Davos needs your help
The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is slated to kick off next week. More than more than 2,500 of the world's top CEOs, political leaders, journalists, and other public figures will gather in the Alpine resort town of Davos, Switzerland, to network, munch on canapés, and share ideas to make the world a ...
The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is slated to kick off next week. More than more than 2,500 of the world's top CEOs, political leaders, journalists, and other public figures will gather in the Alpine resort town of Davos, Switzerland, to network, munch on canapés, and share ideas to make the world a better place. But you don't have to be a member of the global elite to contribute. Perhaps taking a cue from this year's United States presidential debates, the WEF is calling on Web denizens to share their ideas through video submissions on the new Davos YouTube channel:
The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is slated to kick off next week. More than more than 2,500 of the world's top CEOs, political leaders, journalists, and other public figures will gather in the Alpine resort town of Davos, Switzerland, to network, munch on canapés, and share ideas to make the world a better place. But you don't have to be a member of the global elite to contribute. Perhaps taking a cue from this year's United States presidential debates, the WEF is calling on Web denizens to share their ideas through video submissions on the new Davos YouTube channel:
The WEF wants ordinary "global citizens" to post answers to the simple question, "What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?" (FP embarked on a similar, though admittedly less populist effort last year with our "21 Solutions to Save the World" package of stories. It contains contributions from such Davos luminaries as Paul Saffo, Esther Duflo, and C.K. Prahalad.)
Some of my favorite responses include:
- "Silvercracker" wants to pump desalinized ocean water into barren lands in the Tropic of Capricorn to grow genetically modified tree farms.
- "Neddotcom" says that NGOs need to collaborate better and suggests an independent body to coordinate and measure their efforts.
- "Stejones," a Canadian engineering student, wants to create a product-labeling system that displays the product's environmental footprint and the percentage of its manufacturer's profits that have gone to international charities, so that consumers can make informed choices.
Any Passport readers out there with their own video answers? Let us know, and we'll blog them here.
More from Foreign Policy
At Long Last, the Foreign Service Gets the Netflix Treatment
Keri Russell gets Drexel furniture but no Senate confirmation hearing.
How Macron Is Blocking EU Strategy on Russia and China
As a strategic consensus emerges in Europe, France is in the way.
What the Bush-Obama China Memos Reveal
Newly declassified documents contain important lessons for U.S. China policy.
Russia’s Boom Business Goes Bust
Moscow’s arms exports have fallen to levels not seen since the Soviet Union’s collapse.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
