Why are the Elders visiting the Korean Penisula? Who are they meeting? What do they hope to achieve?

One year on from the Elders' first visit to the region, Mary Robinson, Lakhdar Brahimi, Ela Bhatt and Jimmy Carter will travel to the Middle East from 16-22 October 2010.

The Elders have released a report of their trip, "People and Peace in the Middle East". Rather than providing a detailed political analysis – of which there are many – they want share their personal impressions of how this conflict is affecting ordinary people.

In this speech delivered on the occasion of his 89th birthday, Nelson Mandela announces the formation of The Elders and expresses his hope that the group will "work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict, and inspire hope where there is despair."