For the first time, Caritas Internationalis, the confederation joining 162 Catholic entities all over the world, will take part in the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland, 23-27 January), and will ask political and economic leaders to commit themselves to subjects such as "climate change, poverty and development, global government, migrations, interreligious dialogue and peace". The Davos Forum has been criticized several times for being a place where the powerful decide on the lives of the poor. Alternatively, civil society organizations actually created the World Social Forum, which this year is taking place on 26th January, at the same time in over 110 cities. Last years, it took place in one city only. The last one was in Nairobi, in January 2007. Caritas Internationalis will also take part in the initiatives set up on a local level. Caritas Internationalis has been participating in World Social Forums for years. Lesley-Anne Knight, secretary general of Caritas Internationalis, said that its presence in Davos, on the other hand, is "an excellent opportunity to make it possible for the poor of the world not to be forgotten when the economic and political leaders plan our future". Knight said he would take advantage of "every opportunity to ask world leaders, and in particular, the leaders of the richest countries, to fulfil the commitment to reach the Millennium Goals within 2015".
