Independence from America Day

A day of information about what goes on at the Menwith Hill base and why we should be
concerned – speakers, music, stalls and refreshments.

PROGRAMME (DRAFT)

3pm Assemble at Kettlesing Millenium Village Hall

3.10pm Welcome by Hazel Costello, Chair of MHAC.

3.15pm What is happening at Menwith Hill? Led by Professor Dave Webb (Chair of Yorkshire CND)

3.45pm Visit to the Main Gates of Menwith Hill by those who want to go.

4pm *Reading of the Declaration of Independence from America.

Moira Hill and Peter Kenyon

Reading of a letter to the Officer Commanding Menwith Hill.

4.15pm Return to Kettlesing Millennium Village Hall.

4.30pm Park Against the Dark. Led by Jim Scott.

PARC Against DARC is the campaign which has set up to oppose the US military building a giant 27 dish DARC radar array in Pembrokeshire in Wales with the stated purpose of militarily dominating space. DARC (Deepspace Advanced Radar Capability) is part of AUKUS and Northrop Grumman have been awarded the contract to build 3 DARC sites globally.
DARC poses great risks to health, environment, tourism and security.
With growing political and public support as well as increasing public awareness the campaign aims to stop the US/MOD’s planning application for DARC in its tracks.
Please visit www.parcagainstdarc.com for more information.

5pm Refreshment Break and opportunity to see the stalls.

5.30pm What is happening in Space? Led by Carla Ibled

“Dr Carla Ibled is a Career Development Fellow in International Political Economy at Durham University. Her research on neoliberal networks’ activism has led her to study how these networks have been involved in long-term lobbying campaigns for the commercialisation of outer space. She published a report about this (“Star Wars: Why the Left Should Protect the Status of Space as Humanity’s Commons”) with the British think tank Common Wealth in April 2025.”

5.50pm Commoners Choir Led by Jane Morland

A strange yet open and inclusive choir that meets in leeds. We come from all over the place, and try to act more like a band or a gang than a choir. we sing our own songs, about the world immediately around us, about inequality, hope.

6.05pm Surveillance matters Led by Martin Schweiger

6.15pm Open Microphone

6.30pm Konrad Kinard

Konrad Kinard (musician, producer, performer) bolted from Texas, where he was born, as quickly as he came of age. He worked and lived in New York before finally escaping the US completely. He has lived and worked in Montreal, London, Berlin, and now Leeds. He has worked with Rhys Chatham, Arthur Russell, La La La Human Steps, Bettina Koester(Malaria), Fiona Templeton, Glenn Branca, Slash Orchestra, Zero Ping, and the Woodentops. He assisted the Belorussian duo, Naviband,for the English release of Girl In White. Additionally he has served as a producer for music and performances in Europe and the US. As well, he has created Sexiland, a Berlin dance club in the‘90s, and in the 2000s, Stranded In Neverland ( SIN Bar) Performance Space, also in Berlin. In London, he presented Bisplitters and The Butterfly Lounge. His music is a fusion of Americana, Experimental, Folk, Jazz and Rock, often engaging in timely topics. His latest album release is just that. War Is Family (Surviving the Cold War and the Unraveling of an Imagined America) is a spoken word and music ‘radio drama/opera’ about growing up in Texas in the Cold War years. Excerpts from this album will be presented.

7pm Closing Words and thanks