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Help Wildlife and Prevent Future Pandemics This Earth Day

Dear John,

As we observe Earth Day this year from home, we are facing a situation that is unpredictable, scary, and--for the vast majority of us--unprecedented. The spread of COVID-19 has transformed our society and our lives, and we are all struggling to make sense of this new reality.

However, one thing is certain--we must do everything in our power to avoid triggering another pandemic. That's why this is such a vital moment to address the root causes of COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases.

Incidents of emerging zoonotic diseases (those transmitted from animals to humans) have increased significantly since 1940, a trend that strongly correlates with accelerating exploitation of natural resources. These activities, including the wildlife trade and destruction of habitat, have brought humans into much closer contact with wildlife, increasing the risk of pathogen transmission.

In fact, 60 percent of infectious diseases are considered zoonotic, and of these, more than 70 percent originate with wildlife. In just the past 40 years, the worst pandemics and epidemics (SARS, Ebola, HIV/AIDS, swine flu, avian flu) have all originated with the trade and consumption of wild animals and habitat loss. Experts believe COVID-19 was transmitted to humans at a market selling live wildlife.

Unless we curtail the rate of environmental decline due to human activity, it is inevitable that global pandemics will continue to emerge at an escalating rate. We must curb wildlife exploitation to reduce disease risk. Protecting nature is more important now than ever.

SPEAK UP TODAY ([link removed])

What You Can Do
In honor of this 50th Earth Day, please write to your members of Congress ([link removed]) and let them know that in order to protect public health, the United States must step up now to become a global leader in addressing habitat loss and wildlife trade. Then share this eAlert with your family, friends, and co-workers, and ask them to take action too.

Thank you for speaking out, and know that you are in our thoughts as we face this crisis together while apart.

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President

P.S. Follow us on Facebook ([link removed]), Twitter ([link removed]), and Instagram ([link removed]) for other important animal protection actions and news.

Photo by Wolf Clifton Animal People Inc

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Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 337-2332 | www.awionline.org ([link removed])

The Animal Welfare Institute is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. We seek better treatment of animals everywhere: in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild.

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900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003