Protests and Controversies at the Global Elite's Forum in Davos

The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, a yearly gathering of political and economic elites, recently faced protests highlighting issues of inequality and environmental impact. Around 300 demonstrators, including Austrian heiress Marlene Engelhorn, took to the streets with banners demanding wealth taxation and criticizing the power wielded by the wealthy. Engelhorn, a descendant of BASF's founder, also pointed out the lack of transparency and environmental harm caused by private jets used for the summit.

Coinciding with the protests, climate activists creatively disrupted traffic, drawing attention to the apparent neglect of climate concerns by the WEF's 2500 participants. These demonstrators used snowmen and green dye to convey their message, with police eventually clearing the blockades.

This year's forum, under the theme "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age," attracted over 60 world leaders and 900 business executives. High-profile attendees included EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Although former US President Donald Trump participated digitally, his policies and anticipated tariffs were focal points of discussion.

The WEF, founded by Klaus Schwab in 1971, aims to improve global conditions through dialogue on pressing issues like cybercrime and technological shifts. Despite its altruistic goals, the forum often serves as a backdrop for business deals and informal political dialogues, prompting criticism of its opaque proceedings and elite-centric nature.