Food connects us to some of the most important questions of our time. The food choices we make — individually and as a society — affect not only our health, but the health of the planet and all of Creation. Our food system is also one of the leading contributors of greenhouse pollution causing climate change.

About one-fifth of climate change pollution comes from the food industry. That’s more than from all transportation combined.  The health and environmental costs of the industrial agriculture system is more and more becoming an area of concern and action for faith communities throughout the state and the nation.

The Cool Harvest program educates faith communities about this issue and facilitates dialogue and action.

This program is centered around a viewing of the film, “Nourish,” about the impact of our industrial agriculture system on our health and the health of the planet, followed by a facilitated discussion of the issues raised by the film.

This program will be facilitated by Rabbi Moti Rieber, Coordinator of Kansas IPL, and is open to the public.

The Forum, Kansas City’s longest ongoing conversation, has offered a platform for the discussion of significant issues since 1943. Guest speakers typically focus on issues of political, social justice, educational and artistic significance. Each presentation is followed by questions and discussion.

Kansas IPL Director Rabbi Moti Rieber will be presenting a talk called “Caring for Creation: Faith-Based Environmental Activism and the Challenges We Face.”

Every major faith tradition recognizes a responsibility to care for the Creation we have been given. Yet our society seems to run contrary to this responsibility – particularly in our profligate use of energy from fossil fuels. These damage our health, the natural beauty of our state, and cause changes in the environment that we don’t even fully understand. Rabbi Rieber’s talk will focus on the environmental challenges that face us and what we, as people of faith and as communities of faith, can do to address these complicated and challenging issues.

Acclaimed innovative theatre company, The Civilians, have been celebrated nationally for their inventive spin on some of the most pressing issues of our time.  They are now bringing their unique process of storytelling to the KC Rep for the world premiere of The Great Immensity, an original play with music that is part mystery and part morality tale. Woven into the story about two sisters’ global journey are authentic interviews with top scientists and those who have been touched by the reality of climate change, deforestation and endangered ecosystems. And, yes, it’s a musical.

After the performance on Sat. March 3, Kansas IPL Director Rabbi Moti Rieber will be participating in a Scholars’ Forum panel discussion on the themes and issues of the play.

For more information visit www.kcrep.org , more about our friends, The Civilians at http://www.thecivilians.org/ and more about the play itself at www.thegreatimmensity.org where the bloggers are the characters in the play and the blogs are being written by the actors.

Rabbi Moti Rieber, the coordinator of Kansas Interfaith Power and Light, will offer an informative presentation entitled “Caring for Creation: Faith-Based Environmental Activism and the Challenges We Face” at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday February 29, 2012 in Southwestern College’s Beech 104 lecture hall. All interested Cowley County residents are invited to attend.

Every major faith tradition recognizes a responsibility to care for the Creation we have been given. Yet our society seems to run contrary to this responsibility – particularly in our profligate use of energy from fossil fuels. These damage sour health, the natural beauty of our state, and cause changes in the environment that we don’t even understand yet. Rabbi Rieber’s talk will focus on the environmental challenges that face us and what we, as people of faith and as communities of faith, can do to address these complicated and challenging issues.

Kansas Interfaith Power and Light is a statewide, non-profit organization that seeks to engage faith communities in environmental stewardship and sustainable practices through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. We believe the threat of global climate change calls us to action. Kansas IPL is one of 37 statewide affiliates of national Interfaith Power & Light and is under the fiscal sponsorship of Ecumenical Christian Ministries of Lawrence, Kansas.

Coordinator of Kansas IPL since March 21, 2011, Rabbi Rieber is a 2004 graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. He is a long-time activist on peace, social justice, and environmental issues, and brings a variety of pulpit and organizational experience to the work of Kansas IPL. He and his wife, Suzy, live with their three children in Overland Park. Rabbi Rieber will be in Winfield for the Creation Care Conference at Southwestern College on February 28 and 29 and will present this introduction to Kansas IPL to any interested people. The talk is being sponsored by Grace United Methodist Church of Winfield, a congregational member of Kansas IPL.

For further information about Kansas IPL, go to http://kansasipl.org.

Featuring Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter – Director of BridgeWorks

and

John Hill – Director for Economic and Environmental Justice for the United Methodist Church

Full schedule here: http://www.sckans.edu/activities/ministry/bim-week/

Kansas IPL will be tabling at this event.

Venue to be announced

It’s been a couple of years since the Clean Energy Days sponsored by environmental groups in Kansas, which Kansas IPL was part of and which brought hundreds of concerned Kansans to the Capitol. There’s a very busy legislative schedule this session and environmental issues aren’t really on it. But our elected representatives still need to know that there are many people of faith from all over Kansas who care about our environment and a clean energy future!

The Steering Committee of Kansas IPL will be going to the Capitol building on the morning of February 7 to introduce ourselves to our legislators and share with them some of the issues of most concern for us: incentives for renewables; low-interest loans for energy efficiency improvements for homes, businesses and houses of worship; extending net metering to rural electric coops and BPUs, and more. Our Advocacy Committee is developing the talking points now and will share them with participants before the event.

If you care about these issues and want to help Kansas IPL build a presence in Topeka, advocating for the issues that are vital to us and to the environment, please make plans to join us on “Legislator Education Day”. Send an email to Kansas IPL Director Rabbi Moti Rieber (rebmoti<at>kansasipl.org) letting him know you’re interested in coming, and we’ll make sure you’re kept in the loop before the event.

This year’s National Preach-In on Global Warming will be over Valentine’s Day weekend, February 10-12, 2012. Clergy of all religions, lay leaders, and green team members from across the country are invited to participate, and when you sign up to preach, teach, or host an event, we’ll make a variety of support resources available in January, including:

• Denomination-specific liturgical and thematic notes to help in the preparation of sermons, reflections, devotionals, Bible studies, and youth activities
• Ready-to-go sample sermons on global warming
• Global warming fact sheet and bulletin inserts
• Valentine’s Day postcards for policy makers
• Preaching for the Planet 30-minute film in DVD format

All materials are free-of-charge to those who wish to give a sermon or hold an activity. Resources will be sent in January to those who register. Simply fill out the form on the national IPL website. Download the Preach-In on Global Warming Flyer to print and share with others.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Delaware Street Commons Meeting House, 1222 Delaware Street, Lawrence.

WHO: Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby, will lead the presentation/training to give concerned citizens the tools they need to make their voices heard by decision-makers in Washington. Lynate Pettengill will lead the Lawrence group.

WHY: As the saying goes, everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. Likewise, many people talk about the looming disaster of climate change, but few are working to enact policies to reduce the greenhouse gases causing the problem. We need a national policy to put a price on carbon that will speed the transition to a clean-energy economy. The political will for such a policy is currently lacking. Therefore, it is time for citizens to reclaim their democracy and overcome the powerful influence of the fossil fuel industry. We must do this to secure a safe and sustainable future for our children and our grandchildren. Learn more about Citizens Climate Lobby at www.CitizensClimateLobby.org .

RSVP: Lynate Pettengill, 785.331.0625.

WHAT: A presentation to organize and launch the KC Metro Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby (sponsored by the Kanza Group of the Sierra Club and the Heartland Renewable Energy Society)

WHEN: Tuesday, November 15, from 5:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  (Space is limited so RSVP!!)

WHERE: Cedar Roe Library, 5120 Cedar St. Roeland Park, KS
Map

PRESENTER: Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), will lead the presentation/training to give concerned citizens the tools they need to make their voices heard by decision-makers in Washington. Craig Wolfe will lead the Metro KC CCL group.

WHY: As the saying goes, everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. Likewise, many people talk about the looming disaster of climate change, but few are working to enact policies to reduce the greenhouse gases causing the problem. We need a national policy to put a price on carbon that will speed the transition to a clean-energy economy. The political will for such a policy is currently lacking. Therefore, it is time for citizens to reclaim their democracy and overcome the powerful influence of the fossil fuel industry. We must do this to secure a safe and sustainable future for our children and our grandchildren. Learn more about Citizens Climate Lobby at and their FAQ.

PLEASE RSVP: Craig Wolfe,  or 913-299-4474.  (Space is limited)