The world's richest and most powerful people and a vehicle for unaccountable corporations to influence governments have gathered in Switzerland on the exclusive luxury resort of Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting this coming Tuesday with the supposed aim of tackling global issues such as populism and increasing inequality, but many observers maintain the forum itself continues to be a symbol of the ongoing problems worldwide.
A gathering of - in their own words - "leaders of global society." Heads of government with "top executives of the 1,000 foremost global companies," plus "cultural, societal and thought leaders".But for others an intolerant unrepresentative composition of elitist rich individuals serving their own self interests arriving hypocritically in their fuel filled jets whilst having the cheek to keep on talking about climate change.
Currently we have shifts in foreign policy and a climate emergency — just to name some of the main challenges facing global leadership. In the words of Davos attendee and the former Prime Minister of Finland, Alexander Stubb, there’s a “new world disorder” that needs to be addressed.
We can be certain that very little of value will come from Davos, as the architects of global capitalism bask behind closed doors. it is guaranteed that they will keep forgetting the issues of justice and rights that the world is crying out for and the urgent progress on inequality, poverty, climate change and war. The solutions will not be found in Davos, where sheer power and wealth is one of the defining factors. that does not represent those with much less, the 99%.
Climate change and inequality increasingly impacts us,all, yet the powers-that-be continue to be inclined to construct a Fortress World to protect their privileges, borders, and market system, while at same time propping up global capitalism that is not only not equipped to offer solutions , but is leaving millions upon millions in misery and destroying our planet.
Meanwhile the world’s 2,153 billionaires have more wealth between them than a combined 4.6 billion people, new research has claimed. In a study international charity Oxfam called on governments to implement policies that may help to reduce wealth inequality.https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/worlds-billionaires-have-more-wealth-46-billion-people
“If everyone were to sit on their wealth piled up in $100 bills, most of humanity would be sitting on the floor,” its authors said.
“A middle-class person in a rich country would be sitting at the height of a chair. The world’s two richest men would be sitting in outer space.”
The world’s 2,153 billionaires have more wealth between them than a combined 4.6 billion people, new research has claimed.
Oxfam called on governments to implement policies that may help to reduce wealth inequality.A 0.5% increase in taxes on the wealthy would generate enough funding to create 117 million jobs in sectors like education and health, according to the researchers.
Other suggestions made by Oxfam to help mitigate inequality included investing in national care systems, challenging sexism, introducing laws to protect carers’ rights, and ending extreme wealth.
“Extreme wealth is a sign of a failing economic system,” the report said. “Governments must take steps to radically reduce the gap between the rich and the rest of society and prioritize the wellbeing of all citizens over unsustainable growth and profit.”
The call for a tax overhaul reinforces the charity’s message ahead of last year’s WEF summit, when Oxfam urged governments to hike tax rates for corporations and society’s richest to reduce wealth disparity.
It is clear to me.that Capitalism fails us all, whilst the delegates of Davos sip on their champagne, devour their foie gras and caviar we should continue to raise our voices and make sure they are heard because we simply can't continue to yield to an unrepresentative political force, gathering in the interests of the few to the detriment of the many.
