Following on from the discussion series facilitated by the Auroville Council and Resident's Assemble Service earlier this year, the Council has invited all community members to a General Meeting to discuss the the benches and pathways beneath the Matrimandir banyan tree and how we make decisions as a community in Auroville. The meeting was held in SAWCHU on the 3rd of September. The discussion was vibrant and in some parts the emotional side came up. Anyway the interaction was conductive and some sort of results came up at the end. Jesse chaired the meeting. Here the 2 hours and 14 minutes recording of the full meeting.

Today, 2nd of September you can see a French movie or sing at Verite Hall ethnic chants, and the Auroville Council reminding all to come to the general meeting tomorrow. The Auroville Green Practise launched their portal on 28th of August which is a web-based knowledge resource containing articles, audio and video clips as well as a directory of experts and units - all related to work being done at Auroville in areas of eco-restoration, water management, waste management, farming, architecture, renewable energy and environmental outreach activities. Auroville Green Practices Portal was developed with support from Stichting de Zaaier and now maintained by Auroville Consulting.Www.green.aurovilleportal.org

Tuesday, 31th of August, and northern hemisphere is saying slowly goodbye to the summer, but here around is sunny with some clouds, and comfortable temperature. Over then phone we spoke with Jaya about yesterday's meeting at Unity Pavilion of members of International Zone. Auroville Council is inviting all members to General Meeting on Firday, 3rd of Septemeber at SAWCHU about benches and pathways beneath the Matrimandir banyan tree, and about decision making process.

Tuesday, 24th of August and in the area still feels like monsoon time is here. This morning meeting of L'Avenir d'Auroville with new ideas and designs, which developed in a lively discussion will be publish on net in next days. Tonight you can see an Italian movie Due Partitie, and tomorrow afternoon in the Town Hall is meeting for all who would like to do something useful for the community and for the safety of us all, and are healthy and physically fit, are patient and always cool, responsible and reliable, can respond adequately in a crisis situation, and would like to join the team of volunteers to address the security issues in the area.

Tuesday, 17th of August, and in Auroville is partly cloudy but still very pleasant, and with many things to do. The same we way we can hear the constant hammering of the workers of nearby project of Inspiration, road...L'Avenir of Auroville and Forest Group had a meeting this morning. What are the opening hours of Matrimandir, and which movie we can see tonight? AT 4.30 pm at Visitor Center at bookshop of Auroville Papers there will be a release of coloring book Bauhinia, A Tree who Wanted to be an Orchid, with the drawings and text by Marie and the graphic design by Leonard, and printed paper specially made by Auroville Papers.

The news in English today is about the opposing viewpoints concerning Matrimandir's Garden of Unity, specifically beneath the Banyan Tree; the recent installations, the reactions to those installations and the ensuing controversy. The next step in all this is a proposed General Meeting sometime in July or August. Also in the news there are a few announcements: teachers needed for Future School, Capoeira has begun again and, news of an alternative energy source: a new solar shop.

About 150 Aurovilians gathered at the Tibetan Pavilion on Saturday the 15th to be part of to the General Meeting held by the RAS and facilitated by Jessie. The actual Executives of the Matrimandir explained their vision of the work in progress around the Unity Garden with a Power-Point presentation. And this was followed by an open discussion between the members of the community in order to find a consensus on the right path to follow. Read more

C'est dans une atmosphère nocturne, éclairée par le Matrimandir que nous avons rencontré Monique, en « duty » ce soir-là, pour nous parler de cette polémique autour du Banyan tree. Et oui le Banyan tant aimé par les aurovilliens est au cœur des conversations en ce moment. Un meeting général a même été organisé en son honneur. Monique nous raconte, dans ces nouvelles en français, son impression sur les travaux autour du Banyan Tree et un court compte-rendu du meeting de mercredi dernier.

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Today's news in English features the Banyan Tree situated by the Matrimandir. In an interview with Tim Wrey, he speaks in a positive manner with constructive suggestions as he expresses his views on this current topic of interest: the health and life of the Banyan Tree. Tim has 30 years of experience in Auroville, creating landscaping which is both pleasing to the eye and the spirit, around his house and at Aurelec.

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The Banyan tree which stands at the geographical center of Auroville and which symbolize unity is dear to many residents. Few months ago landscaping work started underneath; two paved solid path as well as a series of benches were created. It changed quite a bit the atmosphere which people were accustomed to relate to.<br>Concerns developed also about the health of the tree in relation with its pruning and other factors related to the present landscaping. Recently a petition was launched to stop the work until proper expression of this concerns can be done. A General Meeting was organized on the 10th of March to start this process. 150 people attended.

Rakhal

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Le falciatrici scorciano l'erba mentre Andrea, ancora con voce tremolante, si muove dall'area della Pace verso i laboratori nei quali si continua a preparare pezzi per il Matrimandir. Tra sibili di macchine al lavoro e cinguettii di uccellini, la passeggiata porta il microfono verso nord, al cumulo di terra di risulta dalla fondazioni della struttura principale, trasportata a mano da centinaia di uomoni 40 anni or sono ed ora sventrata da scavatrici meccaniche: la collinetta scomparira' a breve. Un robusto basamento su cui si poggiava la macchina che ha tritato tutte le roccie servite per il cemento armato per la costruzione, e' ormai abbandonata a lato dei giardini ed ora va incontro all'oblio.

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Una notte di piogge monsoniche. Una assolata mattina di Novembre. Una passeggiata nei vialetti che circondano il Matrimandir. Andrea, con voce esitante, passeggia tra lavori in corso e le opere eseguite nei giardini che lentamente stanno prendendo forma attorno al Matrimandir. Attorno al Banyan, centro geografico di Auroville e fedele vicino del Matrimandir, fervono i lavori. La passeggiata si conclude nell'anfiteatro dell'Area della Pace, dove 40 anni fa' 126 nazioni hanno partecipato alla fondazione della citta'. Una passeggiata sonora accompagnata dai suoni inconfondibili di Auroville.

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Fritz, an inventor and a big adventurer, is going to bring his plant-fueled-multi-purpose-mini-bus from Germany trough former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, down to Auroville. He is open to all people - from the youngest to the eldest - who are ready to practice karma-yoga on the way to join him on the bus. The people would  have a quite adventurous trip and alternative community life happening right on the bus during the journey. What is Fritz going to do with the bus in Auroville? How you can participate in this project? Listen to the interview.

Read more

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“One thing is very important: the 12 gardens around the Matrimandir...This is gonna be a  great work when the vision comes to manifest this gardens.” disait Narad. Après le Matrimandir, voici venu le temps des jardins. Une nouvelle équipe de paysagistes c'est formée il y a trois ans, dont Marie que nous avons interviewée lors d'une ballade dans les jardins du Matrimandir. Elle nous raconte ses débuts avec les travailleurs tamouls mais surtout sa rencontre avec Maurizio et Marc et la réalisation des jardins Sat (Existence) Chit (Conscience) Ananda (Félicité). Pour plus d'information vous pouvez lire l'article paru dans AV Today ici ou bien

sûr en écoutant l'interview ci-après. Pour télécharger l'interview cliquez . Read more

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Georges, the gardener of Verite, comes back on his experience in Auroville with a really personnal view. He exposes the 3 reasons that motivated his coming in Auroville and how these personnal goals can reveal a challenge with oneself that permited him to go beyond his own limits and become more open to the vastness of experiences. He finishes then on a focus on Verite and explains the particularity of this community.

Pour télécharger l'interview de Georges en français cliquez Read MoreRead more

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Aniket Bhagwat, third generation landscape architect practising in Ahmedabad, a city that has seen the likes of Corbusier, Kahn & Stein presented at Kala Kendra in Bharat Nivas, a plethora of works ranging in size and scale  from  landscape to architecture, interiors and integrated urban planning. Constantly evolving and redefining the meaning of landscape design in India, the practice of Aniket Bhagwat gradually distances itself from the idyllic romantic notions of gardens. The work has seen each project searching for new design frontiers, while honing its technical skills. Supported by a vast database of landscape techniques and plant material, the practice handles residential, industrial, recreation, urban, institutional landscapes, and ecological redevelopment projects.In the recent past it has undertaken projects which allow the weaving of the architectural and landscape realms.and concentrates on exploring new and evocative idioms, that help lend richer meaning to the physical space. To download the presentation (in pdf) click here

Narad talks about his experiences with the Mother and how the Matrimandir Gardens came into being, from the first time She talked about the concept up to the present time. Narad first came in 1961, to the Ashram. He was in close contact with Mother. Her vision of creating a beautiful garden for the Matrimandir, which would be as important as the Matrimandir itself,  she entrusted to Narad to manifest. Presently, with the completion of Matrimandir just around the corner, Narad wants to see the many and varied grasses get planted at its base that he has brought from America. Compost making is in processs, weeding is going on and volunteers to help plant the grasses are most welcome.

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Alain Grandcolas arrived in Auroville in 1971 after being in the Ashram to participate in the organization of the excavation of the Matrimandir. 36 years later we meet him in front of the Matrimandir and more precisely in front of Power, one of the 12 gardens that will surround the spiritual center of the town. The English version is broadcast in the weekly news. The interview in French can be downloaded clicking here.

 

Alain Grandcolas arriva à Auroville en 1971 après un séjour à l'Ashram, pour participer à l'organisation de l'excavation du Matrimandir. 36 ans après, nous le rencontrons devant la maquette de "Pouvoir", l'un des douze jardins qui vont faire le tour du centre de la ville. La version francaise de l'interview peut-être téléchargée en cliquant .

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'The gardens are as important as the Matrimandir itself'- The Mother This seminar will deal with all questions regarding the Matrimandir Gardens and their development, presentations will be given on the present process being followed for designing the prototypes as well as the future decision making process for the final gardens. Saturday 14th January at ACUR (Town Hall) - 9.30 am.