Five years ago, Aviram launched an indigenous reforestation project, and he speaks about the link between growing trees and the development of the people involved. The project is run as sustainably as possible, with a four-bike gym used to generate electricity when solar is not enough. There is no electricity in the houses - the community centre is the only building with light, meaning that people naturally gather there in the evenings. He says everyone can contribute to global efforts in small ways but that on the other hand it may well be that some radical measures are also needed.

Today's news features an excerpt from an interview with Malya, a volunteer from Australia, who stayed in Auroville for the last months. Now she moves on and talks about the inspiration she got in Auroville and a project for volunteers she invented. Also in the news an announcement for a guitar concert by Carl Bernstein from the USA on Staurday the 15th of May. He is a professional guitar player and stays in India until July. Read more

Matrimandir, Banyan Tree and all the different communities with their various focus – these things are not only popular for tourists but also interesting for journalists. More and more of them came in the recent years to report certain topics. But how can they be controlled, so that Aurovilians don't feel like guineapigs in a zoo? Steffi talked to Outreach Media, a group that takes care of journalists coming to Auroville and she asked a filmmaker about his work and his experiences with the Outreach Media Team.

Jean-Pierre was only 24 years old when he first stepped in Sri Aurobindo's Ashram in 1966 after having sailed from Marseille, France 11 months before. He then met Mother and the day of his 26th birthday she gave to him this name of Guru Prasad “Goupi” that he still carries nowadays. Last time that he had been out of station was May 1968's chaotic students events in France, and mainly because he crossed all the steps towards Auroville's present situation, our team decided to interview him at the eve of his “fabulous travel” back to France.

Today's news features an interview with Raghu, Martin and Vimal about the new Green Portal in the internet, which was presented on Friday, the 30th of April. This web based knowledge resource covers green practices developed through experimentation and implemented at Auroville. Also in the news some information about the ongoing process of searching members for a new l'Avenir d'Auroville team and an invitation from the Youth Centre for a potluck picnic on Sunday, the 2nd of May. Read more

 

Today's news features an excerpt from the dhrupad-concert held on Saturday, the 24th of April at the Bharat Nivas Auditorium. Dhrupad is believed to be one of the oldest genres of Hindustani classical music. Also in the news an announcement for a presentation about the shared space concept by Karl-Heinz Posch followed by a discussion on Wednesday the 28th of April at 7.30 p.m. In the Town Hall conference room and the presentation of the Auroville Green Portal on Friday, the 30th of April. Read more

Sunny Saturday afternoon, and Upasana decorated with balloons, beautiful kolams on the floor and children laughter all around. Small Steps were launched three years ago deliberately on Earth Day, and in Auroville is one part of Small Steps campaign, which is stretched all over. Small Steps is focusing on the attitude that we all have take small steps and do something for the planet, for its greener future. Small Steps were launched as invocation to express gratitude for the Mother Earth. Read more

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Effective micro-organisms (EM) technology is a liquid mix of microbes developed in Japan, which promotes vigorous plant growth, producing better agricultural crops. It can also be used to manage organic waste, even sewerage and polluted water bodies, reducing smells and controlling rotting. He is promoting the use of EM in waste management across Tamil Nadu as well as in Auroville, where people use it in their houses as well as in farms. Although academics are still skeptical, those using EM are convinced. “In the end, a solid waste management facility depends on skillful management and very little technology and very simple infrastructure,” he says.

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Nandini is a cooperative which supplies clothes on a need basis rather than enticing people to browse and buy things they might not really want, like a shop. Membership is paid for annually and people are given what they need regardless of cost. The clothes are bought in Pondicherry as and when they are required. Yet there are questions about defining need - how many t-shirts a person really needs - and this is monitored carefully. Sometimes people are found to be taking too much and Marie has to talk with them about what they really need. There is also a tailoring service to alter clothes and have things such as curtains and bedclothes made for houses. That piece was uploaded as one from the serie of past articles.

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From March 19th until March 21st , a wide open participatory workshop occurred in Auroville regarding city planning, all were invited to share freely on a main thematic “what do you dream for the City the Earth needs?”. First preparation day was at Town Hall's conference room surrounded by the Unfolding exhibition, and next two days of resident's active sharing happened at Last School Campus. One can see how much the world changed while Auroville was growing up. The purpose of this gathering was mainly to unify people and to see how this 42 years old “proto-city” can now become a true entity in movement according to the Mother's Dream. Our team was here on day one to record the preparatives of this happening.

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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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Living Routes is an US-American program to study abroad, focusing on issues like eco-villages and sustainable practices. The students are coming from the US to explore and practice a sustainable way of living in Auroville for three and half months. While they are here, they are involved in many different activities, such as service learning projects, community living and many more. Here is an interview with Eathan, who is one of the faculty members in the on-going semester. He explains about the program and shares his unique experiences here in Auroville.

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On the16th February of 2010 there had been a presentation in Town Hall, held by the acknowledged architects Dean D’ Cruz from Goa and Ms. Mette from Denmark. With the aim to share their work in the field of architecture and planning w ith the Aurovillians, Dean`s presentation included his involvement with the preparation of the Goa Regional Plan. Mette Lange, an architect who has her base both in Denmark and Goa, works with a few other Danish architects and engineers on a project to create sustainable modular housing for India. The presentations were followed by an interactional part with the audience, including some discussions.

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J'ai passé ma vie à chercher l'unité humaine où quelle se trouve, surtout à Auroville. Humour du divin ou pas, après quarante ans nous sommes 2000 et quelques milliers dans le monde à y croire alors que des centaines de millions d'hommes se battent, se haïssent du nord au sud et de l'ouest à l'est. Riches contre pauvres, blancs contre noirs, blancs entre blancs, noirs entre noirs... Ainsi toutes les couleurs de l'arc en ciel humain se détestent copieusement. Vu de Paris où je réside actuellement le conflit Israélo-palestinien est un nœud, un trou noir dans l'aventure de l'unité humaine tant recherchée. Read more

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Sandwichée entre le 21 février, anniversaire de Mère, et le 28, celui d'Auroville, cette semaine c'est LA semaine de l'année. Auroville affiche complet dans les guest houses mais aussi dans les news&notes avec toutes sortes de workshops, spectacles et conférences. C'est pourquoi cette semaine nous avons décidé de vous parler à la place, d'unité humaine avec Yanne Dimay. Aurovilienne de longue date, aujourd'hui chargée d'ateliers d'écritures à la Sorbonne Paris 3, elle s'est lancée depuis quelques mois dans un projet d'atelier d'écriture pour la paix en Israël et Palestine. De retour de Gaza elle nous raconte son expérience. Pour télécharger les nouvelles en français cliquez ici.

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“She is a symbol, a living symbol with her own life / As her name suggests, she is a child of tsunami / The tsunami that changed the lives of millions / She is the memory of Tsunami...”Last Sunday the celebration of Tsunamika´s 5th birthday was hold in Periyamudaliyarchavadi. At this event many entertaining and informative performances, speeches, games, plays, dances, competitions and interesting activities like stitching/drawing your personal Tsunamika took place and made that day joyful and worth to remember. Here are some thoughts and impressions about Tsunamika and her birthday party.

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One of the highlights from last Friday´s Litter Free Auroville was the amazing Trashionshow. The numerous talented designers attended a workshop one week before, where they got input, material and ideas how to create fashion out of trash. The result was simply outstanding: They transformed vinyl records, juice boxes, cassette tapes, bubblewrap, rice sacks, used fashion magazines and plastic bags into creations just designed for the catwalk. The audience felt like being in Paris, Milan or New York. Here are some impressions from the Trashionshow, featuring excerpts from the show itself, pictures and reactions from the audience. Click read more to see more pictures of the show.Read more

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The 29^th of January was indeed a different Friday for Auroville. It started early in the morning with meditation, and after school the children and many adult Aurovilians collected litter along the roads... which all lead to Certitude where  the main action took place throughout the day. In a conversation with Chandra, Ribhu and Mira who were three of the many active facilitators for this day's events, some interesting facts were uncovered: the target is to create a team for a platform to create a change. It is ongoing, ideas and work, to reduce waste. Each of us can participate: the way we choose to acquire our food, and how we handle our waste, becoming aware that we can't just 'throw it away' as there is no 'away.' .

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After the official part of the January 12th visit of UNESCO Director General Mrs. Irina Bokova,  a reception was held in the Garden of Unity. Questions, praise and expressions of gratitude poured out to Madame Bokova. She  listened, and she answered  everyone with great patience, respect and grace , emphasizing the strong message of Auroville: human unity in diversity with its tolerance and respectful attitudes toward nature, which was clear from the beginning of Auroville. In the recordings you can hear some bits of lively conversation along with expressions from Aurovilians, moved by her visit....

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On Thursday 21st of January in the Unity Pavilion was meeting to formalized and widened the group of people who would like to support the work  in the pavilion for Africa named Africa House. Before the formal inauguration of Auroville Kailas was appointed by the Mother to be in charge of the International Zone. In the part of introduction Kailas told us that interesting part of the history, as she call it, about the cultural pavilions of all nations. After the Mother left her body Kailas proposed to UNESCO what cultural pavilions intend to serve. As for Africa, the real plan of the pavilion is here already, made by young Ethiopian architect who was volunteering in Auroville.

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“Something is coming”, “litter free Auroville”: these slogans, everyone has catch them on the huge banners present around Auroville. Well, time to break the mystery has come: Auroville does not so good at the level of solid waste. Action is needed and this is the goal of the NGO SOMA waste management, along with Ecoservice: organizing a big campaign on the 29th of January to bring awareness and to get things change. This is no longer a surprise, this day is supposed to be big, as big as the issue. Let's hear Gilian, from Ecoservice, presents her organization and the actual situation of Auroville toward waste, then Meera and Chandrah, coordinators of SOMA, talk about the day itself.

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Madame Irina Bokova graced Auroville today with her visit. This gracious lady of Bulgaria has just been recently appointed as Genereal Director of UNESCO. The Conference Room at Town Hall overflowed with Auroville's residents as they listened to Dr. Aster Patel's welcoming words followed by Kripa: Aurovilian by birth and by choice as she elaborated the ideals of Auroville. Madam Bokova spoke in the same vein, stressing the need worldwide for tolerance and respect for one another, to work harmoniously with science, with technology and nature for the benefit of humanity. And for this, she promises to work tirelessly. Her recognition of Auroville's role toward this goal was appreciated by all. .Click Read More to see more images.Read more

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En esta charla,Tiago Rouxinol nos habla del proyecto Tierra de Niños, que empezó con ANIE en Perú en 1995. ANIA es una asociación para los niños y el medio ambiente que ya ganó muchos premios por su trabajo y su misión es crear con los niños un mundo mejor para todos los organismos vivos en la tierra. Tiago nos cuenta el histórico del proyecto en Brasil, en Perú y en la fase actual en Auroville, en Sadhana Forest. Para saber mas accede al : http://sadhanaforest.org/wp/category/childrens-land

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In Svedam at Well cafe on 7th of January was an initial presentation of a dream and a a manifestation of reality of aquatic body work center, which would be located in the hearth of Auroville, next to Arka community. Through over a decade of aquatic and other work in Quiet, latest came to the point where it's insufficient for all the demands and needs of clients and as well of the practitioners of aquatic healing therapies. The team of Aquatica already well expressed their commitment to their work and  to the project Auqatica because amongst themselves they've managed to collect already 30 percent of the total sum of 65lakhs which are needed for it..For more images click Read More.Read more

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In the month of Pongal from the middle of December until the middle of January is a special time for celebration which is expressed on many ways. One of them is a sacred mandala of traditional blessing, named Kolam. On Saturday 9th in Ilaignarkal Education Center Mohanam Cultural Center organized Lively Kolam Festival. Beside exhibition of Kolams in different craft work of local Tamil women, there was competition in drawing Kolam with rice flour on the floor, and huge mandala, which served as the maze for meditation – first of its kind. Kolams in South India are admired for their simplicity, beauty and all that they symbolize, and they bring blessings to homes and to the universe... For more images click READ MORE.Read more

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Over four hundred children came on Sunday 27th of December to be present on inauguration of “Children s Land” at Sadhana Forest. Yes, for them it was very important day, because over 2 acres of land was given to them to work with it according to their plans and dreams. What have started as a particular project in Peru with one man who was devastated over the fact that our planet is disappearing  as a living form from our sight, in few years managed to sprout all over the planet in different forms.  Children are increasing environmental consciousness in the work with land, and at the same time gathering valuable lessons of life..

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Recently, Australian deep-ecologist, writer and singer John Seed was in Auroville. The goal of his workshop called "The Council of All Beings" is to support the re-discovering of one's "ecological self". For AurovilleRadio, John describes a ritual, nowadays called process, of this workshop. He believes that the loss of ceremonies which can nurture our interconnectedness with nature is part of our problem. Deep ecology is based on the shifting away from the reality exclusively in terms of human values. That shift in consciousness is both, cognitive revolution and spiritual awakening.

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The new integral health institute is slowly getting shape. In this presentation the health team Jocelyn B., Mallika, Mogan, Ruslan, Sumeet, and Veronica with the architects team updated all on the current state of the project. The ambitious vision of the project was presented by Ruslan and Sumeet. Alternative master plans of the building where presented by Houly, Helmut and Salaeja. The presentation was followed by a question and answers from the audience

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The Center for Research in the Performing Arts (CRIPA) was planning to build a whole campus complex for performing arts since 2007. It shall be located in the Cultural Zone, in the Kalabhoomi community. Now the first step has been done: the construction work for the rehearsal hall for dance, music and theatre it's close to be completed. It will be the biggest rehearsal space in Auroville with a large wooden floor of 12 by 40 meters. Here's an interview with the architect Baskar made on the contruction site.Read more.

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Presented by l'Avenir d'Auroville: an 'Open Meeting' at Town Hall Conference Room, 10 a.m. - 12 noon Friday 4 December 2009. Topic: Regional Planning Presented by Prashant, Coordinator for Regional Planning.L'Avenir members present: Sauro, Lalit, Pino,Toby, Tine and approximately 20 Aurovilians. L'Avenir d'Auroville has expressed its willingness and thanks to make use of AurovilleRadio's offer to record and broadcast its 'Open Friday' meetings. The 10 a.m. timing of these Friday meetings does not, unfortunately, allow but a handful of participants, as that time of day finds most people at work...

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