The cruel and abusive tradition of bullfighting has long been the subject of much debate.
The violent sport is most popular — and most hotly contested — in the nation of Spain,
where the tradition has deep cultural roots. In a major victory for animal rights,
the region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain banned bullfighting in 2010.
The prohibition succeeded after 180,000 people signed a petition to bring the issue
before legislators, and came into full effect in 2012. And while the vast majority
of Spain’s 17 regions stubbornly continue to celebrate bullfighting
as a national pastime to this day, the Barcelona City Council now seeks to take
its regional ban a step further by barring all bullfight-related practices.
As EuroWeeklyNews reports, the Barcelona council seeks to prevent
the suffering and abuse of bulls by banning anything resembling a bullfight.
This new law would prohibit “bullfighting shows” in performances, advertisements,
films, and other works. Anyone seeking to circumvent the ban must prove that
no animals will be abused, stressed, or harmed in the making of the proposed show.
The use of wild animals will also be abolished.
This landmark bill in Barcelona is the latest in a slew of good news for the anti-bullfighting movement. Less than a month ago, for instance, the United Nations Committee
on the Rights of the Child recommended that children not attend or participate in bullfighting,
even going so far as to denounce bullfighting as going against the rights of children.
A movement to shut down a bullfighting school in Southern California,
and an effort to protest bullfighting arenas in Southern France,
have both gained traction in recent months as well.
This expanded bullfighting provision will be included in a new law for the Protection,
Ownership and Sale of Animals, which will come into effect in September.
Way to go Barcelona!
LONG LIVE THE BULL! VIVAN LOS TOROS!
