As a supporter of the Asia for Animals coalition, Lady Freethinker (LFT) has officially signed on to a letter urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to recommend that local governments shut down all wildlife markets across the globe.
The letter points out that the demand for wildlife and wildlife products is inextricably linked to the emergence of new zoonotic diseases, including the current coronavirus pandemic that has seen almost 2 million confirmed cases and over 100,000 deaths worldwide. Scientists suspect various diseases — SARS, bird flu, swine flu, rabies, West Nile virus, and others — started via animal-to-human transmission.
While a global ban on live wildlife markets would constitute an important step forward in drastically reducing the risk of future zoonotic diseases, other measures are necessary. LFT urges WHO leaders to call on local governments to educate people on the dangers of using wildlife products in traditional medicine and to raise awareness about the economic, social, and public health risks associated with wildlife trading.
In addition, the letter recognizes the importance of wildlife in some countries’ daily diets and suggests implementing initiatives to help people who subsist on meat from wild animals to acquire nutrition from other protein-rich sources.
While the collective call to action commends the WHO’s handling of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, it emphasizes the importance of preventative measures for avoiding future deadly outbreaks. Not only is coronavirus proving costly in human lives, the global economy could suffer to the tune of almost $3 trillion, as a worldwide recession looms.
Taking action to prevent the future outbreak of zoonotic diseases could save millions of lives and cost significantly less than combating the illness once it has infected the human population. LFT commends the members of the Animals for Asia coalition and all other organizations who are working tirelessly to end the wildlife trade as well as cruel and dangerous live animal markets.
If you haven’t yet, sign LFT’s petition urging the World Health Organization to push local governments to end wildlife markets worldwide — and thank you to the thousands that have already done so.
Its very difficult to be peaceful and family friendly when addressing the actions of people who have no respect for animals
Stop. The. Barbaric. Savagery
Close the wildlife markets…PLEASE!!!!
animals deserve a good life!
Cruelty of any living creature should NEVER go unpunished!
Why is this going on??
So the animals look on until one by one the are picked off for slaughter!!!!
Are we truly still this barbaric??
EVIL .JUST STOP THEM !
Stop the cruelty now!!
EVIL .JUST STOP THEM !
please stop this is just crazy
Stop abusing animals elsewhere in that world
We are in 2020 Stop
I read that WHO does not support the closing of these hellholes for cultural reasons. I respect culture and tradition but not when they involve the torture and killing of animals who have no recourse and are exploited for the greed and false beliefs of people. I think I signed already but will check.
The people who do these diabolical things to innocent animals are soul less, heartless & satanists. They deserve punishment to the fullest extent the law gives.
Wet markets should never have been allowed. Close them at once.
All of them should be stopped, it’s just of no real worth and certainly not kind.
Kindness is one of the greatest qualities we have, why not show it?
Stop This at once
Wet markets must be closed and never open again. They only torture defenseless dogs, cats and other animals… plus they breed germs and and promote virus issues.
THIS MUST STOP!
moche
Shut down these cesspool markets. They are breeding grounds for diseases.
Please stop the vile cruel killing of all wildlife as well as domesticated animals!
Please, please do whatever you can to stop cruel humans from harming our wildlife.
They do not have the right to do that
Nobody has the right to torture animals for profit. Nobody has the right to deplete a specie for profit. Nobody has the right to sell filthy food to people for profit. Nobody has the right to bring a dangerous virus to the world for profit.
Greed, apathy, cultural tradition, custom & cruelty prevails at the expense of planetary health and animal atrocities!
All governments should shut down all wildlife markets across the globe as recommended for humaine reasons.
These open meat markets are an embarrassment to those countries that allow it or do not enforce their laws against the practices. Shit them down.
I am not so concerned about the damage the practise of caging living wild creatures in a market does to humans. I am concerned about the cruelty of it to the animals.
The WHO needs to stand up and not be bullied by either China or the USA.
Wet Meat Markets and Wild Life Markets need to be shut down.
Several virus outbreaks have occurred from these markets! Stop turning a blind eye WHO.
how long will it take to wake people up to make the right choice
Please close ALL these horrifically cruel markets in China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and The Philippines. Inhumane and cruel beyond words.
They Brag that their (China) Civilization is 10,000 years old. GUESS WHAT? They are uncivilized killers and despicable EATERS of dead and alive animals. UNCIVILIZED PIGS.
They eat bacteria, virus infected Bats, Rats and exotic animals. The Western world MUST SHUT THESE DESPICABLE MARKETS DOWN FOREVER. If China, Southeast Asia and Africa REFUSE? Bankrupt these filthy dirtbags into Oblivion.
SHUT DOWN YOUR FILTHY WET MARKETS AND STOP INFECTING YOUR OWN PEOPLE AND THE REST OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD.
Please don’t call them uncivilized pigs, it’s an insult to the intelligent pigs out there.