Nurul fights for global justice<\/p>\n
A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Actress and activist Nurul Arifin has just been named a Young
\nGlobal Leader for her passionate efforts in campaigning for
\nsocial equality.<\/p>\n
Nurul, a Bandung native, has worked with many non-governmental
\norganizations in raising public awareness on HIV\/AIDS and women's
\nrights.<\/p>\n
The World Economic Forum officially announced on Tuesday that
\nNurul was among the first 237 young leaders to have been selected
\nand who had accepted the opportunity to take part in The Forum of
\nYoung Global Leaders, working in close cooperation with the World
\nEconomic Forum.<\/p>\n
Among the young leaders selected from 8,000 candidates are
\nNicole Kidman, Tiger Woods, J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame,
\nsoccer player Zinedine Zidane and Yahoo! cofounder Jerry Yan.<\/p>\n
\"It's a surprise. I'm glad that I was appointed among many big
\nnames, including world-famous celebrities. I still don't know how
\nthe committee got my name,\" Nurul told The Jakarta Post on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
She said she received a phone call two months ago from a
\nnomination committee member, who told her about the selection of
\nYoung Global Leaders.<\/p>\n
Due to her poor English ability, Nurul asked her 10-year-old
\ndaughter Maura to take the call and give her e-mail address to
\nthe committee.<\/p>\n
Nurul came to appreciate the prestige and aims of the forum
\nwhen Maura told her about the institution.<\/p>\n
\"Now, I'm taking intensive English lessons. I often declined
\ninvitations to speak abroad because of my English. I'm not
\nconfident enough to speak in English,\" she said.<\/p>\n
It seems the former model is not daunted by anything and,
\ninstead, relishes challenges.<\/p>\n
\"I shall concentrate on globalization and fundamentalism as
\nwell as AIDS and women's issues in June at the Forum of Young
\nGlobal Leaders in Davos, Switzerland.\"<\/p>\n
She expressed concern that the rise of fundamentalism in the
\ncountry was a response to globalization, which the poor perceived
\nto be a mode of domination by developed countries.<\/p>\n
Nurul said the poor were vulnerable to fundamentalism,
\nespecially religious fundamentalism, as the only way to resist
\nthe injustices of globalization.<\/p>\n
\"Right now, I fear an increase of fundamentalism. This did not
\nhappen in the past, when people respected pluralism,\" said Nurul,
\nwho had just returned to the capital after a four-day visit to
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
Nurul said she was happy the international community was
\nworking hand-in-hand with Indonesians to help tsunami survivors
\nwithout any political or religious discrimination, but was
\nsaddened to learn that a Christian political party had been
\nprevented from contributing to the relief effort.<\/p>\n
She was also dismayed by rumors that a local Islamic political
\nparty had accused many Christian groups of taking advantage of
\nthe aid effort as a cover for proselytizing.<\/p>\n
\"Helping victims should not be done in the name of any
\npolitical party. I refused when the Golkar Party wanted its name
\nto appear on clothing worn by our volunteers,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The mother of two joined Golkar to include AIDS and women's
\nrights among the party's focus.<\/p>\n
\"Entering the system is one way to effect change,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Nurul's dedication led to her nomination as a Golkar
\nlegislative candidate in last year's general elections. Although
\nshe had many supporters within the party, she did not make the
\ncut to the national-level elections.<\/p>\n
She said the stigmatization of people living with HIV\/AIDS was
\nstill the main obstacle in the campaign against AIDS, and lauded
\nthe recent decision by former South African president Nelson
\nMandela to announce that his son had died of an AIDS-related
\ndisease.<\/p>\n
\"I agree wholeheartedly that AIDS should be spoken about
\nopenly. It would make AIDS like any other disease. It's not a
\nmoral issue,\" she said, adding that AIDS was just one small
\naspect of the broader injustices faced by women in Indonesia and
\nthe world.<\/p>\n
\"Many urban women may say that they have no problems in their
\nlives. They should look at the data and reality here that show
\nthat many women still suffer.\"<\/p>\n
Last year's global campaign on HIV\/AIDS focused on women of
\nall age groups, since they were most vulnerable to infection.<\/p>\n
Nurul's commitment to these social issues led her to the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, from which she graduated with a degree
\nin political and social sciences.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nurul is also an acclaimed film actress with five
\nIndonesian Film Festival nominations for best actress under her
\nbelt, and acts in several soap operas.<\/p>\n
She plans to pursue a Master's degree next year.<\/p>\n
She said she became aware from her studies that many notions
\nof a woman's duty were really social constructs.<\/p>\n
Although many cultures still discriminate against women, Nurul
\nsaid she would struggle for gender equality without abandoning
\nher own culture.<\/p>\n
\"Feminists in the West are different from those here, although
\nwe also struggle for women's equality. I respect
\nmulticulturalism.\"<\/p>\n
Nurul hopes that the future world would be better for all and
\nuphold the principles of multiculturalism.<\/p>\n
\"Hegemony, injustice or monoculture, or the large gap between
\ndeveloped and poor countries should no longer persist.<\/p>\n
\"They should be replaced, instead, by greater tolerance and
\nrespect for different cultures,\" she said.<\/p>",
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