Catalonian public demands end to bullfighting
Apr 21, 2009
© Photoshot
With the Prou (‘enough’) campaign, thousands of Catalonian citizens have united to demand an end to the bloody cruelty of bullfighting in their region. Their success would be a historic step towards making this ‘sport’ history across Spain.
While polls and dwindling attendances have long indicated that bullfighting has no place in modern-day Spain, public opinion had not been successfully harnessed in a campaign until this year.
With Prou, also backed by animal welfare groups and celebrities, many thousands of Catalonians have made it their mission to achieve a ban on bullfighting in this influential Spanish region.
People power!
The campaign originally aimed for 50,000 local signatures within 120 days – a petition of this size and timeframe legally forces the regional parliament to vote on a ban.
But Prou has found huge support. To date, over 121,000 Catalonians have signed, ensuring a vote will take place.
Prou’s success in forcing a vote is further evidence that many Spaniards do not consider the needless suffering of bullfighting to be part of their cultural identity.
“By uniting against cruelty towards animals, the people of Catalonia are finally having their voices heard by their political representatives,” says Leah Garcés, WSPA International Director of Programmes.
“We hope that this groundbreaking success in Catalonia will inspire other bullfighting regions to courageously speak out against this archaic practice.”
Consigning cruelty to history
© Fotografia de Colita para el libro Piel de toro
Despite a pro-bullfighting lobby, attendances wane and rings close.
Today, councils in 61 Catalonian towns and cities have declared themselves opposed to bullfighting – 10 of these since the Prou campaign started.
Despite this, a full ban is badly needed. While fewer bulls are killed in the Catalonian rings now than ever before, every single one feels acute and prolonged pain from barbs and daggers.
A ban will save 100 bulls a year from suffering inhumane deaths for the sake of entertainment. It will also send a message to the whole world: the killing of animals for entertainment is unacceptable.
How you can help
WSPA wholeheartedly supports Prou. When the date of the vote is announced, we ask our supporters to sign a letter to the Catalonian parliament backing the campaign. Watch this space.
Until then, please remember animal welfare when you travel to Catalonia – Spain’s most popular tourist region – or anywhere else. Read our tips on being an animal friendly traveller >>
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