End of May, 2016, lawmakers in the central Castile and Leon region enacted a PARTIAL BAN on Spain's goriest spectacles held for centuries in the town of Tordesillas, known as 'Toro de la Vega'. This decree stipulates that the bull must NOT DIE in the presence of the public during the 'Toro de la Vega', putting indeed an end to the tournament as we know it.
Spanish animal party, PACMA, announced that they would be very vigilant on what happens in Tordesillas and were committed to carry out all legal actions necessary to enforce the law, adding that:
"If a neighbor of Tordesillas would dare spearing or kill the bull next September, we will report them for committing a crime of animal abuse punishable under Art. 337 of the Penal Code with up to 18 months in jail."
Toro de la Vega
Tordesillas' sadistic fiesta
Each year, the second Tuesday of September, the town of Tordesillas (in Valladolid, Spain) is host to a horrific fiesta known as “El Toro de la Vega.”
The festival begins with the release of a bull into the countryside surrounding the town, whereupon dozens of people then pursue the bull on foot and on horseback, stabbing him with daggers and spears until he collapses exhausted on the ground.
The lancer who delivers the deadly thrust, ending the bull’s immense suffering caused by multiple stab wounds, has the right to cut off his tail, attach it to his lance, and show it off to the crowds.
On top of that, the town council rewards him with a golden badge and an iron lance. For his bravery, we assume ...
Enough of the sarcasm. How can anyone call this cruelty "tradition"? The corrida is bad enough, but this is an event of unspeakable violence against a defenceless animal.
Pictures from Toro de la Vega 2011
Afligido, a 608 kg bull was released into the streets of Tordesillas that Tuesday morning, September 13, 2011, and, once he crossed the bridge over the Duero River, was chased, maimed and later killed by lancers. That is what organisers call “tradition” which is said to be in accordance with the regulations dating back some 500 years. A tradition to be proud of, surely.... NOT!
Thirty minutes.... It is the time of the agony the poor bull endured since he suffered the first spear - the bull that someone nicknamed Afligido (Sorry) and, unfortunately, became the victim that ended the festivities of the Toro de la Vega, in Tordesillas (Valladolid) in 2011.
Afligido fell after Oscar Hernández Bartolomé speared him on the left side causing a deep wound. Before, the bull had attempted to escape the persecution by more than 200 people armed with spears, either on foot or horseback.
On the ground, the bull looked at more than fifty people urging that Oscar kills him, according to the rules of the tournament, the first to reach the bull has the right to his life.
But Afligido suffered several spears moreover, those he tried to escape without success.
When he started dying, the people of Tordesillas showed their shame by covering the body of the bull with plastic sheet. They did not want anyone to see the death of Afligido. Aware of the brutality and cruelty of their actions, they were careful that no one could record what happened. A research team of Animal Equality, however, managed to get the facts.
Thirty minutes.... It is the time of the agony the poor bull endured since he suffered the first spear - the bull that someone nicknamed Afligido (Sorry) and, unfortunately, became the victim that ended the festivities of the Toro de la Vega, in Tordesillas (Valladolid) in 2011.
Afligido fell after Oscar Hernández Bartolomé speared him on the left side causing a deep wound. Before, the bull had attempted to escape the persecution by more than 200 people armed with spears, either on foot or horseback.
On the ground, the bull looked at more than fifty people urging that Oscar kills him, according to the rules of the tournament, the first to reach the bull has the right to his life.
But Afligido suffered several spears moreover, those he tried to escape without success.
When he started dying, the people of Tordesillas showed their shame by covering the body of the bull with plastic sheet. They did not want anyone to see the death of Afligido. Aware of the brutality and cruelty of their actions, they were careful that no one could record what happened. A research team of Animal Equality, however, managed to get the facts.
A group of five to ten people then stepped in, the bull still struggling to get up. They cut off his tail while he was still alive.
Afligido, dying and trapped, waiting for the afflicted person in charge of cutting the spine at the neck. But this person did not appear so they tried to kill him, hitting him in the head with various objects. According to a researcher of Animal Equality, they first used a screwdriver, but the bull was still breathing. They used any sharp objects at their disposal, but none managed to end the life of dying Afligido, who under the mat emits a breath.
After half an hour of torture, the bull was finally sticking and died.
His body was dragged and carried to a tractor while attendees, including children, came to see the trail of blood left.
Afligido, dying and trapped, waiting for the afflicted person in charge of cutting the spine at the neck. But this person did not appear so they tried to kill him, hitting him in the head with various objects. According to a researcher of Animal Equality, they first used a screwdriver, but the bull was still breathing. They used any sharp objects at their disposal, but none managed to end the life of dying Afligido, who under the mat emits a breath.
After half an hour of torture, the bull was finally sticking and died.
His body was dragged and carried to a tractor while attendees, including children, came to see the trail of blood left.
in this picture: Afligidio
Take action
to STOP Toro de la Vega 2012
"Rompe una lanza"
|
“Rompe Una Lanza” or "Break A Spear" refers to a medieval tradition of saving someone's honour. Petition signatories are therefore ‘breaking a spear’ in honour of the bulls, objecting to the cruelty and the special status that the fiesta has been awarded. The Toro de la Vega has been an event of "Regional Tourist Interest" since 1980.
“By signing the petition, tens of thousands of citizens are sending a resounding message to the Spanish authorities that they want the terrible cruelty of the Toro de la Vega to end once and for all,” said Kitty Block, vice president of HSI. “Fiestas should be a celebration, not an appalling spectacle of animal cruelty and we debase ourselves as human beings by portraying it as tourist entertainment. Our petition clearly shows that a growing number of Spanish people reject the idea that animal cruelty in any way represents true Spanish culture, and they break a spear to protect not only the honour of the bulls, but also of Spain, as a country of compassion.” After the most recent fiesta last September, campaigners with “Break A Spear” submitted a complaint to local authorities that was endorsed by 11 Spanish veterinarians and biologists. The campaigners questioned the manner in which the bull was killed and called for an investigation of those responsible for the killing. “El Toro de la Vega is not only a despicable event in itself, but it does a disservice to Spain, which lives on tourism,” said Silvia Barquero, spokesman for Spain’s Animalist Party. “The image that we show the rest of the world is regrettable, and it is incomprehensible that this event continues to be celebrated.” The “Break A Spear” campaign has received high profile support from some of Spain’s foremost celebrities such as writer Rosa Montero, pop group Amaral, comedian Joaquin Reyes and gymnast Gervasio Defer. Please add your voice to this important petition by signing here! |
Send a message
to Spanish officials and authorities
let them know that you will not visit their country until Toro de la Vega is banned!
By signing our petition using the widget below, or directly at change.org, the following message will be sent instantly to several Spanish officials and authorities:
Señores, Señoras,
Me acaba de llegar una información con respecto a la manifestación que tendrá lugar in septiembre y durante la cual un pobre toro será una vez mas víctima de una práctica horrible y bárbara en Tordesillas.
Es realmente imposible comprender, para una persona que forma parte de un mundo civilizado en Europa, que tal acto correspondiente a una mentalidad medieval pueda aun suceder en un país que se pretende civilizado, que declara esta actividad de interés turística y que además dirige esta monstruosidad con la intención de honorar la Virgen de la Peña - todo esto con la complicidad de una iglesia que acepta este acto bárbaro en lugar de enseñar el amor y el respeto hacia todos los seres vivientes.
España es un país muy interesante a todos puntos de vista y tiene mucho que ofrecer a los que desean visitarlo, pero le aseguro que por todas las razones arriba mencionadas, no visitaré de ninguna manera Tordesillas, Valladolid, o las comunidades de Castilla y Leon, mientras que este crimen hacia un toro siga siendo practicado.
Le saludo atentamente.
Me acaba de llegar una información con respecto a la manifestación que tendrá lugar in septiembre y durante la cual un pobre toro será una vez mas víctima de una práctica horrible y bárbara en Tordesillas.
Es realmente imposible comprender, para una persona que forma parte de un mundo civilizado en Europa, que tal acto correspondiente a una mentalidad medieval pueda aun suceder en un país que se pretende civilizado, que declara esta actividad de interés turística y que además dirige esta monstruosidad con la intención de honorar la Virgen de la Peña - todo esto con la complicidad de una iglesia que acepta este acto bárbaro en lugar de enseñar el amor y el respeto hacia todos los seres vivientes.
España es un país muy interesante a todos puntos de vista y tiene mucho que ofrecer a los que desean visitarlo, pero le aseguro que por todas las razones arriba mencionadas, no visitaré de ninguna manera Tordesillas, Valladolid, o las comunidades de Castilla y Leon, mientras que este crimen hacia un toro siga siendo practicado.
Le saludo atentamente.
Please sign also the AVAAZ-Petition by clicking here!
Thank you for your signature!
Send an email
Please copy the sample letter below and send it through each of the following 3 portals:
1) Municipality of Tordesillas, Valladoid: http://www.tordesillas.ayuntamientosdevalladolid.es/?q=contact
2) President of Spain: https://portal-scc.presidencia.gob.es/ciudadan@s/contacto.jsp
3) Office of Tourism, Tordesillas: http://www.tordesillas.net/webs/inicio.php?cont=8&lang=por
Letter in Spanish:
Señores, Señoras,
Protesto enérgicamente contra el espectáculo del ‘Toro de la Vega’, por cruel y sangriento.
Una muchedumbre, armada con terribles lanzas medievales, persigue a un animal por el campo, acorralándolo y clavándole sus lanzas en cualquier parte del cuerpo, hasta matarlo.
Esto deja en entredicho, ante el mundo entero, la calidad moral del gobierno de la Junta de Castilla-León y del Ayuntamiento de Tordesillas al seguir apoyándolo.
Solicito la prohibición de este salvaje martirio y me uno a la propuesta de declarar a Tordesillas "Ciudad non grata" mientras persista en defender este acto de feroz barbarie.
Además apoyo la próxima manifestación que tendra lugar en Tordesillas contra la tortura de un inocente animal llamado Volante.
Letter in English:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am shocked to learn of your annual Toro de la Vega event in which a bull is chased, stabbed, mutilated, and, after enduring prolonged agony and certain terror, is killed.
This event is promoted as a cultural tradition, a celebration of your heritage and spirit, but your mitigating words and euphemistic descriptions cannot conceal the inherently barbaric nature of this event. Any celebration built on a foundation of extreme animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering cannot be justified; condemning bulls, or any other animals, to a torturous ceremony for mere entertainment is indefensible. Commemorating your cultural history is admirable, yet subjecting an innocent creature to such a primitive ritual only demonstrates yours as an uncivilized, undereducated society.
Animals, as humans, are sentient creatures, capable of emotion, thought, and pain; when you support the exploitation of them, you only promote indifference and establish that you are unsympathetic to suffering. Furthermore, the global community will certainly recognize and scoff at your shameless attempts of justification and will refuse to financially contribute to such an archaic demonstration of savagery .
Indeed, until you ceases the Toro de la Vega in favor of a celebration that embraces compassion and respect towards all living beings, I will necessarily maintain the only ethical decision is to promote a boycott of your country and your country’s commerce.
Please choose compassion and empathy and permanently ban the Toro de la Vega and any other rituals that inflict suffering and pain on our animal friends.
I know your time is limited, and I thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
1) Municipality of Tordesillas, Valladoid: http://www.tordesillas.ayuntamientosdevalladolid.es/?q=contact
2) President of Spain: https://portal-scc.presidencia.gob.es/ciudadan@s/contacto.jsp
3) Office of Tourism, Tordesillas: http://www.tordesillas.net/webs/inicio.php?cont=8&lang=por
Letter in Spanish:
Señores, Señoras,
Protesto enérgicamente contra el espectáculo del ‘Toro de la Vega’, por cruel y sangriento.
Una muchedumbre, armada con terribles lanzas medievales, persigue a un animal por el campo, acorralándolo y clavándole sus lanzas en cualquier parte del cuerpo, hasta matarlo.
Esto deja en entredicho, ante el mundo entero, la calidad moral del gobierno de la Junta de Castilla-León y del Ayuntamiento de Tordesillas al seguir apoyándolo.
Solicito la prohibición de este salvaje martirio y me uno a la propuesta de declarar a Tordesillas "Ciudad non grata" mientras persista en defender este acto de feroz barbarie.
Además apoyo la próxima manifestación que tendra lugar en Tordesillas contra la tortura de un inocente animal llamado Volante.
Letter in English:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am shocked to learn of your annual Toro de la Vega event in which a bull is chased, stabbed, mutilated, and, after enduring prolonged agony and certain terror, is killed.
This event is promoted as a cultural tradition, a celebration of your heritage and spirit, but your mitigating words and euphemistic descriptions cannot conceal the inherently barbaric nature of this event. Any celebration built on a foundation of extreme animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering cannot be justified; condemning bulls, or any other animals, to a torturous ceremony for mere entertainment is indefensible. Commemorating your cultural history is admirable, yet subjecting an innocent creature to such a primitive ritual only demonstrates yours as an uncivilized, undereducated society.
Animals, as humans, are sentient creatures, capable of emotion, thought, and pain; when you support the exploitation of them, you only promote indifference and establish that you are unsympathetic to suffering. Furthermore, the global community will certainly recognize and scoff at your shameless attempts of justification and will refuse to financially contribute to such an archaic demonstration of savagery .
Indeed, until you ceases the Toro de la Vega in favor of a celebration that embraces compassion and respect towards all living beings, I will necessarily maintain the only ethical decision is to promote a boycott of your country and your country’s commerce.
Please choose compassion and empathy and permanently ban the Toro de la Vega and any other rituals that inflict suffering and pain on our animal friends.
I know your time is limited, and I thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
Occupy Tordesillas!
"We are calling upon all citizens against torture and murder to OCCUPY TORDESILLAS the next September 11 in order to prevent it from becoming, yet again, the shame of Spain. El Toro de La Vega tournament is a National disgrace.
The pleas and indignation of activists over the years have been ignored. We now demand that the city of Tordesillas listen to the cries of animal suffering, taking heed of those who would defend the animals.
Government complicity has allowed the murderers of Tordesillas to act with blatant impunity.
The time to change is NOW, and to end this we propose:
The massive mobilization of activists from all parts of Spain to Tordesillas. There must be massive representation on September 11th 2012, occupying the route of the Bull (Volante) and the esplanade where they intend to assassinate Volante in El Toro de la Vega tournament. Activists must resist fearlessly, insisting that the tournament is cancelled for the first time - and permanently.
This is now the time to act, make perfectly clear to those who govern that we are not going to allow further barbarity and atrocites.
We therefore call on the entire movement in defence of animals in Spain, all organizations, groups and anyone who wants to join on September 11, 2012 to occupy Tordesillas - with the intention to remain on site until the tournament is cancelled.
NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOW STRENGTH, DETERMINATION AND UNITY - FOR THE ANIMALS!!
True justice is on our side and if we remain strong and determined we will write a page in the history of the AR Movement in Spain.
Throughout the Country, Liberators will subsequently make their voices heard, demanding the abolition of El the Toro de La Vega tournament and continuing until the abolition of bullfighting throughout the national territory is achieved.
Tordesillas will be the starting point and civil disobedience our best weapon! SOLIDARITY!" accionparalaliberacion@riseup.net
Via 'Ocupa Tordesillas'
The pleas and indignation of activists over the years have been ignored. We now demand that the city of Tordesillas listen to the cries of animal suffering, taking heed of those who would defend the animals.
Government complicity has allowed the murderers of Tordesillas to act with blatant impunity.
The time to change is NOW, and to end this we propose:
The massive mobilization of activists from all parts of Spain to Tordesillas. There must be massive representation on September 11th 2012, occupying the route of the Bull (Volante) and the esplanade where they intend to assassinate Volante in El Toro de la Vega tournament. Activists must resist fearlessly, insisting that the tournament is cancelled for the first time - and permanently.
This is now the time to act, make perfectly clear to those who govern that we are not going to allow further barbarity and atrocites.
We therefore call on the entire movement in defence of animals in Spain, all organizations, groups and anyone who wants to join on September 11, 2012 to occupy Tordesillas - with the intention to remain on site until the tournament is cancelled.
NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOW STRENGTH, DETERMINATION AND UNITY - FOR THE ANIMALS!!
True justice is on our side and if we remain strong and determined we will write a page in the history of the AR Movement in Spain.
Throughout the Country, Liberators will subsequently make their voices heard, demanding the abolition of El the Toro de La Vega tournament and continuing until the abolition of bullfighting throughout the national territory is achieved.
Tordesillas will be the starting point and civil disobedience our best weapon! SOLIDARITY!" accionparalaliberacion@riseup.net
Via 'Ocupa Tordesillas'
