Dear Chicago area friends,

Voices for Creative Nonviolence, co-sponsor of an event called 100,000
Rings will be at the Federal Plaza on Thursday and Friday between 11am
and 8pm. Please join us as we ring a bell once a minute to mourn the
deaths of Iraqis. 100,000 Rings is a campaign that is running this
entire week, October 24th - 28th, in almost 100 different locations
across the US, UK and Switzerland. It is an act to end the silence
about
the suffering and death in Iraq and to publicly unlock the grief that
it
has caused in our communities. It also will mark the anniversary of the
release of the Lancet Study on 29 October 2004. Each of the almost 100
participating groups will gather in a public place for a simple and
solemn "Bell Ringing" ceremony. Voices for Creative Nonviolence will
ring a bell 1,000 times, each ring symbolizing the death of an Iraqi
person as a result of the war and occupation.

For complete information on this campaign please see:
iraqmortality.org

Sadly, and in coincidence, there is little doubt that the number of
deaths of US soldiers will exceed 2,000 this week. We hope there is not
one more death, but that is quite unlikely given the level of violence
that this occupation of Iraq has caused. As you may know, there is a
large call for action on the day after this number of 2,000 is reached.
The call comes from UPFJ, AFSC, Gold Star Families for Peace, Iraq
Veterans Against the War, and Military Families Speak Out. This number
does not include the 97 UK deaths, 103 for other coalition countries,
or
272 contractors. Nor does it include the 3,447 Iraqi Police and
Military, or the 73 journalists.

So...
Please Join Us at the Federal Plaza
Adams & Dearborn (230 S - 50 W)
Chicago, IL 60605
October 27th and 28th
11am and 8pm
Phone: 773-878-3815
email: info (at) vcnv.org
website: vcnv.org
100,000 RINGS website: iraqmortality.org

EVANSTON
Also, for those closer to and possibly living in Evanston, Beginning at
4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 24, bells will also toll at Fountain
Square
in Evanston. Volunteers will read the names of the Iraqi dead and
distribute educational flyers as they toll their bell. Participants
from
the North Shore Anti-War Coalition will ring the bells from 4:00 to
7:00
each day from Monday, October 24th through Friday October 28.

Fountain Square:
Church Street and Sherman Avenue, Evanston

CONTACT:
Rosalie G. Riegle
North Shore Anti-War Coalition
(847) 475.3605
riegle (at) svsu.edu
Laurie Hasbrook
773-878-3815
Voices for Creative Nonviolence | vcnv.org
Electronic Iraq | electroniciraq.net
www.costofwar.com/

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless,
whether
the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the
holy
name of liberty and democracy?

-Mahatma Gandhi

I tell you, if you saw what I saw when I go to wars, when I'm on the
frontline
with or without soldiers, or with civilians or wounded in hospitals, if
you saw
what I saw you would NEVER, EVER dream of supporting a war again EVER
in your
life... If you go to a war you realize that it's not primarily about
victory and
defeat. It's about the infliction of death and suffering on as large a
scale as
you can make it.

It is about the total failure of the human spirit.

-- Robert Fisk
speaking with Amy Goodman, "Democracy Now" Oct. 19, 2005