Tom Rand Talks Climate Change and Waking the Frog
Canadian author, entrepreneur and activist Tom Rand is coming to Nelson for an evening of discussion on the threat of climate change and the economic opportunities afforded by the global transformation to a low-carbon economy.
Presented by the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Rand will be at the Capitol Theatre on March 16 at 7 p.m. A former successful software entrepreneur, Rand will speak about his new book Waking the Frog: Solutions for Our Climate Change Paralysis and the dangers of passive denial.
Author and activist Tom Rand will be at Nelson's Capitol Theatre on March 16 starting at 7 p.m.
“Us and them doesn’t work anymore… it’s just us,” Rand says.
Rand holds a BSc in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo, an MSc in philosophy of science from the University of London, and an MA and PhD in philosophy from the University of Toronto. He is currently focused on carbon mitigation and public advocacy.
Jumping Out of the Boiling Pot of Water
The title of Rand’s book is based on the myth that if you put a frog in a pot of water and boil the water slowly, the cold-blooded creature will not hop out because its nervous system can’t pick up that it is slowly dying. Rand argues that our society is paralyzed by inaction and not focused on the positive stories of clean energy abundance.
“We’re human beings, we’re not the frog… all we have to do is wake up,” he says. “It is my belief that we have yet to have a serious, public conversation about the threat of climate change, and the economic opportunities afforded by the global transformation to a low-carbon economy.”
Tom Rand speaking at the Waking the Frog book launch this past fall.
In his discussion, Rand will talk about the benefits of making change and ways to achieve a sustainable future. Rand looks to contemporary psychology, economics, business and finance to explain the inaction in the face of the climate change crisis. He doesn’t just point fingers and attach blame, Rand will talk about our motivations, institutional lethargy and deeply buried assumptions about market economics.
Tickets for the March 16 evening are $10 and Selkirk College students with a valid ID card are free. Tickets can be purchased at the Capitol Theatre online or by phone at 250.352.6363. The first 100 attendees will receive a free copy of Waking the Frog.
The event is sponsored by a host of community organizations and businesses including Selkirk College.
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