Chirac warns of the 'silent tsunamis' of despair

French President Jacques Chirac warned today that “silent tsunamis” of despair, such as unemployment, were plaguing the world, and urged those at the World Economic Forum to help others.

“The scale of the destruction is a reminder of the fragility of humankind in the face of nature,” he said, referring to the tsunamis that struck southern Asia, killing at least 157,000 people.