Director of UNESCO New Delhi office visits Auroville

Amongst the memorable events of Auroville’s Golden Jubilee celebrations was the visit of Dr. Shigeru Aoyagi, Director and Representative of UNESCO, Delhi Office. After his participation in the morning bonfire and water ceremony, Mr. Chunkath, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, welcomed Dr. Aoyagi warmly, reminding him of the longstanding relation between UNESCO and Auroville. This relation is truly unique, said Dr. Aoyagi in a subsequent speech, and is based on Auroville’s longstanding efforts in advocating peace, cultural diversity, respect for the environment and lifelong learning, in a spirit similar to UNESCO’s aims and ideals. He highlighted Auroville’s outstanding educational activities, which provide guidance and inspiration in times of global change, entailing enormous social challenges. These activities are in line with the “Sustainable Development Goals” adopted by the United Nations in 2016. In fact, he observed, Auroville has been actively pursuing most of these 17 “Sustainable Development Goals”.

Dr. Aster Patel spoke about the need to develop a kind of “world education”, and proposed to start planning together with UNESCO a conference on education in Auroville in the year 2019.

Frederick thanked Dr. Aoyagi again for opening the doors of the UNESCO Delhi premises for the Auroville presentation and panel discussion in November 2017. He also expressed his gratitude to UNESCO for safeguarding the international aspect of Auroville.

In the discussion that followed, members of Auroville International (AVI) expressed their gratitude for the recently adopted 5th resolution by UNESCO, calling its member states again to support Auroville, particularly in the development of its International Zone which AVI is also very engaged in. They also expressed their satisfaction about the contribution of AVI being mentioned and appreciated in the resolution. Asked about the possibilities of strengthening ties with UNESCO in their countries, Dr. Aoyagi encouraged the AVI members to contact and collaborate with regional and national UNESCO offices. Dr. Aoyagi shared that the new UNESCO Director-General, Mme. Audrey Azoulay, has a strong interest in India, so an invitation should be prepared.

Dr. Aoyagi then visited the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture where he was presented with the concept and layout of Auroville’s International Zone and with two pavilion projects, the Brotherhood Pavilion of Eastern European countries, and the Asian pavilion.

After a lunch with Mira Nakashima, daughter of the late George Nakashima who created the Peace Tables for the five continents of the world, Dr. Aoyagi paid a visit to the Earth Institute, whose director is representative for Asia and holds the UNESCO Chair in “Earthen Architecture”.

The experience gathered by Aurovilians in their wide range of activities, which are benefitting not only Auroville’s inhabitants but thousands of people in its bioregion, provides great inspiration and should be increasingly shared with national and international bodies. The AVI Centres and Liaison offices are there to support Auroville in this outreach and it is reassuring to know that UNESCO is there at our side.

The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals

End poverty in all its forms everywhere\

1. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

2. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages

3. Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning

4. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

5. Ensure access to water and sanitation for all

6. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

7. Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

8. Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

9. Reduce inequality within and among countries

10. Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

11. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

12. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

13. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

14. Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt bio-diversity loss

15. Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

16. Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development