In an effort that is becoming more and more associated with politics, the World Economic Forum is soliciting your participation — an opportunity to share a cause that is important to you via YouTube. The winning video will have a panel dedicated to their cause.

From the official YouTube Blog:

Is there one issue facing the world today that you feel passionate about? Have you always wanted to take your cause directly to people who have the power to do something about it, but lacked access to have your voice heard? Now is your chance to make your pitch – and win a spot at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where world leaders will gather to hear what you have to say about the issue that matters most to you.

There is just one week left to submit a video for the opportunity to go to Davos. Each year, heads of state, business leaders, and social entrepreneurs gather at the World Economic Forum to discuss the most critical challenges facing citizens and nations around the world. And this year, one of you will get direct access to a special panel of these leaders at the Forum, to let them know why your cause matters.

The submission deadline is Monday, January 4, 2010, and all videos should be no longer than three minutes. Speak clearly and from the heart. Five finalists will be selected by a judging panel comprised of Paolo Coelho, Arianna Huffington and Muhammad Yunus. These finalist videos will then go to public vote on January 8, with a winner announced on January 19.

This is the chance you’ve been waiting for… unprecedented access to the worlds most powerful leaders who can make a difference for your cause. Visit the Davos YouTube channel to submit your video and make your pitch to the world.

While I would obviously encourage everybody interested to participate, the whole competition appears to me as a failing effort by the WEF/Davos people to try and integrate social media into their Forum (“Because it’s the cool thing to do” – So LAST decade!). I take issue with the fact that they will only be selecting one winning video, and the winner gets a “panel discussion” dedicated to their issue. Talk, talk, talk!

How I Would Do Things:

If they really wanted to be edgy, they’d shape the entire forum around causes submitted on YouTube by citizens from around the world. EVERY panel at Davos would be the result of a video submission. AND to make things more interesting, once the finalists have been selected and the top videos are open for voting — require each finalist to choose a charity that serves their cause and make each vote worth a $10 contribution to that charity.

What do you think?