Dear Friend,

"Wet markets" are as awful as they sound. Such markets, which are found all over the world, sell live and dead animals—often of a variety of species—for human consumption. They are called "wet" because water splashes over the sides of open tubs containing live sea animals who will inevitably be killed and countertops and floors are streaked red with the insides of gutted chickens and the blood of other slaughtered animals.

A Chinese wet market is believed to be the origin of the novel coronavirus, but wet markets also exist in New York. Closing off these sources of infectious diseases—both here and abroad—is an absolute necessity, and doing so will help prevent future outbreaks.

Sign the petition to the World Health Organization to urge it to call on governments everywhere to close cruel and deadly live-animal markets permanently.

Thank you for taking action.

Sincerely,