Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Water and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi, delivered a keynote address at the closing ceremony of PIONIR Gadjah Mada on Saturday (Aug. 16) at the Pancasila Field, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).
In her speech, she raised humanitarian and environmental issues to inspire the new students, also known as Gadjah Mada Muda (Gamada).
Marsudi began her oration by recalling her childhood in an ordinary family. When she was admitted to UGM, she felt proud to have the opportunity to begin her journey of contributing to the nation and humanity. It was then that her inspiration grew: that pursuing one’s dreams is not the sole purpose in life, but rather helping others is the true calling.
“You must always put humanity above your principles. Kindness must be instilled in every journey. I want you to be proud to be UGM students,” said Marsudi.
She stated that the world today is not in a good state. Various national and international situations reflect a crisis in humanity. In some parts of the world, lives are sacrificed for power, women’s rights remain unfulfilled, and equality and justice are still denied.
“This should be a concern for all learners who have been given the special privilege of becoming agents of change,” she said.
In addition to humanitarian issues, Marsudi also expressed her concern about the environmental challenges facing the world. Global warming and climate change have brought major disruptions to human life, from crop failures and disasters to global competition triggered by these crises.
Marsudi specifically pointed to water availability as a critical issue. One in four people worldwide lacks access to safe drinking water, while water and food scarcity have already affected nearly 300 million people.
“On the one hand, we see extraordinary technological advances. Artificial intelligence and automation could add up to 13 trillion USD to the global economy, yet some people face the risk of losing their jobs,” Marsudi explained.
She added that between 400 and 800 million jobs could be replaced by automation by 2030. Many will need to shift professions by acquiring technology-oriented skills. This, she noted, represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
Nevertheless, Marsudi reminded the students that in every difficult situation lies opportunity. In such times, Gamada are expected to stand by others. Solidarity and empathy will shape a resilient society, and a resilient society will strengthen the nation.
Through cooperation and collaboration, humanity can emerge as the solution to the challenges of today. In the future, Gamada are expected to become agents of change, contributing to the progress of civilization.
Concluding her oration, Marsudi urged the students never to give up.
“In times like these, we cannot surrender. We must become stronger. We must be resilient and emerge as winners,” she affirmed.
Author: Tasya M
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto A