, Barack Obama became president and on February 4, 2009, new Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar, invalidated the entire BLM Auction.
Nevertheless, DeChristopher was indicted on two federal felonies facing penalties of up to ten years in prison and $750,000 in fines. During the two years awaiting his trial, DeChristopher stepped up his activism, evolved into a climate justice leader, and waited through nine trial postponements until, on February 28, 2011 his trial began. BIDDER 70 is Tim's journey from economics student to incarcerated felon.
Amongst those featured are Bill McKibben, James Hansen, Robert Redford, John Schuchardt, David Harris, Larry Gibson, Terry Tempest Williams, and members of Salt Lake City's Peaceful Uprising.
72 minutes
SDH Captioning for the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing
Directed by Beth Gage & George Gage
Produced by Gage & Gage Productions
Editor: Ryan Suffern
Original Score: Paul Pilot
Songs: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
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"Bidder 70 reveals how conscience, consciousness and peaceful civil disobedience remain powerful weapons in the arsenal of dissent...Beth and George Gage have created a well-crafted, inspiring documentary full of fighting spirit."
Ed Rampell, Earth Island Journal
Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times