Dr. Santas’ Study Questions
for
Bidder 70
(Beth Gage, George Gage, 2012; 73min.)
(in progress)
Things to Look For:
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Connection to Gasland, If a Tree Falls, A Fierce Green Fire, The Yes Men Fix the World
See Wikipedia Articles on Radical Environmentalism and Tim DeChristopher
See Inside Climate News page Tim DeChristopher Talks and Peaceful Uprising website
See my Notes on 4th Wave Environmentalism, especially the discussion of environmentalism’s third
wave.
Discussion Questions:
1. Tim DeChristopher’s actions are identified as an act of civil disobedience in the tradition of
Thoreau, Gandhi and King. Explain the key features of this type of protest and how
DeChristopher’s action embodies it.
2. Compare DeChristopher’s action to those depicted in If a Tree Falls, both the actions of the Earth
Liberation Front (ELF) and the peaceful protest tactics depicted in the story that were abandoned
by the ELF (e.g., tree sitting).
3. Edward Abbey, author of The Monkey Wrench Gang, is quoted by DeChristopher in the film as
saying “Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.” Based on your reading of Abbey and your
viewing of the film, describe what you think Abbey would say about DeChristopher’s
“monkeywrenching.”
4. Explain the significance of the 350.org organization, what this number represents and what the
membership stands for. Look up its co-founder, Bill McKibben, and some of its events and
comment.
5. Comment on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under recent presidential administrations.
Comment on its mission1 and how it may or may not be fulfilling it in recent years. Compare the
discussion in this film to that of Gasland.
6. Comment on the Craig’s List Help Wanted ad DeChristopher ran for “a representative that actually
represents us.” Given that the emerging candidate lost, in what sense is this tactic useful or viable
as a means of democratizing our democracy? What would be your list of credentials you’d expect
of a state representative?
7. DeChristopher’s attorney early on tried two approaches to his defense: the choice between evils
defense and the selective prosecution defense. Both of these were dismissed by presiding judge,
Dee Benson. Explain the rationale for these defenses and for dismissal of these types of evidence,
as well significance of this court action for modern environmental activism.
8. Given that the auction that DeChristopher ended up being deemed illegal, does it make sense that
he was still being charged with unlawfully disrupting it? Why would the presiding judge at his trial,
Dee Benson, disallow this as evidence?
9.
According to BLM government website, “It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and
productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.”
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