This week the World Economic Forum is taking place in Davos, Switzerland. Media Tenor is there participating and covering the event for Mediachannel.org. We will be featuring updates and research gathered for the forum here everyday this week.
During this year’s forum a unique study on dialogue between Islam and the West will be released. The results present empirical proof demonstrating the disastrous stage of distrust between both cultures. The research team for the study consisted of Media Tenor, Gallup and Georgetown-University. Mediachannel has published parts of the study in a three-part series. You can view Part I here and Part II here and Part III here.
UPDATE 1: January 23, 2008
By Roland Schatz, Media Tenor
Desire For Death or On Media’s Hunger For Catastrophe
Davos, Switzerland: Driving up to Davos one still had in mind the TV news on the breakdown of the financial markets. Journalists couldn’t be fast enough in comparing the fall of stocks to other historical peaks like 9/11 or the moment when the Internet bubble was understood as a bubble. On German public service network ZDF their correspondent from Frankfurt stock exchange was recommending on air to the audience of ZDF to sell shares as the current situation would be worse than 9/11. Driving up to Davos to the World Economic Forum one was bombarded on radio with the same horror scenarios. Journalists refused to be contacted on concrete unique projects presented in the forefront of Davos, “We have no time – the collapse of the stock markets is the only story of interest to us.” Did anybody explain to them the “self-fulfilling-prophecy” effects done by selective news reporting? Didn’t they read their own reports a few weeks ago when they were praising the ongoing strength of the BRIC States and the so-called next 11? Didn’t they hear last week in DC the official politicians declaring huge support for US economy – as no government on earth is not tempted to through extra budgets to voters valets? Didn’t they listen to their colleagues from the business section who permanently report on companies like Boeing, Airbus or the whole machine industry, who are booked out for complete 2008 and far into 2009? So, arriving in Davos and remembering the other stories written and published on the state of the economy one feels better informed than just following the stock-markets prophets.
More to come tomorrow when the CEO’s from all continents arrive here in the sunny and snowy Swiss Alps meeting heads of states, NGO leaders and scholars from all over the world – exchanging their thoughts on the state of the world and not only on stock markets…
Rough ride predicted for United States and Europe
While participants at a session on the state of the global economy generally agreed that US recession risks are high and growing, they differed over the potential impact on the rest of the world. “A major downturn in the world’s largest economy will inevitably result in a severe slowdown in growth in the rest of the world”, said Nouriel Roubini, Chairman, Roubini Global Economics. Kamal Nath, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, partially dissented from the bearish consensus, arguing that the growth of trade between developing countries could cushion the effect of a US slowdown.
Annual Meeting opens with calls for collaborative innovation
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 has opened with calls from the Co-Chairs to exercise “The Power of Collaborative Innovation” to meet the top challenges of economic instability, climate change and equitable growth. “People will be concerned about the economic situation of course, but I think the action points at the end of the week will be focused on the Millenium Development Goals, climate change and the Middle East.” said Co-Chair, Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997-2007).
The Davos Question: YouTube Videos
UNFCCC Executive Secretary responds to The Davos Question
UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Yvo de Boer, responds to ‘The Davos Question’ posed to the public and the participants of the 2008 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri answers the Davos Question
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) talks about innovative solutions for energy and climate.
Ann Veneman of Unicef talks about the Millenium Dev. Goals
The Executive Director says that people need to know more about these goals set to improve the conditions in the developing world by 2015.
William Brody (Johns Hopkins) replies to coryharasym
William Brody (president of the Johns Hopkins University) urges political leaders and citizens to adopt non-violent resistance instead of armed conflict.
Mashup: The Davos Question
Here are the best bits from The Davos Question.
Stay Tuned For More Updates…
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