Let the sunshine in

The overall objectives of “Let the sunshine in” are

* to foster sustainable development for and cooperation with Indigenous peoples in Latin America (LA),
* to support developmental projects in LA and
* to raise awareness in Austria (AT), the Czech Republic (CZ) and Slovakia (SK) of renewable energy issues and their impact on (global) sustainable development.

The title of the action indicates that, while solar power, which shines on us all can be used, both in the North and in the South, as a renewable, decentral energy source, reducing dependency from external energy sources, it is often “kept out”. The potential of solar power is not fully tapped, global energy supply instead largely depends on fossil fuels and other environmentally damaging sources.

The action broaches the negative consequences of non-sustainable energy use in general (on the global scale, e.g. greenhouse effect and its negative effects, to illustrate international interrelations), and the negative consequences for indigenous rainforest peoples in particular (e.g. drought periods in Amazonia, rainforest destruction and severe pollution in petroleum-producing regions). The action thereby aims at creating awareness and at inducing willingness to take measures within its target groups in Europe.

The action’s objectives are centred on raising awareness of renewable energy issues and their impact on sustainable development (in the North and in the South): common methods for awareness raising (lectures, PR etc.), are combined with concrete actions which will, for the long-term, (1) emblematise cooperation with indigenous peoples (solar power panels installed on official buildings), (2) establish stable structures for further awareness-raising activities in the field of developmental policy (new Climate Alliance members), and (3) secure funds for future developmental projects in Latin America (contributions by new Climate Alliance members).

The action’s specific objective aims at founding partnerships between municipalities and indigenous rainforest peoples in LA by establishing long-lasting, stable Climate Alliance (CA) structures in CZ and SK.

Climate Alliance is unique among European NGOs for its combination of environmental and developmental topics, and for its anchorage on the municipal level. At the heart of all Climate Alliance activities lies the partnership (“Alliance”) aspect with indigenous peoples in Latin America. Climate Alliance encourages stakeholders on the local level, which are usually not very concerned with, affected by, or interested in developmental issues, to take responsibility for global problems in general, and for cooperation activities with indigenous peoples in rainforest regions in particular. Climate Alliance influences local policy and proposes local solutions. Becoming a Climate Alliance member is a conscious step towards more justice in North-South relations.