What Millennials Must Know About WEF Davos, Explained by Ser Davos

(Photo Courtesy: HBO/Altered by The Quint)

Shah Rukh Khan is winning another award and there is no Game of Thrones this year. Think those two are hardly related? Well, think again!

SRK will get the Crystal Award “for his leadership in championing children’s and women’s rights in India” at the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) summit at Davos, Switzerland in 2018.

Also, the opening plenary will be delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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But there’s more to WEF than SRK and NaMo, and that’s exactly where GOT comes in.

With no new season this year, the characters were looking for some freelance work, and so we roped in Davos’ namesake Ser Davos Seaworth to explain everything that millennials need to know about the summit.

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In case you think Ser Davos is hardly an authority on world issues, here’s his ready defence: “I know the seas and rivers, the shapes of the coasts, where the rocks and shoals lie. I know hidden coves where a boat can land unseen.”

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So, can we trust the guy? We think so!

Winter is Here!

First things first: The theme for WEF 2018 is “creating a shared future in a fractured world”. Sounds too highbrow and pretentious? Ser Davos disagrees. Before you ask yourself the question – “But what’s in it for me?”– hear him out.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/World Economic Forum)

WEF is where, each year, world leaders come together to exchange ideas and attempt to find solutions to problems that affect us as a global community, because, in the words of Ser Davos, what’s beyond the Wall is coming for us.

Yes, my friends, you might want to rethink the theory about Game of Thrones being about global climate change, because winter is truly here.

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Why is There a ‘G’ in Night?

Besides global warming and climate change, there are many more issues that the WEF attempts to bring to the forefront, including those that concern millennials today.

Should video game addiction be recognised as a mental health disorder? What’s your idea of a truly healthy diet? What else besides leisure should we consider before booking a holiday? How can we create a climate where women feel safe?

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Believe it or not, these are questions that have been asked by the WEF, questions that affects young people across the world today. WEF is not the only one asking questions. In fact, they want you to ask about issues that matter to you!

Asking questions is a good habit for questioning is the first step towards change. Millennials are already pretty good at asking questions, especially on social media.

Well, Ser Davos too, wears his millennial hat sometimes and asks questions on the show, if not on social media. Here’s a profound question that he asked in one of the episodes – “Why is there a ‘G’ in night?”

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

It’s a valid observation, especially in relation to some of these larger questions: Who has global control over language today? Why are some languages, especially English, preferred globally over others? Why are some dialects considered inferior and impure?

Who Will Sit on the Iron Throne?

Now, we know that the WEF has been heavily criticised for being a forum attended by the rich — big businessmen, entrepreneurs, oligarchs and so on — and for indulging in celeb worship (I mean, a male Bollywood actor is winning an award for championing women’s rights in India? Really!).

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Ser Davos too, can be a little uncritical at times, and indulge in leader-worship. Remember his fling time with Stannis Baratheon?

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However, to his credit, Ser Davos did accept that his parts were a mix of good and bad. As a final word on the WEF, keeping in mind all the criticism, this is what he has to say.

(GIF: HBO)

Share Ser Davos’ optimism? Still think the summit doesn’t concern you? Tell us in the comments section below.

(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at [e-mail]. We’ll make sure India gets your message)