Humankind is grappling with the effects of Covid-19, and desperately attempting to curtail the wrath of this mutant and powerful infectious agent.As we race against time in global efforts to stop the spread of this virus I can’t help but think back to the evil origins from which it sprang: a wet market in Hunan Province, China. A wet market is defined as a market where raw meat and fish are sold and even worse, where live animals are awaiting their slaughter. Wild animals are also sold either dead or alive. This horrific display of cruelty and flagrant disregard for another being’s life is commonplace in many Southeast Asian countries. It is no surprise that from this landscape completely devoid of empathy, the animal kingdom has exacted its revenge.  

Many great theological and scholarly minds have stressed the inextricable link between man and nature. Umbrian Friar St Francis of Assisi, also known as the Patron Saint of Animals warned us “not to behave like dissident predators where nature is concerned, but to assume responsibility for it, taking all care so that everything stays healthy and integrated so as to offer a welcoming and friendly environment…” He had an understanding that man should always maintain a “genuine and deep respect for the integrity of creation”. In this regard much of our planet’s population has failed miserably. Hence it comes as no great surprise that horrific consequences have come from horrific circumstances. Natural law prevails.

There is no border between the love of one sentient animal to another. The pretense that empathy is only applicable to some and not all animals is hypocritical. Our treatment of each other is part and parcel with our treatment of ALL life. Eating for survival is entirely different from unnecessary cruelty. 

In the throes of anxious-laden responses to the deadly virus the world’s attention is single-minded in preventing its rapid spread and creating a vaccine to protect against it. However we must also learn from this on how to stop it from attacking people in the first place. Just as SARS and Avian Flu, deadly viruses continue to come from our mistreatment of animals and this must stop for good. SHUTDOWN CRUEL AND DANGEROUS WET MARKETS and WILDLIFE MARKETS PERMANENTLY.