August 1

EL FASHER, Sudan - Djibril Bassole, foreign minister of Burkina Faso, to assume post as Darfur’s new chief mediator of peace processes in Sudan

August 1-7

GLOBAL - World breastfeeding week (story from 2007)

August 2

KUWAIT - On this day 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait

August 3-8

MEXICO CITY - AIDS 2008. International AIDS Conference. Media registration now open.

August 4-22

LONDON - Frontline’s ’Forgotten’ Documentary Season, Frontline Club
For three weeks from Monday 4 August, Frontline will be screening nine documentaries with Q&As on some of the world’s forgotten stories. Ranging from female soldiers in Sri Lanka to a forgotten war in Nagorno Karabakh, a covered up massacre in Uzbekistan to conscientious objection in the US Army.

August 6

BEIJING - Olympic torch relay arrives in Beijing after its 130-day world tour

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa’s biggest miners union has said it will stage strike that could halt production in world’s biggest source of platinum and major gold producer

August 7

WASHINGTON - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hurricane forecast

KENYA & TANZANIA - 10th anniversary US embassies in Africa bombed in 1998

BANGKOK - Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Policy Forum on "Integrating Climate Change and Energy Security Concerns of Asia in the Post-2012 Climate Regime"

August 8

BEIJING - 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (to Aug 24). U.S. President George W. Bush to attend at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao

YANGON - 20th anniversary of 8-8-88 uprising in military-ruled Myanmar. The student protests were crushed by the army with the loss of an estimated 3,000 lives

August 9

GLOBAL - International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. Coincides with the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People; 2005-2014.

August 11

PAKISTAN - Parties that make up Pakistan’s ruling coalition are set to launch impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf when parliament convenes on Monday

MOSCOW - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner expected to visit Russia following a visit to Georgia on Sunday

MINDANAO, Philippines - Elections in the six-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

LONDON - Screening of "My Daughter the Terrorist" and Q&A with director Beate Arnestad, Frontline Club

August 12

UNITED NATIONS - Gen. Martin Luther Agawi, commander of UNAMID peacekeepers in Darfur, speaks to reporters

GLOBAL - International Youth Day. 2008 Theme - Youth and Climate Change: Time for Action. youth@un.org

LIMA - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) senior officials meeting (to Aug. 23)

August 13

BRUSSELS - EU foreign ministers due to hold emergency meeting to discuss South Ossetia

DAMASCUS - Lebanese President Michel Suleiman visits Damascus for talks with Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad. Talks set to focus on exchanging embassies, fate of missing Lebanese thought to be held in Syria and demarcation of border

CHINA - On this day 1966: China announces Cultural Revolution

August 14

ABUJA - Nigeria to hand over the long-disputed Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon. Nigerian forces are due to complete their long-delayed withdrawal from Bakassi, a peninsula of mangrove islands whose offshore waters are believed to contain crude oil, to comply with a 2002 World Court order.

LEBANON, ISRAEL - 2nd anniversary of U.N.-brokered truce between Israel and Lebanon

August 15

SOCHI, Russia - Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel travels to the Black Sea resort of Sochi for a meeting with Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, amid uncertainty about the conflict in Georgia.

SARAJEVO - 14th Sarajevo Film Festival (to Aug. 23)

August 16

JOHANNESBURG - Southern African Development Community (SADC) Annual Summit (to Aug 17). Negotiations to resolve its political crisis in Zimbabwe are being led by South African President Thabo Mbeki acting as a facilitator for the SADC. The Council of Ministers will meet from August 14 to 15.It is

UGANDA - 5th anniversary of death of Ugandan 'War criminal' Idi Amin in 2003

August 17-23

GLOBAL - World Water Week
Second global meeting, Stockholm. 2008 Theme - Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World with Special Focus on Sanitation. Press Information.

August 18

OLYMPICS - On this day 1964: South Africa banned from Olympics

August 19

UNITED NATIONS - 5th anniversary of the attack on the UN in Baghdad

August 19-29

ECONOMIST.COM - Climate Change Debate. Joseph J. Romm, Senior Fellow at the Centre for American Progress and Peter Meisen, President, Global Energy Network Institute debate the proposition: “This house believes that we can solve our energy problems with existing technologies today, without the need for breakthrough innovations.”

August 21

ACCRA - United Nations climate change talks resume under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, the latest phage of continuing negotiations due to conclude in Copenhagen in late 2009

CAMEROON - On this day 1986: Hundreds gassed by CO₂ in Cameroon lake disaster. The cause was a phenomenon called lake overturn. A subsequent study revealed that Lake Kivu, in Rwanda, is seriously at risk of lake overturn. Scientists have warned that if nothing is done, millions of people living around Lake Kivu are in danger. Hook: still a danger? Parallel with Chinese 'earthquake lake'.

PHILIPPINES - 25th anniversary. On this day 1983: Filipino opposition leader, Benigno Aquino, shot dead
This was the beginning of a mass challenge to President Marcos, who was forced out three years later.

August 22

DUN LAOGHAIRE - 8th annual Festival of World Cultures (to August 24), Dublin

KENYA - 30th anniversary of death of Kenya’s founding father, president Jomo Kenyatta in 1978

ZIMBABWE, OLYMPICS - On this day (1972): Rhodesia out of Olympics. The National Olympic Committees of Africa had threatened to pull out of the games unless Rhodesia was barred from competing. (Compare with: July 17th, 1976, African countries boycott Olympics and July 25th, 1992, World unites at Barcelona Olympics.) Hook: China, Zimbabwe.

August 23

GLOBAL - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

July 2008

BAGHDAD - Iraq takes over security responsibility for another southern province, Diwaniya, Qadisiya from the Multi-National Forces, the 10th of the country’s 18 provinces to return to Iraqi control. The western province of Anbar expected to be handed over in coming weeks.

IRAQ - The United States expected to complete a limited withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq by July

GENEVA - Next meeting of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, gathering major producers and consumers of cluster weapons

ABUJA - (TENTATIVE) Special adviser to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ibrahim Gambari, has called for a summit in July or August with militants and stakeholders to help end unrest in Niger Delta

Tuesday, July 1

PARIS - France takes over EU presidency (to Dec 2008)

SOMALILAND - Local government elections in the breakaway state

BAGHDAD - Iraqi parliament to debate draft law on provincial elections. Must be passed by July 1 if government wants polls on Oct 1.

BEIJING - Ban Ki-moon in China (to July 3)

CARTAGENA, Colombia - Presumptive U.S. Republican presidential nominee John McCain visits Colombia and Mexico (to July 3)

WASHINGTON - IMF to present global assessment of impact of surge in food and energy prices

KINSHASA - Visiting IMF delegation

Wednesday, July 2

BERN, Switzerland - International Conference on Research for Development (to July 4)

DUBAI - International Cricket Council will discuss suspending Zimbabwe from international cricket

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa’s powerful trade union COSATU set to launch national action, culminating in national stayaway at end of month, protesting job losses linked to electricity crisis.

GLOBAL - Live 8 concerts 3 years on.

Thursday, July 3

THE HAGUE - Celebration to mark 10th anniversary of the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court

Friday, July 4

DUBLIN - Strengthening Institutions for Development and Poverty Reduction Conference, Trinity College Dublin School of Midwifery and Nursing, 24 D’Olier Street
The conference will be addressed by leading Irish and international academics and development practitioners who will provide insight into the role of institutions in growth and poverty reduction. Presented by the Institute for International Integration Studies. Contact Michael.king@tcd.ie.

Saturday, July 5

TV - What in the World: Patagonia - United Colours of Mapuche RTÉ One, Thursdays 10.45pm
Argentina Displaced by the world’s wealthiest - the Mapuche people of Patagonia fight back. Television documentary series (series 3) concentrating on global economic inequalities and human rights violations. Presented and produced by Peadar King kmfproductions@eircom.net.

GLOBAL - International Day of Cooperatives

Monday, July 7

HOKKAIDO, Japan - G8 Summit (to July 9). Japan to host a meeting on African development on the sidelines of summit

GÄLLIVARE, Sweden - Second Viva World Cup soccer tournament for unrecognised countries (to July 13). Participants: Samiland (hosts), Kurdistan, Padania, Provence and Syriacs.

July 7 - August 22

CO WEXFORD - The Odyssey of the Potato, Irish Agricultural Museum, Johnstown Castle Estate.
In celebration of the International Year of the Potato in 2008, the International Potato Center (Peru) has prepared a travelling exhibition. This exhibition will be presented in different countries and throughout Europe and Scandinavia in 2008. This exhibition will illustrate the history, evolution and impact of the potato in today’s world. Some of the subjects the exhibition deals with are: the potato’s importance in pre-Columbian cultures: its discovery, introduction and dissemination within Europe: and its importance today for food security and economic growth in the developing world. Further information available from the Museum, T: +353-(0)53-9171247, E: info@irishagrimuseum.ie.

Tuesday, July 8

LONDON - Launch of the Chronic Poverty Report 2008-09: Escaping Poverty Traps. 17:30-18:30 Committee rm 10, Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 0AA

GLENEAGLES - Anniversay of 2005 Gleneagles G8 $50bn pledge. (Make Poverty History 3 years on)

Wednesday, July 9

DUBLIN - Food Crises: The Right Solution, Gresham Hotel, O’Connell Street, 10am–12pm (reg. 9.30 am).
Keynote speaker: Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Seminar co-hosted by Concern and ActionAid Ireland, the event will mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Please contact Michael Doorly in Concern on 01 417 7733 for further information.

Thursday, July 10

VIENNA - Launch of OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2008 and the Annual Statistical Bulletin 2007 (1300)

DUBLIN - The C-Word - Communicating corruption to different audiences. 9.30 am - 12.30 pm, Buswells Hotel.
Simon Devilly, Journalist and former producer at RTÉ will lead this workshop which will benefit anyone with an interest in the current debate around corruption in development and the developing world. Our media facilitator will challenge participants to use simple language in explaining a very complex problem. To register e-mail info@transparency.ie or call John Devitt on 086 173 5040.

TV - What in the World: Keeping your head above water in Tuvalu RTÉ One, 10.45pm
They may become the world’s first environmental refugees, if sea levels continue to rise in the Pacific. Television documentary series (series 3) concentrating on global economic inequalities and human rights violations. Presented and produced by Peadar King kmfproductions@eircom.net.

Friday, July 11

GLOBAL - World Population Day

BRUSSELS - European Union to hold a Kosovo donors’ meeting

MUMBAI, India - Second anniversary of deadly bomb attacks on Mumbai’s commuter rail network that killed at least 180 people

Saturday, July 12

SOWETO, South Africa - Sixth annual Nelson Mandela Lecture will be delivered by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of Liberia and first elected woman African president, Kliptown, Soweto

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian opposition parties hope to draw 100,000 people to one of the biggest protests against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the government’s decision to increase petrol and diesel prices

Monday, July 14

PARIS - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to host special meeting of EU counterparts some time between July 14 and 20 to deal quickly with European positions regarding WTO. See COMMENT: Did the IFA catch campaigners napping?

LONDON - Delivering the development message: why it matters. ODI, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JD, 13:00-14:15

CORK - Launch of the 1000 Families outdoor photographic exhibition, Fitzgerald Park, 12 noon
Followed by a viewing of the exhibition and the Building Unity through Diversity Family & Cultural Day, which will run until 6 pm. The photographic exhibition, brought to us by Concern Worldwide in association with Suas, is an internationally acclaimed outdoor series of images of families from across the world taken by photographer Uwe Ommer, and is an entry point to a series of events focusing on the theme Building Unity through Diversity. Contact: Mary Curtis, Concern, T: 4177797, E: mary.curtis@concern.net.

IRAQ - 50th Anniversay. On this day 1958: Coup in Iraq sparks jitters in Middle East

Tuesday, July 15

SYDNEY - World Youth Day 2008, gathering of young Catholics from around the world (to July 20)

SYDNEY - Environmentalists plan to block one of two rail lines into Australia and the world’s biggest coal export port at the weekend, amid international wrangling over efforts to combat climate change

Wednesday, July 16

Oxfam launches ‘Uganda: State of the Nation’ report (tbc), which will detail how climate change and unpredictable weather patterns are affecting different sectors in Uganda. Contact Oxfam Ireland’s Media Executive, Paul Dunphy on 01 6350 422.

MADRID - Interfaith dialogue of Muslims, Christians and Jews (to July 18)

Thursday, July 17

UNITED NATIONS - World Day for International Justice, which commemorates the adoption of the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court, the Rome Statute, on July 17, 1998 (10th anniversary in 2008)

OLYMPICS - On this day 1976: African countries boycott Olympics. (Compare with: July 25th, 1992, World unites at Barcelona Olympics; and August 22, 1972, Rhodesia out of Olympics.) Hook: China, Zimbabwe.

Friday, July 18

JOHANNESBURG - Former South African President Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations

Saturday, July 19

KINSALE, Co. Cork - "A Footprint of Roses" at Kinsale Arts Week, Kinsale Further Education College, Bandon Road, 4.30pm.
There will be a performance of a Zimbabwean based human rights play “A Footprint of Roses” by Elaine Desmond, followed by a debate with the motion: 'The power of love is stronger than the love of power'. The play is a stark portrayal of the human rights abuses endured by the women of Zimbabwe who continue to campaign for social and economic reform in a country teetering dangerously on the brink of total collapse. It is based on the arrest of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise movement in 2007. Contact Padraig Fitzgerald.

Sunday, July 20

BEIJING - Beijing will introduce "odd-even" traffic restrictions for two months from July 20 to help ease congestion and reduce pollution during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Tuesday, July 22

BRUSSELS - EU foreign ministers meeting (to July 23)

Thursday, July 24

LISBON - Summit of heads of state of Portuguese speaking countries (to July 25)

Friday, July 25

OLYMPICS - On this day 1992: World unites at Barcelona Olympics. (Compare with: July 17th, 1976, African countries boycott Olympics and August 22, 1972, Rhodesia out of Olympics.) Hook: China, Zimbabwe.

Saturday, July 26

CUBA - Fidel Castro (as of 26/07/07) last appeared in public in July, 2006, at events to mark the anniversary of a revolutionary action, the assault on the Moncada Barracks.

Sunday, July 27

KANDY, Sri Lanka - 15th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit (to Aug. 3)

CAMBODIA - General elections

Monday, July 28

WASHINGTON - President Bush to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani

NAIROBI - Human Rights Watch releases report, "All the Men Have Gone: War Crimes in Kenya’s Mt. Elgon District". Contact Daniel Ooko in Nairobi on +254 736 779657. See also: MSF Teams Blocked from Assisting Civilians Affected by Conflict in Mount Elgon.

NAIROBI - Senior policy makers from 13 African countries meet to agree ways to improve farmers’ access to new, drought-tolerant maize seeds to improve their incomes and food security

SIEM REAP, Cambodia - Cambodia and Thailand will hold more talks aimed at resolving smouldering border dispute over a 900-year-old temple

BANGKOK - Extradition hearing of alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was arrested in Thailand in March. Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death", faces terrorism charges in the United States

MANILA - A bill calling for the postponement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections, scheduled for August 11, likely to be filed at the opening of Congress

CHINA - On this day 1976: Chinese earthquake kills hundreds of thousands. Hook: handled differently this time.

Tuesday, July 29

LONDON, LIVE WEBCAST - Insight: Five Writers on Zimbabwe, Frontline Club, 7.30pm

Wednesday, July 30

SOUTH AFRICA - Labour union COSATU has called national strike to protest against job losses

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to host three-way Middle East peace talks with Palestinian negotiator and Israeli counterpart

Oxfam report on internally displaced people in DRC. Will include case studies and argue for more appropriate aid to those suffering from violent conflict. Contact Oxfam Ireland’s Media Executive, Paul Dunphy on 01 6350 422.

LONDON, LIVE WEBCAST - Insight with Andrew Mueller: I Wouldn’t Start from Here, Frontline Club, 7.30pm

Thursday, July 31

ABIDJAN - Deadline for Ivory Coast to stop the abuse of child labour on its cocoa farms. The country faces sanctions on its exports to the United States if it misses the deadline, set by U.S. lawmakers

WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD - U.S. President George W. Bush’s administration has set an end-July deadline for Iraq and the United States to wrap up talks on reaching a new long-term security pact

LONDON, LIVE WEBCAST - Reactive: Karadzic to the Hague, Frontline Club, 7.30pm

IRAQ/JAPAN - Mandate of Japanese air force mission in Iraq is due to expire

UK - 10th anniversary - On this day 1998: UK imposes total ban on landmines See Winning the fight against inanimate killers (blog 20/07/07). Hook: recent cluster munitions conference.

June 2008

June

KHARTOUM/DARFUR - Around 1,600 additional African troops expected to join Darfur’s U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission in June

LONDON/GENEVA - World Disasters Report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, focus on HIV/AIDS

NEW DELHI - India to unveil national plan on global warming

MOROCCO - Western Sahara independence movement Polisario due to hold congress in June or July, to vote on whether to resume armed struggle with Morocco

Sunday, June 1

AFRICA - U.N. Security Council will tour Africa to try to better understand and address some of continent’s crises, including Darfur and Somalia (to June 10). British ambassador John Sawers, the current council president, and South African ambassador Dumisani Kumalo will lead the mission to Kenya, Sudan - both south and Darfur - Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivory Coast.

GALWAY - Galway’s 1st African Film Festival, Town Hall Theatre (to June 2)
Galway One World Centre, Galway Film Society and The Huston School of Film & Digital Media announce a new free festival: Galway African Film Festival. Programme (pdf). Myspace. Contact E. Galway One World Centre; T. 091 530590.

ATLANTIC - 2008 hurricane season starts and expected to end Nov. 30

NEPAL - On this day 2001: Nepal royal family massacred

ALGERIA - 50th anniversary. On this day 1958: De Gaulle returns to tackle Algeria

Monday, June 2

GLOBAL - Telephone media briefing on new U.N. World Health Organisation report with latest global figures on access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, contact Claire Hoffman in London on +44 208 892 5215

June 3-7

DUBLIN, GALWAY, CORK - Leading Israeli human rights activist, Jeff Halper speaking tour
Halper is one of the leading figures in the Israeli peace movement and Co-founder and Director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. Jointly organised by Trócaire, the Irish Centre for Human Rights and Amnesty International Irish Section. He has just published a new book, An Israeli in Palestine: Resisting Dispossession, Redeeming Israel. Contact: Justin Moran, Communications Coordinator, Amnesty International Irish Section, 01 8638300 or 085 8148986. Public meetings:

• 3 June, 7.30 pm: The Irish Aid Centre, O’Connell Street, Dublin 1
• 4 June, 7 pm: Nun’s Island Theatre, Nun’s Island, Galway City
• 5 June, 8 pm: O’Donovan’s Hotel, Clonakilty, Co Cork

KILDARE - The School Around The Corner: Education services for HIV/Aids Orphans in Zambia, Naas Library, opens 8pm June 3 runs to June 7
The photographs by Peter Shaughnessy are based on a project in the southern Africa country funded by the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund. Photographs will be on sale and part of the proceeds will go towards the work of Irish charity, Touch Ireland, which runs projects in Zambia as well as other countries in Africa and Asia. Volunteers from Co Kildare helped construct school buildings in the Mapepe district outside Lusaka in April. Exhibitions will also be held in Co Roscommon and Co Leitrim in coming weeks as local volunteers from the counties also travelled on the project. More: www.petershaughnessy.com

Tuesday, June 3

ROME - High-level conference on world food security: the challenges of climate change and bioenergy, FAO Headquarters (to June 5)
FAO has invited Heads of State and Government and Ministers dealing with agriculture, livestock, forestry, fisheries, water, energy and environment of all its member countries, as well as heads of UN-system agencies and selected inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations.

CAPE TOWN - World Economic Forum on Africa
With a theme of ‘capitalizing on opportunity’, the conference will ask whether Africa is ready to compete with the world after four consecutive years of growth at 5% or more. Discussion will address business initiatives, physical and social infrastructure, the new leaders in the region and priorities for tomorrow. Oxfam’s Pan-Africa Head of Economic Justice, Mohamet Lamine Ndiaye, is available for interview. Contact Paul Dunphy on 01 6350 422.

PARIS - OECD Forum 2008: Climate Change, Growth, Stability, OECD Conference Centre, Paris (to June 4)

MADRID - Meeting of ALNAP and Development Assistance Research Associates (DARA), including debate on media and humanitarian aid (to June 4). Contact Gilles Gasser in Madrid on +34 661 32 89 63,

SUDAN - U.N. Security Council members visit as part of African tour (to June 5)

Wednesday, June 4

WORLDWIDE - International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

BEIJING - 19th anniversary of military crackdown on Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests. Around 30,000 people expected to hold a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong

PARIS - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ministers to discuss climate change, trade and global economy at annual meeting (to June 5). Media accreditation.

CHINA - Approaching 20th anniversary. On this day 1989: Massacre in Tiananmen Square

Thursday, June 5

DUBLIN - Dóchas Disability and International Development Week. Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre, 27-31 Upper O’Connell St (to June 11).
Around 10 per cent of the world’s population, or 650 million people, live with a disability. 80 per cent of people with disabilities live in developing countries. The week will begin with a key launch seminar on 5 June where a survey report will be launched looking at to what extent, if any, disability is included in the work of Irish NGOs working in the developing world, a week-long photographic exhibition, panel discussion on inclusive development and video screenings that highlight critical issues that affect and address the challenges, needs and priorities of people with disabilities in developing countries. Media contact: press@sightsavers.ie; or Ruth Coleman of Sighstavers International 087 6803248. (Non-media contact: rcoleman@sightsavers.ie; 01 2710237; or aleavy@is-ireland.ie.)

WORLDWIDE - World Environment Day (slogan: Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy)

UNITED NATIONS - The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno Ocampo reports to the U.N. Security Council on the situation in Darfur

HANOI - Global Summit of Women (to June 7)

Sunday, June 8

AOMORI, Japan - Final day of G8 energy ministers’ meeting

Monday, June 9

DUBLIN - International Tax Justice Learning Day. Cassidy’s Hotel, Cavendish Row, Upper O’Connell Street, 9.30 am - 5 pm.
The purpose of the meeting is to increase participant awareness of the importance of tax justice for global development and the role that Ireland plays in the international tax system. Leading tax justice analysts from around Europe will be in Dublin for the event, including: John Chistenson, Tax Justice Network UK; Francis Weyzig, Somo, Netherlands; and Alex Cobham, Christian Aid UK. Organised by Christian Aid Ireland, Comhlámh, Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Oxfam Ireland and Trócaire. Contact: Nessa Ní Chasaide, Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, 01 8571828, nessa@debtireland.org.

DUBLIN - Demanding accountability, Buswells Hotel, Kildare St, 9.30 to 16.30.
Transparency International launch a series of anti-corruption training workshops for non-governmental organisations. First workshop: Demanding accountability. In 'communicating corruption' next month, Simon Devilly, Journalist and former RTÉ producer, will challenge participants to use simple language in explaining a very complex problem. Contact: John Devitt, 086 173 5040, info@transparency.ie.

UNITED NATIONS - HIV-TB forum, a U.N. meeting on links between HIV and TB

Wednesday, June 11

DUBLIN - Dream fuel or eco nightmare? Three countries’ experience of biofuels. Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre, 27-31 Upper O’Connell St. 7-9 pm
Public talk, organised by Progressio Ireland and LASC. Speakers will recount their first hand experiences of biofuel cultivation in Brazil, Honduras and Paraguay. Speakers: Xiomara Ventura, Progressio Country Director in Honduras; Camilla Moreno, Spokesperson and lawyer for Terra de Direitos, Fionuala Cregan, Writer and activist recently returned from Paraguay. Contact/reservations: emmet@progressioireland.com or 01 6144966.

NAIROBI - Kenya holds parliamentary by-elections in five constituencies

SUDAN - 10th anniversary. On this day 1998: UN declares official famine in Sudan

Thursday, June 12

LONDON - One World Media Awards 2008 ceremony. The New Connaught Rooms.
Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund Recipient, Louise Williams has been shortlisted for an award for EU El Dorado

PARIS - France hosts conference aimed at raising funds for Afghanistan and reviewing strategy

WORLDWIDE - World Day against Child Labour

Friday, June 13

CORK - Biofuels and Food Security - Are they compatible? Metropole Hotel, 9.00 am - 6 pm.
The conference, organised by Ethical Development Action, will bring together speakers from the developed and developing world to assess the impact of biofuels on global food security, at a time when staple food prices are at record highs and food riots are becoming a common occurrence in developing counties. Speakers will include: Mirella Salvatore from the FAO; Camilla Moreno from Brazil’s Terra de Direitos; Negusu Akililu from Ethiopia’s Forum for the Environment; Jerry Murphy from UCC; etc. Contact E: edacork@gmail.com, T: 021 4504093, M: 087 2214813.

OSAKA - G8 Finance Ministers meet (to June 14)
Media Accreditation deadline: Tuesday May 20, 2008, at 18:00 (Japan standard time). Oxfam is urging G8 countries to meet their promises to increase aid – promises which are currently in danger of being broken. Also, focus on response to food price crisis, and funding for adaptation for climate change. Contact Paul Dunphy on 01 6350 422.

Saturday, June 14

GAZA - 1st anniversary of Hamas takeover of Gaza strip from Fatah

Sunday, June 15

KOSOVO - The U.N. mission that has run Kosovo since 1999 to hand over remaining powers when Kosovo constitution comes into force.

SICHUAN, China - Olympic torch relay begins in quake-hit province of Sichuan (to June 18)

UNITED NATIONS - Mandate expires of U.N. probe into killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri

NAIROBI - U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization regional conference for Africa and 4th Meeting of African ministers for agriculture (to June 20)

JERUSALEM - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to hold three-way meeting with chief Israeli and Palestinian negotiators

BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO - Bosnia due to sign EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), the last region of former Yugoslavia (bar Kosovo) to do so.

Monday, June 16

LUXEMBOURG - EU foreign ministers meet (to June 17)

LONDON - People on the Move: the challenges of displacement in the 21st century. Royal Geographical Society, 7pm. International Rescue Committee annual lecture. Speaker: U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres. Contact IRC on +44 (0)20 7692 2737.

Tuesday, June 17

GLOBAL - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (UN Convention to Combat Desertification)

PETRA, Jordan - Fourth Annual Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates (to June 19); will discuss solutions to the world’s problems, including global food crisis (IHT, 07/05/08)

GLOBAL - UNHCR launches statistical report on worldwide displacement/refugee crises

LONDON - Experience Darfur. UNHCR refugee camp in Trafalgar Square

Wednesday, June 18

LONDON, BONN, BRUSSELS, MADRID, PARIS, ROME - "Healthy Aid" report launch
Action for Global Health, an advocacy network of NGOs in the UK, Brussels, France, Germany, Italy and Spain is
publishing its second policy report: “Healthy Aid” on aid effectiveness for health. For information or embargoed access to the report please RSVP Elaine Ireland: +44 7817 969197; eireland@aidsalliance.org. For the embargoed press release, contact Cathy Bartley: +44 208 694 9138; cathy.bartley@bartley-robbs.co.uk.

GENEVA - 60th Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (to June 27)

KAMPALA - 35th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (to June 20)

JERUSALEM - Israeli parliament may vote to dissolve itself, forcing an early election in November

Thursday, June 19

DUBLIN - Making Choices – Choosing Futures. Quinn School of Business, University College Dublin, Belfield
20th Annual Social Policy Conference organised by CORI Justice. Speakers include: George Lee (RTE), David Begg (ICTU), Danny McCoy (IBEC), Brigid Reynolds and Sean Healy (CORI Justice), Micheal Collins (Trinity College), Sean Ward (Public Policy analyst) and Gerry Hughes (Pension Reform Research Group). This conference will be followed by the 12th biennial World Congress on Basic Income (June 20-21) below. Contact: justice@cori.ie.

TV - What in the World (series 3) RTÉ One, Thursdays 10.45pm
Television documentary series concentrating on global economic inequalities and human rights violations. Presented and produced by Peadar King kmfproductions@eircom.net.
June 19: The Chagos Islands are closed - Mauritius Forcibly evacuated in the 1960s and 1970s by the British and US governments - the people of Diego Garcia fight to return home.
June 26: United Colours of Mapuche - Argentina Displaced by the world’s wealthiest - the Mapuche people of Patagoni Wolf a fight back.
July 5: The Curse of Oil - Angola Resource-rich countries are among the poorest in the world. Angola’s poor are left destitute despite the country’s annual US$10 billion income from oil.
July 10: Keeping you head above water in Tuvalu - Tuvalu They may become the world’s first environmental refugees, if sea levels continue to rise in the Pacific.

UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council is to debate a new resolution that aims to enshrine sexual violence as a security issue. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will chair the session

Friday, June 20

LHASA, Tibet - (TENTATIVE) The Beijing Olympic flame arrives in the Tibetan region of Lhasa

DUBLIN - Candle Light Vigils for Tibetans. St. Stephen’s Green (Opp. Shopping Centre). 3-6pm Fri, 5-7pm Sat.
At same location, Saturday 21st (11am - 6pm): 24-Hour voluntary Hunger Strike will begin from 11am. Also, Saturday (1 - 2.40pm and 3 - 4.40pm): Screenings of "Tibet - Cry of the Snow Lion" at Dublin Shambhala Centre, 19 Herbert St. Contact Namgyal Damdul (Mr), Chairman, Tibetan Community in Ireland: +353-876623410, +353-857024373; tibetancommunityinireland@gmail.com

GLOBAL - U.N. World Refugee Day. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres commemorates World Refugee Day on the Somali border. This year’s World Refugee Day will focus on protection of refugees. UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, says this means improving refugees’ access to food and shelter, and the help they need when they want to return home. UNHCR says it wants to get local communities and workplaces involved in the issue to help improve protection.

DUBLIN - 12th BIEN Congress 2008. Inequality and Development in a Globalised Economy - The Basic Income Option (to June 21) University College Dublin.

Saturday, June 21

DAMASCUS - An IAEA team will visit Syria to advance an investigation into U.S. intelligence alleging that Damascus secretly built an atomic reactor (to June 24)

Monday, June 23

THE HAGUE - Trial starts of Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga, accused of using child soldiers in his country’s 1998-2003 war, the first person to be tried by the International Criminal Court. Trial also starts of Congo's former Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba on war crimes charges.

NIAMEY - Donor round table for nine-member Niger Basin Authority intended to raise funds to protect and develop the region's natural resources.

NAIROBI - International Forum on HIV and AIDS in Conflict, Post-Conflict and Emergency Contexts (to June 27)

OXFAM - Oxfam Book Launch, From Poverty to Power.
Every 10 years, Oxfam publishes a report on the state of world poverty. This year, From Poverty to Power argues that the world is currently beset by ‘a level of inequality so deep that it would probably precipitate social and political meltdown were it to occur in a single country’. Active citizens and effective states are the answer. For more information or to receive an advance copy of the book please contact Oxfam Ireland’s Media Executive, Paul Dunphy on 01 6350 422.

GLOBAL - United Nations Public Service Day

Tuesday, June 24

GENEVA - Global Humanitarian Forum - set up by former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan - will focus on humanitarian impact of climate change (to June 25)

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt - 11th AU summit: Permanent Representatives Committee (to June 25; the entire summit finishes on July 1)

DUBLIN - Men as gender activists - innovative approaches to gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS. Irish Aid Volunteering & Information Centre, 27-31 Upper O’Connell St. 7:30 p.m.
Skillshare International Ireland public meeting. Speaker: Phesheya Vilakati of Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse. Contact: (01) 874 8188; irelandinfo@skillshare.org.

NATIONWIDE - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: Amnesty Events to June 26

SARAJEVO - Bosnia’s leaders discuss progress with the Peace Implementation Council for Bosnia

BERLIN - Angela Merkel and peace envoy Tony Blair to organise Middle East security conference

Wednesday, June 25

NEW YORK - Transparency International to publish 2008 Global Corruption Report

TALLINN - World Health Organisation European Ministerial Conference on Health Systems: “Health Systems, Health and Wealth” (to June 27)

OXFAM - Biofuels report launch (Date TBC)
A new report revealing the labour rights abuses and land grabs resulting from the drive for increased biofuels production. Argues that the mad rush towards biofuels is a misguided attempt to reduce climate change than will hurt poor people and may even heighten emissions. Contact Paul Dunphy on 01 6350 422.

IRAN - On this day 2005: Ahmadinejad sweeps to victory in Iran

Thursday, June 26

KYOTO, Japan - G8 foreign ministers meeting (to June 27)

GLOBAL - International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking The UN Office on Drugs and Crime launched a 3-year campaign on June 26 2007 with the slogan, "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs." The campaign will focus on different aspects of drug control: drug abuse in 2007, drug cultivation and production in 2008, and illicit drug trafficking in 2009.

GLOBAL - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Irish Amnesty Events from June 24)

ESSAOUIRA, Morocco - Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival (to June 29)

Friday, June 27

TOKYO - Fifth Meeting of the Legislators Forum of the G8+5 Climate Change Dialogue convene in the Japanese Diet (Parliament) (to June 29)

CORK - Reforming Laws on Sexual Violence: International Perspectives Aula Maxima, University College Cork, 10.15am- 6.00 pm
Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights and Faculty of Law, University College Cork Annual Criminal Law Conference. Speakers include: Mr Dermot Ahern T.D. , Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform (tbc); Hon Justice Catherine McGuiness (Law Reform Commission); Judge T Doherty (Special Court Sierra Leone); Kelly D. Askin (Open Society Justice Initiative); Madeleine Rees (OHCHR – Bosnia Herzegovina) ; Doris Buss (Carleton University, Canada); Fionnuala Ni Aoláin (TJI Uslter / Minnesota); Penny Andrews (Valparaiso Uni / South Africa); Amira Khair (ICC Women / Sudan); Milena Pires (Govt of Timor-Leste); B. Klappe (Netherlands Defence Academy); O. Barbour (Irish Defence Forces); Thomas O’Malley (NUI Galway); James Hamilton (Director of Public Prosecutions); Martha Fineman (Emory University, USA); Nora Owen (Commission for Victims of Crime). RSVP: ccjhr@ucc.ie June 20th. Organised with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and will be the first event of the Irish Government’s Chair of the Human Security Network.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt - 11th AU summit: Executive Council (to June 28)

THE HAGUE - International Criminal Court holds confirmation of charges hearing for former Congolese warlords Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo, who face prosecution on charges of murder, sexual slavery and using child soldiers.

ZURICH - 2008 World Wealth Report by Capgemini and Merrill Lynch (links to 2007 report)

May 2008

Thursday, May 1

DUBLIN - Voice Our Concern concert,The Helix Theatre, Dublin City University, 7pm
Ireland’s top musicians join students in celebrating human rights

Saturday, May 3

World Press Freedom Day

CROAGH PATRICK - Freedom Torch for Tibet, 2 p.m.
The Freedom Torch for Tibet will be taken up Croagh Patrick in protest against the fact that the Beijing Olympics Torch is being taken through Tibet and up Chomolungma (Mount Everest).

2.00PM: Opening ceremony at the famine ship sculpture, Murrisk, Co Mayo. 2.30PM: Lighting of the torch. There will be a Vigil at the foot of Croagh Patrick for peace, justice and reconciliation in Tibet and China during the climb. The event will be supported by a voluntary 48-hour total Fast. Contact: cloudgazing@hotmail.com. Organised by Tibet Support Group Mayo, Tibet Support Group Ireland and the Tibetan Community in Ireland.

May 6-7

BELFAST - International Peacebuilders’ Summit, Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the re-establishment of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing executive and legislative assembly, peacebuilders from across the world will share their perspectives, practice and experience of the challenges of peacebuilding.

Tuesday, May 6

OSLO - Sudan Donor conference (to May 7)

LONDON - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will play host to the heads of some of the world’s largest corporations to encourage big business to fight global poverty

BANGUI - EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana makes brief stopover in Central African Republic, where part of EU protection force for Chad and Central African Republic operates

NAIROBI - Amnesty International releases report on conflict in Somalia

Wednesday, May 7

DUBLIN - Media: Reality TV, New Media and Development – Is the Truth Out There? Bewley’s Café Theatre, Grafton Street, Dublin 2, 6.15 – 7.45 pm.
Comhlámh First Wednesday Debate. Contact Fleachta Phelan, T: 01 4783490, E: Fleachta@comhlamh.org

DUBLIN - The Law Society of Ireland’s 2008 Human Rights Lecture, Presidents’ Hall, Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, 6:30 p.m.
The lecture, "Supporting and Enforcing Human Rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms", will be delivered by The Right Honorable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada. It will be followed by a wine reception. Admission free - Advance booking advisable. Contact: Anthea Moore, Tel: (01) 6724691

CORK - The Tibetans. A Life in Exile (film). The Victoria Hotel, Patrick Street, 7 p.m.
The film will be followed by a Question & Answer session with the director Robb Bradstock and a Tibetan living in Cork. Hosted by Ethical Development Action. Contact Fiona Cusack: 087 2214813.

WORLDWIDE - World AIDS Orphan Day

GENEVA - World Trade Organisation (WTO) General Council meeting (to May 8)

MANAGUA - Central America’s presidents are due to hold a food crisis summit

N’DJAMENA, Chad - Solana begins two-day trip to Chad, including visits to eastern camps for refugees from violence in Darfur and Chad

TEHRAN - The interior ministers of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the U.N. undersecretary of drug and crime office meet in Iran

UNITED NATIONS - Security Council to discuss Sierra Leone (1400)

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush makes remarks to the Council of Americas (1715)

Thursday, May 8

DUBLIN - The Treaty of Lisbon (EU Reform Treaty): Implications for Foreign Policy, Defence and Neutrality. The Westin Hotel, College Green, 11 a.m.
Plenary session of the National Forum On Europe. Speakers: former President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox and Joe Noonan, solicitor, who was expert witness on EU foreign and security policies in the landmark Crotty Supreme Court case on the need for referenda here on Treaty changes. Mr Cox will put the case for a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum and Mr Noonan will argue against the Treaty. The keynote speakers will debate the issues with Members of the Forum, both for and against the Treaty. Chair: Forum Chairman, Maurice Hayes. Open to the public.

GALWAY - Cluster Munitions Talk and photo exhibition. Galway City Museum, 6:30 p.m.
The Galway One World Centre, The Galway Alliance against War and Amnesty International are hosting this exhibition and talk by Australian photographer John Rodstead, Norwegian campaigner Mette Sofie Eliseussen and Irish Journalist Áine Bonner of the Star newspaper. The event is part of a nationwide tour organised by the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC) Ireland. The event is open to the public and participation is free. CMC Ireland has launched an online petition in advance of the May 19-30 Cluster Munitions: Dublin Diplomatic Conference.

LONDON - "Islands of security or hotspots of risk: the future of cities under global environmental change" seminar at King's College, human geographer Mark Pelling speaking, contact Jessica Dinstl on +44 (0)207 848 1719

ISRAEL - 60th anniversary of Israel's Independence

WORLDWIDE - World Red Cross Red Crescent Day

MOSCOW - On this day, 1984: Moscow pulls out of US Olympics

May 8-9

CAIRO - Cluster munitions meeting for States of the Arab League. Build-up to May 19-30 Cluster Munitions: Dublin Diplomatic Conference.

Friday, May 9

KERRY - From Kilmoyley to Kilimanjaro. Kilmoyley Community Centre, 8 p.m.
MEP B.Crowley and TD M. Ferris debate the Lisbon Treaty

Saturday, May 10

MYANMAR - A nationwide referendum to ratify the newly drafted constitution

INTERNATIONAL - Pangea Day
Pangea Day taps the power of film to strengthen tolerance and compassion while uniting millions of people to build a better future. Sites in Cairo, Dharamsala, Kigali, London, New York City, Ramallah, Rio de Janeiro, and Tel Aviv will be videoconferenced live to produce a program of powerful films, visionary speakers, and uplifting music. The program will be broadcast live to the world through the Internet, television, digital cinemas, and mobile phones.

SOUTH AFRICA - On this day, 1994: Mandela becomes SA’s first black president

Sunday, May 11

INDIA - 10th anniversary: Indian underground nuclear tests

SERBIA - Parliamentary and local elections

Monday, May 12

LIMA - Leaders of 44 countries from Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean meet in Peru for a week of talks on trade, poverty, and the environment (to May 17)

LONDON - The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which deals with violations of the organisation’s rules on democracy, will meet to review Pakistan’s suspension from the 53-nation body

Tuesday, May 13

JERUSALEM - U.S. President George W. Bush visits Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt to discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace process (to May 18)

BEIRUT - Lebanon’s parliament to elect a new president

Thursday, May 15

International Day of Families. 2008 theme - Fathers and Families: Responsibilities and Challenges.

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Annual Naqba Day, marking what Palestinians refer to as the tragedy they suffered when Israel was created in 1948

LILONGWE - (DELAYED FROM APRIL 22) Court ruling on whether U.S. pop star Madonna can adopt a child from Malawi

Friday, May 16

LIMERICK - Launch of the Centre for Global Development through Education (CGDE), Mary Immaculate College of Education, 4.30 pm.
The Centre is funded by Irish Aid, and is the first of its kind in Ireland. It’s goal is to contribute to the reduction of world poverty, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, by enhancing the quality of basic education, teaching, research and learning, through capacity building with our partner countries, namely Uganda and Lesotho. Contact: patricia.mulcahy@mic.ul.ie.

JERUSALEM - Jerusalem Day, commemorating reunification of Jerusalem in 1967 when Israeli troops regained parts of the city from Jordanian possession

LIMA - European Union - Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) Summit, will be attended by 60 heads of state or government from both regions

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Presidential elections

Saturday, May 17

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. 2008 theme - Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for All.

MAYO - Afri Famine Walk 2008, from Doolough to Louisburgh, beginning at 2 p.m.
Theme: Water, Oil, Weapons: resources and conflict at home and abroad

May 18-21

BRAZIL - Global Renewable Energy Forum, Foz do Iguaçu

Sunday, May 18

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt - (TENTATIVE) U.S. President George W. Bush expected to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and possibly other Arab leaders in Egypt for a Middle East Summit

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt - World Economic Forum on the Middle East (to May 20)

WORLDWIDE - 25th Anniversary of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
The Candlelight Memorial takes place on the third Sunday in May and is led by volunteer ’Candlelight Coordinators who host memorials for their communities in over 100 countries. Since it began in 1983, the event has aimed to honour those who have been lost or affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as to educate, serve, and mobilise communities to action. Contact Rachel Hampton, rhampton@globalhealth.org.