The Rattler Tour: What must be done to overcome our most dangerous threats

The just launched Rattler Tour lands at Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. This interactive town hall-style meeting provides a frank, unscripted discussion about how to break the gridlock which prevents us from solving our greatest threats: terrorism, a worldwide recession, the rapid depletion of the earth’s resources, climate change, pandemic viruses, obesity and declining education.

Featuring renowned naturalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Edward O. Wilson, the panel includes Rebecca D. Costa (pictured left with Wilson),  author of the newly released book, The Watchman’s Rattle: Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction, and Dr. Michael M. Merzenich, professor emeritus of neuroscience at UCSF and founder of Posit Science. The discussion will be moderated by best-selling author, senior journalist for US News & World Report and Stanford lecturer, Thomas Hayden.

Explains Costa: “In earlier times, ordinary citizens volunteered as watchmen to protect communities.  They patrolled neighborhoods, lighthouses and important institutions, watching for early signs of danger.  The sound of the watchman’s rattle was an alarm – a call for citizens to wake from their sleep and quickly join forces against danger.”

Modern rattlers like Al Gore have sounded the alarm about climate change; Queen Noor about the growing dangers of nuclear proliferation; and Bill Gates about the spread of preventable disease.  This innovative tour brings leading experts, thought leaders and pioneers in the fields of economics, science, education, entertainment, business and politics directly to the public for the purpose of a “no-holds-barred” discussion.