Claiming Earth as Common Ground

Andrea Cohen-Kiener is director of the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (Connecticut's Interfaith Power and Light) and spiritual leader of Congregation Pnai Or of Central Connecticut. As a teacher, rabbi and community organizer, she has practiced the art of bringing a spiritual perspective to problem solving for over three decades.Rev. Sally Bingham is an Episcopal priest and founder of the Regeneration Project, a nonprofit organization that created a national Interfaith Power and Light Campaign to unite all faiths in efforts to prevent the catastrophic effects of global warming.

Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener of West Hartford, CT is interviewed by Sister Rosemarie Greco, DW, Wisdom Correspondent for the Conference of Churches on WRCH radio, 100.5 FM. The program, "Rich Answers" is aired each Sunday from 5:30–6:30am. The Wisdom segment usually airs close to 6 am. The program has a listening audience of 60,000 people.Andrea's book, Claiming Earth as Common Ground, was discussed in this interview. Its focus is the ecological crisis through the lens of faith and it clearly outlines the shared values of our faith traditions that energize our commitments to care for the earth. The book is informative, inspirational and concludes with suggested action to be taken to support and improve the environment of the cosmos.Claiming Earth as Common Ground, ($16.99) is available through www.skylightpaths.com or programs@wisdomhouse.org.

• Foreword by Rev. Sally BinghamIntroduction1• The Making of an Environmental Activist: Waking Up to the ProblemThe Terrible ContradictionToo Good to Be True!The Spiritual Challenge of a Mountain of GarbageAgents for TransformationThe Ultimate Common Ground2• The Makings of a Movement: The Interfaith Imperative and Its ObstaclesThe Mountain of GodObstacles on the PathGod of the Pews or God of the Cosmos?Leaving Base CampThe One about the Rabbi and the EvangelicalGetting above the Tree Line3• The New Wealth: Spirit MattersWhat Is Enough?Old Models for New WealthA Living VisionTools We Bring to the TableTransforming Business as UsualImagine the Alternatives4• Working Beyond Class and Race:Yes, We Do Need to Do This TogetherWe Need to TalkGetting Beyond "Over There"Finding Common CauseWorking TogetherThe Great Light bulb Swap of '06 by Rev. Woody BartlettGetting to the Table5• How Big Is Your God? Theology Meets Earth-Care ActivismDigging DeeperThe Big Context by Rev. Tom Carr6• The New Eden: Reclaiming the GardenSeeds of PossibilityWheat Sheaves and Matza Tales by Elisheva RogosaCommunion Agriculture by Andrea Ferich7• The New Sabbath: Less Is MoreUnnamed HungersGreen Sabbath by Rev. Donna Schaper, PhDCreating New Sabbath Rituals8• Eco-Conversion: A New Paradigm for a New EarthSeeing with Green EyesConversion to Eco-Justice by Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, PhDThe Power of WitnessingGoing ForwardAppendix IMany Small StepsAppendix IICreating a Sustainable Civilization: Joanna Macy’s Theoretical FoundationsAppendix IIIThoughts for Discussion and Action: Format for an Eight-week Study SessionAppendix IVInterfaith Ecological ResourcesAcknowledgmentsAbout the Contributors