ICHEOKU says nearly more than half of the world's population operate one form of wet market or the other in their respective countries. Many religions adherents like Jews, Muslims and traditionalists prefer kosher, halal and freshly killed meats. This is mainly cultural as many people like to eat freshly killed meat and not meat processed in factories, infused with additives, as is mostly obtained in Western countries. The reason for this practice varies from cultural practice passed on from generations unto generations for thousands of years, lack of refrigeration and above all the infrequent power supply in some countries which makes the preservation of meat difficult, if not impossible.
In America, there are also many wet markets operated by people from other cultures who call America home, including in China Towns, Jewish neighborhoods, African and Caribbean neighborhoods, Mexican and Philippines societies, as well as Muslim society that operate Halal meat markets. Some other Americans sometimes go to ranch animal farms to kill cows, goats, lambs and chicken for their fresh meats and those slaughter houses could somehow pass for wet markets too. In Louisiana for example, people eat all sorts of swamp creatures which in so many other cultures would be considered a taboo. American people love their cow meats but Indians do not touch cow which they consider sacred; but they have not asked Americans to stop killing and eating beef.
So, why must America now tell China what meats to eat and how to process those meats. Why should America ask China to close down their wet markets which have been part of their cultural delicacy source for thousands of years, just because coronavirus allegedly broke out from one of them in Wuhan. If in fact coronavirus broke out in the wet market, why only in Wuhan's wet market since similar wet markets abound everywhere in China and in other Asian countries including their neighboring Taiwan. Why did coronavirus not break out in other Chinese cities's wet markets and in other countries that similarly operate wet markets. It is not right and America does not have the authority to tell other countries what to eat or how to source their meat products.
Furthermore, there is no conclusive evidence that coronavirus suddenly broke out in a wet market which has operated for hundreds, if not thousands of years in Wuhan. America must therefore stop forcing its standards on other countries and cultures because living standards is not a one cap fits all. America can afford its high standards including picking and choosing what meats to eat, how to process and preserve them because it has the capacity to do so. But how many other poor countries in the world can afford a similar lifestyle, when most of them are struggling for survival, including many impoverished nations which does not have constant electricity supply to power storage freezers, when they can afford them.
ICHEOKU says therefore the talk to force China to close down wet markets in Wuhan or any other Chinese city is a none starter and should not even be wasted any time on. Wuhan is not the first place ever to suffer an outbreak of a viral killer disease. Many other countries did and their culprit cultural practices were not shutdown as a result. Saudi Arabian's love for camels was not closed down following MERS outbreak; people did not stop eating pork and bacon following the H1N1 Swine flu; Hong Kong was not shut down following its 1968 flu; people did not stop eating chicken following the Avian or Bird flu either. When Ebola struck, the Ebola river was not shut down and people still call Lyme Connecticut home despite the Lyme disease. So why is China being asked to surrender their wet markets?
When mad cow disease broke out in America, people did not abandon their steak and barbecue or sandwiches as a result. Even countries like Japan and South Korea that stopped importing United States of America beef and other related cow meat products were strong armed into reversing themselves. Therefore what is so different now about what a people have been eating for centuries that should now require compelling them to end it forthwith. A matter made more troubling because there is no conclusive proof yet that the current coronavirus disease originated from a type of meat people of Wuhan eat or a Wet Market which they operate in Wuhan China.
The best practice going forward is to first conclusively investigate all the other angles being bandied around as to actual originating source in Wuhan of the coronavirus disease, including a theory that it came from a biological weapons laboratory near the wet market. Then find a vaccine that would inoculate people from it and other medicines that would treat those people that are already infected by the disease. Thereafter, let people be allowed to carry on with their cultural practices including eating whatever meats their palate feels joyful eating. But it is repugnant to order any country or people to end their eating habits which has been with them for thousands of years just because a flu allegedly came from it. Enough of the wielding of the big stick.
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