Independence from America 2026

Independence from America Event 2026

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.

4.25pm                US out of the UK – Lynda Lovon

4.30pm                PARC Against DARC. Led by Jim Scott.
Please visit www.parcagainstdarc.com for more information.

5pm                        Refreshment Break and opportunity to see the stalls.

5.30pm                Message from David Swanson, World Beyond War.

5.35pm                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."

5.55pm                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.

6.10pm                Surveillance matters                                                   Led by Martin Schweiger

6.20pm                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