<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link copied<\/p>\n\n\n\n Miss a day, miss a lot.<\/strong> Subscribe to The Defender’s Top News of the Day<\/a>. It’s free.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thousands of prominent political and business figures are congregating in Davos, Switzerland, this week for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum<\/a> (WEF), whose theme, \u201cCooperation in a Fragmented World<\/a>,\u201d focuses on the \u201ccost of living crisis<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, the WEF and its founder and chairperson, German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab<\/a>, generated controversy by promoting ideas such as the \u201cThe Great Reset<\/a>\u201d and the \u201cFourth Industrial Revolution<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In promoting \u201dThe Great Reset\u201d in 2020, Schwab said<\/a> the COVID-19<\/a> \u201cpandemic represents a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and reset our world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The WEF\u2019s 2016 vision for the future<\/a> \u2014 \u201cWelcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better\u201d \u2014 has also raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its mission statement<\/a>, the WEF claims \u201cit is independent, impartial and not tied to any special interests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Forum strives in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance. Moral and intellectual integrity is at the heart of everything it does.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, critics describe the WEF<\/a> as a \u201cfanatical political organization masquerading as a neutral entity\u201d with the goal of \u201ccentralizing power into the possession of hand-picked global elites\u201d and for operating with no public input or accountability<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some critics argue the WEF\u2019s annual meeting \u201cacts as the go-to in-person, invite-only, closed to ideological outsiders policy and ideas shop for the global ruling class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Statements emerging from this year\u2019s meeting have done little to quell concerns about the WEF\u2019s real agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Defender<\/a> examines some of the key themes of this year\u2019s meeting \u2014 taking place under a militaristic security blanket and amid accusations that participants are not practicing what they preach when it comes to their own behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key themes this year include \u201ccombating misinformation,\u201d promoting \u201cpublic-private partnerships,\u201d \u201cgreen\u201d politics, buzzwords such as \u201cDEI,\u201d \u201cresiliency\u201d and \u201csustainability,\u201d \u201chealth security,\u201d and continued digitization via the metaverse and \u201csmart\u201d technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schwab opines on the importance of \u2018mastering the future\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a press release promoting this year\u2019s WEF meeting<\/a>, Schwab stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe see the manifold political, economic and social forces creating increased fragmentation on a global and national level. To address the root causes of this erosion of trust, we need to reinforce cooperation between the government and business sectors, creating the conditions for a strong and durable recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt the same time there must be the recognition that economic development needs to be made more resilient, more sustainable and nobody should be left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his opening address<\/a>, Schwab said that current crises around the world, ranging from COVID-19 to the high cost of living, are \u201cserving as catalytic forces for the economic transformation<\/a>,\u201d adding that \u201cthrough collective responsibility, innovation and human goodwill and ingenuity, we have the capacity to turn such challenges into opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schwab asked what it means to \u201cmaster the future<\/a>\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat does it mean to master the future? I think to have a platform where all stakeholders of society are engaged<\/a> \u2014 governments, business, civil societies, young generation \u2026 I think is the first step to meet all the challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schwab also used his opening remarks to address criticism levied against the WEF in recent years. However, he said the WEF and its global partners must \u201covercome\u201d such \u201cnegative critical and confrontational attitudes<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a blog post, investigative journalist Jordan Schachtel<\/a> noted that the WEF appears to be \u201cplaying defense\u201d in response to the \u201cmajor headwinds\u201d its \u201cextremist agenda\u201d faces, by claiming that it is the victim of \u201cdisinformation campaigns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, an Aug. 5, 2022, article in Canada\u2019s The Globe and Mail<\/a> stated the infamous \u201cown nothing and be happy\u201d quote \u201csparked a misinformation campaign,\u201d even though Schachtel noted that the phrase originated from the WEF itself. The article containing the quote was written by Adrian Monck<\/a>, now the WEF\u2019s managing director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis<\/a> recently attacked the WEF<\/a>, remarking that \u201cThey run everything and everyone else is basically a serf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Annual pilgrimage to genuflect to Bill Gates and Klaus Schwab\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The roster of speakers at this year\u2019s WEF meeting<\/a> represents a proverbial \u201cwho\u2019s who\u201d of the global political, business, journalistic and nonprofit elite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Referencing the significant number of journalists participating as panelists and speakers, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., chairman and chief litigation counsel for Children\u2019s Health Defense<\/a>, said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe American press makes its annual pilgrimage to genuflect to Bill Gates and Klaus Schwab and get its marching orders from the billionaires.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among this year\u2019s WEF meeting speakers<\/a> are 52 heads of state and government, including representatives of royal families, and 56 national finance ministers, 35 ministers of foreign affairs, 30 ministers of commerce and 19 governors of central banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, a record number of heads of state<\/a> is attending this year\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The U.S. contingent at this year\u2019s meeting<\/a> includes key Biden administration and intelligence community figures, including FBI<\/a> Director Christopher Wray, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh, U.S. Agency for International Development<\/a> Administrator Samantha Power, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and several members of Congress from both parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schachtel said the U.S. delegation is smaller than last year\u2019s, which he attributed to \u201cthe massive blowback the World Economic Forum has received.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key international figures on this year\u2019s roster include U.N. Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus<\/a>, Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg<\/a>, Christine Lagarde<\/a>, president of the European Central Bank and former managing director of the International Monetary Fund<\/a> (IMF) and former Vice President Al Gore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More than a dozen representatives of the EU are attending, including President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen<\/a>, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola<\/a>, and other key officials, including the EU\u2019s commissioner for the economy and its executive vice president for the European Green Deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European heads of state, such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz<\/a> and Prime Minister of The Netherlands Mark Rutte, are among the speakers, alongside European royal figures such as Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Queen M\u00e1xima of the Netherlands and Prince Albert II of Monaco. A large contingent of Ukrainian politicians<\/a> also is attending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big Pharma<\/a> also is strongly represented in this year\u2019s speaker list. Attendees include Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla \u2014 who at last year\u2019s WEF meeting discussed how microchips will one day be added to pills<\/a> \u2014 Moderna CEO St\u00e9phane Bancel<\/a>, top-level executives of AstraZeneca, Bayer<\/a>, Merck and Sanofi, and Adar Poonawalla of India\u2019s Serum Institute<\/a>, the world\u2019s largest vaccine manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key business and financial figures on the speaker\u2019s list include BlackRock CEO Larry Fink<\/a>, Amazon<\/a> CEO Andy Jassy, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser and Bain & Company<\/a> Chairman Orit Gadiesh, alongside the governors of central banks of countries such as France, Israel and The Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Five representatives of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are on the speaker\u2019s list, as are editors and journalists from outlets such as The Associated Press, Reuters and The Washington Post<\/a>, and Axios, Bloomberg, CBS, CNBC, CNN, Deutsche Welle, The Economist, the Financial Times, Forbes, Foreign Affairs, Fortune, Fox Business, NBC, The Atlantic<\/a>, The New York Times, Politico and The Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s also no shortage of Big Tech<\/a> and fintech representatives on the WEF speakers lineup, including executives from Google, LinkedIn, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, alongside Mastercard<\/a> and Visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In all, more than 2,700 participants from 130 countries<\/a> are listed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notably, George Soros<\/a>, chair of Soros Fund Management and founder of the Open Society Foundations, said in a Jan. 10 tweet that he will not be in attendance at this year\u2019s WEF meeting \u201cdue to an unavoidable scheduling conflict.\u201d Soros\u2019 son, Alexander Soros, deputy chair of the Open Society Foundations, is on the roster, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Andrew Lawton<\/a>, a journalist with Canadian outlet True North:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone at the World Economic Forum annual meeting \u2014 including journalists and participants \u2014 has to take a PCR test upon arrival. If you don\u2019t take a test, the chip in your ID badge is deactivated. If you test positive for COVID the badge is also deactivated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n An intense security curtain has been set up in Davos, with police<\/a> and military roadblocks<\/a> and checkpoints, fingerprint scanning<\/a> and an \u201cunofficial\u201d \u201cWorld Economic Forum Police<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lawton reported<\/a> that \u201cprivate bilateral and multilateral\u201d meetings among participants are likely also being held, \u201cwhich don\u2019t appear on the programme.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018We are a select group of human beings\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the presence of so many high-level figures at the annual WEF meeting, Schwab has previously said<\/a> he doesn\u2019t make \u201cpolitical statements or economic statements which are \u2026 in any way influencing political personalities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Schwab was photographed mingling with global heads of state<\/a> at the November 2022 G20 conference in Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schwab also previously proclaimed that alumni<\/a> of his Forum of Young Global Leaders<\/a> have \u201cpenetrated<\/a>\u201d the governments of multiple countries, where WEF policies are widely being adopted<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the leadup to this year\u2019s meeting, the WEF raised some eyebrows<\/a> with its list of the \u201cTop 10 Risks\u201d facing the world over a two- and 10-year period, including the \u201ccost of living crisis,\u201d \u201cerosion of social cohesion\u201d and \u201clarge-scale involuntary migration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Lawton, corporate executives view the benefit of participation in the WEF meeting as \u201cface-time with politicians<\/a>,\u201d while NGO leaders focus on getting \u201can audience with business leaders (potential donors) and policy-makers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Lawton noted that attendance at speeches by world leaders<\/a> in Davos is \u201csparse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nevertheless, perhaps revealing how participants view their role as WEF invitees, Kerry, speaking at this year\u2019s meeting, said, \u201cWe are a select group of human beings<\/a>\u201d who \u201csit in a room and come together and actually talk about saving the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This theme of \u201csaving the planet\u201d is evidenced by the titles of some of the panels at this year\u2019s WEF meeting<\/a>, including \u201cLeading the Charge through Earth\u2019s New Normal<\/a>,\u201d \u201cTackling Harm in the Digital Era<\/a>\u201d and \u201cWhy We Need Battery Passports<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaders tackle \u2018clear and present danger\u2019 of \u2018misinformation\u2019 and \u2018disinformation\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the key themes permeating this year\u2019s WEF meeting is the perceived need to tackle so-called \u201cmisinformation\u201d and \u201cdisinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was evidenced, for instance, by a panel \u201cThe Clear and Present Danger of Disinformation<\/a>\u201d panel, which included former CNN personality Brian Stelter<\/a>, Times Publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger, European Commission Vice President V\u011bra Jourov\u00e1, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Internews CEO Jeanne Bourgault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During this session<\/a>, Moulton blamed \u201cmis info\u201d<\/a> for not \u201cget[ting] people to take a COVID vaccine,\u201d while Sulzberger described \u201cdisinformation\u201d as \u201cthe most existential\u201d challenge society faces, and Jourov\u00e1 suggested \u201cdisinformation\u201d could be fought via enacting \u201cincreased regulations,\u201d calling on the U.S. to pass hate speech legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sen. Joe Manchin<\/a> (D-W.Va.), speaking on another panel, said, \u201cThe problem we have is the open press system and basically all the platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public-private partnerships: solutions to the world\u2019s problems or \u2018top-down vision for technocratic tyranny\u2019?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In its Twitter bio, the WEF describes itself<\/a> as \u201cThe international organization for public-private cooperation.\u201d This is evident in its description of this year\u2019s meeting, where the WEF says<\/a>, \u201cWe\u2019ll look at how we can tackle the numerous and interlinked challenges the world is facing and find solutions through public-private cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Jan. 17 press conference at this year\u2019s meeting, for instance, was titled \u201cPhilanthropic-Public-Private Partnerships for Climate & Nature<\/a>,\u201d and included participants from the Bezos Earth Fund and McKinsey & Company, as well as B\u00f8rge Brende, former Norwegian foreign minister and current WEF president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brende said, \u201cTime is running out to address critical global challenges\u201d and he introduced the concept of \u201cstakeholder geopolitics<\/a>\u201d as a means of tackling them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also on Jan. 17, Spain\u2019s foreign minister, Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares Bueno<\/a>, said the COVID-19 and Ukraine crises \u201chave shown us that the best method is to do things together,\u201d as \u201cwe get out of crises quicker and in better shape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schachtel described this focus as \u201ca public-private fascist movement<\/a>,\u201d where the WEF partners with the \u201cmost influential individuals in business, along with central bankers, governmental head honchos, and international organizations, in order to facilitate their top-down vision for technocratic tyranny, or what they call \u2018stakeholder capitalism.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaders arrive in \u2018droves of private jets\u2019 to talk \u2018Green\u2019 politics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lawton reported that multiple participants at this year\u2019s conference discussed ideas for how we can transition to a \u201cclimate positive lifestyle<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gore suggested that activities considered to be \u201canti-climate<\/a>\u201d should be defunded, while Guterres said<\/a>, \u201cTo stop our \u2018self-defeating war on nature,\u2019 we must close the emissions gap, phase out coal, and supercharge the renewable revolution,\u201d adding that oil companies have perpetuated a \u201cbig lie\u201d on climate change<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In turn, Oxford University professor Ngaire Woods suggested the implementation of a \u201creal carbon price<\/a>\u201d by every country, in order to accelerate the energy transition, while in an interview outside the official meeting schedule, Schwab Foundation member Kola Masha<\/a> talked about \u201cforcing\u201d environmental policy on the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lawton observed that all WEF meeting participants<\/a>, upon registration, were surveyed \u201cto calculate their carbon footprint for attending the meeting in Davos.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps belying the underlying goal of purported \u201cgreen\u201d proposals, Kerry said, during a panel titled \u201cPhilanthropy: A Catalyst for Protecting Our Planet<\/a>,\u201d that the only way to achieve a 1.5 degree Centigrade reduction in the global temperature was \u201cMoney, Money, Money, Money, Money, Money, Money<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Articles on the WEF website complementing the meeting program suggest, \u201cWhy you should consider adding carbon credits to your climate action plan,\u201d and how cities can adopt \u201cenvironmental, social, governance\u201d<\/a> (ESG) management utilizing the metaverse and blockchain, and ideas like the \u201c15 minute city<\/a>\u201d and \u201ctraffic filters<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an interview with Nicholas Lyons<\/a>, Lord Mayor of the City of London<\/a>, when asked why WEF participants engaged with China in light of its severe lockdowns, he pivoted to climate change, stating, \u201cHuman rights issues are always a concern \u2026 but also you have to understand, the biggest challenge facing the world is climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a press release preceding the start of this year\u2019s gathering, Greenpeace criticized the \u201chypocrisy\u201d of the WEF delegates<\/a>, who \u201carrive in droves of private jets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018DEI,\u2019 \u2018ESG,\u2019 \u2018resiliency\u2019 and \u2018sustainability\u2019: Popular buzzwords dominate panel discussions <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This year\u2019s WEF meeting program, and the talks delivered by many of its participants, are peppered with repeated mentions of in-vogue buzzwords, including \u201cDEI\u201d (diversity, equity, inclusion), \u201cresiliency\u201d and \u201csustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is evident in the WEF\u2019s description<\/a> of the meeting, where Schwab is quoted saying, \u201cThere must be the recognition that economic development needs to be made more resilient, more sustainable and nobody should be left behind,\u201d while the description also talks about the need for \u201cindustry resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vicki Hollub<\/a>, CEO of Occidental Petroleum, commented during the meeting that, \u201cAs we transition, we must not leave developing countries behind,\u201d while Bob Sternfels<\/a>, global managing partner of McKinsey & Company, said, \u201cCompanies that act in a resilient way outperform their peers by up to 50%.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fink, a member of the WEF Board of Trustees<\/a> and a major proponent of ESG, participated in the \u201cRelaunching Trade, Growth and Investment<\/a>\u201d panel. Another panel, \u201cTechnology for a More Resilient World,\u201d included participants from the WEF, IBM<\/a>, Accenture and The Atlantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And as part of the agenda for this year\u2019s meeting, the WEF also suggested that \u201cconsumers want sustainable options<\/a>\u201d and provided suggestions for \u201cwhat producers, suppliers, and retailers can do now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notably, however, in remarks made to Bloomberg<\/a>, Fink complained that \u201cthe narrative around ESG investing has become ugly\u201d and has led to \u201chuge polarization\u201d \u2014 a statement perhaps indicative of the increasing criticism being levied toward Fink, BlackRock, the WEF and other associated entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, in a recent tweet, Twitter owner and CEO Elon Musk remarked<\/a> \u201cThe S in ESG stands for Satanic.\u201d The WEF\u2019s Twitter account is not included in the \u201cHow to follow Davos 2023<\/a>\u201d pamphlet distributed by the WEF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Delegates at BlackRock\u2019s pavilion refused to answer one reporter\u2019s questions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, perhaps spelling out what underscores discussions of \u201cinclusiveness,\u201d \u201csustainability\u201d and \u201cresilience,\u201d a WEF article accompanying this year\u2019s meeting agenda titled \u201c5 dimensions of leadership to address complex challenges<\/a>\u201d includes, as one of its dimensions, \u201cMuscles: perseverance to translate ideas into action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Future \u2018pandemics\u2019 and \u2018global health security\u2019: Will tuberculosis be the next pandemic scare?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another prominent theme at this year\u2019s WEF meeting is how to deal with \u201cfuture pandemics\u201d and \u201cglobal health security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One panel discussion, \u201cState of the Pandemic<\/a>,\u201d included Bancel and representatives of the Gates-affiliated GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance<\/a>, the Harvard School of Public Health and European news outlet Euronews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participants in \u201cEnding Tuberculosis: How Do We Get There?<\/a>\u201d included WHO Secretary-General Tedros and representatives from the WEF, The Washington Post, the Wellcome Trust and The Global Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During this panel discussion, Tedros warned<\/a> that \u201ca resurgence of tuberculosis may be coming \u2026. sooner or later.\u201d In response, Twitter commentator \u201cChief Nerd\u201d wrote, \u201cfortunately, BioNTech & Bill Gates started testing a mRNA vaccine<\/a> for TB last year.\u201d The author provided a link to a relevant article from GAVI\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another panel, \u201cPutting Health at the Heart of Climate Action<\/a>,\u201d bridged the topics of \u201cglobal health\u201d and \u201cclimate change,\u201d and included panelists from Sanofi, the Africa CDC<\/a> and UNICEF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Articles on the WEF website accompanying the meeting agenda include, \u201cA universal flu vaccine: Here\u2019s what you need to know<\/a>\u201d and \u201cLet\u2019s bring together countries and corporations to grow global pathogen surveillance<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other articles promoted a \u201cdigital transformation\u201d of healthcare infrastructure<\/a> and telemedicine as a means of achieving \u201cglobal health equity<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Investigative journalists Avi Yemini and Ezra Levant of Rebel News located Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla on the streets of Davos<\/a> today and bombarded him with 29 questions \u2014 to which Bourla provided two responses: \u201cThank you very much\u201d and \u201cHave a nice day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a separate street interview, AstraZeneca Chairman Leif Johansson was more talkative, admitting to Yemini that the COVID-19 vaccines never stopped the spread<\/a>, but nevertheless justifying the vaccine mandates. According to Yemini, \u201cHe scrambled behind the restricted area before I could ask about the recent rise in \u2018sudden deaths.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u2018metaverse\u2019 and \u2018smart\u2019 technologies: global \u2018cooperation\u2019 or global control?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This year\u2019s meeting continues the WEF\u2019s promotion of digital technologies such as the \u201cmetaverse\u201d and other \u201csmart\u201d technologies, as solutions for multiple global challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Schachtel<\/a>, the WEF will announce \u201cthe first, and long-awaited, outputs of the Defining and Building the Metaverse Initiative,\u201d including briefing papers<\/a> on \u201cInteroperability in the Metaverse\u201d and \u201cDemystifying the Consumer Metaverse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also this year, Schwab, Microsoft Vice Chairman and President Brad Smith, and Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture, shared a vision for the so-called \u201cGlobal Collaboration Village<\/a>.\u201d Schwab said the initiative can be \u201ctrusted\u201d because INTERPOL is participating<\/a> in the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This \u201cGlobal Collaboration Village\u201d was first announced in May 2022<\/a>, as a means to \u201charness the power of the metaverse<\/a> to grow and diversify participation in advancing the global public interest.\u201d Panelists this year presented the benefits of a \u201cglobal VR society<\/a>\u201d \u2014 referring to virtual reality \u2014 that would be \u201cwithout borders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The embattled<\/a> von der Leyen said this week, \u201cthe next decades will see the greatest industrial transformation of our times<\/a>, maybe of any time,\u201d in a clear reference to \u201cThe Great Reset\u201d and the \u201cFourth Industrial Revolution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Investigative journalist Noor Bin Ladin<\/a> characterized von der Leyen\u2019s statement as a \u201cchilling message if you know what this Globalist shill is talking about: Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and other recent technology advancements [which] are absolutely essential for \u2026 the digital jails in which we\u2019ll be trapped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other metaverse-related panels and events this year include \u201cDeployment in the Industrial Metaverse<\/a>\u201d and \u201cHow to Build a Metaverse for All<\/a>,\u201d accompanied by articles suggesting how the metaverse can impact industry<\/a>, shape inclusiveness<\/a> and explaining why and how it needs to be regulated<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thousands of prominent political and business figures are congregating in Davos, Switzerland, this week for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, as critics accused them of \u201ccentralizing power into the possession of hand-picked global elites.\u201d By Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. <\/a><\/a>83<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link copied<\/p>\n\n\n\n Miss a day, miss a lot.<\/strong> Subscribe to The Defender’s Top News of the Day<\/a>. It’s free.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thousands of prominent political and business figures are congregating in Davos, Switzerland, this week for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum<\/a> (WEF), whose theme, \u201cCooperation in a Fragmented World<\/a>,\u201d focuses on the \u201ccost of living crisis<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, the WEF and its founder and chairperson, German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab<\/a>, generated controversy by promoting ideas such as the \u201cThe Great Reset<\/a>\u201d and the \u201cFourth Industrial Revolution<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In promoting \u201dThe Great Reset\u201d in 2020, Schwab said<\/a> the COVID-19<\/a> \u201cpandemic represents a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and reset our world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The WEF\u2019s 2016 vision for the future<\/a> \u2014 \u201cWelcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better\u201d \u2014 has also raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its mission statement<\/a>, the WEF claims \u201cit is independent, impartial and not tied to any special interests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Forum strives in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance. Moral and intellectual integrity is at the heart of everything it does.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, critics describe the WEF<\/a> as a \u201cfanatical political organization masquerading as a neutral entity\u201d with the goal of \u201ccentralizing power into the possession of hand-picked global elites\u201d and for operating with no public input or accountability<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some critics argue the WEF\u2019s annual meeting \u201cacts as the go-to in-person, invite-only, closed to ideological outsiders policy and ideas shop for the global ruling class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Statements emerging from this year\u2019s meeting have done little to quell concerns about the WEF\u2019s real agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Defender<\/a> examines some of the key themes of this year\u2019s meeting \u2014 taking place under a militaristic security blanket and amid accusations that participants are not practicing what they preach when it comes to their own behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key themes this year include \u201ccombating misinformation,\u201d promoting \u201cpublic-private partnerships,\u201d \u201cgreen\u201d politics, buzzwords such as \u201cDEI,\u201d \u201cresiliency\u201d and \u201csustainability,\u201d \u201chealth security,\u201d and continued digitization via the metaverse and \u201csmart\u201d technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schwab opines on the importance of \u2018mastering the future\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a press release promoting this year\u2019s WEF meeting<\/a>, Schwab stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe see the manifold political, economic and social forces creating increased fragmentation on a global and national level. To address the root causes of this erosion of trust, we need to reinforce cooperation between the government and business sectors, creating the conditions for a strong and durable recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt the same time there must be the recognition that economic development needs to be made more resilient, more sustainable and nobody should be left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his opening address<\/a>, Schwab said that current crises around the world, ranging from COVID-19 to the high cost of living, are \u201cserving as catalytic forces for the economic transformation<\/a>,\u201d adding that \u201cthrough collective responsibility, innovation and human goodwill and ingenuity, we have the capacity to turn such challenges into opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schwab asked what it means to \u201cmaster the future<\/a>\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat does it mean to master the future? I think to have a platform where all stakeholders of society are engaged<\/a> \u2014 governments, business, civil societies, young generation \u2026 I think is the first step to meet all the challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schwab also used his opening remarks to address criticism levied against the WEF in recent years. However, he said the WEF and its global partners must \u201covercome\u201d such \u201cnegative critical and confrontational attitudes<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a blog post, investigative journalist Jordan Schachtel<\/a> noted that the WEF appears to be \u201cplaying defense\u201d in response to the \u201cmajor headwinds\u201d its \u201cextremist agenda\u201d faces, by claiming that it is the victim of \u201cdisinformation campaigns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, an Aug. 5, 2022, article in Canada\u2019s The Globe and Mail<\/a> stated the infamous \u201cown nothing and be happy\u201d quote \u201csparked a misinformation campaign,\u201d even though Schachtel noted that the phrase originated from the WEF itself. The article containing the quote was written by Adrian Monck<\/a>, now the WEF\u2019s managing director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis<\/a> recently attacked the WEF<\/a>, remarking that \u201cThey run everything and everyone else is basically a serf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Annual pilgrimage to genuflect to Bill Gates and Klaus Schwab\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The roster of speakers at this year\u2019s WEF meeting<\/a> represents a proverbial \u201cwho\u2019s who\u201d of the global political, business, journalistic and nonprofit elite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Referencing the significant number of journalists participating as panelists and speakers, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., chairman and chief litigation counsel for Children\u2019s Health Defense<\/a>, said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe American press makes its annual pilgrimage to genuflect to Bill Gates and Klaus Schwab and get its marching orders from the billionaires.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among this year\u2019s WEF meeting speakers<\/a> are 52 heads of state and government, including representatives of royal families, and 56 national finance ministers, 35 ministers of foreign affairs, 30 ministers of commerce and 19 governors of central banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, a record number of heads of state<\/a> is attending this year\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/childrenshealthdefense.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/wef-davos-gates-schwab-master-the-future-800x417.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDavos: Gates, Schwab, Global Elites Face Growing Criticism of Their \u2018Master the Future\u2019 Agenda<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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