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October - dicember 2004. Year X
Number 22 Previous numbers 21
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AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BULLFIGHTING RING IN ARNEDO

 Arnedo (La Rioja).- The green party in Arnedo have expressed they refusal to the town hall’s proposal of building a new 3,500 seat bullfighting ring in their town. The environmentalist association is asking the government to carry out a popular consultation and remind the Consistory of the priority social needs to which the public funds should be dedicated. They argue that the present 2,500-seat ring barely fills up and the attendance to bullfights has gone down since the 70s. In order to corroborate this fact, the greens have asked the town hall for the official attendance figures. Not more than 6% of the town’s population attends the 7 bullfights a year that take place.




BULLFIGHTING CRITICISM IN CHINA



Shangai (China).- The official “China daily” newspaper has criticised the bullfights that took place in Shangai in October 2004 and classifies them as a “bloody sport”. The newspaper’s editorial says “bringing a cruel entertainment to Shangai which is condemned by the civilised society with the only objective of promoting the city is something that will probably end up causing us shame”.

The attempt to introduce bullfights to Shangai, a city with 16 million inhabitants would be just a first step for the bullfighting businessmen determined to conquer the 1,300 million marketplace.

Eight bulls from a Mexican livestock were killed. The animals had to withstand 48 hours in a plane trip, stopping at Frankfurt and Pakistan, during which they lost up to 10 kilos.

The Chinese law prohibits killing animals “in an inhumane manner”. Therefore, the animals did not die in the ring, but they still had to wait to be put to sleep later on badly injured and bleeding. The horses, lent by Hong Kong’s government, were racing horses and had probably not seen a bull in their lives. One was even gored in a show attended by children.




The antibullfighting party asks for the prohibition of bullfights and running of the bulls in catalonia.

Barcelona.- The Antibullfighting Party against Animal Mistreatment (PACMA) explained their election programme in the Catalan Parliament on December 2004. PACMA reminded that the Catalan animal protection law defines animals as live beings provided with physical and psychological sentience, and that Article 2.3 prohibits causing them suffering or mistreatments, just as causing their death for play, perversity or torture according to Article 5n. PACMA asked that this law be extended to all animals without exceptions, and that Article 6.2, which specifically legalises the torture and death of animals with the excuse of tradition is suppressed.

They also asked for the prohibition of other shows that mistreat bulls such as the tied up bulls and fire bulls...
Welcome

Last issue, number 21, was the last to be published on paper. Ten years have gone by since 1995, when The Bull Tribune began to publish the main news regarding bullfights around the world; Spain and France, where bullfights are more extended, and also Portugal and Latin America.

WHY THE BULL TRIBUNE?

The Bull Tribune was started because from Spain, we could see that other countries published news or articles against bullfights which were not strictly truthful. A lot of what was said with the best of intentions, could have been refuted by the aficionados and pro-bullfighting people. It is not necessary to exaggerate, the plain truth is enough.

This is why the first issues of the, then called Bull·etin, were only published in English. Although, later on, we saw the need to make a Spanish version. The Bull Tribune was an agreement amongst the Dutch Antibullfighting Commitee, CAS, and the Association for the Defence of Animal Rights, ADDA, which together founded the Anti Bullfighting Campaign, ABC International. At present The Bull Tribune is totally managed by ADDA, which writes, edits and funds it.


NEW ONLINE VERSION

Because of the widely used Internet and the increasingly expensive mailing, printing and stationery expenses, it is just natural we take this turn. Updating us and changing to an online version means The Bull Tribune can also reach more readers than at present. It will continue to come out three times a year in Spanish and English versions, and possibly a French one in the future. It will also be available for interested organisations to make a link to it.

In a new format, we will continue informing about the antibullfighting struggle. It’s been 10 years during which many changes have occurred, especially in Spain, and mainly in the region of Catalunya. The aggressiveness, arrogance and intolerance of the pro-bullfighting world just try to justify and defend something that, they know better than anyone, is destined to disappear. The beginning of the end of bullfighting is very close.



We trust in the faithfulness of our readers to keep up their interest and hope they help in promoting us.

Awaiting for you every four months

Flora Aguilera
Director



  
 

 

October - dicember 2004. Year X
Number 22


THE IRRESPONSIBLES’ RUNNING OF THE BULLS
  CHILDREN WILL CONTINUE TO SEE BULLFIGHTS ON PUBLIC TELEVISION

The number of running of the bulls' celebrations is increasing in Spain. The director of a pro-bullfighting magazine even claims they have quadruplicated, taking them up to 20,000 a year. The bullfighting fan clubs are attempting this way to revive a bullfighting tradition that is being lost in Spain. According to reliable surveys, the interest of Spaniards for bullfights is decreasing year after year. The aficionados intimidate the administration and the mayors, who, either for electioneering or popular desire, give in. The aficionados usually pay for most of the expenses (a minimum insurance, rental of the heifers, etc.) so the costs to the town hall are minimal. In 2004, six people lost their lives being gored in running of the bulls. Every year, 250,000 bulls die in them.




A BULLFIGHT’S BAD IMAGE

Ugíjar (Granada).- A bullfighting businessman has filed a suit against Ugíjar’s town hall which refuses to pay the total cost of a bullfight carried out during the local fiestas. According to the mayor, the heifers were not from the agreed farm and they were older than 4 years. During the bullfight, which was celebrated in honour of the religious Virgen del Martirio, the police had to evacuate the ring in order to shoot one of the bulls down. The attendants asked for their money back without success. The mayor of Ugíjar was concerned about the negative image of his town’s bullfighting fair and about people not coming back. We suggest they find another way of honouring their Virgin.




BREAD AND BULLS TO THE PEOPLE

Madrid.- Madrid's Community has published the announcement for the new management contract of its bullfighting ring of Las Ventas. One of the conditions is to give priority to the financial aspects. On the other hand the minimum will be reduced to 22 bullfights in the San Isidro local fiestas, from last year's 29, although the new company can increase this amount if they wish. They demand a good curriculum and quality, guaranteed with the inclusion of one of the top 15 bullfighters and quality animals. In this way, Madrid’s consistory shows its politics is “bread and bulls to the people”, maybe they fear that if they promote real culture, people will acquire clarity of ideas and bullfighting will be lost.


The Commission for Parliamentary Control of Spain’s public television channel RTVE, has only partially approved the motion presented by the left party to avoid the broadcast of bullfights during children's schedule. From now on, this channel must ad a visual and acoustic signal that indicates that the images of bullfights are violent and not recommended to children under 13, although they will continue to be broadcast in the afternoons. Those against bullfights will continue to campaign to prevent broadcasting of these shows.





SUBSIDIES FOR BULLFIGHTING BULLS, NOT FOR THE NATIONAL FIESTA

The European Parliament has refused an amendment included in the general budget of the EU for 2005 which asked for the end of subsidies to bullfighting bulls. The amendment reminded that the European Agreement for the protection of animals in livestock farms, states that these should not suffer pain, fear of distress, condition which is not fulfilled in the case of bullfighting bulls. According to an MEP from Spain’s popular party this issue is separate for the National Fiesta’s. But then, what are all these bulls destined for? According to parliamentary sources, each bullfighting bull receives between 180 and 200 € from the EU each year.


VETERINARIANS?

Valladolid.- The very pro-bullfighting Spanish General Council of Veterinarian Associations and Valladolid’s Official Association of Veterinarians organised last March the 5th World Congress of Bullfighting Veterinarian Science. Amongst other issues, they dealt with emergent diseases and how these affect the bullfighting bulls, the fraudulent alteration of bulls’ behaviours, animal welfare, jurisprudence in bullfighting events and the measurement of braveness. A book about bullfighting was also presented and a bullfight organised for the event. We allow ourselves to recommend the Council to include other issues such as “the worst disease for the bullfighting bull: the bullfighter. How to eradicate it” in their next edition. This way they can really contribute to animal welfare, the real job of veterinarians.
 
 

 

October - dicember 2004. Year X
Number 22


PROMOTING THE GENERAL INTEREST
  No chance for bullfights

Barcelona.- The Minister of Public Works and Industry and secretary of the Catalan socialist party, José Montilla, attended a bullfight in Barcelona with some of the most famous bullfighters. With his presence, those pro-bullfighting were to take up again their signature collecting campaign in favour of bullfights and against Barcelona’s antibullfighting city declaration. However, more and more towns are joining the animal welfare movement as people realise that the suffering and death of an animal for pure pleasure is senseless. Therefore, and not even with the help of a Minister who should dedicate his time to promoting real general interest activities, will the wish of a few prevail over that of the vast majority who are against this unreasonableness.



THE INTEREST OF A MINORITY

Last Friday the 3rd of December, the 3rd Bullfighting Cultural Conference was inaugurated, sponsored by the Cultural office of the local government of Melilla. This event was presented by Antonio Gutiérrez Molina, member of the Parliament and president of the local bullfighting ring. The “star” of Saturday's session was the president of the Mellilla, Juan José Imbroda.

As a representatives of the people, Gutíérrez Molina and the president of the autonomous city of Melilla, should start working on what most of the people ask them for and not promote shows that most of the people refuse. On the other hand, the task of the Cultural Office is to promote activities with real cultural interest, and not sponsor an unjustifiable cruel show.

CRUELTY IS PUBLICISED


The El Villar de los Alamos estate, near Salamanca, advertises itself in a leaflet in which they invite anyone who is interested in “getting to closely know the bulls that will be fought in Spain’s best bullfighting rings and enjoy all sorts of country performances such as tentateros and acoso y derribo ( chasing and stabbing the bull to see its braveness). We offer you the chance of a tentatero in the open fields, where the horsemen will carry out the acoso y derribo of the cows in an unequalled place (...). Afterwards, the matador will test and give the animal the suerte de picar (stab it with the lance) and will fight the same calf”. Protest letter can be sent to : El Vilar de los Alamos c/Azafranal 25, 2ª. 37002 Salamanca
elvillardelosalamos@hotmail.com
Madrid.- Those pro-bullfighting have started a petition campaign against the declaration of Barcelona as an antibullfighting city. Obviously, to celebrate this event they had to give out some prizes, in this case called “The opportunity”. The event was celebrated in Palacio Vistalegre and pupils of different bullfighting schools participated in the ceremony, kids who should be receiving an appropriate education, and not learning how to torture an innocent animal. Bullfighting is the business of only a minority and is refused by the vast majority. They won't get many signatures therefore.

Those for Bullfighting ask for the reform of the Suerte de varas


Even the livestock farmers and aficionados recognise that the suerte de varas (where the bullfighter on horse stabs the bull with a lance) excessively harms de animals. For this reason, during a meeting to carry out a balance of the livestock of the San Isidro festivities in Madrid, they have warned of the need for an urgent reform. They say “ the type of puya (lance) used and the way of carrying out the suerte affected the performance of the animals very negatively, when the twenty bulls were outstanding and should have provided the triumph to their killers”. Maybe they should start to realised that injuring, humiliating and torturing an animal to death cannot provide triumph to anyone

 
 

 

October - dicember 2004. Year X
Number 22

  NEWS FROM FRANCE

Anti-bullfighting Assembly in France

Sète (France).- The Anti-bullfighting Federation (FLAC) celebrated its General Assembly on November 20-21st, 2004, in Sète, city on the Mediterranean coast. As a member of this federation, ADDA was represented by Sylvaine Leblanc and Barbara Di Noia. Many aspects of FLAC's organization were discussed and, notably, the name of the very same Federation was changed to Fédération des Luttes Anti-Corrida instead of Fédération des Liaisons Anti-Corrida. The preparation of specific anti-bullfighting demonstrations in the South of France was decided in order to raise people's awareness about bullfighting. FLAC showed its interest in having its members participate actively, at any moment, in the life of the association.

ADDA thanked FLAC for its collaboration and support in the anti-bullfighting campaigns, and reaffirm the links between the two entities. The members of FLAC and, especially, its president Josyane Querelle, warmly welcomed our representatives, who were able to see the huge impact that the declaration of Barcelona provoked in France. South of France is very close to Catalonia, and hopes that the anti-bullfighting declarations made by the cities of Catalonia will expand to France.

  NEWS FROM PORTUGAL

Walking against bullfighting in Portugal

Lisbon (Portugal).- Last September 18th, 2004, took place, in Portugal, the 4th edition of the March against Bullfighting. It is the most important event that the movement for the defense of the animals organizes in this country. The association ANIMAL promotes this event in which national and international entities participate as well as individuals aware of the existing gap between the way animals are treated and the way they should be treated.

In this edition, the complaints focussed on bullfighting since, in Portugal, every year, 3,000 bulls are brutally tortured in those shows. The bullfighting industry is presently having serious problems because, even if it can count on the Government ‘s and the President of the Republic’s support, the citizens who publicly reject the torture and death of an animal during a show are more and more numerous. The associations defending animal welfare are, on other hand, working hard to raise people’s consciousness.

  NEWS FROM SOUTH AMERICA

Students of Colombia against bullfighting

Ibague (Colombia).- The students of the University of Ibague (Colombia) organized last December 19th, 2004, a peaceful demonstration in front of the bullring to protest against the presence of the torero César Rincón, who was coming to Colombia for the first time. This is one of the various initiatives of this group of young people, advised by a teacher of their university who’s been fighting against bullfighting for a very long time.

Peru declares that bullfighting shows can no longer be called “cultural public show”

Peru.- The Peruvian Official Newspaper El Peruano published, last November 15th, 2004, a Decree stating that the National Institute of Culture will withdraw bullfighting from the category of ”cultural public show”. From now on, the cruel business of bullfighting, which is already having many problems and loses more and more aficionados and spectators, and consequently money, is destined to disappear soon.



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STAFF
The new Bull Tribune is a regular publication promoted by the Association for the Defence of Animal Rights, ADDA, with headquarters in Barcelona and office in Madrid (Spain).Director: Flora Aguilera (Journalism degree from the URL University) Correspondents: In France: Robert Clavijo, In Latin America: Gerardo Huertas, In Portugal: Miguel Moutinho, In Ireland: Animal Watch

The new Bull Tribune - C/Pere Vergès nº 1 10.3 - 08020 Barcelona (Spain)
telefono Tel. 00 34 93 313 25 46 email: thebulltribune@addaong.org www.addaong.org
1994 - 2004 English edition

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