Author: Nation Correspondent
Date: January 23, 2007
Type of article: News
Source: The Daily Nation - only available online by registration and paid subscription fee

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As the World Social Forum enters its third day, world leaders and top chief executives are in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The forum is top-notch club at which CEOs jostle to get a chance at the podium while the social forum is an opposing force which projects that the world can be better managed if globalisation was reversed.

In Nairobi, the participants are calling for a better social order while in Davos, they are seeking ways of making more profits and then ploughing some back to society.

Held under the theme “The Shifting Power Equation”, the Davos forum brings together 2,500 leaders to set the global agenda. 

A survey found that a majority of the leaders think the next generation will live in a more prosperous world. 

Safe world 

However, the majority of the respondents also indicated that the next generation will live in a less safe world. 

“It is clear from the survey the leaders gathering in Davos view the world in a different way than the wider population,” said Mr Peter Torreele, the managing director of the social forum.

Mr Torreelee added that the Davos group shares the same concerns about security, both economic and personal, but they have very different priorities. 

Its supporters say the WEF is an ideal place for debate regarding social and economic problems facing the world. Journalists have access to every session while most sessions are webcast live so that the discussions can be open to a wider public.

In all, more than 600 journalists are covering the meeting. 

While majority of the participants are businessmen and political leaders, groups such as Amnesty International, Transparency International, Oxfam and UN organisations also attend as well as trade unions and religious leaders.

However, critics say it is used by businessmen and politicians to negotiate deals.