By NAOMI KOPPEL, Associated Press Writer
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - The impact of a projected slowdown in the U.S. economy, new ways for companies to do business and the changing face of the Internet are all issues to be tackled at a meeting of politicians, businessmen and cultural leaders opening Thursday.
The World Economic Forum - 3,200 politicians, business people and cultural leaders - will stretch over six days and 315 sessions at this Alpine resort.
In a program dominated by technology issues, the forum, in its 31st year, will be looking at how to ensure parts of the world are not left behind and the future of e-commerce following the collapse of some major "dot com" companies.
The summit will also play host to Balkan leaders hoping to sketch a new economic map, including the possible creation of a customs union. New faces such as Yugoslavia's Vojislav Kostunica and Mexico's Vicente Fox will have ample chance to meet counterparts in meetings on the sidelines.
The summit, whose motto is "committed to improving the state of the world," sees itself as a chance for the world's decision makers to get together in a relaxed atmosphere - with a break for skiing.
International trade will be high on the agenda, with the present and future heads of the World Trade Organization, Mike Moore and Supachai Panitchpakdi, facing up to some of the organization's most vocal critics at round-table events.
For a bit of relaxation, participants can also attend literary teas, listen to music from Peter Gabriel or Youssou N'Dour and even learn the techniques of "yoga for the hands."
Not, however, if globalization opponents have their way. They intend to go through with protests despite a ban on demonstrations, which they said Wednesday they would appeal to the Swiss Supreme Court.
To them, the summit is a symbol of all that's worst about globalization: worldwide markets and the increasing importance of international trade.
For the organizers, the forum represents all that's best about exactly the same things.
They point to the diversity of the delegates - more than 30 heads of state or government and other politicians, including Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, as well as business leaders such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and the heads of almost every U.N. agency. Though some U.S. governors are attending, there is no one from the administration of newly inaugurated President Bush.
The forum features "the major stakeholders of society gathered in one place at the same time," says Charles McLean, the forum's communications director. "What a wonderful opportunity that offers."
Protesters are coming well prepared. Even if the ban is upheld, they say they will have more than the 1,000 protesters who showed up last year.
"We want to prevent these self-titled 'global leaders' from meeting behind closed doors to decide the future of the planet to their favor," according to a statement by Anti-WTO Coordination, the group leading the protests.
Last year's protests turned violent, with two police officers injured and protesters damaging a local McDonald's.
Swiss police have called in reinforcements from across Switzerland and Liechtenstein and drafting in 600 soldiers. On Wednesday, they set up barriers on the main streets of Davos - a usually quiet upmarket ski resort.
The United States, concerned about possible violent protests, has advised U.S. citizens to avoid Davos during the event.
Meanwhile, in an advice booklet, the protesters suggest demonstrators carry gas masks and items they may need if they are arrested. It advises against bringing contact lenses and the liquid solutions they require: "You can be arrested for carrying chemical agents.":
