Angelina Jolie bats for inclusion and internationalism

Angelina Jolie, the popular Hollywood actress also happens to be an active advocate for human rights and the special envoy for UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Speaking in Switzerland on Thursday, 16^th March she called upon people to “keep the flame of internationalism alive”, and declared, “I am a proud American and I am an internationalist. I believe anyone committed to human rights is”.

“It means seeing the world with a sense of fairness and humility and recognising our own humanity in the struggles of others. It stems from a love of one’s country, but not at the expense of others. From patriotism but not from narrow nationalism. And that a strong nation, like a strong person, helps others to rise up and be independent.”

“A rising tide in nationalism masquerading as patriotism”

“We are grappling with a level of conflict and insecurity that seems to exceed our capability, with more refugees than ever before, with new wars erupting on top of existing conflict. We are seeing a rising tide in nationalism masquerading as patriotism and the reemergence of policies encouraging fear and hatred of others”, she added.

She was speaking at the Annual Sergio Viera de Mello Memorial lecture at the UN Assembly Hall in Geneva, Switzerland.