INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST BULLFIGHTS SELECT LANGUAGE

CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT THE WRITTEN DECLARATION 0002/2007- EU-WIDE BAN ON BULLFIGHTING Unfortunately only 211 MEPs signed. To succeed it had to be signed by 393 MEPs so the bull breeders will continue to receive EU subsidies. SUBVENTIONS The bull breeders receive a huge amount of subsidies that are obtained through various schemes, not directly as a subsidy to bullfights but as subsidies to bovines. This system of subsidies is complicated because it consists of several different ones of varying value. There are subsidies called special premium beef, slaughter subsidy (paid whether the bull is killed in the bullring or slaughterhouse) and also a subsidy for land area used. These subsidies are supplements to the new agricultural policy that pays a unique land subsidy. We are not going to explain in detail the Common Agricultural Policy because it has been changing along the years. Since 2005 the rule is a unique payment and then several supplements that are additional to the the unique payment. Therefore the bull breeders manage to pocket millions of euros that allow these business to continue. CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE REINTRODUCTION OF BULLFIGHTS AT MARGARITA ISLAND/VENEZUELA Unfortunately the bullfight scheduled for the 29th December 2006 did take place. Since there are more scheduled for 2007, please continue to send protests. President Hugo Chávez Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela Palacio de Miraflores Final Avenida Urdaneta, Esq. de Bolero Caracas 1010, Venezuela FAX: +58-212-806-8210 presidencia@venezuela.gov.ve Suggestions on line: http://www.gobiernoenlinea.ve/misc-view/ver_sugerencias.pag QATAR AIRWAYS PROMOTING BULLFIGHTS We did not get any reply from Qatar Airways and we have no way of knowing if this promotion was withdrawn or not. Please inform us if you have any information on this. CHINA, ANOTHER COUNTRY WITH BULLFIGHTS In spite of the thousands of letters sent to the Chinese authorities the bullfights in Shanghai took place on the 23rd and 24th October 2004. There is a yet more sinister side to this in that the bulls used were not in fact killed as was said beforehand. The reason is very simple. Other cities in China are interested in performing bullfights.Wuhan, Canton and Chengdu. We are not aware if they are intending to breed bulls or if they are thinking in dragging the 6 bulls from one bullfight to another. There is only one way of fighting this: continue to send protest letters to the Chinese government threatening them with a complete boycott of the Olympic Games 2008. For that we created a nice postcards (below) of the new image of China. webmaster@shanghai.gov.cn, gov@govonline.cn, webmaster@mfa.gov.cn, webmaster@agri.gov.cn, szw@ccnt.gov.cn, webmaster@ccnt.com.cn, manage@chsi.moh.gov.cn, WebMaster@cnta.gov.cn, webmaster@spp.gov.cn With CC to newspapers: scmplet@scmp.com, webmaster@china.org.cn, www@chinadaily.com.cn CHINESE NEWSPAPER CONDEMNS THE BULLFIGHTS IN SHANGHAI. Bullfight in Shanghai a mistake Fei Li Updated: 2004-10-25 08:55 For some, the past weekend was another milestone on Shanghai's route to becoming a truly international metropolitan city. A much-publicized series of bull fights was held over the weekend in the city, China's economic hub. The stadium-turned-bullring cost 5 million yuan (US$605,000) to transform, and both matador and bulls were brought from Spain and Mexico to Shanghai for a bullfight with a truly Spanish flavour, the organizers claimed. Clearly it was a commercial event, but what some people relish most is the status the bullfight has brought to Shanghai - the first bullfight to have been held in Asia. To them, it underlines Shanghai's bid to become a world-class metropolitan city. The ecstasy over the first Formula One Grand Prix, which was held last month and cost the city billions, is still apparent. The city's preparations are already under way for the upcoming 2010 World Expo. While it is understandable that Shanghai's ambition to go international, an ambition shared by many other Chinese cities, means some large cultural and sporting events are necessary to promote the city, it should be remembered that all actions be done in a manner that keeps an eye on conditions on the ground. Cities blindly promoting their image just for the sake of attracting the limelight go against their original intentions. Literally a dance with death, bullfighting has been characterized by its cruelty and violence, and is now something the civilized world shuns. Even in its birthplace, Spain, bullfighting, originally a sport reserved for the aristocracy, has never been free of controversy. Felipe V, king of Spain from 1700 to 1746, banned nobles from taking part in the sport during his reign, fearing its adverse influence on public education. From then on, commoners took it up. Barcelona, Spain's second largest city, has taken the lead by banning bullfighting from April 6 this year. Yet while it is being questioned or banned in its home country, the centuries-old sport may not have expected to find a welcome thousands of miles away. Bringing in a cruel entertainment that has been widely condemned by civilized society to promote the city's image is more likely to end up bringing shame. Even if it is used to spur on the local culture or sports market, as some have said, such arguments do not hold much water either. With tickets costing between 180 yuan (US$22) and 2,800 yuan (US$301), the "virtual feast" is a little bit out of reach for ordinary people, meaning only the relatively affluent can afford to watch the bloody performance anyway. While animal protection and anti-violence is becoming more fashionable in society, Shanghai's "bravery" in staging this kind of bloodsport betrays itself as one of China's most modern cities. Rather than a milestone in its bid to become a much-coveted international metropolis status - indeed, the bullfighting episode is more like a slap in the face. (China Daily) SPANISH BULLFIGHTER PROMOTES BULLFIGHTING ON MALASYSIAN TELEVISON Concerning this campaign we received the following letter from the Minister of Information: I thank you for your e-mail to the Honourable Minister of Information, Malaysia regarding a TV advertisement recorded by a Spanish bullfighter. I would like to inform you that the Malaysia Government is investigating this report seriously because we do not practice such inhuman activity in Malaysia. The government shall also take appropriate action against anyone or companies found to have been involved in recording this kind of advertisement in Malaysia, if it was so done in this country. Malaysians, for your information do not torture animals for whatever reasons be it for sports or entertainment unlike other countries in Europe, which I am sure you are fully aware of. Thank you. TARMIDZI HASHIM Director Public Relations Division Ministry of Information, Malaysia PROTEST AGAINST THE KILLING OF A BULL WITH SPEARS IN TORDESILLAS (VALLADOLID - SPAIN) Every year in September in Tordesillas, a bull is tortured and murdered in a spectacle called "Toro de la Veja". Hundreds of men run with medieval spears after a bull, sticking them into his body until his death. This year in the 16th of September "Gañaflero" was speared to death. Please send one of the postcards and the text below to: (We thank to Gabriela Lima for the second postcard) ayto.tordesillas@dip-valladolid.es, soturmadrid@cict.jcyl.es, presidente_responde@cpat.jcyl.es, alfonso.fernandez@cpat.jcyl.es How is it possible that in 2003 non human animals are still tortured and killed? How is it possible that Spain that pretends to be a civilized country allows the existence of such a barbaric and savage spectacle like this? We don't understand that in the 21st century, hundreds of men with medieval spears chase a bull stabbing him to death. CAMPAIGN AGAINST BULLFIGHT IN EXPO 98 / LISBON In spite of all the thousands of letters sent to the Complex of Expo 98 and the City Hall, the bullfight took place. This was attended by the Mayor of Lisbon, a very well known aficionado and supporter of bullfights. Also the President of the Republic sent a letter paying homage to one of the bullfighters as well as compliments for the way how he have been representing the "art" of bullfighting. Simply disgusting. CAMPAIGN AGAINST BULLFIGHTS IN GUATEMALA In spite of all the thousands of letters sent to the authorities of Guatemala, the bullfights took place. We are not exaggerating the numbers here, but one journalist from a Guatemalan newspaper wrote a very angry report saying that he had received in one day 1,000 emails. This was on the second day after the campaign was launched. Unfortunately we now have another country with bullfights. According to our research this country has had no bullfights for 20 years but now it's one more to be added to the black list. We want to thank all of you that supported us in trying to prevent these bullfights. After all this is a war, we only lost one battle so let's continue the fight. We must prevent the spread of barbarity, torture and death of animals and at the same time we must continue the fight to end this in the countries that have bullfights. We have created a new postcard (copy/paste to your email) to be the trade mark of Guatemala. Please send it to the authorities in Guatemala to constantly remind them that from now on they are another blood-stained country. Ministro de la Gobernación http://www.mingob.gob.gt/sugerencias.html congreso@congreso.gob.gt, pojycsj@oj.gob.gt, info@inguat.gob.gt RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION PROMOTES BULLFIGHTS As we feared, the bullfight to raise funds for the Fondation Father Arrupe of El Salvador was perfomed in Zaragoza, Spain. The aim of our campaign was not only to denounce these type of bullfights but also to prevent the presence of the President of El Salvador as guest of honour. Unfortunately we did not achieve our goals since Francisco Flores was present giving his approval as supreme authority of his country to torture and cruelty. When the foremost figure of a country that has no bullfights is prepared to be guest of honour at such an event in another country, it opens a terrifying precedent to El Salvador. Sooner or later it could be the next country to hold bullfights. Regarding the Fondation Father Arrupe, after some investigations we discovered that the President of the Fondation is the mother-in-law of the Spanish bull killer Espartaco (the organizer of the bullfight). Moreover, the the Fondation is publicized in the official web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador. Once again more proof that the politicians and the bullfighting lobbies walk hand in hand. Several people who have fought against bullfights have claimed that the bullfight world is another Mafia. These facts must lend credence to such beliefs. VICTORY - BULLS OF FIRE BANNED AT SANTARÉM/PORTUGAL Thanks to all your protest emails we managed to ban bulls of fire in the "National Fair of Bulls" in Santarém. According to a report in today's newspaper "Publico", the General Inspection of Cultural Activities banned the "show" based on proof of the animals' mistreatement. Therefore once more we have the proof that protesting works! We want to thank all who participated in this campaign and also Animal Association that gave a special cooperation in this action. Never forget that our letters can always make a difference for animals. . VICTORY - THE PORTUGUESE CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL DECLARED THAT BULLFIGHTS WITH PICADORS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL On 21/11/02 the Portuguese Constitutional Tribunal declared that the law approved by the Parliament of Azores allowing bullfights with picadors is unconstitutional. CAMPAIGN AGAINST INDOCTRINATION OF CHILDREN IN BULLFIGHTS The City Hall of Santarém performed the "running of calves" as scheduled in spite of hundreds of protest letters received. CAMPAIGN AGAINST "STRONGBOW" CIDER FOR PROMOTING PAMPLONA (SPAIN) So far as we are aware, this advert is no longer being shown on British TV, although Bulmers did not show the courtesy of replying to any of our protest emails. THE BULLFIGHT IN CARCASSONNE WAS PERFORMED ON SEPT 1ST, 2002 This town joins now the black list of bloody towns. Please send the postcard below to the authorities listed to remind them that they are responsible for staining the beautiful city of Carcassonne with innocent blood. Mayor of Carcassone webmaster@carcassonne.org Office of Tourism: accueil@carcassonne-tourisme.com The Businessmen of Carcassone (25 in 2 emailing lists): List 1    List 2