By Ryan McCarthy and Ross Chainey

In an empty, snow-covered parking lot about a mile outside of the center of the gathering of the world’s elite, the Occupy Davos activists have set up a small camp of igloos and yurts. There are no badges or panels at this gathering – most of the day’s work is focused on building (and re-building) the camp’s series of tunnels and igloos. The handful of activists at the camp on Tuesday were upbeat, but realistic about their chances of changing the World Economic Forum’s agenda.

The Occupy Davos movement, members said, had no real coordination with the protests going on in the U.S., though a few activists came from other areas of Europe and the U.S. The group’s organizers expected 60 or so activists to join the group later in the week when the World Economic Forum kicks off. For its part, the WEF has allowed the protesters to stay on site, and even brought in supplies.

We spoke with the Occupy Davos activists about what brought them here, what they hope to achieve – and whether anyone at the glittering WEF gathering is listening.

Ryan McCarthy talks to Occupy WEF’s Florian Sieber.

Occupy’s Laurent Moeri tells Reuters why he thinks the WEF is a “great hypocrisy”.

Occupy protester Savino (surname withheld) talks to Reuters about his reasons for coming to Davos.