Two Greenpeace activists managed to breach the heavily secured Congress Centre in Davos, just before the opening speech of the World Economic Forum (WEF), on Tuesday morning.
Using a ladder, they successfully overcame the high-security measures put in place at the most secure location in the world during the WEF.
The activists unfurled a banner with a clear demand: “Tax the Super Rich, finance a just and green future!”
This action was part of a series of protests aimed at highlighting the growing social inequality and the responsibility of the wealthy to combat climate change.
Greenpeace, known for its direct actions, aimed to draw attention to the urgent need for a fairer distribution of wealth and the financing of environmental projects.
The movement emphasizes that the super-rich must be held accountable if the planet is to be saved.
Security forces have since removed the two activists, but their action has sent a clear signal.
Greenpeace was not alone, as around ten more activists simultaneously blocked the heliport in Davos, chained themselves to vehicles, and held up signs with the slogan “TaxTheSuperRich”.
The protest took place in the backdrop of the WEF, where political and economic elites from around the world gathered to discuss global challenges.
For Greenpeace, this was a unique opportunity to deliver its message directly to the decision-makers.
Although the police eventually dispersed the blockade and removed the activists, the symbol of the activists remains unmissable: the responsibility for climate change and social justice must lie with those who have the most.
How did the two Greenpeace activists manage to breach the security measures at the World Economic Forum in Davos, despite the extensive security arrangements in place, which reportedly cost around 9 million francs in the past years, with the presence of up to 5,000 army personnel and numerous police forces?
And what would have happened if they had brought a weapon with them?
This incident raises questions about the effectiveness of the security measures and could potentially erode the trust in the security arrangements of the WEF.