Exploring a Sustainable Future

Exploring a Sustainable Future: A Workshop at Auroville
April 3-9, 2016

Is this workshop appropriate for you?

This workshop is for you, if you have been seeking answers to questions such as:

• Why did the Chennai floods of December 2015 occur?
• Why is air pollution in New Delhi worse than that in Beijing?
• Why is water becoming scarce everywhere?
• If there is an energy crisis, why is the oil price declining?
• Is the environmental crisis real and should I be concerned about it?
• Is climate change happening?
• If there is indeed a crisis, what are the solutions? Are there answers to be found in Auroville?
• What is my responsibility? What should I do?

What is the workshop about?

‘Exploring a Sustainable Future’ introduces some of the Auroville technologies and explores an integral approach to sustainable practices. This includes exploring inner sustainability, without which humanity will not be able to achieve a permanent change of consciousness. Auroville has been organizing a number of such workshops over the past 25 years.

What is the underlying theme of the workshop?

The workshop is woven around the theme of sustainability. We will try to go beyond a simple view of sustainability and cover the integration of the four quadrants of sustainability – environmental, social, economic and personal.

What will the workshop sessions cover?

The workshop includes theoretical sessions, practical demonstrations and site visits. In the classroom sessions, we will cover topics such as:

• Environmental crisis and the need for sustainable development
• Sustainability and its quadrants
• Auroville and sustainability
• Global economy and Auroville economy
• Water resources, water harvesting, and wastewater treatment
• Renewable energy
• Waste management
• Community-building
• Food, agriculture and alternative medicine
• Exploring the inner dimension and personal change
• Life purpose and life choices

Almost every afternoon, we will take you on local visits to see practical applications of sustainable principles in Auroville. There will also be a experiential group work.

Every evening there will be optional video sessions in which select documentaries will be screened.

We presume that you are coming to the workshop because you are concerned with the state of the world and are looking for solutions. We will do our best to widen your perspectives – about the world, the state of the environment, your society, your lifestyle, and yourself. It is YOUR task, however, to translate the learning into positive action after the workshop. We believe that ideas, technologies, and practices are less crucial than the effort to change one’s mindset.

The workshop will be an intensive one with sessions from 8.45 am to 9.00 pm every day. You will have some group assignments too.

What will the workshop NOT cover?

The workshop is not a detailed training programme on any of the technologies being experimented with in Auroville. If you only want to learn the technology of earth construction, ferrocement, solar energy, etc., please skip this workshop and look for the specialized courses offered from time to time in Auroville.

Who will be the workshop faculty?

The core team includes the following members:

1. Alan Herbert comes from England and has been a member of the Auroville Community for the past 34 years. He is on the editorial team of the monthly magazine Auroville Today and is also involved in forest conservation activities.
2. TinekeSmits is from the Netherlands and has been living in Auroville since 1980. She has been involved in many activities in Auroville.
3. Rajagopalan was a Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He is an environmentalist and author of several textbooks on environmental education. He lives in Bangalore.|

Alan and Tineke have been associated with the workshops since their inception more than 20 years ago. Rajagopalan has been a member of the team since 2000.

The team of facilitators will include a number of Auroville residents, who will make presentations and share their experiments and experiences in building a sustainable community.

What has been the impact of the previous workshops on the participants? Can I get in touch with any of them?

Many of our alumni have made changes in their lives and taken action to conserve the environment and build communities, inspired and helped by what they learnt in the workshop. Recent batches have an active email group and we can forward your queries to them.

Any other details?

The workshop is limited to 25 participants and will be conducted in English. Boarding and modest shared accommodation will be provided at the Center Guest House, Centre Field, located at the very centre of Auroville not far from Matrimandir.

Participants are expected to arrive on Sunday 3rd April 2016 before 4 pm and leave on Saturday 9th April after lunch around 2 pm. The workshop will begin with an introductory session after dinner at 7.30 pm on Sunday, 3rdApril.

During the workshop, we will give you an introduction to the Matrimandir and you can view it from a distance. Unfortunately, groups are not permitted to enter the area. Those who wish to meditate in the inner chamber should arrange the visit either before or after the workshop. For details, check the page: www.auroville.org/contents/252

During the workshop, there will be no time or occasion to visit Pondicherry or do any shopping. Please arrange such visits before or after the workshop.

Could I bring others with me as non-participants?

We are sorry we cannot accommodate non-participant family members, children, or friends. You are welcome to visit Auroville with them on another occasion.

What is the workshop fee and how does one make the payment? How do I register for the workshop?

The workshop fee is Rs.19000 including service tax. The fee covers boarding and lodging from Sunday evening (3rdApril) until Saturday afternoon (9thApril), local transport and workshop material.You can make the payment through a crossed cheque or through bank transfer.

Who will answer queries that I may have?

Please send an email to avworkshop2016@gmail.com. You could also get in touch with David Amalanadane, who has attended this workshop before and who is now assisting the Workshop Team. He lives in Karaikal.

(Mobile: +91 9442593448; Email id:david.kkl@gmail.com)

You can also get in touch with Prof. R. Rajagopalan, who is a member of the Workshop Team. He lives in Bangalore.

(Mobile: +91 9448849591; Email: rrgopalan2005@gmail.com).

For all queries concerning accommodation, please call Ms. Cristina, Executive, Center Guest House (0413 2622 155).

Applications and payment should reach us latest by March 20, 2016. You will receive an immediate email confirmation and more details about the workshop.