Editorial

Albert Schweitzer said: “the day will come when the public opinion will not tolerate anymore entertainment based on animal mistreatment and slaughter”. From theses pages we want to open the door to hope because awareness is increasing and more people every day understand that respect for life is an advanced and constructive society first value. The tradition argument collapses because by that logic slavery or inquisition would still exist nowadays. To those who justify bullfighting to preserve bulls, this is the most stupid and aberrant argument. Just with the quarter of the subsidies granted in Spain  to the bullfighting industry with the purpose of killing innocent animals, many lands could be preserved.

Bored by bullfighting TV transmissions

The bullfighting supporters of Castilla-La Mancha autonomous region confess that bullfights broadcasted in local TV are not interesting at all. This is another symptom of its decline.

Paterna (Valencia, Spain), against bullfighting

Despite the PP (Popular Party) lobby, the City Hall ratified the ban on “bous al carrer”, sort of a running of the bulls in Paterna a town located in the Autonomous region of Valencia.

A killing Saint

Juan Manuel de Prada, a Spanish journalist and writer, who writes for ABC, a pro bullfighting  newspaper, extols in an article the bull killer Manuel Jesús “El Cid”, and compare his figure to Berruguete’s  saints. Judge for yourself the bull killer holiness.

Bullfighting feast Day in Barcelona

Bullfighting industry has few opportunities to organize bullfighting activities in Barcelona, whose City Hall  declared itself anti-bullfighting and animal friendly in 2004. For that reason they took the opportunity of the Barcelona Feast “Mercè” to promote the bull killer José Tomás, who performed in the Barcelona bullring “Monumental” and who they are using as their last resort.

Bullfighting decline in Spain

Even in Andalusia, attending bullfights is out. The newspaper “La Vanguardia” published on September 2008, the Conclusions of the “Junta de Andalucía” official statistics about bullfighting: in Sevilla, the bullfighting city par excellence, support has declined 44%, 27%, Huelva, 24% Almería and 13% Córdoba and Cádiz.

This is alarming for supporters and shows that people, especially young people, prefer another kind of entertainment and that there is not a real demand of that kind of spectacle and demonstrate that bullfighting still exists because it is heavily funded by administration.

Bullfighting support decreases

The definitively pro bullfighting Spanish newspaper “La Vanguardia” conducted a survey among its readers and published the results on September, 24, 2008.
They asked them if they believe that bullfighting support is decreasing. 66% of the readers answered: Yes. The Bullfighting industry and government should take it into account.

Bullfighting funding

Madrid.- The NGO-Platform SOS and TV programme “CQC” of channel Sexta have joined forces to launch a campaign to ask for a specific box in the income tax return for those taxpayers that do not want that their money funds bullfighting.
Besides, the MP Joan Herrera of ICV Party has presented a parliamentary question about the subventions that the Spanish government grants to the bullfighting industry. If you want to participate in this campaign, send your protest to : secretaria.prensa@meh.es

Other associations have launched a campaign in Galicia “Galicia mellor sens touradas” – Galicia better without bullfighting – with the purpose that Galician towns declare themselves anti-bullfighting and do not fund these activities.

Regarding EU subsidies to bullfighting, a Seminar was held in the European Parliament in Brussels the 4th June 2008. You can listen to the speakers in the website www.bullfightingfreeeurope.org.

Bullfighting support decreases

The definitively pro bullfighting Spanish newspaper “La Vanguardia” conducted a survey among its readers and published the results on September, 24, 2008.
They asked them if they believe that bullfighting support is decreasing. 66% of the readers answered: Yes. The Bullfighting industry and government should take it into account.

Bullfighting escapes from crisis

The Andalusian local government continues with its policy of giving support, publicity and money to bullfighting and, ignoring the current financial crisis, has funded bullfighting schools with 401.700 euros.

In 2002, the same government begun to edit the “bullfighting workbooks” used at schools. Their purpose is clear: to present cruelty towards innocent animals as something natural for children, disrupting compassion and empathy concepts towards animals and nature. Those responsible ought to think about it.

International Campaign against the first rodeo in Oporto

 The International Anti-bullfighting Movement has launched a campaign in Portugal against the first rodeo in Oporto. This activity is supported by the City Hall although Portuguese laws ban it.
Send urgently protest letters to Oporto City Hall and to sponsors:

Ayuntamiento /  Presidente Rui Rio

Praça General Humberto Delgado
4049-001 Porto
peral@cm-porto.pt

Gabinete de Turismo da Câmara Municipal do Porto

Rua Clube dos Fenianos, 25
4000-172 Porto

International demonstration in Nîmes

 On September 2008, an International Anti-bullfighting March took place in Nîmes (South of France). Many associations from France and other countries joined the French anti-bullfighting association “Alliance Anticorrida” to raise awareness on bullfights that are organised in this city during the Feria.

Bullfighting decline

 The number of bullfights is decreasing in France, as well as the towns where they are held. Statistics prove that decline: Floirac has demolished its bullring; Fenouillet City Hall has decided not to organize bullfights anymore. Even in Nîmes, French bullfighting capital, the number of “ferias” has been reduced.

Animal supporters are more active and efficient

As part of the Meetings “Animal and Society”, organized by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisching, an intergroup workshop was held to discuss bullfighting issues.

“30 millions d’ Amis” in Barcelona

 A camera crew from “30 millions d’ Amis” Foundation was sent to Barcelona, on April 2008, to interview ADDA’s members and give a full coverage of the anti-bullfighting demonstration in front of Barcelona bullring “Monumental” . This report was broadcasted in French TV and shows the opposition to bullfighting in Barcelona. We have a copy of this report.