Some of the politics that we see now in Europe and on the other side of the globe, which can be called autochthonic politics, are different from other extreme-right politics. One of the interesting things is that many of these autochthonic political organizations take pride in telling us that they are not racist. Indeed, rather than using notions of “race,” as earlier forms of racist ideology did during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, these movements construct racialized boundaries that differentiate people according to those who belong and those who do not, using a wide variety of boundary signifiers, including origin, religious affiliation, and citizenship status. Autochthonic politics are thus very elastic. The only common message is, “We were here before you, and therefore we belong and you do not!”

Nira Yuval-Davis, visiting Professor and Director of the Research Centre on Migration, Refugees and Belonging, University of East London

In response to the natural disasters that have been taking place in our world, and the multitude of messages we have received from the Little Sun community, we have decided to take action. We are collecting donations to send portable solar powered lamps and phone chargers to people affected by disaster. Your contribution helps us keep a running stock available for those affected by these disasters and power outages, and helps us instantly respond to future emergencies. Donate now: US / EU

The Agenda 2030 was determined by the UN in New York in September 2015. It is a milestone for the future of our planet, specifying a sustainable transformation plan for the global economy, social life, and environment. And this plan has a direct impact on Hassna and her family. The Agenda 2030 defines 17 goals, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and among these goals lies Goal 7: the prevalence of affordable and clean energy. By 2030, all people on this planet should have access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy. There has never been such an ambitious goal before, and maintaining a sustainable energy supply globally is a complex task.

Since Hassna and her family do not have access to energy, they cannot read, work or do their homework after sunset. Kerosene lamps and fireplaces as sources of light do not provide enough light to see or work easily. This has an impact on school performance. The probability of dropping out of school without a qualification is quite high. Since Hassna and her family do not have access to clean energy, they are forced to use their kerosene lamp and their fireplace. The smoke and fumes from both are very harmful for the eyes and can cause eye and lung diseases.

Since Hassna’s home has no connection to a power supply, her family has to spend a lot of money for kerosene or on batteries for flashlights. In addition, they also need to pay for transportation to a shop to buy kerosene. Although Hassna is attending school, she doesn’t have access to the quality of education that others in the world may have access to, and doesn’t learn about the harmful effects of kerosene since her community relies on it. Due to the lack of awareness, Hassna and her family cannot improve their living conditions.
Learn more about Little Sun's work with the SDGs