July 18, 2007 - Former South African President Nelson Mandela announces the formation of The Elders, a group of elder statesmen from around the world that will work to solve global problems. Among the members of the group are Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, Mary Robinson and Mohammed Yunus.

September 30, 2007 - Tutu leads The Elders on their first mission, to Darfur in Sudan.

July 30, 2009 - Is awarded the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

October 2011 - Tutu harshly criticizes the South African government for failing to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama. He accuses the government of pandering to China and in some ways being worse than the Apartheid-era governments.

October 3, 2011 - "Tutu: The Authorised Portrait" is released to coincide with Tutu's 80th birthday. The book, written by his daughter Mpho and Allister Sparks, contains personal writings as well as anecdotes by people including Richard Branson, Bono, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and others.

September 2, 2012 - In an op-ed published by "The Observer" newspaper, Tutu says that Tony Blair and George W. Bush should be "made to answer" at the International Criminal Court for their actions during the Iraq war.

October 4, 2012 - Tutu is awarded $1 million by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation for "his lifelong commitment to speaking truth to power."

December 3, 2012 - Releases a children's book called "Desmond and the Very Mean Word".