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Help Us Ban Live Animal Markets

To the Attention of UN Secretary-General António Guterres

In markets across the world, exotic and traditionally farmed animals are traded and brutally slaughtered for customers who desire to eat freshly killed meat.

Animals at these markets are mixed together in cramped cages and unsanitary enclosures, creating the perfect breeding ground for zoonotic diseases. It is in these unregulated markets where diseases like SARS originated, and where scientists believe COVID-19 began.

Because of the public health crisis these markets can cause, as well as the intense suffering inflicted on animals, these live animal markets need to be banned.

We, the undersigned, call upon Your Excellencies to demand that these live animal markets be immediately banned wherever they are operated, saving animals from a hell on earth and protecting the public from threats to their health and safety.

PETITIONING:

  • H.E. UN Secretary-General António Guterres
  • H.E. UN Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed
  • H.E. UN General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
  • H.E. UN Economic and Social Council President Mona Juul
  • H.E. UN Security Council President Zhang Jun

Animal Equality Offices

  • H.E. Mrs. Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN
  • H.E. Ms. Karen Elizabeth Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN
  • H.E. Mr. Agustín Santos Maraver, Permanent Representative of Spain to the UN
  • H.E. Mr. Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN
  • H.E. Mr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the UN
  • H.E. Mrs. Maria Angela Zappia, Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN
  • H.E. Mr. Ronaldo Costa Filho, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN
  • H.E. Mr. Syed Akbaruddin, Permanent Representative of India to the UN

Thank you for standing up for animals!

Live animal markets are truly hell on Earth and present an immediate threat to our health and safety. For the sake of everyone, it’s time they are shut down once and for all.

Please, help spread the word. Share this video and petition with your friends and family.

Thank you, {firstname}!

Your actions are changing the world for animals everywhere. Thank you again for your support and we’ll keep you informed on any progress we make.

For the animals,
Sharon Núñez
President
Animal Equality

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JOIN US IN ASKING THE UNITED NATIONS TO BAN LIVE ANIMAL MARKETS

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An Immediate Threat to Public Health

Animal Equality has launched a worldwide campaign and petition calling for the immediate closure of live animal markets across the globe.

In exclusive footage shot by Animal Equality at live animal markets in China, Vietnam and India, animals such as deer, raccoons, crocodiles, dogs, goats and chickens are shown living in filthy conditions, suffering from dehydration, starvation and disease.

These markets are also a threat to public health and have been the source of documented disease outbreaks in the past, including SARS.

Researchers also believe COVID-19 most likely originated from a live animal market in Wuhan, China, notorious for trading in wild animals.

It is because of the public health crisis live animal markets cause, as well as the intense suffering inflicted on farmed animals, that Animal Equality is urging the United Nations to ban all live animal markets. Not only do these markets pose an immediate danger to humans, but they are also intensely cruel and abhorrently inhumane to animals.

3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals.

Report on Zoonotic Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Danger and Cruelty of Live Animal Markets

In markets across the world, live animals are traded and brutally slaughtered for customers who desire to eat fresh meat.
It is in these unregulated markets where diseases like SARS originated, and where scientists believe COVID-19 began.
Exotic and traditionally farmed animals are mixed together in cramped cages and unsanitary enclosures, creating the perfect breeding ground for zoonotic diseases like COVID-19.
It is because of the public health crisis these markets cause, as well as the intense suffering inflicted on farmed animals, that these live animal markets need to be banned.
In India there is no health inspection conducted before the animals are slaughtered at these markets. The Indian food safety laws prohibit meat shops from slaughtering animals.
In 2017, Animal Equality presented its investigation to the government along with a request to stop slaughter of animals at these markets

Citation

If you take wild animals and you put them into a market with domestic animals or other animals, where there’s an opportunity for a virus to jump species, you are creating … a superhighway for viruses to go from the wild into people. We can’t do this anymore. We can’t tolerate this anymore. I want the wild animal markets closed.

Dr. Ian Lipkin

The animals have been transported over large distances and are crammed together into cages. They are stressed and immunosuppressed and excreting whatever pathogens they have in them. With people in large numbers in the market and in intimate contact with the body fluids of these animals, you have an ideal mixing bowl for [disease] emergence.

Prof Andrew Cunningham

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Animal Equality is an international organization working with society, governments, and companies to end cruelty to farmed animals. Our investigations are the most important work we do and have helped millions of animals.