BASIC INFORMATION SIDE  EVENTS Side events have been an important part of the meetings of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and are expected to be similarly important in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (the Johannesburg Summit) and the meetings of its Preparatory Committee (PrepCom). Side events are events that take place in the margins of the official inter-governmental meetings, organized for the purpose of sharing experiences and increasing opportunities for dialogue among the official meetings' participants. Unlike regular meetings of the CSD or similar inter-governmental processes, a Summit and its PrepComs involve more complex processes and many more participants. These factors are likely both to increase the demand and reduce the availability of space and time slots for such events. The final deadline for applications has now passed for those wishing to hold side-events during the final PrepCom meeting in Bali. The guidelines and application form are now being revised for potential organizers of side events to be held during the Summit itself in the Sandton Convention Centre. The updated version of these will be available here soon.