Many people believe in some kind of “god,” which they worship in their own way, which they make the priority of their actions, pursuing their “god.” It can be money, power, wealth, property, prestige, drugs, alcohol, pleasure, possession, domination, violence, abuse, control. These are their “gods.”
 

Human trafficking is the most widespread crime against persons and is the third biggest earning business in the world after drug trafficking and arms smuggling. The earnings are estimated to be US$32 billion ($251 billion) a year, according to a United Nations (UN) report.
 

Edita T. Burgos


Even in the most excruciating and treacherous situations, people do selflessly give of themselves. Isn’t this the most concrete proof that God is within us?
 
We will never be short of living heroes from whom we can draw inspiration especially from this kind of vocation to which we have dedicated our lives, fighting for a world without enforced disappearances.
 

Luke Hunt
 
Five great refugee floods have blighted Southeast Asia over the last half-century—sparked by conflicts in Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, East Timor (also known as Timor Leste) and Myanmar—in tragedies with far-reaching consequences that should have been averted.
 

The defenders of the rights of the people, those who stand for justice, tolerance, equality, human dignity and freedom of speech are the conscience of a nation. In the Philippines, more social activists are being killed than ever before. Pastor Lovelito Quiñones of the King’s Glory Ministry, was shot and killed by police near his home in Mansalay Town, Mindoro Occidental, on 3 December 2017.
 

Let us look at ourselves as human beings with dignity, values and inalienable human rights. We are persons not like the animals that see enemies and rivals all around them in the wild, and who fight and kill for food and survival. Most humans have a higher standard to live by and coexist in peace on this planet—but not all.