Happy New Year - the Chinese Year of the Dragon! Every Chinese New Year 130 million people in the world’s most populous country head back home to their villages for family celebrations. It is the world’s largest human migration and the story is captured in the film “Last Train Home”. It focuses on one family spanning 3 generations and their annual get-togethers between 2006 and 2009. It combines documentary and drama to give a picture of how the different generations have become fragmented by China’s urban economic growth.

An eventful and turbulent year is over: The nuclear disaster of Fukushima, the Arab Spring, Osama bin Laden's death, the massacre on Utoya, the Euro crisis as well as the fall of different political leaders within the Euro Zone and so on - 2011 changed the world and it changed Europe.

The Innovation Circle Network had a successful year 2011. However, Europe is in troubled waters, and so are many of the regions and dear towns in our network, in our hearts. Despite we have a more efficient food, goods and service production than ever before in the history of man, the average European has reasons to be concerned. Some countries are troubled more than others. Greed and corruption is haunting our world, even in Europe, even within the oldest democracies. Few are stealing from the many and some governments are still not securing fair elections. Let the Snoras bank bankruptcy be an example of how bad it can be. When success is measured by money, image and glam, not by professionalism, integrity, humanity and solidarity then we are all in trouble.

The Innovation Circle Network meeting in Jurmala, Latvia on 9 December 2011 notes with concern the situation facing citizens across Europe today. We are facing the most severe challenge for a generation: it threatens to do lasting damage to our towns and rural regions.

Young Belarusians can now apply for scholarships to study for a BA or MA degree at European universities. The Open Europe Scholarship Scheme (OESS) is financed by the European Commission and managed by the Nordic Council of Minister.

Helensburgh is a town of about 20,000 residents. Located on the Firth of Clyde it attracts day trip visitors as well as serving as a commuter settlement for Glasgow about 35 kms away. An innovative community-based design programme has been undertaken there that has similarities to work that partners in the Trans-in-Form project are doing.

An expert panel gathered in Spydeberg from 8 to 9 November. "Washing of proposals" elaborated by the internal town planners and the local working group was the task given to the panel. One outcome was a presentation of the new plan that included some interesting transformation.

A long the lines "Branding a rural future" the German TiF Partner Trebbin welcomed about 30 participants to a workshop. Besides discussing how the partners will transform their cities and municipalities into vibrant and sustainable places, the participants from five different countries discussed the question "Are we on the right track?".