THE MOUNTAIN then, clad with eternal snow,
Confessed my power. Deep as the rampant rocks,
By Nature thrown insuperable round,
..Pines to behold their Alpine views again:
The hollow-winding stream; the vale, fair spread
Amid an amphitheater of hills,
Whence, vapor-winged, the sudden tempest springs;
From steep to sleep ascending, the gay train
Of fogs, thick-rolled into romantic shapes;
The flitting cloud, against the summit, dashed,
And, by the sun illumined, pouring bright
A gemmy shower; hung o’er amazing rocks,
The mountain ash, and solemn-sounding pine;
The snow-fed torrent, in white mazes, lost,
Down to the clear ethereal lake below;
And, high o’ertopping all the broken scene,
The mountain fading into sky; where shines
On winter, winter shivering, and whose top
Licks from their cloudy magazine the snows.
“Introductory to Switzerland“ – James Thomson (1834–1882)
In this article: Switzerland and Climbing Swiss Alps in winter! The World Economic Forum annual meeting 2017 in Davos: Top 5 stories from the first day of Davos; Keynotes of Day two; What does it take to be a great leader in times of change?
The mainstream media channels want us to pick up messages they so professionally instill into our belief system. Leaving no space to think over the events and facts. That is why the idea of daily update on The World Economic Forum annual meeting 2017 in Davos, Switzerland from and by the child of Swiss Alps… Have you ever felt like you were on the top of the world? Let us climb these mountains together…
“You reach a snow-crowned summit, and see behind you the deep valley stretching miles and miles away, and before you other summits higher and whiter, which you may have strength to climb, or may not. Then you sit down and meditate and wonder which it will be.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1)
Top 5 stories from the first day of Davos
For our readers from the U.S., I strongly invite you all to watch the Anthony Scaramucci’s insights on the next president’s priorities.
The key sessions of the Day two to follow:
An Insight, An Idea with Forest Whitaker
Conversation with actor and activist Forest Whitaker, where he talks about working towards peace and reconciliation in disadvantaged and fragile communities around the globe.
Governing Globalization
Globalization has come in for increasing criticism over the last year, being blamed for massive job losses, increasing inequality and the rise of populism across the West.
The panel for this session, starting at 0945 GMT, are Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Bradford L. Smith and economist and author Dambisa Moyo.
Read the article Dambisa wrote for our Agenda blog:
Our national leaders have failed us. It’s time to hand over power to global institutions
How to Fix the Middle-Class Crisis
Once the lynchpin of developed economies, the middle class is now threatened by job losses and stagnant wages, paving the way for the rise of populism. In emerging markets, middle-class growth rates are stalling. Have middle-class problems been forgotten?
A Compact for Responsible Business Leadership
How can industry leaders restore the compact between business and society, ensuring that companies are responsive and responsible to all their stakeholders?
Christine Lagarde’s 2013 warning about inequality
In the session Squeezed and Angry: How to Fix the Middle-Class Crisis, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde spoke about the Davos speech she gave in 2013 warning about rising inequality.
Special Address by Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States
In the final days of President Barack Obama’s administration, Joe Biden is addressing Davos for the last time as Vice President. He’s expected to share his thoughts on global security and the relationship between the United States and Europe.
Iran’s Foreign Minister speaks at Davos
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif
A Positive Narrative for the Global Community
Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, Meg Whitman of Hewlett-Packard and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde are on the panel for this session.
Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg on fake news:
‘Financial incentives for spammers’; ‘We do know responsibility and we take it really seriously’…
Disrupting the Status Quo of Gender Roles
Gender roles have changed, no doubt about it
World Bank President Jim Kim on childhood education
Investing in early childhood development may make the biggest difference to a country’s future competitiveness.
Fixing Europe’s Disunion
The European project is under pressure. The Euro crisis, the rise of populism across the continent, managing borders and immigration, Brexit, security fears – the list of challenges is long. And 2017 will bring more, including elections in Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
Can the European Union survive? What role will Europe play on the world stage in the future
The rise and rise of China and India
The incredible rise of China and India.
China’s Role for Global Prosperity
As globalization faces a backlash, China is engaging with the rest of the world through its internationalized currency, outbound investment strategies and One Belt, One Road Initiative – also known as the New Silk Road.
Can China revitalize the global economy?
A Basic Income for All: Dream or Delusion?
Could a universal basic income – where all citizens or residents of a country regularly receive a guaranteed and unconditional sum of money to cover essential living costs – be the solution to growing inequality?
It’s an idea growing in popularity, and several experiments have been carried out around the world – most recently in Finland.
The Great American Divide
President-Elect Donald Trump will take office on Friday, following one of the most divisive election campaigns in recent political memory.
An Insight, An Idea with Jack Ma
A conversation with Alibaba founder Jack Ma on the future of online trade and globalization.
Alibaba is an e-commerce platform that Jack Ma started in his apartment. As of April 2016, Alibaba was the world’s largest retailer and one of the largest internet companies. When the company went public, it was the biggest IPO in history.
Take a look back at Jack Ma speaking at Davos 2016.
What does it take to be a great leader in times of change?
The times of transformation, exponential change… when nations, societies, global powers, businesses.. individuals… search and engineer present and future; shift and create paradigms… Leading in times of change requires leadership. Leadership is more than just being a strong leader. Let us learn what the change leaders have to say in Davos.
The session on A Compact for Responsible Business Leadership from the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2017.
“Leaders must understand that we are living in a world marked by uncertainty, volatility, and deep transformational changes…”
Today I will close with the following quotes:
“It is from the champions of the impossible rather than from the slaves of the possible that evolution draws its creative force.”
–Barbara Wootten
“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
–Winston Churchill
(1) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator whose works include “Paul Revere’s Ride”, The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline. He was also the first American to translate Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy and was one of the five Fireside Poets.
NOTE: The World Economic Forum’s youtube.com channel broadcasts the Davos 2017 press conferences, panels, and interviews with world leaders.
