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African Davos delegates plan Trump speech boycott
By Matthew Allen
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in depth: WEF Davos 2018
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This content was published on January 25, 2018 11:24 AMJan 25, 2018 - 11:24
U.S. President Donald Trump alights from Air Force One at Zurich International Airport for the Davos World Economic Forum
'One is a lonely number': US president Donald Trump disembarking from Marine One in Davos.
(Keystone)
African delegates are planning to boycott United States President Donald Trump’s closing speech at the World Economic Forum’s flagship annual meeting in Davos on Friday. This follows leaks that he called African countries “shitholes” in a White House meeting on immigration this month.
Trump arrives in Davos on Thursday where he will concentrate on boosting trade and business links between the US and other countries as part of his “America First” agenda, according to members of his cabinet who briefed the press. Trump will also meet Swiss President Alain Berset in Davos.
But he may not receive as warm a reception as he would like from other quarters.
Two-day visit
The US President arrived in Davos shortly before noon on Thursday, having flown in by helicopter from Zurich International Airport. Trump will be making a two-day visit to the World Economic Forum, where he will deliver a speech on Friday.
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Business Leadership Africa CEO Bonang Mohale, a Davos attendee, penned an open letterexternal link before the WEF meeting, urging people to turn their backs on Trump when he arrives at WEF.
“The overt racism of these [shithole] statements is self-evident, and a stain on an office as august as yours,” he wrote. “Many of us will be boycotting your address to delegates at Davos in protest against your divisive comments and continued failure to unequivocally apologise. We encourage likeminded peers to do the same.”
Media have reportedexternal link a growing number of African delegates who have expressed support for the letter and will themselves boycott Trump’s speech. But is also reported that Trump will meet with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, in his capacity of incoming chairman of the African Unionexternal link.
Economic and environmental concerns
A host of NGOs have attacked Trump’s policies as he prepares for his Davos entrance.
“President Trump’s agenda is not putting America First – it is putting billionaires first. Trump was elected on a promise to fix the rigged economic and political system but his policies will further enrich corporations and the wealthy elite at the expense of the poorest in society,” wrote Oxfam International Director Winnie Byanyima in a press release on Wednesday.
Trump’s backtracking on environmental commitments of the previous US regime also prompted criticism from Christiana Figueres, former United Nations climate chief and now a leading light at the environmental NGO Mission 2020external link.
“The situation in the US is quite lamentable,” Figueres told swissinfo.ch. “All of the incentives for US industry to decarbonise have now been lost. But we must differentiate between what the White House is saying and the real economy, which wants to decarbonise.”
Beatrice Fihn, Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weaponsexternal link (ICAN), said Trump’s nuclear policy appears to clear the way for “developing new types of nuclear weapons and lowering the bar for their use,” Fihn told swissinfo.ch. “This is a worrying situation.”
Helicopter lands in Davos
arrival
Trump’s arrival in Davos overshadows WEF
US President Donald Trump landed in Davos on Thursday morning for his two-day visit to the World Economic Forum (WEF), where he will deliver a ...
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"TheDon commented on the content at 25 January 2018 17:13".
TheDon 25-Jan-2018 17:13
Doubt he has any concerns whatsoever
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"rafael.ti commented on the content at 25 January 2018 18:32".
rafael.ti 25-Jan-2018 18:32
The article says "... he called many poor countries “shitholes”".
1. The statement didn't have anything to do with countries being poor! This is a clear manipulation of the author. Many poor countries are wonderful and many rich countries are total shitholes.
2. There are lots of shithole countries, many of which in Africa, so what's the big deal? It's enough to take a look at crime statistics of these countries, see how women or gays are treated, and also people who decide to not believe in the state religion of peace. I'd suggest these "leaders" concentrate on doing something for their countries to change the "shithole" status instead of boycotting Trump.
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"John commented on the content at 25 January 2018 19:11".
John 25-Jan-2018 19:11
Its sad that the boycott will simply draw attention to the fact that the boycotters are living in great luxury while their countrymen live like canines in a septic tank.
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"robert borathian commented on the content at 25 January 2018 19:32".
robert borathian 25-Jan-2018 19:32
unfortunately TDS is communicable.
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"kamikrazee commented on the content at 25 January 2018 19:44".
kamikrazee kamikrazee 25-Jan-2018 19:44
The delegates should stay. Stare him down in silent contempt. Make him really uncomfortable and nervous, let him know what being despised is like.
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"I.P. Freely commented on the content at 25 January 2018 19:59".
I.P. Freely 25-Jan-2018 19:59
Well, that's just typical-Trump puffing and blowing about his good intentions while lying, readying another blast against common sense and plain decency. Why do people listen to him? Indeed, why does he exist but to make things worse?
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"Doug commented on the content at 25 January 2018 20:02".
Doug 25-Jan-2018 20:02
I am an American and lived in a "shithole" American town when I was young. Thankfully my mother got our family out of there when I was 12 years old. Am I a "racist" by calling the town of my birth a "shithole"? The town was dirty, polluted, full of gambling, prostitution, and corrupt city officials. And I am an illegitimate child. That makes me a "Bastard of the Shithole Place!" .....I'm not afraid to call it as it is.
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"Malachi Constant commented on the content at 26 January 2018 03:50".
Malachi Constant 26-Jan-2018 03:50
Insulting Trump IS insulting the majority of America...He was elected,not appointed!
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"M. Singer replied to the comment of Malachi Constant at 26 January 2018 08:34."
M. Singer 26-Jan-2018 08:34
Wrong. The majority did NOT vote for him and the majority do NOT support him.
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"jojojojo commented on the content at 26 January 2018 04:07".
jojojojo 26-Jan-2018 04:07
Just so you know in Switzerland, the sh-- hole comment is fake news. You only see the bad side of him which is what CNN shows you. He is a great man and would not have gotten elected overwhelmingly if he were what CNN tells you. Don't believe them. We love our president.
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"M. Singer replied to the comment of jojojojo at 26 January 2018 08:37."
M. Singer 26-Jan-2018 08:37
He did NOT get elected 'Overwhelmingly'. He lost the popular vote, so I fail to see how that describes a majority, even. And his comments have been confirmed, the fake news you speak of comes from Fox news.
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"someone replied to the comment of jojojojo at 26 January 2018 08:39."
someone 26-Jan-2018 08:39
He did not get elected overwhelmingly. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 3 million. According to Fox News, as of January 2018 53% of Americans disapprove of his performance. Clearly, the majority in the USA do not love the president.
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