WEF 2015: 193 'protesting snowmen' catch attention of delegates

DAVOS: Campaigners at the WEF in Davos have created a field of 193 " protesting snowmen", each representing a nation, to demand action on poverty, inequality and climate change.

The unique initiative drew the attention of A-listers like billionaires Bill Gates, Richard Branson and singer Will.i.am, among others.

The action/2015 campaign launched earlier this month, backed by over 1,000 organisations, with the goal of securing ambitious outcomes from key summits in the final months of 2015. It is underpinned by the belief that because of these summits, 2015 can be a transformative year in tackling poverty, inequality and climate change.

"These protesting snowmen send a very serious message in a light-hearted way. Like them, unless we seize the opportunities of 2015 they will simply melt away without a trace.

"The amazing support action/2015 has received this week from A-listers to locals shows the growing demands to make 2015 a transformative year on poverty, climate change and inequality," said Brendan Cox, Director of Policy at Save the Children and spokesperson for action/2015 in a statement.

Throughout the week hundreds of people supported the campaign by stopping by to see the snowmen or taking a #snowmanselfie including Chris Martin, Will.i.am, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Amina Muhammed.

"According to new research, almost a billion extra people face a life of extreme poverty if leaders duck key decisions on poverty, inequality and climate change due to be taken at two crucial summits in New York and Paris later this year, with billions more continuing to face a life of hardship," the statement said.