Here's the official call for the meeting recorded yesterday at the Unity Pavilion.

"The Auroville Council and the RAS invite you to bring your updated FAMC mandate-related questions to a question and answer Q&A session with members of the FAMC on proposed changes to the FAMC mandate. The draft mandate was published by the AVC in the N&N [491] 23 March 2013, with a request for feedback, and is attached at the end of this week's issue of News&Notes for your consideration again in the lead-up to Wednesday's meeting."

Not many residents attended. Read more

Maybe it was coincidence but many Aurovilians came together on the Labour Day to discuss about the increasing gap between the working groups and the residents of Auroville. This gap is steadily increasing, and since few months one of the most important of Auroville's working groups (the Working Committee) is not able to function properly. Despite the heat the meeting was well attended and many residents expressed their concerns. Another meeting will follow to begin the 'healing process', and the sense of optimism was present. Read more

Nicole Christine is from Munich, Germany. She organizes and leads silent meditation retreats in India and abroad. In this interview Nicole delves into the source of silence within our own selves. She introspects on the transformative and pathfinding personal experiences that led her to look for truth and meaning beyond mind and matter. For her it is important to look at silence as a living "presence" as opposed to perceiving silence as an "absence". Therefore, the need to integrate the practice of being restfully and quietly aware here-now. Read more

...J’ai entendu un son, une musique, une vibration, que sais-je? Tous mes sens en alerte, joyeux je suis alors parti à la recherche de musiciens dans Auroville et je leur demandais, plein de curiosite: «qu’entendez-vous dans les pétales du Matrimandir quand vous y méditez?». ... I heard a sound, music, vibration, what do I know? All my senses alert, happy then I'm off in search of musicians in Auroville and I asked them, full of curiosity: "what do you mean in the petals of Matrimandir when you meditate?"

The project of Lilaloka, 'the place to play' in Sanskrit, was founded thanks to the determination of five women with educational background. Neither school nor airy center or nursery, Lilaloka goes further, offering a new educational approach centered on the joy and the game. The future center will offer various activities for all children, promoting self-learning and avoiding the competition and judgment. Yvelise, one of the project holder, explain the meaning and the organization of Lilaloka. Contact: lilaloka@auroville.org.in Read more

Kees Van Boxtel is a world musician, composer and producer from Harlem, Amsterdam. He plays the saxaphone, silver flute and the Indian Bansuri. Kees also manages Birdtrack Studio in Harlem. In this he talks to Sharan about his lifelong musical adventures like riding the New wave and starting a band called Popoufka in the late 70s, experimenting with musical astrology and eventually evolving his own expression and style of unifying the different influences. Kees started a world music band called Shimayana in early 2008. Read more

In today's news we are featuring Manu and Swapnil talking on the Cartoon Exhibition on Affordable Housing prepared by 14 concerned architects along with L'Avenir d"aAuroville which will be on display at Town Hall and Solar Kitchen until 12th. They are asking the community for feedback. We are also featuring an excerpt of interaction of Governing Board with the community past Saturday with Paulette and Dr. Karan Singh talking on UNESCO and AV as a World Heritage Site. Today at 4.30pm at Marc's Cafe at Visitor Center - Earth Day meeting. Read more

Auroville’s co-existence within a rapidly growing urban-rural continuum emphasizes on an urgent need to reflect upon the development patterns within the larger bio-region. Auroville’s pro-active role in the development in the region appears as the need of the hour to not only secure land use but to also induce sustainable growth patterns within the bio region. TDC initiated a platform for an interactive brainstorming session for Aurovilians actively involved in the region with our guest advisor Prof. K.T Ravindran from Delhi. Read more

Life Education Center (LEC), located in Kottakarai, it's a personal growth center for young Tamil women from the villages around. Created in 1991, it gives them the opportunity to learn English and many other skills like tailoring and be aware of their body and to feel worthy as a women. Last Saturday was the open day at LEC. Many girls were there, dressing their most beautiful sari, surrounded by their teachers. During this event, Zerina, Harini, Bhuvana Sundari, Krupa, Devi, Susmita and the mime Drupad explained their own experiences at LEC. Read more

The 21st of March the Sun cut the Celestial Equator in two .Day and Night are equals ... and Auroville's Trovadores meet at Marc Coffee by 4.30.pm at the Visitor Centre just to share poems, with Gordon playing the flute. The same day at 5.30pm at Savitri Bhavan Meditative musical "Bansuri and Vocal" concert inspired by raga Kirwani and raga Ahir Bhairav. With Bansuri flute - Kees van Boxtel, Vocals Tanpoura - Caroline from Auroville. GM on Wednesday at 4.30pm at Unity Pavilion on work of Working Committee. Sorcery at Sea - 22.adn 23. at 8pm. Read more

Louis Cohen nous raconte son histoire, sa rencontre avec Mere, l'evolution d'Auroville et sa facon d imaginer le developpement de la ville. Aujourd hui Louis laisse parler son coeur et nous presente son projet d'urbanisation pour creer des logements tout equipes pour les Aurovilliens. Je l ai rencontre a Auroville, et c'est avec chaleur et douceur, qu'il prend le temps de repondre a mes questions dans la cafeteria de Citadines. Louis souhaite integrer l'ecologie dans le developpement de la ville et des futurs logements des aurovilliens. Read more

As we all know housing is a big problem at the moment in Auroville. But with this new housing project there is light at the end of the tunnel. This project will provide 20 flats for single, couples and families starting from Rs 13 lakhs. There is also provision for modular office spaces. In this phase they will incorporate a new and innovative building technology called Light Steel Frame (LSF) for the structure. This technology is known for faster construction and its cost-effectiveness. Read more

Second part of informative session on if and how Auroville would become a World Heritage Site under UNESCO. Gathered residents yesterday clearly expressed many doubts, and over all was the tone that we still don't know enough to take a clear decision if YES or NO. Decision making process supposed to start this Friday, and end in two week. The fact is that Auroville needs to consolidate and protect the land of the master plan, where green belt is of huge importance. The question would be which price are we prepare to pay? Read more

Journaliste et historien, Claude Arpi vit en Inde depuis plus de 30 ans dans la cité internationale d'Auroville où il est directeur du Pavillon Tibétain. Il a consacré ces vingt-cinq dernières années à l’étude approfondie de la culture du Tibet. Dans cette interview Claude nous presente le pavillon de la culture tibétaine et revient sur quelques fait historiques de ce pays et de ce peuple qui a perdu son territoire. Aujourd'hui la culture tibétaine existe grace à la diaspora tibétaine et la profonde synpathie de nombreux citoyens du monde. Read more

Infrastructure cable, Crown Road, Master Plan and Development Priorities issues was the topics of the meeting with the town planners of l'Avenir d'Auroville. The meeting was called by residents of Centre Field and Aurodam inviting other Aurovilians to come forward and share their feelings and experiences. The two hours of meeting touched many aspects of the planning work and the ground realities. At the end of the discussion was agreed to proceed by visiting the physicals places in order to have a better understanding regarding the coming steps Read more

On Monday, 11th March, 4 pm, at the Unity Pavilion in International Zone The community is invited by RAS for a second Information GM for the RA decision making process .Regarding Auroville as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the occasion of World Women's Day the Auroville Health Centre is offering all women a test for Haemoglobin, an ECG and a Pap smear on 8tha dn 9th of March between 10-12. From March 9th to 21st at Pitanga will be held an Aikido Workshop Conducted by Andre Palmeri, 5th Dan- Makoto Dojo, from France. Read more

This morning within Sustainable Habitats Workshops under the umbrella of Auroville Green Practices, and organized by Auroville Consulting, Toine has started with brief introduction of Auroville. Small number of participants, mainly architects will deepen their knowledge on sustainability in the next few days, while the lectures and workshops will be going on on different locations, until Friday. This morning Suhasini was talking on principles of design and evaluation processes of architecture in Auroville and other cities. Read more

The purpose of yesterdays's General Meeting at Unity Pavilion in International Zone was basically to explain the criteria on which a site can be on the tentative list for applicants for the World Heritage Site at UNESCO. Luigi and Toine have done that, which was followed by the discussion. It is inevitable for development to happen in the area, and the increased flow of the tourist has started to burden Visitor Centre and city itself already. Yet the biggest concern residents has expressed yesterday was how much more that would increase if Read more

Luigi and B back again “dissolving polarities” over issues. This time without any facilitation from amazing women (Marlenka, Andi Paige, or Elvira), these two guys lay out the whole fourteen year history of Auroville’s exploration of in this direction. What about visitor impact, interference in Auroville’s management, financial implications, land protection and other questions? You can hear the possibilities. Read more

After inspiring ONE BILLION RISING AND DANCING event at Eucalyptus Grove on 14th of February - Valentine's Day, the organizers continued with raising awareness of scale of the violence, and oppression against women all over the planet with Hibiscus Art VIllage day at Sve Dame on Saturday 16th. Amongst others Anna Taj and Rolf have brought to the audience some soft jazz classical and some pop songs, to remind the participants on that sweet feminine side in each of us. Later in the evening Yemadas closed the event. Read more

Maybe the discussion's number it's wrong, but the point it's that Auroville is piling up much more meetings and presentation than facts and actions. It seems that the further we go in the development harder it gets to take decisions and act consequently. This may sound slightly negative but was the feeling expressed of some of the participants at the meeting. The frustration reflects the little progress Auroville has achieved recently. Maybe it's time to act? Please download the pdf of the presentations 1 & 2. Happy birthday Mother. Read more

UnLtd Tamil Nadu is a local social entrepreneurship initiative started by Gijs Spoor. It helps 10 to 20 high impact start-ups a year with coaching and seed funding. This is acrross all sectors incl. health, waste, food, education, energy, crafts, livelihoods,etc. They offer training, coauching, Access to mentors, peerlearning platforms and follow-up investors. They will join a rapidly growing community of changemakers incubated in the UnLtd style of ‘founder focused’ personal and professional development. aurovillehub.wordpress.com Read more

The Scratch Bandits Crew is an unique band, where scratch music turns turnatables into instruments to create its own music. In interview with members of the band and team Supa-Jay, Syr, Geoffresh, and Remy we hear what is music to them, and why they've decided to create on that way. Within Bon Jour India events they were touring last few weeks all over India, amazed over kindness and openness of Indian audience, for which are very much grateful. Band, existing a bit over 10 years, with each member uniqueness is one of few in the world. Read more

At Auroville Bamboo Research Centre they've organized bamboo construction workshop for 1st years students of DY.Patil College of Architecture, Navi, Mumbai. 85 students have managed to construct a dome out of bamboo, were making instruments, toys, chair, geometrical dome and yurt, they did get to know many facts about incredible values/qualities of bamboo. Following is the interview with three of them- Mallika, Prateek and Vini. Each of them is full of enthusiasm over bamboo, and its uses...Nick talks on organizational part of the workshop. Read more

Following is the recording of session with Russian Singing Bells on African Land in International Zone - the land appointed for the Africa House / Pavilion of African Culture. After short introduction of bells by Vera and Ashesh to the participants, the whole session, which purpose was meditation for peace and unity, has developed and grown into its own special harmonious melody. Of course recordings are many times merely the pale reflection,  in which so often we cannot feel the special energy present in interaction at the time. Read more

One more energetic morning session focused on dissolving polarities with Elvira and Luigi - this time without B, who is mending his back. Be well, B! With them in the studio are three coordinators of the freshly selected Town Development Council L'Avenir D'Auroville: Abha P (communication and consultation coordinator), Nicole (socio-economic planning coordinator) and Sauro (overall coordination). The conversation zoomed in on the challenge of mobility - a topic central to the overarching theme of how to best manifest the city the earth needs. Read more

Recently published video Crownways in which they have tried to catch up the idea of dreamcatcher from 2007 on crown road, when money was donated to build it. As David explains this video is there to see the richness of ideas if one goes to collaborative process; the video is there for archive purposes. The idea to start developing the area from Solar Kitchen towards Central Guest house was never set to be a finish product, it was mere an alternative in supposed collaborative processes when it comes to the town planning. Read more

With a great support of the children of the kindergarten, the Auroville Press and SAIIER released this week proudly the book “Building with blocks at Auroville Kindergarten” by Odile Fouldaoux. Besides illustrating and showing how children develop by the way they build with blocks and how their social skills evolve it is a book about children development through a beautiful playful instrument like natural wooden blocks in specific dimensions. Read more

Auroville Integral Sustainability Institute shares the experience of hosting 2 different groups of visiting planning students from Queens University, Canada & CEPT, Ahmedabad - ‘It was very enriching for all’, says Lalit, Programme coordinator. Auroville being an inspiring & interdisciplinary learning field provided very conducive environment to experience a different way of life which gave them a very real life glimpse of integral life & sense of purpose. Read more

Jean Francois who held the last weeks presentations and discussions about “collective intelligence” built the bridge between our own individual being and the collective in a special manner on a one day workshop. He started off in introducing a couple of profound questions which firstly every individual had to answer for oneself and afterward were discussed in small groups. He guided the group into a self-created market place. It finally lead to the request if there is an alternate currency possible in Auroville. Read more