Growth of chemical industry vital<\/p>\n
The chemical industry is on the rise, showing the kind of
\ngrowth one normally sees in crops treated with agrochemicals.
\nWhile the rest of Indonesia's economy continues to dig its own
\nhole, the chemical industry is pointing the way toward a brighter
\nfuture of chemically enhanced happiness.<\/p>\n
Most people think of Grateful Dead concerts (I know Jerry
\nGarcia is no longer with us and the Dead have ended their long
\nstrange trip), and all-weekend raves when they think of
\nchemicals.<\/p>\n
However, chemicals play a much more important and useful role
\nin the world than simply altering the perceptions of teenagers
\nand aging hippies.<\/p>\n
The chemical industry actually is a socially responsible,
\nenvironmentally friendly component of so much which is necessary
\nfor people to live comfortably and well.<\/p>\n
For example, could the agricultural industry produce enough
\nfood to feed the world if it were not for chemicals? From
\nchemically improved seeds which provide for greater yield to the
\nherbicides which kill the weeds that threaten food crops,
\nchemicals play a vital role in agriculture.<\/p>\n
And with a continual growth in human population, agriculture
\nwill come more and more to depend on new innovations in the
\nchemical industry to provide the basis for the increases needed
\nin agricultural production to feed the growing population.<\/p>\n
Chemicals also are needed in petroleum refining and the pulp
\nand paper industry. Without chemicals for the petroleum industry,
\nwe would probably all be walking. And who wants to walk in this
\ncity with all that pollution rotting your lungs. Thankfully, in
\nlarge part due to the chemical industry, we are able to drive our
\ncars everywhere and avoid all that nasty pollution.<\/p>\n
Without the chemicals used in the pulp and paper industry, you
\nwould not be able to read about the wonders of the chemical
\nindustry in this newspaper. And I wouldn't have a job.<\/p>\n
And how about plastics processing, which would not be possible
\nwithout chemicals. I think that if we all took the time to think
\nabout it, we would agree that plastic touches our lives in
\ninnumerable ways every single day of our lives. Can you imagine
\nliving without Tupperware, because I sure can't. And this is just
\none small example of the significant presence plastic has in the
\nworld.<\/p>\n
I think, even though most of us don't realize it, that we all
\nowe a big thank you to chemicals for giving us the opportunities
\nand lives they have given us.<\/p>\n
A friend to the environment<\/p>\n
All those bleeding heart environmentalists who believe that if
\nit is not natural it is unnatural probably believe chemicals do
\nmore harm than good.<\/p>\n
The chemical industry is fully aware that if they destroy the
\nenvironment they destroy themselves. Sure, they could make a
\nquick killing, in terms of profit, by abusing the environment for
\ntheir own ends. But because the chemical industry is in it for
\nthe long term, they are concentrating on environmentally
\nsustainable growth.<\/p>\n
This is why the industry has come up with such products as
\nRoundup (R), a herbicide with low toxicity and which does not
\nremain in the soil. It would have been cheaper to manufacture a
\nherbicide which simply killed the weeds, soil and everything else
\nit touched, but then the industry's future would have been
\ndestroyed as well.<\/p>\n
The director general of Indonesia's chemical industry realizes
\nthe importance of protecting the environment, calling on all
\ncompanies in the industry to be environmentally oriented. With
\nthis kind of leadership, it is no wonder Indonesia's chemical
\nindustry is so sensitive to issues involving the environment.<\/p>\n
With all the wonders of chemicals, including our complete
\ndependence on them to maintain our quality of lives, it is not
\nsurprising the chemical industry in Indonesia is experiencing
\nsuch exciting growth.<\/p>\n
Naturally, this kind of growth would not be possible if
\nIndonesia did not offer the chemical industry the kind of
\nenvironment which makes companies eager to invest. And judging
\nfrom the number of multinational chemical companies which have
\nbeen drawn to Indonesia, the environment here is ripe for
\nchemicals.<\/p>\n
With vast natural resources, a huge labor pool and the growth
\nof Indonesia's industrial base in the 1990s, not to mention the
\npotential for even greater growth once the economic crisis ends,
\nIndonesia is a veritable Eden for chemical companies.<\/p>\n
Showing the strength of the industry, Indonesia's chemical
\nexports rose last year, and its dependence on imported raw
\nmaterials declined. All in all, the chemical industry here is
\npoised and ready to compete, and win, on the global chemical
\nmarket. The chemical industry really serves as a good role model
\nfor the country's other industries.<\/p>\n
Chemicals are vital to humans and yet it is extremely easy to
\noverlook their importance. Chemicals are not the final product of
\nthe numerous industries in which they play such a vital role.
\nThey simply are part of the process which makes the final product
\npossible. Chemicals can be seen as supporting actors, and who
\never remembers who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
\nUnderappreciated and overlooked, chemicals make so much in our
\nlives possible, and, in Indonesia, the chemical industry is
\nhelping lead the way to economic recovery.<\/p>\n
You may not know their names, but you still have to love those
\nchemicals. (David Eyerly)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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