Note: Bob Poeschl is an Oshkosh native and student at UW Oshkosh. Last April, he was on the ballot for Oshkosh Common Council but withdrew his candidacy when his school work got in the way of his being able to commit as much time to the campaign as he would have liked. You can e-mail Bob at bobpoeschl@hotmail.com. For more information about the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA), visit their web site at www.stopthebombs.org. OREPA's phone number is (865) 483-8202. E-mail orepa@stopthebombs.org to join the email action/news list serve and/or to get the newsletter sent to your home.
Commentary Question #1. What is the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance and why did you decide to get involved?
The Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance sponsors the Stop the Bombs campaign to halt nuclear weapons work at the Y-12 nuclear weapons facility in Oak Ridge, TN. Y-12 is the heart of the nuclear weapons facilities in the U.S. It is where the canned subassemblies ( the actual thermonuclear bombs) are built. Y-12 is planning to spend $4 billion to rebuild the weapons facility so that they can do at least 10 times the nuclear weapons production they are currently doing.
I chose to get involved with OREPA and the Stop the Bombs campaign when I attended one their rallies last April. I saw an ecumenical community that I immediately wanted to be apart of. It is the community of Peace. I want to help instill this virtue in every community that I come in contact with. I want to help create a world free of threat of nuclear weapons. It is a necessity that the 5 billion dollars a year that are spent on nuclear weapons related areas go back into our communities for education, health care, food and homes.
Commentary Question #2. I heard that quite a few OREPA activists were arrested at the April rally. Why were they arrested and have they all now been released?
In the April OREPA action, thirty people were arrested for acts of civil disobedience. Some crossed an arbitrary blue line at Y-12's boundary. Some laid in the road blocking the entrance to the Y-12 plant and others crossed under barbed wire fence. All were arrested and given court dates at which they were all given citations. In the August 5-6 HIROSHIMA action, there was a total of 37 arrests. On August 5, 22 people crossed the Y-12 boundary at four different points. On August 6, members of PAX CHRISTI including Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit and many OREPA members successfully blockaded the main entrance to the Y-12 plant at 6:30 am. All fifteen involved were arrested and detained in jail for the duration of the day until the State DA drop all charges against them.
Check out the Action at http://atlanta.indymedia.org/
Commentary Question #3. What are some of the benefits a college student can receive by becoming involved with a group like OREPA?
One of the great benefits that I have pondered upon is Community. A Community that will stand to liberate and support on nonviolent terms. My work with OREPA has helped me understand the Consensus Process. I truly believe that the greatest benefit of my work with OREPA is having a JOB FOR JUSTICE. Many People shun OREPA in the Oak Ridge community. They do not believe that we have no patriotism for our country. It saddens me to know that people feel that way because I feel that my work is very patriotic.
Commetnary Question #4. You were on the ballot for an Oshkosh Common Council seat last April but then withdrew your candidacy. Do you have plans to run again? Why or why not?
I do plan to run for Common Council in the future, but I do not know when (probably after I graduate from college). But when I do run in the future I want to be able to give all I have. I withdrew in April because of school is a more important commitment to myself at this time in my life. The only remorse I have about running is that I couldn't fully commit myself at that point.