In today's news we feature interview with Renu on yesterday's sharing of L'Avenir. We need to inform the WC and/or LMTF before the publication of any mail, message, petition on this topic in order to vet if any information confidential in nature that may be detrimental to the proposed exchange is not contained therein. As every 12 Th of each month of 2012 , the women circle meets at Unity Pavilion at 5 p.m. Breathing exercises to the Pachamama . Paneurrytmic , Eternity Game and everything you can bring to the Circle .Everybody Welcome Read more

Monography on Poppo Pingle work in architecture was literally "launched" by Poppo himself with the device he has constructed for that occasion, and with it brought smiles on the gathered faces. The book, authorized by Mona Doctor Pingel was released by Ms.Malika Sarabhai, one of the publishers and Dr.Karan Singh, and is first of the series of monographies on Auroville architects. Mona herself briefly explained reasons that inspired her and on what she has focused in it. The architects are following the Mother's words - Less talk, more work. Read more

On Friday workshop at conference Room in Town Hall, participants put on the table the fact that Auroville Township, Viluppuram, Cuddalore districts of Tamil Nadu and the districts of Puducherry are very closely connected to each other through natural resources, climate, historical links, culture, religion, language, tourism, trade or business, population and transportation. This tightly knit connection calls for a Regional Plan that would benefit this region not just in the urban areas but also the adjoining rural areas. Read more

Auroville Bakery and new extensions on which Jorren talks with Elumalai about it. In today's news we also feature interview with Emmanuele on his 4th issue of The Salt of Life free hand over comic magazine in which he reflects on virtuous sadhak in the context of aftermath of cyclone. At Pavilion of Tibetan Culture in International Zone Antonia Duende will open on 3rd of March at 5pm the exhibition of "Glagolitic Traces" with musical offering by Nikolai, Marina and Aurelio. At Bharat Nivas on 5th Bulgarian Cross-Culture Concert. Read more

Daniel of the working committee brings us updates on Auroville's 44th Birthday to be celebrated tomorrow, 28 February 2012, and the events line-up, hoping for peace and human unity. Daniel also gives important information on the cyclone relief situation pertaining to the cleaning up of tress, the coming-up auction of firewood, and the financials involved. As for the hot-topic of illegal buildings, he tells us about the on-going discussions with the l'Avenir and the other groups currently involved in the land protection work.

In January 2012, we spoke to Cristo of the l'Avenir d'Auroville about the work of the planning office with regards to the greenbelt masterplan and the recent cyclone. Cristo tells us the story of the development of the masterplan and also his own involvement in the project. We learn the aims, challenges, learnings, the laws and regulations of l'Avenir. There is much to be learnt here about the complexities involved in development of the 'land-use' plan and building standards, especially with regards to natural calamities like cyclones.

At Unity Pavilion in International Zone on 29th will be official inauguration of main hall, and Jaya shared with us the happy news, and the Bulgarian Pavilion will share with the community on htat day a Bulgarian 'Martenitsa' workshop with Antonia Duende which celebrates eagerly an ancient ritual, Baba Marta, exchanging martenitsa as a symbol of sympathy and friendship, ... In todays' news we also feature short excerpt of interview with Bridget on updates from L'Avenir d'Auroville, and full interview will be published later on. Read more

Andrea spoke with Daniel, a memeber of Working Committe member about last updates on different issues, and here's and excerpt of it, but the full interview will be uploaded on our webpage soon, and WC is informing us that they will keep an Open hour of the Working Committee every Monday from 11:30am-12:30pm to interact with Aurovilians. About serious matter of Laughing Yoga Stella interviewed Fif, one of the facilitators of today LAughter Session at 5pm at Sve-Dame, Butterfly Barn with invitation to a two day workshop next week. Read more

At the annual Auroville International (AVI) meeting 2012, held at the Multipurpose Hall (Unity Pavilion, International Zone) members of L'Avenir d'Auroville presented current situations, plans and problems. Presentation were extensive and following questions were many since town planning is one of the most vital and often a problematic issue. Another point of discussion for AVI members was that there should be more communication and interaction between working groups and the units. Read more

We feature interview with Gunasekaran, member of the new Auroville Council talking on housing issues. On Sunday at 5pm The Centre for Research in the Performing Arts (CRIPA) invites us all to an Opening Concert by the Auroville Choir, At Cripa Hall in Kalabhumi . CRIPA hall is nearing completion and it is meant to be a theatre, music and dance space for the exploration and development of these art forms. And on Monday 6th of February at 5pm Marc Vella will held his last concert in Auroville at CRIPA with Joy on Silence. Read more

Aurodhan Gallery at Pondicherry will present on Friday 3th of February an interesting "Pondicherry" exhibition of selection of fine art photographic images exclusively selected from the book launched at the same time. Sebastian shared with us some insights on the process of making the book, which is collaboration of photographic artistic view of life heritage of Pondicherry with written word of Pascal Bruckner, Akash Kapur and Amin Jaffer, all experts on their fields of exploration. "Pondicherry" is published in French and English. Read more

De una hispanica celebracion ha surgido este compilado de experiencias y reflexiones que nacen de entre los Aurovillianos tras el paso del ciclon Thane por Tamil Nadu. En este podcast los entrevistados nos ayudan a valorar la "solidaridad espontanea que ha surgido entre la comunidad", ha entender la necesidad de replantear los codigos de construccion de Auroville para evitar que "el techo no se vaya, que las ventanas no exploten" y Read more

In 2010 l'Avenir d'Auroville had commissioned to Luis Feduchi a study about the Residential Zone, sectors 1 & 2. In the mean time l'Avenir d'Auroville has also started a process of "participatory planning" with architects residing in Auroville. In November 2011 some members of the planning office went to Amedhabad to meet with Mr. Doshi, chairman of TDC / l'Avenir d'Auroville, to present the studies. The next step is to integrate the two researches. In February 2012 Mr. Doshi will visit Auroville to help in finalizing this integration work.

The old and symbolic mother-tree of Upasana felt over their roof during the last cyclone in Auroville. But Uma, the funder of the organization, has decided to keep material frustration aside and focus on the meanings behind this event. Next to the construction site she talks about Upasana, its foundations and the effects of the cyclone over the building and community. Read more

The beach side was heavily damaged during the cyclone. One week after, reconstruction work is going on. In the town Periyamudaliarchavadi, people were helping government working men clearing away fallen trees to restore electricity lines. Near Repos beach lives Bhaga, already for 20 years now. She gives an account of what happened. During our interview, reconstruction workers entered her back garden with heavy machinery. This ended our talk prematurely, as Bhaga had to go outside to prevent the machine doing too much destruction. Read more

At Auroville Bamboo Research Centre, as all around of Auroville we could hear sound of chain saw and hammers, but Balu kindly spent some time to answer our questions. Nature is giving us message - to do something together, is his observation. Him and all the bamboo centre team share sadness over fallen trees in the area as . Last week passed in cleaning and evaluating damages, and somehow Balu is of opinion that they are on this plot at industrial zone not to make a mess with many various kit roof structures but to develop it in whole, Read more

From first almost paralyzed feeling after natural catastrophe town woke up in frantic mood to clean, repair..help..Yesterday the clean up team started their work, to which we all are welcome. And since today we got a Cyclone help desk in Town Hall at the Receptionist Desk with team of people collecting and sharing information on the most important things - water, electricity, green belt - wood issues. Help desk team can be reach at main Town Hall phone line 2622250, for water and single phase generators we should call Jill on 9486144065 Read more

Yesterday some members of the l'Avenir d'Auroville had a meeting with the residents to gather in the Creativity comunity. The aim was to update the participants regarding city development in residential sectors. The conclusion of the discussion was that the financial aspect of Auroville needs urgent attention so that the city's development can be realized. In the December issue of AurovilleToday a title resonates: Auroville Population Stagnate. Last year the residents increased by 8 members only. Some of the policies need to be looked into. Read more

Tonight we can see two interesting theater plays – at 7pm at Visitor Centre The Mankeys presents form Monkeymotion to Mokemotion, and 8pm at Sri Aurobindo Auditorium in Pavilion of Indian Culture the Morodokmai Theater Troupe from Thailand will put on the stage Chitra by Rabindranath Tagore. Tomorrow at 5pm at Creativity Hall of Light L'Avenir d'Auroville will share with us Residential Zone Presentation, and on Friday Sadhana Forest will celebrate its 8th birthday with an all-day festival of workshops and live performances! Free bus rides. Read more

Resident Assembly Service invites us all for for a collective gathering on Thursday 24th November 2011 at 5 pm to 6 pm at Banyan Tree. Let's meet a community at the center of Auroville. Let's aspire to call the force of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and focus on Unity in Diversity. A prayer to manifest One Body of the Mother. From Friday 25 November to 12 December (9 am to 5 pm) Hibiscus Art Village Project prepared at gallery Kala Kendra Square-Circle - (Bharat Nivas COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION “NEW GENERATION” . Opening on Friday 25th at 6pm. Read more

Mr. Melake Selam visited Auroville in 2008, joined Satprem at Earth Institute to learn and expand the knowledge on earthen construction in order to use this technology on his home ground - Ethiopia. Leading motto that we, humans should care about our planet and protect environment and put in use sustainability was appealing to him. All that he has been learn he put into practice, and shared the knowledge with his students. At the Institute of Architecture we saw built examples - a Sudu house (nice example of basic family house) and a vault. Read more

Amongst presentation to Ethiopian public within AVI meeting in Addis Abbaba Cristo Mabilat touched in his presentation the work of The Auroville Earth Institute, funded by an architect Satprem, who is trying to revive the technology of construction with earth. The concept goes in line with the development and sustainability as the key of the progress. The Auroville Earth Institute is today the representative for Asia of the UNESCO Chair "Earthen Architecture, Constructive Cultures and Sustainable Development". Read more

The community "Luminosity" has started with the wish to create "A temple for living" for its inhabitants. It consists of twelve small apartments, eight offices and big communal areas. David, one of the architects, is explaining the different aspects of the building like the new systems for waste water treatment and rain water harvest. The later will be able to provide enough water for all inhabitants of the building for the whole year. Please open the attached PDF-file in order to follow a series of 17 photos which are referred to in the talk Read more

On our regular update from L'Avenir d'Auroville or Town Development Council Renu shared some points on administrative process of proposed projects, and as she says in Auroville everything depend very much on the capacity and energy of the person in charge of the project. And TDC should be there just to assist the project with the use of the footprint of the galaxy loosely while looking at the ground reality, and that way keep the dynamism of the galaxy without being to attached to the map. Water Task Team will be soon ready to present plans.

Auroville still has lot to learn about important issues like housing. Practicing diversity in unity is not easy but as Renu noted in the interview, one of the thing common to us all is that each one of us is attached to the development of Auroville. Common agreement has to come partially from people being sensitized and understanding as to why the land is used and why is there a certain density. And maybe by all of us actively searching for solutions will bear more fruits than criticizing.

Open doors once a month is a new addition of L'Avenir d'Auroville services to community members. In the interview with Dorle and Sauro we found out why more interactive approach needs to be taken if whole community wants to work on development of the city. Shortage of houses is a sore spot for years, and reasons for that are various. The new proposal of numerous projects from L'Avenir team was recently published, and it did stir up the community and bring positive and negative feedback along with the hope that things are moving.

Manu discusses the site plan and progress of Transit Lounge with Eric. The Transit Longue has been specifically designed for Aurovillians and Newcomers as a housing solution in order to ease the pressure of shifting houses every one or two years and to help integrate themeselves in Auroville. The intention is to provide freedom and choice to a community of smaller groups that can co-exist creatively and peacefully. The prototypes of individual designs of housing units proposed by various builders was also discussed. Read more

Featured today is an interview with Francis and Doris of Auroville Video Productions speaking about their recent work 'Children of Auroville' which opens Friday at Paradiso CInema, Townhall. Alsoa reminder to submit films of any length, any topic for 2011 FIlm Festival. And a chance to learn to asssemble a dismountable house this weekend and learn about Holoenergetics through a film Healing with Love, the work of Dr. Laskow, a Californian surgeon.

The TDC discussed the need to develop nodal areas in each zone of the international zone and consolidating growth while creating an urban feeling. The group also spoke about starting new projects. A proposal has been made for the new Cite Universitaire. The chairman, Mr. Doshi, elaborated on the need for a urban design, sustainability, knowledge transfer, centralizing and decentralizing, diversity in unity with regard to the usage of space in the Universitaire while avoiding duplication of common facilities. Read more

The Auroville Town Development Council Meeting group discussed with Mr. Doshi the Galaxy Plan Footprint, studies done on residential zones and their existing building densities, roads, waste water treatment plants, land ownership, upgrading electricity, fences, security, mobility, green corridors, immediate and future development. Mr. Doshi emphasized the importance of making a "vital" city" and quality of life enhancement through astute use of energy and time.. He touched upon various aspects of town planning that enable holistic living. Read more