Maya Schenwar, journalist for such publications as In These Times, asked Kathy Kelly a few questions about the 100,000 Rings campaign.

Explain a little bit about why body counts are important... What in particular would you like to draw attention to with this action?

Last week, veteran journalist Robert Fisk, who has written from war zones for over 25 years, said that no one would ever vote for a war if they had seen what he has seen. Fisk goes to the morgues, the hospitals and the sites where people are wounded, maimed and bereaved. He fights against oblivion, using his skills as a compelling, respected journalist. We're ringing the bells to express alarm and grief over the horrific waste and carnage caused by this war.

What did Voices for Creative Nonviolence first think when Scott Blackburn suggested this project? What struck you as original/etc?

Scott reached many people when he went downtown (Chicago), alone, and rang a bell in memory of each U.S. soldier who was killed in Iraq. He sat down there for over 24 hours, ringing his bell once a minute. This project seemed like a rational follow-up. Of course we must toll the bell for the Iraqis who've died. It's also a chance to raise John Donne's line: "Do not ask for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee." This is a foolish, immmoral, illegal war which has raised antagonism toward U.S. people. All over the world, people can see that the U.S. went to war against Iraq because the ruling elites in this country knew Iraq couldn't fight back. Now, mired in a war that could last ten years, whatever security we might establish, as U.S. people, rests in raising vigorous opposition to the warmongers who run this country.

What are the different ways people organizing ceremonies throughout the country? Any unique ideas?

Many people are holding mobile ceremonies, moving to different parts of their cities. One young woman in Alabama couldn't find people to join her in ringing the bell and so she has promised to pray one hundred decades of the rosary. Another person in Seattle has counted out 100,000 lentils to place in jars alongside the nearly 2,000 lentils symbolizing the death of US troops, as well as a jar for other coalition military deaths, journalists, and NGO deaths. Another group in Maine will toll church bells in, I think, up to three churches in different location. Others will include the number of US troops in their vigil. In Connecticut one group has organized 5 bell ringing ceremonies to occur at 5 offices of their Congress persons. Another group is enacting the bell ringing from an apartment complex with many of the residents joining in. I think most groups have added their own element of creativity which is at the root of nonviolence.