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Heads of state, corporates and the world’s wealthiest met in Davos, Switzerland, this week to discuss, among other things, how to make economic sense of what’s going on in the world.
The World Economic Forum provides a platform for political, business and other leaders to discuss issues of poverty, investment, job creation, stagnant economies and so on.
The meetings came days after Oxfam published a report titled Public Good or Private Wealth, which showed that the super-rich keep getting richer while the vulnerable are poorer. The inequality grows at lightning speed, with no sense of calm.
The number of local billionaires dropped from eight to five, but the drop didn’t filter down to the poor. Instead, it made the remaining five wealthier, as they grew their fortunes by 15% in the past year.
The question is: While the haves discuss the world’s problems, shouldn’t they have those who are most affected by inequality at the same table?
Those at the top know nothing about the struggles of the poor, and the poorest are best placed to lead the call for solutions. But the truth is that the rich will always be among us.
The issue is: How do we make them contribute practically to the fight against inequality and poverty, disease and climate change, among other issues? How do corporations answer to these big questions in partnership with the affected?
At a time when the US is pushing for a nationalistic and isolationist agenda – going as far as missing the Davos gathering – the rest of the world must come to the party and ensure that poor populations are not pushed to the margins.
Those gathered at Davos must not stop at well-meaning declarations, they must match their concerns with action. They must emulate those who share and are led by non-governmental organisations and communities in fighting inequality.
The Bill & Melinda Gates, Open Society as well as Motsepe foundations are stellar examples in this regard, but more can and should be done.
Perhaps at next year’s Davos gathering those who forked out thousands of rands to attend the meeting might remember that they should keep quiet and listen to the poor.
Only once the affected provide details of how the problems they face daily can be solved, can those with the money provide funds to narrow the gap of inequality in a world in which the richest 1% control the majority of the money.
