28 - 30 January 2010 in Davos, Switzerland

About 250 spectators attended the series of movies on environmental degradation, climate change, poverty and migration organized by Global Risk Forum GRF Davos. In each of the subsequent discussions led by Walter J. Ammann, President of GRF Davos, filmmakers, experts and political representatives took position on the topic. The situation report from Ambassador Toni Frisch, head of SDC humanitarian aid,who came directly from Haiti to Davos, has also been met with great interest.

It's too late to be a pessimist

Thursday, 28 January 2010

More than 100 people used the opportunity to see the film "Home" from Yann Arthus-Bertrand. In "Home" Yann Arthus-Bertrand brought together unique footage from over fifty countries, all seen from the air, and by sharing with us his wonder and his concern the regisseur lays a foundation stone for the edifice that, together, we must rebuild.

The same understanding was also shared by the panel discussion which followed the film, and included Claudio Lardi,the councillor of the Kanton Graubünden,Reto Dürst from the Davos Gouvernment and Gian-Paul Calonder, expert for environment in Davos, as well as the views of the public. "We have to act-- each of us -- but also politics and economics."

New Ways out of Poverty

Friday,29 January 2010

One billion people live on less than one dollar a day. What this means, and which paths lead out of this misery, showed David Syz, film producer and former Secretary of SECO, in his film "Beyond a Dollar a Day". The subsequent very lively discussion between the National Council, Brigitta Gadient, David Syz and the audience helped to get a deeper insight into the subject.

On what everyone agreed, is that we need more funds for development, but development should always be towards self-help and needs the full engagement of local people. Investments should  adapt to the circumstances and be directed to the needs of the people. This is where still many mistakes are made - so much money is wasted.

People on the run , caused by climate change

Saturday, 28 January 2010

On Saturday, the 30th January the film of Michael Nash adressed an incresing problem. Millions of people today are on the run today, not beacuse of war but because of climatic conditions. The American manufacturer and regisseur Michael Nash has accompanied climate refugees with his camera. The resulting film "Climate Refugees" draws a frightening picture of the future.Dozens of millions of people  in Africa, Asia and South America will be forced in the coming decades, to leave their settlement areas and emigrate to countries of the North. Is Switzerland or Europe prepared for this migration? - The subsequent debate gave an answer to this question. And unfortunately it is NO.