Today, a handful oil pumping stations churn the ground     within the narrow boundary of land between three National Parks in southern Utah. Giant mechanical rigs of plate steel and iron cables pump away drawing up oil and releasing an acrid smell that stains the air.

In our rush to seek new sources of domestic petroleum there is a concerted effort afoot to build more stations throughout the southwest.

    But a single act of civil disobedience has put a stop, at least for the time being, to the bureaucratic processes that may change the face of this spectacular landscape forever. A 27-year-old economics student from the University of Utah named Tim DeChristopher has put his own future on the line to save for the rest of us this wild and scenic place.

    Hear his story on The Joy Trip Project.