Hi ya’ll……! It’s me, back in Indonesia. Sorry it took quite a long time to get me to write again. It’s just ‘cause I’m back in all the daily routines and I have to finish the unfinished business that I left behind during the trip. By the way, today is my 3rd day as a senior!! I just went from 11th grade to 12th grade and soon I’ll be going to the university. Wish me luck on that! J

So…… of course, I didn’t just go to Brussels for a holiday. I went on a mission for youth on Climate Change that by the way has made a huge impact on me. I learned how actually critical the earth really is and how our participation, adaptation and mitigation is needed. I suggest all of you to watch or search for the movie “The Age of Stupid” directed by Franny Armstrong. That might equalize the way all of us see climate change. I learned that youth participation is also an important need and shared how getting us involved means preparing for the future. I witnessed how adults discussed about reducing climate change in general, economically and politically. I was amazed at how many aspects climate change is related to. Probably all suspects! And then I learnt how hard it was to make the simplest decision because there was so much to consider and there will also be sacrifices.

Besides all, I also learned about cultures from my new friends from Plan’s Youth Boards in the UK, Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium. I realize how important it is to maintain friendships between nationalities. It was fun to get to know them. They’re all so nice. And funny!

At the end of the journey, I just hope it was all worth it, and that my presence in Brussels can make a difference on climate change especially for youth. I’ve learned so much since the trip, and I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned here in Indonesia.

Let’s all participate, mitigate, adapt, and be aware of climate change and be friendly to our earth. Peace out!

Hi! Nice to catch up with you again. Well, since the last time I wrote I’ve had tons of not good but great times! The conference went pretty well, I made a few good statements. Although there are some things I find rather weird for me. Suddenly the climate change topic became a politics topic, although I know it does have a huge connection but somehow it seems they kinda went too far on that. A lot of things seem to get in the way of all the good decisions . But, I guess it’s all part of the process and there’s lots to consider, right? Hahahaha.

This is me in a panel discussion on Can Media & Society Change Climate Attitudes with Fanny Amstrong (director of the Age of Stupid) who said it is “Time to become not stupid!!!!”
Other people on the panel were:

· Clause Sorensen, Director General communication European Commission
· Floria von Heuntze, Deputy Director in chief of bild-Zeitung, Germany
· Alain Hubert, The Founder and chairman of the board of the International Polar Foundation and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
The moderates were Anya Sitaram, executive Producer of Rock hopper TV and Former Presenter at BBC World News and by Giles Merrit, Secretary General of Friend of Europe

the session is available in this link http://greenweek2009.alligence.com/daily_day02.html

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I’ve still got lots to learn and the EU Green Week Conference is a good place to start. But still, I think the politicians and decision makers should be more open minded and focused on the main and urgent issue: Climate Change. (before it’s too late!)
The information you can get at the Green Week is absolutely amazing. From lifestyle to technology, you can do it all in a greener way. Networking was good too. I talked to a lot of smart people who shared knowledge and I’m willing to share all the knowledge I got at The Green Week to the people in Indonesia, especially policy makers. All my friends should know about it too so we can be like a model of a healthy and eco-friendly youth community.
I’d say the best thing that happened to me through the whole trip is knowing 8 new people from different cultures (representatives from Plan International’s Youth Advisory Boards from the UK, Belgium, Netherland and Sweden). It’s just amazing how much we connected and so quick, which makes me believe in the theory, “Differences is what brings us together” yep, that’s definitely truly clear for me now. They are really great people with bright futures and wonderful personalities and I hope to see them again soon. I hope us getting together at green week can really help make a change for the whole world and the voice of youngsters everywhere. It’s actually weirdly sad when we all had to leave one by one, it really was, and we knew each other for like, what? 4 years? It’s 4 days!! Hahaha. No doubt, the friendship between us (Leon, Rose, Joke, Hannes, Matt, Donata, Gabby, Vendela and I) was one of the most honest friendships I’ve ever had.

We interviewed MEP Mr. Reinhard Buetikofer (from Germany's Green party) who said: “Young people should get loud to make everybody listen”

At the Youth Juice Bicycle held in front of the conference we interview key EU policy makers, including Ladislav Miko the Czech Minister for Environment who said “Children have their right to speak about their future”

Well, now I’m in Amsterdam. Going home to Jakarta in 2 more days, and I better make the most of it. Tomorrow Plan UK is gonna play my movie in their event in London and I’m supposed to do a video conference right after the show. I’ll tell you more after it happens. Oh oh oh, I haven’t told you about the dinner yet, but my fingers are getting tired. I’ll tell you on the next post. Talk to ya laterzzzz!

Date : June 22, 2009
Location : Brussels, Belgium, Europe
Headline : I’m in Brussels!!!!

After 15 hours of flight……. FINALLY! I’m in Brussels, how beautiful. Day one in Brussels was full of exploring. I had absolutely no idea how to get around, so I asked here and there for directions. We went to The Grand Place, kinda like Brussels town square and Mini Europe. The thing I love the most is the beautiful architecture and of course the weather. It’s cold! Not like in Jakarta. I wonder how climate change has affected Brussels, or not yet maybe. Day two in Brussels has been very interesting so far. I woke up a bit late because of the exhausting flight yesterday and had a tele-conference with Mrs. Anya Sitaram, the person who will be the moderator in the session that I’ll be speaking in. She seems very nice. We discussed about what I was gonna talk about and what kind of questions I’m getting from her. That conversation made me feel more confident and ready for tomorrow. After that, I did some more exploring. I already know how to go around by Metro! Good progress for me, the new tourist in Brussels. I also made a new friend at The Statue Park. At first I was just interested in the percussion instrument he was playing, but then we ended up talking even though he couldn’t speak English that well, but he tried. People here are so friendly. And now, I just came back from exploring Brussels on day two, in the hotel, tired. I better get some rest and get ready for the big day. Oh My God! It’s tomorrow! Gotta go get ready! Wait…. No! Rest first. Gotta go!

Date : June 17, 2009
Location : Home, Jakarta - Indonesia
Headline : I’m going to Brussels!!!!

Hi! Greetings from Indonesia. I’ve got some exciting news: I’m going to Brussels very soon to attend The EU Green Week Conference 2009. (Yay!) It’s really cool that I’m actually considered as a speaker on one of the sessions. I’ll be speaking about how the media and society can change climate attitudes. I think it’s really cool, since I happened to be very interested in social science and communication.

I love making movies. Me and my friends made a short movie about climate change last year called “Project Earth” which happened to win a national competition held by Gadis Teen Magazine. That’s when I started being more concern about climate change. After that, Plan helped me get more involved in climate change issues. And thanks to them, I’ll be attending the conference.

I’m also willing to share what climate change is like here in Indonesia and know what it’s like in other countries as well. I’m sure this is going to be a great learning experience. And I also hope I can share what I learned, to my friends all around the world fighting against climate change as well.

So, until Friday, I’ll be very busy with all sorts of preparations for the conference and for the trip because Saturday I’ll be on my way. Information for all my friends in Indonesia: I’ll be abroad from June 20th-July 2nd so don’t come over to my house and look for me. Hahahahaaaaa J

I picked up a new theory for myself:

Going abroad + new experience + take part in something big + make new friends + make a change = the best way to spend my school holiday!

Okay guys, wish me lots and lots of luck! Cheers for all and happy holiday!

Nurul, 17 year old from Jakarta shares her views on EU Green Week

Nurul, aged 17 from Indonesia is Plan Indonesia's ambassador for promoting and campaigning climate change. Nurul will be taking part at EU Green Week this week:

- on Tuesday (June 23rd) Nurul will be a key speaker in the session: Can Media and Society Change Global Attitudes
-on Wednesday (June 24th) Nurul will take part in Youth Cafe - a Q&A session with policy makers and expert speakers

Nurul shares her views on Climate Change:

"We have come to a time when differences must be pushed aside to win this fight
against Climate Change. There are about 6 billion other people living on the
same earth as we do facing the same fight. The differences are, some notice and
some don’t, some care and some do not care, some take actions and some stay
still. It is our responsibility as the people who notice, care and take actions
to make every single one of us notice, care and take actions all together. This
is an extremely important fight, because the lost of it may cause us and our
children’s future. But if we can build an efficient strategy and move together,
I’m sure we can win this fight and restore nature’s harmony to our earth.

The future is in our hands. Every child has a voice to be heard! We will
prove that we can help make a difference too! "