Southeast Asia is home to an immeasurable number of refugees who are displaced, lost and broken. Their vulnerability is often exploited by human traffickers. The epidemic often referred to as "modern slavery," has seen millions of men, women, and children unwillingly forced into unfair labor, and sexual and commercial exploitation.

Southeast Asian countries contain some of the richest biodiversity in the world. In Southeast Asia, five countries have national animals of their own. Each species is unique and beautiful in its own way. Yet, we read about the continued extinction of these species.

The reason? It is the rampant poaching and trafficking of endangered animals that plague the region. Wildlife trafficking is a $26 billion illegal industry. With the continuous demand for Tiger parts for medicine, baby Orangutans as pets and Turtle shells as ornaments, the demand will continue to grow this lucrative black market business.

The adverse effects of irresponsible human consumption habits and rapid economic and population growth are detrimental to our planet. The consequences of environmental problems such as urbanization, deforestation, overfishing, global warming and air, land and ocean pollution have brought our planet toward the brink of irreparable damage. These cross-border environmental issues remain omnipresent in Southeast Asia. There must be a continued focus on educating the population to shift toward a sustainable lifestyle to ensure the survival of the natural ecosystems that surround us.