DAY 69: Women Fishers, Our Protein Heroines! On Erasing Discrimination and Strengthening Local Economy
By Maria Christina S. Guerrero with Susan Herawati, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14 October 2017
Women are heroes. They give birth, raise children, take care of their husbands, work around the house cook, clean, and make products from the oceans and coasts. But policies that support their wellbeing, their economic and human rights are far from equal to that of men. Women’s access to land and capital are still difficult. Susan speaks to the crowd that marginalization of women, especially women fishers should come to an end. Recognize women fishers as protein heroes, everyday heroes. The aim of this Day of Learning is to help tell the story to those that can help make a social, cultural and economic change for women.
When we have our fill of seafood, we rarely think of the fishers behind our food. Even if we do think of these fishers, we often think of fisher folk as being all male. We rarely think of women being a large part of how our seafood makes it to our table.
Susan Herawati, Secretary General of KIARA, the People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice, shared the results of their research that women are involved with over 50% of fisheries activities including pre and post harvest activities. With the realization of this great role in the fisheries industry, fisherwomen began to organize themselves in 2010. They formed the network PPNI, the women’s fisheries sisterhood of Indonesia. They now have 16 groups in the network from North Sumatra to Timor island. Products of PPNI include shrimp paste, fried mini fish dumplings, fish chips, seaweed based products, mangrove syrup and also mangrove based soap, and medicine for teeth among other products.
PPNI believes that with increased income, they would also have increased bargaining power. Empowerment is important in the face of discrimination, domestic violence and other challenges faced by fisherwomen.
Promises
1. Dimas, Media Okezone-MNC group.
Dimas was impressed with the sharing of PPNI relayed by Susan Herawati, Secretary General of KIARA, The Peoples Coalition for Fisheries Justice. He joined a mangrove coastal clean up not too long ago and was thinking that the community could be encouraged to make food from mangrove products. This would help raise the incomes of local people. After Susan’s sharing, he was convinced that this would be possible and he was interested to find out more to see if it was possible to apply in the areas he visited.
He asked what products can be made from mangroves, how many individuals are involved in PPNI and where their products are distributed and by whom. Susan shared that there are a few PPNI partners making food and medicine from mangrove products. Products are marketed through networks at the national level and through local tourism efforts. But these are still not up to optimal levels. There are also challenges. Climate change resulting in large waves affects the availability of mangrove products. The expansion of shrimp farms and oil palm plantations are also causing a reduction in mangrove areas. The solution is thus a complex one.
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About 100 Days of Learning
Age of Wonderland 2017 presents 100 DAYS OF LEARNING, a global learning event to exchange valuable life experiences with peers. Doers and thinkers from around the world — innovators, scientists, engineers, artists, designers, social entrepreneurs — are invited to share their personal stories, ideas, and practice, not to be found in textbooks. Aim is to rediscover knowledge, challenge beliefs, and exchange life lessons with others. To make the world a better place, we need to embrace change on an individual level, and inspire others to do the same.
#onehundreddaysoflearning #ageofwonderland #womenfishers #proteinheroines
