[Peace] Let's Go! Nuke-Bomb Lab Recruiting at UIUC

[Barbara Dyskant]

Hi folks,

Would anyone like to join me in doing something visible about this?  

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will be recruiting and interviewing
students at  UIUC on February 14th.  This will give  us an EXCELLENT chance to
reach and inform students, get some publicity out about the war machine,
publicize A.W.A.R.E., and let the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
(which designs and tests nuclear weapons) know they can't hide from their
evil deeds, not even in
Illinois.

I just got a call from a co-member of Tri-Valley Citizens Against
a Radioactive Environment (Tri-Valley CARES) in Livermore, CA, letting me
know about this. Tri-Valley CARES is well known as the Lab's nemesis in
Livermore -- --- but I'm sure it won't occur to them that people OUT HERE
know about them and are "on their case".

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is one of the three national
laboraties with the mission of designing and testing nuclear weapons.  It
is a huge place, founded by Edward Teller, "father" of the hydrogen bomb
(he's still there).  They are still pursuing design of new nuclear weapons,
technically forbidden by treaty, under the guise of "stockpile
stewardship" and maintenance, and are pioneering the expensive National
Ignition Facility "NIF", a football-field-sized project ostensibly to
investigate fusion, but that is very usable for nuclear weapons and is
funded by the Department of Defense.  Pollution and radioactive
contamination have been rampant -- and money flows freely to them from the
US government when obviously it's more needed elsewhere.  Under the guise
of "security", information is routinely hidden, although we've gotten a lot
released.

About a year ago, a lively and very brilliant young scientist named Isaac
Trotts resigned from the Lab because he found out that he had been lied to.
He was told his work was to be used only for safety, but after he went to
work there he found that instead his work was being used for bomb-building.
He quit his $85,000 a year job at the Lab (he was about 24) and went on
the stump, talking worldwide to young people, including at college
recruitment events, as to why to avoid working for the war machine.   I met
him when we all were in Washington.  In fact, he's the subject of one of my
songs.  (One line of the song  --"His career would have gone far, if it
weren't for one flaw --he insisted on integrity and truth").

I've worked with Tri-Valley CARES for about 11 years -- we moved here from
near Livermore..  My son Erek interns at Tri-Valley CARES for 2 to 3 months
every year (that's one reason why he was away) and we go to the Alliance
for Nuclear Accountability  DC Days each spring.  What I'm saying is --
this issue is very, very dear to my heart.

I'm just thrilled to be able to help out right here in Champaign.  And I
think the recruiter will be quite surprised to see us.

I'm expecting my friend to send me some current literature aimed at
students who are thinking of careers at places like the "Lab", and more
info on the latest misdeeds of the Lab ---  and of course detailings of our
successes as well.  It should be here in a few days. 

So-- is anyone interested?  (If not, Erek, Barry and I will go out by
ourselves,
but it would be so much nicer with friends).

Ready to roll,
Barbara

P.S.  Timing-wise,  this will also be a nice venue to publicize the
teach-in, AWARE meetings, and any other events we are having.