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Diocese of Leeds Justice and Peace Commission (1)

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

28 Jan – Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

by Dave Webb, Chair of YCND

Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament held its Annual General Meeting on 18th January 2025 in Huddersfield. With the world on the brink of chaos through the threat of nuclear war and the realities of climate change, plus the devastating wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan…. it was timely to bring together supporters to look back at our work and explore ways forward. 

The annual review was presented by the Chair, Dave Webb, with a month-by-month slideshow of YCND activities in 2024, and a look at coordination and support roles. 

CND continued to call for talks to stop the war in Ukraine, and opposed the use by Ukraine of UK Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets in Russia as a dangerous escalation risking a devastating response. 

YCND Agm powerpoint presentation The continued destruction of Gaza, and the suffering of so many, was also a huge issue. We backed the calls for a ceasefire, supported student protest camps and joined, leafleted and spoke at the pro-Palestine weekly marches in in the region. 

Another major focus was at Lakenheath, where US nuclear bombs may already have arrived. CND supported events during the National Day of Action in May, and the events in July that included a 3-day march from Norwich to Lakenheath and to the Peace Camp.  

Around 20-30 other events were held, including screenings of the film “Threads”; supporting demonstrations at Menwith Hill; “Artists against the Bomb” events; commemorations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and support for the Nobel Peace Prize award to the survivors of the atomic bombings. 

Screenshot 2025-01-27 091458 CND worked with the Leeds Peace Links committee to organise the annual O. Palme Peace Lecture, presented in 2024 by Jeremy Corbyn, at the Royal Armouries; and with the Movement for the Abolition of War to hold a Peace History Conference at the newly re-opened Peace Museum in Saltaire. 

Following the review, Steve Barwick, Chair of the Trustees of the Nuclear Education Trust, spoke on: “What should the new Government’s Strategic Defence Review conclude about Nuclear Disarmament?” He highlighted the findings of NET’s report ‘The Future for UK Defence, Diplomacy and Disarmament ’ launched in Parliament in May. The report sought to identify how the UK can help reduce tensions and get the world back on a path to nuclear disarmament. The aim was to open up a debate between mainstream and more radical voices. This was followed by discussions on why people no longer seem to be concerned about nuclear disarmament -- and how we might further progress the campaign in Parliament and elsewhere. 

As for 2025: National CND is preparing a demonstration in March at Barrow, where nuclear submarines are built, and monthly vigils and a Peace Camp in April are to be held at Lakenheath. There will be much more.  

What we did in 2024 Organised and participated in a number of meetings throughout the region and beyond Provided newsletters and leaflets Continues to build contacts and word with peace and environmental groups in the region Organised webinars and supported groups around the region Organised, mobilised and joined demonstrations Organised and helped with various events on peace, disarmament and climate change Yorkshire CND will be planning our regional activities at our Strategy Day in March. If you would like to join in, contact info@yorkshirecnd.org.uk and find more information from www.yorkshirecnd.org.uk and www.cnduk.org

More details of the AGM and Steve Barwick’s presentation will be posted on the Yorkshire CND website.