Ole Andreas Kopreitan (19 September 1937 – 23 January 2011) was a Norwegian political activist, best known as ananti-nuclear activist. For 30 years, he led the anti-nuclear organization "No to Nuclear Weapons".[1]
He was born inStavanger as a son of Christian missionary Ole August Kopreitan (1885–1941) and clothing worker Anna Ottervig (1907–1999). He grew up inHitra Municipality, but moved toHurdal Municipality when he was nine years old. He was educated at the teachers' college inSagene.[2]
He became a political activist in Oslo, and was among others known for stormingMadserudtennis court on 13 May 1964, with 50 others, to halt a tennis competition between Norway and South Africa, in protest ofapartheid. For this he was convicted forcivil disobedience. At that time he was also involved in partisan politics, as chairman of theSocialist Youth Association (SUF).[1] He was a party secretary of theSocialist People's Party from 1967. He later drifted away from partisan politics, mostly due to internal strife in the Socialist People's Party. He instead joined the popular movementFolkebevegelsen mot EF, which worked, successfully, toprevent Norwegian membership in theEuropean Communities.
For 30 years, Kopreitan led theanti-nuclear organizationNei til Atomvåpen (No to Nuclear Weapons). Aside from managing organizational affairs in Nei til Atomvåpen, he was very well known for spreading leaflets and sellingcampaign buttons from a cart on Norway's main street,Karl Johans gate.[2] In 2002, he was awarded theNuclear-Free Future Award.[1][3]
He was formerly married to Turid Evang, a daughter ofKarl Evang, but the marriage was dissolved. In 1999, he married nurse Isabel Ortiz.[2]
| Party political offices | ||
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| New title | Chairman of theSocialist Youth Association (SUF) 1963–1965 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
