Heard at Davos: where Rich and powerful of world, recently met.
USUALLY, I am accustomed to sit with ministers, with government officials... And yesterday, they were business leaders. And we spoke almost with one voice: that education should be put on the agenda of the G20, as soon as possible. The sooner we do it, the better results will come out tomorrow. - Irina Bokova, Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
If we were to look at all these scourges facing our world, all these intractable problems – from poverty, hunger, disease, terrorism, climate change – all of these problems can be relieved, if not fully solved, through education. - Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum
The good news, I think, is that the successful performance of the economy in the short run has in fact created a lot of confidence in the private sector [in India]. In fact, there is a marked difference in mood in Asia and the mood, let's say, in the industrialized world. - Montek S. Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, India
In the short term, I think agriculture has a key role to play in the economic recovery because, as many know, agriculture . . . contributes to the reduction of poverty twice as much – some people think even it's four times as much – as investment in other sectors. - Patricia A. Woertz, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM)
This is a fool's paradise, for people who think [the recession] is over...
If we don't have jobs, there is no sustainable way of re-balancing the global economy...
People... sit here and say ‘It's over', while we know there are millions of jobs still to be lost.” - Sharan Burrow, President, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
This crisis is not just a global crisis. It is not a crisis in globalization. This crisis is a crisis of globalization.” - Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France
We have an absolutely unique opportunity today, but it comes with its set of challenges. The first big challenge comprises ecological sustainability and tackling climate change. The second is that of reducing poverty and inequality in the world. To me, if you combine these two challenges, they present an opportunity. The key is to look at the very fundamental fact that the developing world has still to build most of its energy infrastructure [and] physical infrastructure, and to buy most of its consumer goods. This very simple fact – that the developing world does not have these things – is the great opportunity for tackling climate change and ecological sustainability.” - Azim H. Premji, Chairman, Wipro, India
Increased global partnerships will be key moving forward, as well as more donations to fund the fight against diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis" - Melinda French Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA
She has a right to speak as her foundation had just committed 10 billion dollars to help research, develop and deliver vaccines for the world's poorest countries. Melinda Gates estimates that the money will help save the lives of 8 million children over the next nine years.