Victory for Bulls: Catalonia Bans Bullfighting!
© iStockPhoto.com / Kameleon007
PETA – and everyone who cares about animals worldwide – is elated that the Catalan Parliament has banned bullfighting. It was clear that the tide had turned when 180,000 signatures were collected in support of the ban. The people have spoken: cruelty to animals – disguised as “tradition” – will no longer be tolerated. Various cities and towns across Spain, France, Portugal, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador have all recently declared themselves anti-bullfighting, and now Catalonia becomes the second Spanish region to ban bullfighting outright, after the Canary Islands in 1991. According to a 2009 Gallup survey, 76 per cent of Spaniards have no interest in attending or supporting bullfights.
Bullfighting is a cowardly pursuit. The bull is often severely debilitated with laxatives, blows to the kidneys, dehydration and petroleum jelly smeared into his eyes before he enters the ring. In a typical bullfight, men on blindfolded horses drive lances into the bull’s back and neck, impairing the animal’s ability to lift his head. Others plunge banderillas – bright sticks with harpoon points – into his back. Finally, after the bull has become weakened from blood loss, the matador appears and attempts to kill the bull but often succeeds only in further maiming the disadvantaged animal, who is then dragged out of the arena by his horns, sometimes still conscious, before a new bull enters and the same horrifying spectacle starts all over again.
However, after today’s inspiring news, it looks like those mean matadors will have no choice but to hang up their capes for good! And all of us at PETA could not be happier!
This is EXCELLENT news…EXCELLENT!
Now to put an end to the running of the bulls…a senseless and disgusting tradition to an animal that is magnificent; an animal that should be treasured not tortured.
I am proud that mine was one of those signatures that helped ban bullfighting
This has been one step further for Spain’s future. People are finally realizing how awful and cruel this is for a bull. We are in the 21st century, these ‘traditions’ should be banned in the whole country for good!! I think other spanish regions will take example of this in the future.
Wonderful news, Shame it does not come into force before 2012. But it’s a big step.
Well done everyone involved.
It certainly is a huge step in the right direction but it must be banned NOW, how many bulls will be tortured in 2 years??? next the banning of the bulls MUST be banned, it is truly unspeakable….
Félicitation aux députés catalans et au soutien de toute une population démontrant que cette souffrance devait cesser. Nous devons être solidaire envers tous ces taureaux que l’on maltraite avant pendant et jusqu’à leur dernier souffle en se demandant pour quelles raisons cette souffrance si abominable leur est infligée. Ils ressentent aussi bien qu’un être humain la douleur. Faut-il être sadique pour aimer le sang et se délecter de la souffrance d’un animal.
Pourquoi attendre encore deux ans pour valider cette interdiction ?
Nous devons rester vigilants et continuer manifester à voter contre la corrida et à l’ interdire en France.
*does happy dance*
Come on Spain, the rest of you should ban this cruelty too!
Let’s hope it will be soon banned all over Spain and other countries where they practice this brutal sport.
Brilliant, Peta should re-introduce the running of the nudes in Catalonia to boost their tourism as a thank you, that would be such fun! x
FINALLY! — I’ve never seen the point in tourturing animals for pleasure! It’s sick! .. i saw this on the pc [my homepage news] and I honestly though it was joke! — But I am really happy that they have banned it
.. Just got to persuade the rest of spain!
Happy to hear this. This is the best news I have heard in a long time. A very sadistic and sick thing to do. Like hunting animals and cockfights.
just goes to show that people power DOES work
[...] online advocacies by animal rights groups across Spain, Europe and other countries worldwide – Catalonia voted to ban bullfighting in the entire region. This momentous victory demonstrates what we can achieve when we stand up for what’s right, [...]
[...] last year became the second Spanish region to ban bullfighting outright, after the Canary Islands in 1991. Various other cities and towns across Colombia, Ecuador, France, [...]
a message to the general public
Do not pay to watch cruelty
If you pay it will continue so say NONONONONO DEFINITELY NOT !!!!!