During these challenging times, the world needs a unifying purpose. Though we might think the grand issues -- the environment, human rights, universal living wage, military reduction, and government accountability — would be that unifier. But such issues actually divide us – everyone has their own definition of what the answer is to these challenges.

On this important day, we should take solace in the fact that despite the immense challenges of protecting elephants globally from extinction, there is hope that the bulwark is growing stronger as evidenced by what is happening in Myanmar – a country at the precipice of a frontier of uncertainties.

That is where the people come into the equation. They must be on the front lines of protecting those that can’t protect themselves. They are the ones having to remind our lawmakers what cruelty is. They are the ones who give selflessly of their time, their pocket books and their emotions.