Auroville's three day workshop 'Green Practices' ended on the 28th of August. During this intensive experience 30 speakers from Auroville and almost 50 participants explored the meaning of Green Practice here in the City of Dawn. On the final day after the final session, Alan of Auroville Today moderated a 45 minute interaction between the participants and a panel, composed of Latha of l'Avenir d'Auroville, Durganand Balsavar, architect and urban planner from Chennai, Sumant Kachru of JHM Hotels from Surat and Dave Wallack, IFMR in Chennai. Here's the recording of that session. The full Green Practice workshop recording will be published in the next few days on both www.auroco.org and AurovilleRadio websites.

Last Friday, the 5th of February 2010, the residents of Sadhana Forest invited numerous guests to their Brazilian Night. A very interesting film about the art of Capoeira and its development was shown, delicious vegan organic Feijoada was served and finally the audience could listen to and watch an amazing play by the Sadhana Forest Band. With a lot of wonderful Brazilian rhythms like Samba and Axé, the band offered a humorous understanding of Brazil´s past, including the story of the slaves, colonization, and the indigenous people from the Amazon.

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When two research centers with extensive knowledge do things together new concepts arises. The bamboo research center and the earth institute joined hands to experiment with houses built of bamboo and earth. The house was built using a mixture of traditional and modern techniques to create sustainable and cool house. This interview dives deep into the experiment and tries to give a picture of the ups and downs of bamboo used as a major construction material in building. Pablo and Thomas from the Earth Institute share their experience with us.

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Bamboo is an Eco-friendly raw material which has been used in Indian for centuries by craftsmen, it has been used a s a building material and in cooking likewise. Over a period of time this craft has been lost and forgotten. Auroville aims to develop itself sustainably and spiritually, what can Auroville do to help people regain the skill of such craftsmanship and how can Bamboo be re-introduced in our society today? We confronted Sundar, at the Auroville Bamboo Research Center, to give us some more insight into this topic of discussion.

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With a background in carpentry and now architecture, Regina built her own house using mostly sustainable products like mud, coconut fiber, red earth, stone, and bamboo. Are you worried about earthquakes or termites attacking your house?  From the first layer of red earth to the woven roof, Regina will tell you how she built her own house. Listen to the following program for Regina's step-by-step guide to build your own earth-sourced house. Regina also offers personal consultation to dedicated builders.

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Sadhana Forest is about growing trees and growing people. Volunteers from all over the world, as well as Aurovillians, work together in this new reforestation project. They practice an eco-friendly way of life including veganism, alternative construction, solar energy, water resource management, and composting toilets. Last week, Aviram who has created this community with his wife Yorit, organized an experimental one week workshop on earthbag construction. Around 40 volunteers and Aurovilians full of positive energy and good will, trying to build an earthbag dome! AurovilleRadio spent an afternoon to capture the warm ambiance and some impressions of this workshop.

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As a place of experiment Auroville tries many ways to do things. Today in the news we met Aviram initiator of Sadhana Forest community who proposes a new way of building houses using solid plastic bags filled up with earth. This environmental friendly technique already used around the world is the first one of this kind made in Auroville. We also met Manoj to speak about several proposal made to reorganize the way Auroville is working. Here is the news that you can download by clicking .

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Ayyappan, who has worked at the CSR Institute since 1989 discusses the ways to achieve sustainable building with regards to costs. He talks about the ways in which he has managed to keep the cost of building projects down by using cheap natural resources and cost-effective technology. In the program he talks about the type of materials he has employed and also about effective waste water treatment methods.

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C'era una volta all'inizio degli anni ottanta un gruppo di ragazzi venuti da ogni parte del mondo che decise di abitare alcuni villaggi abbandonati nell'Appenino pistoiese. Decisi a condurred una vita diversa questi lettori di Tolkien decisero di chiamare la loro comunita' La valle degli Elfi. Peikko, nostro ospite oggi, e' nato e vissuto la' senza elettricita' ne' televisione, ma oggi… Potete ascoltare l'intervista cliccando sul logo play o scaricare l'intervista cliccando sotto.

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Last Sunday, the French Pavilion presented a documentary on Auroville produced in 1972 by Jean-Pierre Elkabbach. This 118 minute documentary, broadcast on French channel "ORTF" in 1973 shows what Auroville was like then: a few houses in a red desert, some school facilities like Last School, the Pyramids and the Yogurt Pots, and of course Matrimandir under construction. After the projection, some Aurovilians felt inspired to discus about this period and their impression after 35 years. You can listen the intervention of Claire, Monique, Shraddhavan and Mallika by clicking on the logo PLAY or download here.

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Après plus de 37 ans, le Rhomboid version 2008 refait surface pour améliorer la situation des logements à Auroville. Mais qu'est ce que c'est au juste? Bhagwandas, l'inventeur de cet étrange habitat roulant nous explique dans son interview comment cette idée lui est venue et en quoi cela consiste. Un premier modèle est sur le point de faire son apparitions tres prochainement. Nous vous informerons de son lieu d'atterissage dans les prochains jours.

Si vous souhaitez écouter l'interview, vous pouvez là.

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is a tentative answer to the current housing crisis in Auroville. The movement was initiated in October 2007 by a large group of Auroville residents to find solutions to this overlooked issue. From November onwards, about 30 people have been working on the fabrication of Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks (CSEB) and on the preparation of the construction site. Volunteers have also taken care of the project's definition and organisation. The work is carried out under the supervision of the Auroville Earth Institute. Here an interview with Marti and Dorian.

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Le logement est l'un des principal problème d'Auroville. On recense actuellement environ 160 personnes n'ayant pas de domicile "permanent" soit 8% de la population aurovilienne. Depuis peu, plusieurs projets émergent pour résoudre partiellement la situation. Yann, a pris part à l'un d'eux, celui de Satprem (AuroSatprem). Nous vous tiendrons au courant de l'évolution de ce projet dans nos prochains magazines.

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Il y a quelques mois, l'équipe française avait décidée de suivre Chloé qui à l'époque, souhaitait devenir NewComer. Aujourd'hui nous la retrouvons et la rencontrons de nouveau pour savoir où elle en est de ses démarches. Elle nous dévoile aussi un nouveau projet de logement que nous tâcherons de suivre durant les prochain mois. Ce programme que vous pouvez télécharger, sera diffusé à partir du lundi 7 octobre, accompagné de l'Agenda de Mère et de Savitri lus par Gangalakshmi,

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For an English translation, click Read More.

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Bonne année 2007 à tous! Cette semaine dans les nouvelles en français, une interview de Satprem Maïni, directeur du « earth institute » (voir la photo des nouvelles en anglais) et aussi Bettina, arrivée à Auroville à l'âge de 9 ans qui expose ses peintures pour la première fois.

Comme d'accoutumée vous retrouverez des nouvelles fraîches ainsi que le programme culturel à venir. N'oublions pas l'Agenda de Mère du 26 avril 1972 lu par Gangalakshmi.

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For English translation of this text press "read more" 

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In this week's English news, the last of 2006, AurovilleRadio wishes a safe, happy and enlightened New Year for everyone, everywhere. There is an interview with Satprem speaking of the activities of the Earth Institute and announcements of not-to-be-missed films, exhibitions to visit and an opportunity to dance under the stars.

You can listen the English news by downloading here.

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This event has been recorded. An interactive presentation given by Richard Register Saturday December 9 at 5:30 PM in the Conference Hall at Town Hall. Richard Register is a well known leader and practicing professional of ‘Ecocity Movement’ worldwide. His organization is known as ‘Ecocity Builders.’ He arrives in Auroville after taking part in the 6th International Ecocity Conference in Bangalore. Many books and articles have been published on this theme; the latest is ‘Ecocities: Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature.’ For further information contact www.ecocitybuilders.org

The Auroville Earth Institute was again granted one award with the first prize of the national design competition “Multi hazard resistant shelter”. It was granted with a cash award of Rs. 50,000 on the 24th November at Chennai by Gandhigram Rural Institute, and funded by Bhoomika Trust. This multi hazard resistant shelter which can accommodate 200 families (about 1000 people) during a natural disaster is more than a shelter to protect people during this kind of catastrophes. It has also been planned as a community asset during peaceful times. It aims to be a tool for the village development and it comprises a School, a Community Centre, a Mini Hospital and a Market. Read more

A group of 24 aspiring builders, including architects and students of engineering and architecture, participated in a two weeks building course organized by the Auroville Earth Institute. Using local and natural materials, they created arches, domes and vaults out of the red Auroville soil.

The course was held in the grounds of CSR in the Auroshilpam area. Over a period of two weeks, the participants were taught the theories of building a stable structure and later got their hands dirty using bricks and mortar to build their own designs. The bricks used are made out of compressed earth, which means the method is a sustainable form of building.

Towards the end of the course on July 1st, a cluster of domes and arches, some half finished, show the results of the builders’ efforts. Using different approaches and working in groups, they transformed the theory into form.

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The Dream Space is not an exhibition but an opportunity to share and explore together. The theme of the upcoming space is Entrance. What does it mean to “enter Auroville”? For what purpose do we enter? What are the elements (i.e. how does it feel, look, smell, sound) Greenbelt, City, form of mobility? What can we do in the next year to create parameters for entering?  What is our long term vision? The organizers will be sharing some of the ideas and inspirations that have emerged over the last weeks on the theme of Entrance, and they welcome everyone to come, share, absorb and offer – your dreams and visions, ideas and sketches and feedback.  These will then be collected and incorporated into the evolving body of work. Look out for flyers and other happenings on the spot.   Place: ‘The Triangle’ next to the new tennis courts at Certitude, Auroville. Dates: 31.03.06 (Fri) - 4.04.06 (Tue) Times: 7AM to 7PM Hosted by Dreamcatchers

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Introduction to the concept and materials of Bio Architecture as well as the use of Bio Architecture in large scale residential housing projects in Italy and Europe. Presentation held by two Italian architects, professor of the ANAB.INI, The National Association of Bio Architecture. Both are professor of the ANAB.INI, the National Association of Bio Architecture, and will offer three open presentations at the Town Hall on Tuesday 27th December, Monday 2nd January, and Thursday 5th January all at 5pm. For further information contact Marta - marta @ auroville.org.in or 2623812.