Pressurized.

Living without any similarity is way better than living with an effort to eliminate the dissimilarity.

The pressure is there.

Pada Akhirnya, Semua Kembali Kepada Awalnya.

Yang katanya serius dan butuh kesabaran,
nyatanya dinamis dan menggairahkan,
Yang katanya kecil dan tidak dilihat orang,
nyatanya merupakan kebutuhan dasar.

Ini adalah tentang mengenal perilaku manusia,
dan juga tentang memahami komoditas dengan nilai informasi tinggi.

Jadi ini yang namanya jawaban Tuhan atas doa dan penantian panjang.
Tidak ada yang lebih baik daripada waktu dimana kamu lebih semangat untuk pergi daripada pulang.

Karena pekerjaan yang baik adalah hobi yang dibayar.

The feeling is priceless.

Value What You Do.

Recently, I saw many meme(s) about the salary/income comparison between two or more job/proffesion. One of them said:

Well, in daily life I also often hear the same way of thinking. Such as:

“Kalo jadi dokter lama balik modalnya woy. Bayar kuliahnya mahal, sekolahnya lama, sekarang tunjangan kesehatan udah mulai banyak banget pula.”

But life is not only about doing mathematics, I guess.

I saw many people see other people by what car they drive, how big is their house, how much salary they earn. Some also do not love what they do in their job, mostly because they feel the salary is not fair and else. And it makes me feel sad somehow. I am sad to see people are not happy with their life just because the unhappiness they made themselves, when it actually is already there. 

Not trying to be hypocrite, money is important. But from the past 6 months earning (not so much) money by myself, I think money is just a temporary rush. There are so many other highs. Work itself is not only about doing what your superior told you and the salary you deserved at the end of the month, but also about how your spirit in self study, self improvement, self development, and most importantly: what value you want to give to your surrounding.

And you will get nothing from what you are doing if you don’t give your all in doing it.

Since I was in elementary school, my dad always asked me the same question everytime I got my academic report at the end of school semester:

“What do you want to be in the future?”

And I always caught up with the same answer:

“I want to be rich.”

Then he always came up with the same respond:

“If you want to be rich, you don’t need to continue your school. Just learn to make a tasteful fried chicken, a really tasteful one and sell them like Harland Sanders did with KFC.”

Well somehow I just got the meaning of the conversation was all about him wanted me finding my own purpose and value of life.

Because life is not only about how much money you earn, but what value you want to bring for people around.

If you are an engineer, you just make the life of people easier.

If you are a doctor, you spread the hopes of live of many people.

If you are an actor, you spend your time entertaining people.

If you are an office boy, you contribute to make the environment clean and comfort.

If you are a fried chicken seller, you fulfill people’s appetite.

They are all different and have their own value.  

And you are what you choose to be.

I just came up with the idea of writing it down after a deep conversation with my dad days ago. He said he is still not happy with his life because of his failure of bringing the value he ever wanted to bring in his life.

And his dream was simply to be a driver. Who drives everyday bringing daily needs from city for people in countryside.

(Meanwhile his one and only car was sold to marry my mom, HAHAHA)

Utari.

New comer who has just finished her final presentation for probation period.

And still hoping her happiness is always that simple and alive with her.

This writing is written as a self reminder.

You can have your own reason and way to live.

Praise to God.

Kadang untuk mencapai tujuan utama kita akan melewati jalan memutar, disitulah kita menemukan banyak hal yang jauh di atas ekpektasi kita.



Thank You, Allah.
I love my life.

Thanks To Today's Internet.

Today’s internet shows us that:

1.  Knowledge have no limitation
2. World is full of conspiracy
3. People no longer have privacy

I was once a big fan of social media, especially its ability to fulfill my “stalking desire”. It was good to see other people’s (artists, to be specific) lifestyles. It is easy to find someone’s personal information. We would know their appearance simply by scrolling their photos on facebook; their way of talking or writing style can be judged from their twitter or blog; we also can easily know how they think about something by reading their blog or status; linkedin gives us their professional life information starting from their schools and also their experiences, skills, achievements, and position in their job; how their friends treat or thinking about them by seeing their tags (and read the caption) on instagram; and snapchat or today’s instagram fiture: snapgram show us their daily activity. 

I was happy that social media helped me a lot to accelerate the process of building relation(friend)ship because I could easily know people’s interest and had a good conversation with them.

But someday, I get bored.

(Ditambah perkembangan media social yang cepet banget sampe gak bisa ngikutin sumpah gila)

Then I decided to go back to the old days: to directly interact more.

I found that there are so many things we can learn from (direct) human interaction. 

You would appreciate people’s privacy more, not all people want to talk about themselves or tell you something you want to know, either they don’t trust you or they just don’t want to tell you. But you need to live with that, then you will learn how to comfort them till they want to tell you (atau ya masih gak mau ngasih tau jadi kita bisa belajar hargai privasi orang). 

You also will find that some people may not trust you but when the others do, you don’t want to waste their trust. And, once you get the information you will find that is worth the struggle and you are going to appreciate that (and yourself) more. 

The most beautiful thing that you will get with doing more direct human interaction is you can see another (good) side of people. People just show you things they want to show in their social media. But somehow you are not always what you write. It is easy to judge people from their social media but apparently people have more good sides in them to look up to. 

Dan buat saya yakin bahwa:

“Dunia ini adalah sekolah, dan semua makhluk hidup di dalamnya adalah guru.” -RAZ

Yang mengajarkan saya banyak bentuk kebaikan, menjadikan saya manusia yang lebih baik, dan memberikan saya kepercayaan penuh bahwa setiap orang punya sisi baik yang bisa dicontoh dan sisi buruk yang tidak perlu dikomentari.

Thank you, today’s internet. You taught me that there is always a good in going back.

The feeling is priceless.

Utari.

Fresh gradute who is still feeling grateful for her 4 years of incredible college life.

2k17.

Money is just a temporary rush.

There really are lots of other highs.

Thank you, 2k16 for the braver me.
I am ready for you, 2k17.

Justin Bieber - Children

What about the children?
Look at all the children we can change
What about a vision?
Be a visionary for a change
We're the generation
Who's gonna be the one to fight for it?
We're the inspiration
Do you believe enough to die for it? (Die for it? Die for it?)

Who's got the heart? Who's got it?
Whose heart is the biggest?
Wear it on your sleeve
That we can make a difference, oh yeah
Who's got the heart? Who's got it?
Whose heart is the biggest? (Yeah)
Wear it on your sleeve
That we can make a difference
Oh yeah

Oh yeah
Who's got the heart?
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah

What about the children?
Look at all the children we can change
What about a vision?
Be a visionary for a change
We're the generation, oh woah
Who's gonna be the one to fight for it? woah
We're the inspiration
Do you believe enough to die for it? To die for it?

Who's got the heart? Who's got it?
Whose heart is the biggest?
Wear it on your sleeve
That we can make a difference oh yeah
Who's got the heart? Who's got it?
Whose heart is the biggest?
Wear it on your sleeve
That we can make a difference
Oh yeah
(Oh woah, yeah, oh woah)
That we can make a difference
Oh yeah

Who's got the heart?
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah

Yang Aku Tahu, Kamu Ada.

Ketika suatu terasa tidak benar, biasakanlah mencari kesalahan dari dalam dirimu mulai dari kesempatan pertama.
Bahkan ketika kamu merasa tidak terlibat sekalipun,
libatkanlah dirimu sampai kamu menemukan kesalahanmu.

Karena hidup ini adalah puzzle yang membentuk satu gambar, dimana manusia adalah pecahan-pecahannya.
Yang tidak akan pernah utuh ketika manusia hanya terbiasa mencari apa dan siapa yang salah, padahal pecahan terakhir ada padanya.

Jadilah yang Pertama, Tapi Tidak Ada Kata Terlambat untuk Menjadi yang Terakhir.

-Ayah

Dari yang Katanya Cerdas dan Bijaksana.

Lewat Tuhanku, aku ingin menyampaikan ini.

Aku berterima kasih kepadamu, generasi sebelumku. 
Karena kesalahan dan kebodohanmu generasiku bisa belajar untuk menjadi lebih baik.
Dan aku bersyukur untukmu, generasi setelahku.
Karena bahkan kesalahan dan kebodohan generasiku dapat bermanfaat bagimu.

Kata siapa ini hanya imajinasi?

Indonesia as Global Maritime Fulcrum

HISTORY OF INDONESIA

“Indonesia isn’t a group of islands surrounded by sea. It is a sea sprinkled by islands.” A. B. Lapian

History of Indonesia is adorned by the presence of maritime kingdoms. The kingdoms had territories consisted of lands separated by seas and relied on marine products for their existence. The kingdoms used trade and naval power to expand their territories. In the era of Srivijaya, Majapahit, and other kingdoms such as Gowa-Tallo and Ternate-Tidore, the Indonesians were once glorious and prosperous, expanding their influence to India and China. The politics, economics, trade, and naval transportation, security, and defense was conducted powerfully and made Indonesians be respected by world community at that time.

It isn’t a surprising thing. This glory can be achieved because the predecessors was able to utilize the nation’s potential. They have ideals and understanding of the Nusantara’s (archipelago) strategic positon and brought the country to be great, independent, and respected.

OVERVIEW OF INDONESIA'S MARINE AND FISHERY

As the world’s largest archipelagic state, Indonesia has a territorial area of 5.8 km², around 17000 islands, and 95000 km coastline length, the second longest after Canada. With coastal and sea areas so large, it contains abundant diversity of marine resources. It has broad and diverse marine ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds. In fact, Indonesia is known as the country with the largest marine biodiversity.

1. Wild Fishery

Indonesia has a maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of 6.4 million tons per year (7.5 % of global production) and has been utilized 4.8 million tons per year (BPS, 2009), around 70% of MSY.

This large amount of production put Indonesia in the third place of the world’s largest wild fishery after China and Peru (FAO, 2010).

However, despite the large amount of production, wild fishery hasn’t contributed to increase in international reserves and national GDP significantly. Export value of wild fishery in 2010 was 2.6 billion USD, still below Thailand which reached 6.5 billion USD even though Thai’s total production is ranked 12^th in the world. Even though all the potential of wild fishery is almost fully utilized and overfishing often happens, many of Indonesia’s fishermen live below poverty line. Indonesia is still losing the competition in increasing the value added in fishery products and still having obstruction in fulfilling the standardization of fishery products such as metal content, antibiotics, and effective and environmentally friendly management criteria. Furthermore, a number of fish caught in Indonesia’s water is transshipped and not unloaded at ports. In addition, cases of illegal fishing also impair the national income.

2. Aquaculture

Aquaculture consists of marine culture, brackish water pond, fresh water pond, floating fish cages, and paddy field. During 2003 – 2013, aquaculture production increased significantly (average increase of 27.23%). Aquaculture reduces overfishing in some areas such as Strait of Malacca, northern Java, and southern Celebes. The quality of aquaculture products will be easier to control and competes better with foreign products. The potency of aquaculture and its usage is shown in Table 1.

 

From Table 1, it can be seen that 1.4% of total aquaculture area potency is used. Indonesia has a great opportunity to develop aquaculture sector. Development of this sector requires not only utilization of provided area, but also productivity and efficiency increase by implementing integrally the best aquaculture practices and supply chain management; pollution control to meet environmental standards; spatial plan for an integral zone of cultivation, industry, and settlement; and economic policy that can support this sector.

Aquaculture production by commodity is shown on Table 2.

3. Fish Processing Industry

Fish processing industry consists of canning, salting or drying, smoking, heating, and preserving. Compared to neighboring countries such as Thailand and Philippines, Indonesia’s fish processing sector is still outclassed. Abroad, this sector grows because of technological supremacy and supplies adequacy (some of the supplies come from Indonesia both legally and illegally). Support of other sector such as taxation is also performed integrally.

However, today Indonesia is vigorously upholding law enforcement against illegal fishing. With the decreasing number of illegal fishing cases and the existence of moratorium on foreign ship permit policy (prohibition of unbeneficial transshipment), Indonesia is no longer threatened by fish scarcity in local market and susceptibility of food security. In fact, the strength of fishing industry begins to shift to Indonesia. Now many foreign countries are aspiring to invest in fishery sector.

4. Marine Biotechnology Industry

Marine biotechnology consists of: marine resources processing industry (medicine, nutraceutical, cosmetics, food); bioprocess industry (bioremediation, biofiltration, enzyme manufactures); and organism cultivation technology. The author hasn’t been able to find statistical data of biotechnology industry contribution to the national economy. According to the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources IPB, in 1997, the value of marine biotechnology industry potential could reach 50 billion USD per year.

Until now, marine biotechnology hasn’t become a reliable source of international reserves. The slow development of marine biotechnology industry is caused by several factors: limited scientific information as a guide for marine resources management; scarce knowledge about the value and potential of marine resources; complex marine ecosystem which require in-depth research; scarce information exchange between researchers; limited adequate laboratory facilities for research and development; and tenuous relationship between research institutions and entrepreneurs in developing biotechnology for industrial application.

Some of the research applied on an industrial scale, such as industrial fermentation, generally encounter problems: relatively high investment, inconsistent quality, and economies of scale which hasn’t reached Break Even Point (BEP).

Here’s a video about the ups and downs of building a company of biotechnology industry.

http://video.mit.edu/watch/alan-s-michaels-lecture-starting-and-building-biotech-companies-from-sepracor-to-selecta-5443/

5. Mining and Energy

Indonesia is geologically located at the the junction of tectonic plates with an abundant source of oil, gas, and minerals. Coastal and sea areas produce 70% of total oil and gas. From 60 basins potentially contain oil and gas, 40 basins are offshore, 14 are on the coast, and only 6 basins on the mainland. In addition, seas also contain other energy such as wave energy. This energy is generated from wave movement towards land and vice versa, and then used to spin the turbine generator. This type of energy has been developed in Portugal, known as “Aqucadora Wave Farm”. It can generate 2.25 MW electric power. Other types of new energy are also fit for further exploration such as gas hydrates  and biogenic gas found off the western Sumatra, southern West Java, and northern Makassar Strait (Richardson, 2008). Some of Indonesia’s mining and mineral products are gold, silver, manganese, lithium, phosphorus, and magnesium chloride. The great potential of marine minerals isn’t managed optimally because of technological, financial, and human resources inferiority to conduct mineral exploitation.

6. Nautical Tourism

Indonesia’s diverse flora and fauna as well as its beautiful seas have received world’s recognition. Unfortunately, this potential isn’t followed by development of attractions, particularly in small islands. These works need to be done: development of nautical tourism facilities and infrastructure (lodging, transportation, etc.), provision of tourism information system and, and proper promotion.

7. Mangrove Forests

Mangroves are seed plants inhabiting intertidal area (conflux of land and sea). Mangrove ecosystem has significant functions in ecological, environmental, and social-economic aspects. It can maintain water quality; reduce the impact of storms, waves, and floods; and serve as timber production source (English et al, 1997). Mangrove forests can only grow and thrive in tropical areas such as Indonesia.

Indonesia has the world’s most extensive mangrove forest, with approximately 3.06 million ha or 19% of global mangrove forest (FAO, 2007). However, Indonesia also sustain extensive damages on its mangrove forests. It is caused by conversion of mangrove areas, excessive logging, and pollution such as oil spills. Choosing between preserving mangroves or converting it, is a complicated matter. Sustainable development would be the best option.

8. Sea Transportation

For the world’s largest archipelagic state, adequate sea transportation facilities are necessary. Indonesia’s waters have become an important ship lines and trade routes since the 7^th century, the times of Srivijaya and Majapahit. However, Indonesia’s sea transportation sector is outclassed, particularly in construction technology, moving facilities, and deepwater port availability. Indonesia doesn’t have transshipment ports accommodating large transoceanic vessel. It causes Indonesia to lose billions of international reserves potential.

The slow development of sea transportation sector is caused by: domination of foreign ships, limited amount of domestic ships, and high risks in shipping safety.

9. Resources in Small Islands

10. Maritime Services and Industry

Maritime services and industry consist of shipbuilding industry and goods/logistic distribution. In this sector, Indonesia’s ships and shipyards condition are outclassed. Along with the moratorium on foreign ships, this sector deserves to be developed.

11. Unconventional Resources

INDONESIA GDP

Fishery subsector is placed under agriculture sector in the national field of business. Fishery subsector contribute 3.2% to the national GDP (CBS, 2014). The calculation of this value is measured from the contribution of the upstream industry. Thus, the macro indicator had been created to determine the contribution of the overall maritime and fisheries economic activity, including the scope of primary products, secondary products (industry), and tertiary products (services), namely GDP Satellite Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (Satelit KP). Satellite GDP contributes 4,32% from the national GDP (CBS, 2012).

The contribution of the Satelit KP to nation GDP is shown on Table 3. 

---

INDUSTRIALIZATION OF MARINE PRODUCTS

From the previous section, it can be concluded that Indonesia’s problems are: inferior technology and human resources, unsupportive economic policy, unintegrated development of upstream and downstream, internationally substandard products, noncompetitive transportation facilities, as well as noninnovative and unsustainable development.

To build the mentality of “maritime nation”, several steps can be taken: strengthening laboratory and human resources capacity; development of world class ports and shipyard industry; development of coastal areas by establishing access of electricity, clean water, and energy; supportive information technology; and the last is industrialization of marine products. Several issues in the industry are as follows:

1. ·Limited raw materials and import dependence
2.  Unintegrated technology from the upstream to the processing
3.  No partnership between researchers and entrepreneurs in developing biotechnology for industrial application
4. Inept human resources

Marine products can be processed into derivative products as shown in Figure 1

Figure 1. Diagram of Marine Processing Industry (Ministry of Industry, 2010)

Marine products can be processed into various derivatives such as food, pharmacy, textile, livestock, and chemicals. By-products and wastes such as skins and bones are also useful. Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia are actively conducting research on marine processing by-products and wastes. It is easy to find books or journals regarding utilization of marine processing by-products and wastes.

The Ministry of Industry has set the development of four maritime industries in 2015-2019: (1) seaweed industry, (2) fish processing industry, (3) shipbuilding industry, (4) salt industry. An educated person such as a chemical engineering degree can participate in the industrialization of marine products by: determining the quality of materials; performing good and industrially integrated research management; arranging production effectivity and efficiency; and performing sustainable processing.

SEAWEED (AS EXAMPLE)

Seaweed is produced from two sources: direct harvest and cultivation. The world’s total seaweed production is 23.8 million tons, around 96% come from cultivation (FAO, 2012). Indonesia is the world’s second largest seaweed producer after China, producing 6.5 million tons or 27% of global production. In 2014, the  world’s total seaweeds production is 28,5 million tons (FAO, 2014) and Indonesia’s total seaweeds production reached 10,2 million tons (KKP, 2014). Hence, that will enable Indonesia to become the largest seaweed producer in the world.

Based on its derivatives, seaweed product can be classified into three groups: agar (Gracilaria sp., Gelidium sp.), carrageenan (Eucheuma sp., Euchuema cottoni), and alginate (Sargassum sp., Turbinaria sp.). These products are intermediate goods for food, cosmetics, etc. The most widely cultivated is Eucheuma cottonii, which has the largest national and international demand. The value chain of seaweed processing industry is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Value Chain of Seaweed Processing Industry (Ministry of Industry, 2014)

Around 60% of national seaweed production is exported in the form of dried seaweed or without further processing. China and Philippine are more superior in seaweed processing. It is ironic, because they are importing seaweed from Indonesia. The inferior seaweed processing is caused by several factors: uncertainty in stock’s amount, quality, and fulfillment time; small scale processing technology; and expensive logistics costs.

Indonesia requires the development of integrated and sustainable upstream and downstream seaweed industry. In 2015, export value of processed seaweed was 45.2 million USD.

REVIVING NUSANTARA'S MARITIME GLORY

There are many industrialization opportunities for other commodities, particularly for high economic values one, such as shrimp, crab, tuna, skipjack, or mackerel. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fishery has set a target for 2019, that the Fishery GDP contributes 12% to National GDP. It is possible to achieve if relevant stakeholders cooperate in exploiting existing opportunities.

It is time to be aware of our strategic advantages. China’s ambition to seize the territory of South and East China Sea is not only driven by historical claims or their strategy to create a political diversion. But starting since 1947, it had became their ambition to rule the sea and they had drawn disputes with other nation such as Japan.

How about Indonesia? Can we be more expressive in upholding what we have?

Jalesveva jayamahe, di lautan kita berjaya.

Utari

Student of Chemical Engineering

Institut Teknologi Bandung.

SPECIAL THANKS

1. Arif Hadiyan
2. Ryan Fitrian Sofwan Fauzan

REFERENCES

Anonim. 2015. Sejarah Maritim Indonesia: Kajian Singkat. Diakses dari website http://maritimtours.com/sejarah-maritim-indonesia-kajian-singkat.html pada tanggal 5 Agustus 2016 pukul 13.46.

Anonim. 2015. Mengenang Kejayaan Majapahit sebagai Kerajaan Negara Maritim yang Kuat. Diakses dari website http://ppiuk.org/mengenang-kejayaan-majapahit-sebagai-kerajaan-negara-maritim-yang-kuat/ pada tanggal 4 Agustus 2016 pukul 10.21.

Anonim. 2009. Gas Hydrate: What It Is?. Diakses dari website http://web.archive.org/web/20120614141539/http:/woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/hydrates/what.html pada tanggal 10 Agustus 2016 pukul 19.34

Badan Pusat Statistik. 2011. Statistik Sumber Daya Laut dan Pesisir, Jakarta: Badan Pusat Statistik Indonesia.

Direktorat Jenderal Industri Agro dan Kimia. 2009. Roadmap Pengembangan Industri Pengolahan Hasil Laut, Jakarta: Departemen Perindustrian.

Dahuri, Rokhmin. “Teologi Negara Maritim”, Kompasiana. 2015.

Kementrian Perindustrian. 2016. Kemenperin Dorong Pembangunan Industri Berbasis Maritim. Diakses dari website http://www.kemenperin.go.id/artikel/10860/Kemenperin-Dorong-Pembangunan-Industri-Berbasis-Maritim pada tanggal 2 Agustus 2016 pukul 20.09.

Kementrian Perindustrian. 2016. Hilirisasi Rumput Laut Pacu Produksi dan Ekspor. Diakses dari website http://www.kemenperin.go.id/artikel/15525/Hilirisasi-Rumput-Laut-Pacu-Produksi-dan-Ekspor pada tanggal 3 Agustus 2016 pukul 01.43.

Nobleza, J. S. Value Chain Analysis for Seaweeds in Bohol, Cebu, and Guimaras. Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project.

Neish, I.C. 2007. Assesment of The Seaweed  Value Chain in Indonesia. US Agency For International Development.

Pusat Data, Statistik, dan Informasi, Kementrian Kelautan dan Perikanan. 2014. Analisis Data Pokok Kelautan dan Perikanan 2014, Jakarta: Kementrian Kelautan dan Perikanan

Puslitbang Geologi Kelautan. Gas Biogenik Sumber Energi Alternatif. Diakses dari website http://esdm.go.id/berita/42-geologi/3450-gas-biogenik-sumber-energi-alternatif-.html?tmpl=component&print=1&page= pada tanggal 10 Agustus 2016 pukul 19.59.

Sekretariat Dewan Kelautan Indonesia. 2009. Kebijakan Pembangunan Kelautan Didasarkan pada Analisis Input Output Kelautan, Jakarta: Departemen Kelautan dan Perikanan.

Schoell, M. 1988. Multiple Origins of Methane in The Earth. Chem. Geol. 71.