On behalf of all the world's citizens who have needlessly suffered the distress of prematurely losing loved ones, for all those selfless heroes in health services across the world who have sacrificed themselves in the care of others, for those who've lost their jobs and are yet still likely to do so, for the financial losses and economic turmoil and disruption which will impact us all for months to come - I implore the governments of all Far East and South East Asian countries to permanently ban the sale of exotic animal and wildlife meat markets - and ensure that any ban is enforced.

In addition, may I also beg the people of those same countries  ie the consumers who drive this market  to make the right choice and stop eating exotic animals and wildlife?  For whatever reason you do so - whether to display your wealth and status, in the misguided belief that they will cure you of some ailment, or to enhance your sexual prowess let's not forget this continued desire and insistence upon eating live, fresh exotic or wildlife meat caused first SARS and now Covid-19. And please don't resort to just killing the wildlife that carries the virus - the best way is to stop consuming it  Let's do all we can to make sure nothing like this happens again. PLEASE - for the sake of humanity and the many beautiful and endangered animals who suffer untold cruelty and misery for the sake of this needless consumption - STOP.

And to all those animals who suffer the cruelty, barbarism and torture for the sake of our greed, arrogance, ignorance and vanity I can only offer a futile apology.