The World Economic Forum and its opponents in the anti-globalisation movement face a testing time this weekend in New York, following the start of the annual five-day conference of business and political leaders today.
The forum will be launched with a plenary session starring UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan, U2 singer Bono, and former New York mayor Mr Rudolph Giuliani.
Bishop Desmond Tutu, King Hussein of Jordan, President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines and Prof Elie Wiesel of Boston University will also attend.
Held in previous years in Davos, Switzerland, the forum is struggling to create an image as an inclusive world business exchange.
A number of non-governmental organisations are boycotting the event, which is being held in the five-star Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
Mr Gerd Leipold, the head of Greenpeace, said he had good discussions last year with car makers on vehicle emissions, but the companies did not follow up and he would not be attending. "Nice talks in nice places are not good enough," he said.
Some politicians named in the forum's 60-page programme will also not be in New York.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, is listed as a leader in four discussions - on European identity, the euro zone, productivity and business innovation, but her spokesman said yesterday she had never accepted an invitation.
Several senior members of the US administration will attend, including the Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, and Treasury Secretary Mr Paul O'Neill.
There will be 1,000 business leaders paying $25,000 (€28,901) a head, and a number of personalities from the arts.
The forum, which moved to New York as an act of solidarity with the stricken city in the wake of the September 11th attacks, has spread its interests over business, politics, religion and regional conflicts this year.
The anti-globalisation movement which descended on Davos last year may have lost its taste for confrontation, especially with a police force seen as heroes because of the casualties they suffered in the World Trade Centre collapse.
The police are certainly in no mood for trouble. They will block off streets around the Waldorf and have warned that people wearing masks face the threat of instant arrest.
Police overtime will cost the city $11 million. More than 100 delegates will be given police escorts in a fleet of Audi cars driven by retired police and army personel, and armed guards will mingle with guests at cocktail parties and dinners.
Civil disobedience and sit-ins are being planned by trade union, environmental and anti-globalisation student groups.
Special precautions are being taken to protect McDonalds and Starbucks cafés, which have been targets for anarchists in previous demonstrations.
