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 2008. 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

In 2008, the sessions of the Open Forum will once again help participants to share their opinion on world major problems, by addressing the following topics:

Thursday January 24

1.    12:45-14:15 – The Comeback of Religion – A Potential Danger for the Secular State?
2.    18:00-19:30 – Private equity and Hedge Funds – Friend or Foe?

Friday January 25

3.    12:45-14:15 – USA – What next after the elections?
4.    18:00-19:30 – What are Russia’s geopolitical ambitions?

Saturday January 26

5.    12:45-14:15 – Do we need Economic Growth to get more Sustainability?
6.    15:30-17:00 – Climate Change Divide
7.    18:00-19:30 – Virtual worlds – Fiction or Reality?

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.

Question about the project? Please contact Susi Franceschi, Open Forum, Programme Manager at the World Economic Forum ([email protected])