Open Forum

Open Forum 2009

During the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches and the Forum will co-organize discussions for the general public. These events will be held in conjunction with the Forum’s Annual Meeting 2009. The Open Forum was first organized in 2003. It offers a possibility for an open debate on globalization and its consequences. In past years, the following overall topics were discussed:

• Globalization or Deglobalization for the benefit of the poorest?
• When is the economy ethical?
• Respecting, crossing and shifting boundaries

This year, the sessions of the Open Forum will once again help participants share their opinion on global issues, by addressing the following topics:

Thursday January 29
1. 12:30-14:00 – Global Financial Crisis: Which Lessons Should Be Learned?
New: 18.30-19.30 Live coverage from the Congress Centre Davos
    Amre Moussa, Secretary-General, League of Arab States, Cairo
    Shimon Peres, President of Israel
2. 19:30-21:00 – Is There a Solution for the Middle East?

Friday January 30
3. 12:30-14:00 – Religion and Human Rights – A Contradiction?
4. 19:00-20:30 – Climate Justice: Basis of a New Global Solidarity?

The session on Climate Justice has been co-organized by the Global Humanitarian Forum. 

Saturday January 31
5. 12:30-14:00 – Live and Let Die
6. 15:30-17:00 – Is the right to Food an Illusion?
7. 19:00-20:30 – The EU – Model without Citizens?

As in past years, the sessions will take place in the main hall of the Swiss Alpine Middle School on Guggerbachstrasse 3, in Davos. The debates will be in German and English with simultaneous translation into both languages. The Open Forum sessions are open to the public, no registration is required and people can get in on a first come first serve basis.

How can I attend?
Entry is free of charge, but limited to 300 people. At the entrance each person will receive a ticket that is valid for that session only. It will not be possible to register for these sessions, nor to reserve entry tickets in advance. The Auditorium (Schweizerische Alpinen Mittelschule secondary school on Guggerbachstrasse 3 in Davos) will open 30mns before the start of each discussion. Tickets are limited to one per person and participants may not collect tickets on behalf of a group.

Question about the project?
openforum@weforum.org

Global Financial Crisis: What Lessons Should Be Learned?

Thursday 29 January 2009 12.30 - 14.00

Governments and central banks had to save the global financial system from certain collapse. Until recently, free markets were seen as a condition for growth and development. Today, the discussion is about defining the most efficient regulation of the global financial system. Large bonuses for top managers and board members, valued at several million dollars, create outrage and indignation.

1. What consequences can be drawn from the financial crisis?
2. Do we need additional regulation?
3. How can an optimal and effective global framework be established?
4. What are suitable bonuses? Who should determine them?

* Martine Brunschwig Graf
National Councillor, Switzerland
* Ivan Pictet
Senior Managing Partner, Bank Pictet & Cie, Switzerland
* Jean-Pierre Roth
Chairman of the Governing Board, Swiss National Bank, Switzerland
* Rudolf Strahm
Former National Councillor and former Price Regulator, Switzerland
* Peter Ulrich
Professor, Institute for Business Ethics, University of St Gallen, Switzerland

Moderation:
Urs Leuthard, Swiss Television

Is There a Solution for the Middle East?

Thursday 29 January 2009 19.30 - 21.00

In November 2007, after years of violence, Israel and Palestine agreed on the resumption of peace negotiations. However, and in spite of the recent change of government in Israel, the conclusion of a peace agreement seems to have been postponed indefinitely.

1. Is there a solution for the Middle East?
2. What influence do Europe and the US have?
3. To what extent do external threats create political unity within Israel?
4. How does the religious conviction of the "promised land" affect political conflict?

* Abdul M. Al Jaber
Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Paltel Group, Palestinian Territories
* Ali Babacan
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief Negotiator of Turkey
* Ulrike Wohlrab
Pastor Jerusalem, Israel
* David Rosen
Chief Rabbi, International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Relations, USA/Israel

Moderation:
Susanne Wille, Swiss Television

Religion and Human Rights – A Contradiction?

Friday 30 January 2009 12.30 - 14.00

Church and religious communities are often critical voices and successful fighters for the protection of human dignity and human rights. However, religion and human rights are often in contradiction to each other: forced marriages, religiously motivated terrorist attacks and the oppression of people with different religious beliefs are some examples. Moreover, some churches and religious communities still discriminate against women and homosexuals.

1. Why are human rights' violations committed on behalf of religion?
2. Is the increase of religious fundamentalism connected to respect or disrespect of human rights?
3. To what extent is religion used as a pretext for discrimination against women?
4. What is the responsibility of the government in the protection of religious identity and freedom of worship? Should governments set limits?

* Serap Cileli
Author and Women’s Rights Activist, Germany
* Priest-monk Macarios
Representative, Department of External Church Relations, Russian Orthodox Church
* Frank Mathwig
Senior Officer for Theology and Ethics, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Switzerland
* Abu Eesa Niamatullah
Imam and Executive Director, Cheadle Mosque, Cheshire & Prophetic Guidance, United Kingdom
* Daniel Thürer
Professor, Chair of International, European, Public and Comparative Constitutional Law, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Introduction
* Micheline Calmy-Rey

Federal Councillor, Switzerland

Moderation:
Susanne Wille,  Swiss Television

Climate Justice: Basis of a New Global Solidarity?

Friday 30 January 2009 19.00 - 20.30

Co-organizer: Global Humanitarian Forum

Over three-quarters of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions – the principle cause of climate change – come from the EU, the United States, China, Russia, India and Japan. The 49 least developed countries account for just 1% of global emissions. Though they are certainly not responsible for climate change, the world’s poorest are suffering from it the most since poverty increases vulnerability to its effects.

1. What would be the most equitable solution to the injustices of climate change?
2. What overlap exists between adaptation and development? To what extent can compensation and assistance in dealing with climate change also contribute to development?
3. What scope is there for action at the international level to ensure protection of the most vulnerable populations and reduce emissions sufficiently to deal with climate change and the suffering it causes?
4. How can such responsibility – "climate justice" – be established as a guiding principle in the ongoing negotiations for a successor to the Kyoto Protocol?

* Kofi Annan
President, Global Humanitarian Forum, Switzerland
* Bharrat Jagdeo
President of Guyana
* Raj Singh
Chief Risk Officer, Swiss Reinsurance Company, Switzerland
* Howard Dean
Chairman, Democratic National Committee (DNC), USA
* Ajit Gulabchand
Chairman and Managing Director, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd, India

Moderation: 
Hannes Britschgi, Editor-in-Chief Sonntagsblick

Live and Let Die

Saturday 31 January 2009 12.30 - 14.00

Death and dying are controversial subjects. Keywords such as euthanasia and assisted suicide trigger heated debates. Private euthanasia organizations challenge fundamental ethical convictions of our society as well as our legal system.

1. Should a person be able to terminate his own life? To what extent would a liberal society allow self-determination?
2. Is a legal framework regulating euthanasia and suicide necessary?
3. In regard to the ageing of the population, how much should palliative care cost? Can medically assisted suicide be ethically legal?

* Petra de Jong
CEO, NVVE, Right to Die-NL; The Netherlands

* Hans Jürgen Münk
Professor for Theological Ethics, Switzerland

* Monika Renz
Psychotherapist. Management Psychooncology, Kantonsspital St.Gallen, Switzerland

* Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf
Federal Councillor, Switzerland

* Thomas Wipf
President of the Council, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Switzerland

Moderation:
Urs Leuthard,  Swiss Television

Is the Right to Food an Illusion?

Saturday 31 January 2009 15.30 - 17.00

Over 860 million people are starving in the world – and high food prices are fuelling the nutritional crisis even more. One of the reasons for rising prices lies in the global demand for grain: the world population increases, fast-developing nations consume more and production of biofuels soar. At the same time, harvest yields are decreasing as a result of climate change.

1. To what extent is the production of biofuels responsible for global hunger?
2. What influence does speculation have on world food prices?
3. Should hunger be alleviated by genetic engineering? What are the consequences for health and biodiversity?
4. What is the role of international agricultural policy in the global nutritional crisis?

* Olivier De Schutter
Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Human Rights Council of the United Nations, Belgium

* Ngozi Okongo-Iweala
Managing Director,The World Bank, USA

* Business Voice

* Peter H. Staude
CEO Tongaat Hulett Limited, South Africa

* Rudolf Rechsteiner
National Councillor and President, Swissaid, Switzerland

Moderation: 
Reto Brennwald, Swiss Television

The EU – Model without Citizens?

Saturday 31 January 2009 19.00 - 20.30

The European Union is attractive; all the new Eastern European countries want to become members. Certainly, citizens of the Western members are not against the EU; however, many reject the ambitious development plans of the leadership. The gap between the political elites and the citizens is bigger than ever. The rejection of the "constitutional contract" in the Netherlands and France, as successor to Ireland, sends a clear message.

1. Has the EU reached the limits in its development?
2. Does the EU have a democracy deficit? How much can citizens participate?
3. How can the EU strengthen trust and the sense of belonging? What reforms are necessary?
4. Can the experiences of Switzerland help the EU?

* Andi Gross
National Councillor; leader of the socialdemocrats in the Parlamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Switzerland
* Michael Reiterer 
Ambassador, Delegation of the European Commission to Switzerland
* Hans-Gert Pöttering (invited)
President of the European Parliament, Belgium

Closing Remarks
André Schneider, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, World Economic Forum
Thomas Wipf, President of the Council, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches