Bullfighting ~ Corridas
Bullfighting is called a sport, or sometimes even an art. It is neither.
It is animal cruelty disguised as entertainment.
It is animal cruelty disguised as entertainment.
INTRODUCTION
Spain’s history is not written in ink, but in bull’s blood. The shadow of the black beast with sharpened horns has spread over the Iberian peninsula for thousands of years and extended to Latin America.
Anyone who goes to see the Altamira cave paintings in northern Spain will note the presence of a figure that looks tranquil in some poses and aggressive in others. These images depict - dating back to some 1,500 years ago - the ancestors of the protagonists of bullfighting.
According to some historians, the Roman conquerors brought their circus celebrations to Spain 23 centuries ago. These public spectacles quite often could be cruel. The genesis of bullfights can be traced back to these events, which immediately became hugely popular.
In the 11th century, the epic poem of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (Mio Cid) recounts a famous episode in which the hero, enemy of the invading Arabs, speared a bull from his horse. Seven centuries later, the painter Francisco de Goya depicted this scene in one of his drawings.
For centuries, bullfighting was a form of combat in which a horseback rider attacked a bull with spears. But, the story goes, at the beginning of the 18th century, a man by the name of Francisco Romero got off his horse, took up a cape and a sword and confronted the bull, face-to-face, body-to-body, inch-by-inch in a battle to the death and in clearly disadvantageous conditions. Romero was a young carpenter from Ronda, the legendary Spanish city where Ernest Hemingway wrote novels and Rainer Maria Rilke poetry. Orson Welles is buried there. And it was there that the Romero family established bullfighting as it is known today.
From then until now - for almost 300 years - bulls have evolved a lot more than bullfighters. [1]
Perhaps surprisingly in the 21st Century, bullfights still exist in several countries of the world, much to our shame in what we commonly regard as an "enlightened" era.
These are barbaric shows, and relics of the Dark Ages.
Nevertheless, these spectacles still exist due to the powerful lobbies that support them. These lobbies maintain this bloody business for profit, at the cost of animals' pain, torment and death. They have the support of national and local governments, and receive backing from financial enterprises keen to promote their brands as having a "cultural" flavour, and from the fashion media who like to display "chic" images, regardless of the suffering involved. Despite the increase in public awareness in recent years (opinion polls show that the great majority of citizens all over the world are opposed to this brutality), this minority continues to get rich by torturing bulls and horses. Several attempts to expand their dirty business to other countries are well known. Charitable bullfights to raise money for starving children of third world countries, and to fund research into serious diseases, etc, are blatant attempts to popularise their "sport" and give it a veneer of respectability. If this were not enough, even the Catholic Church does not condemn these acts. It's common to see bullfights in "honour" of saints carried out with the blessings of the clergy. [2]
Pope Pius V issued a bill titled De Salute Gregis in November 1567 which forbid fighting of bulls and any other beasts. This was eradicated eight years later by his successor, Pope Gregory XIII, at the request of King Philip II. In the 18th and 19th centuries there were attempts to ban bullfighting but it never was actuated. [4]
Spanish bullrings have a chapel where a matador can pray before the corrida and where a priest can be found in case an emergency sacrament of extreme unction (also known as Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites) is needed. [3]
The truth is, if a creature suffers then there can be no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into consideration. All animals are sentient beings that experience joy, happiness, fear and pain, in the same way that human beings do. We can have no right whatsoever to make them suffer for our "enjoyment". If any torture inflicted to an animal deserves condemnation, bullfights are the worst kind of torture since they are performed solely in the name of entertainment. We must end the animals' torture and stop these shows of brutality and violence. It is too small a step from the intentional infliction of pain on an animal to the torture and killing of human beings.[2]
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Ever wonder why the bull never wins? Spectators are led to believe the matadors are actually risking their lives. In reality, the bull has already been crippled and subdued in several ways and doesn't stand a chance against its opponents.
Several hours before the fight, the bull is kept in a stall, deprived of light and water. They are separated from other bulls. This is traumatic for them as bulls are naturally herd animals.
Many bullfighters have reported that the bulls are also beaten and injured prior to being released into the ring.
Their horns are also sometimes shaved. This involves sawing off a few inches of the horns. Bulls depend on their horns to help them navigate and shaving impairs their ability to do this. Shaving is illegal, but many get away with it.
Bulls are sometimes stabbed and wounded before being released in the ring. After being released, he may be taunted by a group of humans who will frustrate him by forcing him to run in circles and collide.
Several hours before the fight, the bull is kept in a stall, deprived of light and water. They are separated from other bulls. This is traumatic for them as bulls are naturally herd animals.
Many bullfighters have reported that the bulls are also beaten and injured prior to being released into the ring.
Their horns are also sometimes shaved. This involves sawing off a few inches of the horns. Bulls depend on their horns to help them navigate and shaving impairs their ability to do this. Shaving is illegal, but many get away with it.
Bulls are sometimes stabbed and wounded before being released in the ring. After being released, he may be taunted by a group of humans who will frustrate him by forcing him to run in circles and collide.
Men called picadors approach the exhausted bull on horseback.
These men drive lances into the bull's neck and back, resulting in more injuries and blood loss and disabling him from lifting his neck or head.
Picadors are usually not injured. Any injuries inflicted by the confused, exhausted bull are usually to the picador's horse.
These men drive lances into the bull's neck and back, resulting in more injuries and blood loss and disabling him from lifting his neck or head.
Picadors are usually not injured. Any injuries inflicted by the confused, exhausted bull are usually to the picador's horse.
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The matador appears next and provokes the injured, dying bull in to weak charges.
He will attempt to kill the bull with a sword but it usually only results in injuring him and resulting in more pain and blood loss.
He will attempt to kill the bull with a sword but it usually only results in injuring him and resulting in more pain and blood loss.
During the final stage, an executioner is called in to kill the bull by slashing his spinal cord.
This is for the benefit of the audiences, and sometimes the effort is not enough to kill the bull. It's not uncommon for a tortured, paralyzed, conscious bull to be tied by his horns and dragged from the ring.
This is for the benefit of the audiences, and sometimes the effort is not enough to kill the bull. It's not uncommon for a tortured, paralyzed, conscious bull to be tied by his horns and dragged from the ring.
Horses - the forgotten victims
Sevilla - April 29, 2012
Maestranza bullring
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Xelin, the horse of a rojeneador
gored by the bull and later 'put to sleep'
Children - the forgotten victims
There are no laws in Mexico limiting the age of bullfighters, whereas in Spain, no child younger than 16 is allowed to enter the ring. For this very reason, many young children travel to Mexico to pursue their careers in bullfighting. Bullfighting schools that train children are becoming more and more common in Mexico. According to former matador Francisco Parra, some Mexican bullfighting schools accept kids as young as six Michel Lagravere Peniche, one of the youngest matadors in Mexico, has been training since the age of three.
Child bullfighters are faced with real danger of both serious injury and death in the ring. In 2007, a 14-year old Spanish bullfighter almost died while bullfighting in Mexico. The animal pierced his left lung, missing his heart by only an inch.
Child bullfighters are seen as a new way to reel in spectators to the arena and are paid large amounts of money by bullfighting promoters.
A note of explanation
Calves are animals under three years of age and young bulls are between three and four years of age. The young bullfighters are called “niños toreros” when they fight calves and “novilleros” when they fight young bulls. These events are called “becerradas” when calves are used and “novilladas” when young bulls are used. [5]
Child bullfighters are faced with real danger of both serious injury and death in the ring. In 2007, a 14-year old Spanish bullfighter almost died while bullfighting in Mexico. The animal pierced his left lung, missing his heart by only an inch.
Child bullfighters are seen as a new way to reel in spectators to the arena and are paid large amounts of money by bullfighting promoters.
A note of explanation
Calves are animals under three years of age and young bulls are between three and four years of age. The young bullfighters are called “niños toreros” when they fight calves and “novilleros” when they fight young bulls. These events are called “becerradas” when calves are used and “novilladas” when young bulls are used. [5]
Young matador, 11, slaughters six bulls
to claim a controversial place in history
January 25, 2009 - A child matador has infuriated animal rights activists by killing six young bulls in a bid to have his name entered in the Guinness Book of Records.
Michelito Lagravere, who is just 11, believes he should hold the world record for his controversial feat. The youngster, whose father is former French bullfighter Michel Lagravere, slaughtered the animals in a ring in Merida, Mexico.
A judge gave the go-ahead for the child to fight six calves aged from one to two years after reviewing licences submitted by Mr Lagravere.
Animal rights groups and child protection officials had pleaded with authorities to suspend the event.
Michelito Lagravere, who is just 11, believes he should hold the world record for his controversial feat. The youngster, whose father is former French bullfighter Michel Lagravere, slaughtered the animals in a ring in Merida, Mexico.
A judge gave the go-ahead for the child to fight six calves aged from one to two years after reviewing licences submitted by Mr Lagravere.
Animal rights groups and child protection officials had pleaded with authorities to suspend the event.
Forty people were injured in northern Spain on 23 August 2010, when a frightened bull run for his life and jumped into the packed grandstands of the bullring. The terrifying incident happened in Tafalla, in the northern region of Navarra, and occurred when the animal tried to escape death, leaping over the fence and climbed up the stairs of the stands knocking over people, including young children.
More than 140 scientists from 18 countries are calling on Congress to
keep children away from bullfighting
Children at Pamplona. Source: http://plancksconstant.org/blog1/image2/sub1/pamplona.jpg
September 24, 2013 - More than 140 scientists and scholars from 18 countries have sent a letter to the Spanish House of Representatives urging them to keep children away from bullfighting because of the "desensitizing impact" that bullfights will have on them.
The letter has been sent in response to the popular legislative initiative being debated this week by the Committee on Culture and which aims to safeguard bullfighting.
In this letter, the experts expressed their opposition to the promotion of bullfighting in children referring to a significant amount of research that shows that abuse of animals is closely related to gender abuse, child abuse and other forms of interpersonal violence. The experts also insisted on the fact that seeing animals being abused perpetuates a cycle of violence through desensitization and emulation of a model and they insisted that younger people who witness animal abuse repeatedly, could learn to use violence in their relationships.
"The reports of animal abuse are being used as indicators of domestic abuse and human abuse in general" said the letter reminding also that the European Union recognizes animals as being "sentient" and that most Member States "no longer tolerate cruel practices towards animals as a cultural activity".
They therefore consider that politicians have "significant responsibility and a great contribution" in the psychological construction of any child, his definition of values, respect and moral judgment.
"What message are we sending to the kids saying it's okay to freely exercise violence towards an animal for our own pleasure?"
"Although not all people involved in animal abuse are violent towards humans, the connection between animal abuse and interpersonal violence can not be ignored" stated the letter. Adding that "A world where animal abuse is not controlled is also a world less safe for humans"
The letter adds to other initiatives against bullfighting and was signed by members of various animal protection organizations from 135 countries and had been delivered together with more than 256,000 signatures to the Spanish Parliament.
The letter has been sent in response to the popular legislative initiative being debated this week by the Committee on Culture and which aims to safeguard bullfighting.
In this letter, the experts expressed their opposition to the promotion of bullfighting in children referring to a significant amount of research that shows that abuse of animals is closely related to gender abuse, child abuse and other forms of interpersonal violence. The experts also insisted on the fact that seeing animals being abused perpetuates a cycle of violence through desensitization and emulation of a model and they insisted that younger people who witness animal abuse repeatedly, could learn to use violence in their relationships.
"The reports of animal abuse are being used as indicators of domestic abuse and human abuse in general" said the letter reminding also that the European Union recognizes animals as being "sentient" and that most Member States "no longer tolerate cruel practices towards animals as a cultural activity".
They therefore consider that politicians have "significant responsibility and a great contribution" in the psychological construction of any child, his definition of values, respect and moral judgment.
"What message are we sending to the kids saying it's okay to freely exercise violence towards an animal for our own pleasure?"
"Although not all people involved in animal abuse are violent towards humans, the connection between animal abuse and interpersonal violence can not be ignored" stated the letter. Adding that "A world where animal abuse is not controlled is also a world less safe for humans"
The letter adds to other initiatives against bullfighting and was signed by members of various animal protection organizations from 135 countries and had been delivered together with more than 256,000 signatures to the Spanish Parliament.
Please read also MINORS AND BULLFIGHTING, SCIENTIFIC DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS, written by Nuria Querol i Viñas and published at the website of GEVHA Grupo para el Estudio de la Violencia Hacia Humanos y Animales (Group for the Study of Violence to Humans and Animals)
What you can do
Boycott countries where bullfighting is legal.
Contact government officials in countries where bullfighting is legal. If you are a resident, let them know you're opposed to bullfighting.
If you're not a resident, let them know you are a potential tourist and will not be visiting their country until this cruel practice is outlawed.
Make sure they are aware of the cruelties involved in bullfighting. Let them know that it disturbs you enough that you will not visit these countries until this "sport" is outlawed.
If you must visit countries where bullfighting is legal, do not attend bullfights. Not even once. If you go to these cruel events, your money and presence supports this bloody industry.
Ask other people to follow your example.
Do not buy any bullfighting souvenirs, especially not at bullrings.
Do not eat or drink in bars and restaurants that promote bullfighting.
Sign the PETITION to UNESCO against the declaration of bullfights as World Intangible Cultural Heritage. This petition is in Spanish, English and French.
Thank you!
Contact government officials in countries where bullfighting is legal. If you are a resident, let them know you're opposed to bullfighting.
If you're not a resident, let them know you are a potential tourist and will not be visiting their country until this cruel practice is outlawed.
Make sure they are aware of the cruelties involved in bullfighting. Let them know that it disturbs you enough that you will not visit these countries until this "sport" is outlawed.
If you must visit countries where bullfighting is legal, do not attend bullfights. Not even once. If you go to these cruel events, your money and presence supports this bloody industry.
Ask other people to follow your example.
Do not buy any bullfighting souvenirs, especially not at bullrings.
Do not eat or drink in bars and restaurants that promote bullfighting.
Sign the PETITION to UNESCO against the declaration of bullfights as World Intangible Cultural Heritage. This petition is in Spanish, English and French.
Thank you!
Do NOT vote for politicians who support bullfighters!
On October 22nd, 2014 the European Parliament voted on the new budget for 2015, including European agricultural subsidies. The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament think it is unacceptable that farmers breeding and raising bulls for use in bullfighting, still are eligible to receive agricultural subsidies. Green MEP Bas Eickhout tabled a proposal to prohibit that European subsidies are being used to support these farmers.
The European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming is clear:
"Animals should not suffer pain, injury, fear or distress."
It's also clear that farmers who breed and raise bulls for bullfighting do not comply with those conditions. Therefore these farmers should not be eligible for agricultural subsidies. The European Commission has the task as guardian of the Treaties to report on the measures it has taken as to comply with the Convention.
Eickhout's proposal to end European subsidies on bullfighting did get the support of a majority of members of the Environment Committee, however the Budget Committee did not support it. Eickhout re-tabled his amendment in the plenary session with a roll call vote to know exactly who supports these subsidies and who does not.
Sadly, no majority of votes could be obtained during the voting from 22nd of October, and the EU will continue to fund the breeding of bulls for bullfighting. Although there were more votes in favour than against, the amendment of Bas Eickhout needed an absolute majority (376 votes) in order to be adopted.
In favour (+): 323 votes
ALDE: Auštrevičius, Bearder, Becerra Basterrechea, Charanzová, De Backer, Diaconu, Dlabajová, Federley, Gerbrandy, Goulard, Griesbeck, Huitema, Hyusmenova, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Jakovčić, Kallas, Maura Barandiarán, Meissner, Michel, Mihaylova, van Miltenburg, Nart, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, van Nieuwenhuizen, Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Paulsen, Petersen, Radoš, Rehn, Ries, Rochefort, Rohde, Schaake, Telička, Theurer, Tørnæs, Tremosa i Balcells, Vajgl, Väyrynen, Verhofstadt, Wikström
ECR: Ashworth, Barekov, Belder, Campbell Bannerman, van Dalen, Demesmaeker, Deva, Dohrmann, Duda, Duncan, Dzhambazki, Ford, Foster, Fotyga, Fox, Gericke, Girling, Gosiewska, Gróbarczyk, Halla-aho, Henkel, Ide, Jackiewicz, Kamall, Karim, Karlsson, Kirkhope, Kölmel, Krasnodębski, Kuźmiuk, Legutko, Lewer, Loones, Lucke, McClarkin, Marias, Messerschmidt, Nicholson, Ożóg, Piotrowski, Poręba, Pretzell, Škripek, Starbatty, Stevens, von Storch, Sulík, Swinburne, Tannock, Terho, Tomaševski, Trebesius, Wiśniewska, Wojciechowski, Zīle, Žitňanská
EFDD: Adinolfi, Affronte, Agea, Agnew, Aiuto, Aker, Arnott, Bashir, Batten, Beghin, Bergeron, Borrelli, Carver, Castaldo, Coburn, Collins, Corrao, D'Amato, (The Earl of) Dartmouth, Etheridge, Evi, Farage, Ferrara, Finch, Gill Nathan, Helmer, Hookem, Iwaszkiewicz, Lundgren, Mach, Moi, Nuttall, O'Flynn, Parker, Pedicini, Reid, Seymour, Tamburrano, Valli, Winberg, Woolfe, Zanni, Zullo
GUE/NGL: Anderson Martina, Björk, Boylan, Carthy, Chrysogonos, Couso Permuy, De Masi, Echenique, Eck, Ernst, Forenza, Glezos, González Peñas, Hazekamp, Iglesias, de Jong, Juaristi Abaunz, Kari, Katrougkalos, Konečná, Kyllönen, López Bermejo, Lösing, Maltese, Maštálka, Matias, Mineur, Ní Riada, Omarjee, Papadimoulis, Ransdorf, Rodriguez-Rubio, Sakorafa, Sánchez Caldentey, Scholz, Senra Rodríguez, Spinelli, Vallina, Vergiat, Zimmer
NI: Annemans, Briois, Dodds Diane, Gollnisch, de Graaff, Jalkh, Jansen, Korwin-Mikke, Le Pen Jean-Marie, Maeijer, Martin Dominique, Marusik, Montel, Papadakis Konstantinos, Stuger, Troszczynski, Zarianopoulos
EPP: Arimont, Bach, Belet, Bendtsen, van de Camp, Dorfmann, Gambús, Kalniete, La Via, Lenaers, Niedermayer, van Nistelrooij, Pietikäinen, Radev, Rolin, Sarvamaa, Schreijer-Pierik, Šojdrová, Virkkunen
S&D: Anderson Lucy, Bayet, Benifei, Bettini, Brannen, Briano, Caputo, Childers, Chinnici, Cofferati, Corbett, Dance, Dodds Anneliese, Gasbarra, Gentile, Gill Neena, Giuffrida, Gomes, Grammatikakis, Griffin, Guteland, Honeyball, Howitt, Iotova, Jongerius, Khan, Kirton-Darling, Kyenge, Leinen, Ludvigsson, McAvan, Martin David, Mizzi, Moody, Moraes, Nilsson, Papadakis Demetris, Picula, Piri, Pirinski, Poc, Poche, Post, Rodrigues Liliana, Schaldemose, Schlein, Simon Siôn, Stihler, Szanyi, Tang, Tarabella, Ujhelyi, Ulvskog, Van Brempt, Vaughan, Viotti, Ward, Willmott, Zanonato
Greens/EFA: Albrecht, Andersson, Auken, Bové, Buchner, Bütikofer, Ceballos, Cramer, Delli, Durand, Eickhout, Engström, Eriksson, Evans, Harms, Häusling, Hautala, Heubuch, Hudghton, Jadot, Jávor, Joly, Keller Ska, Lambert, Lamberts, Lochbihler, Lunacek, Maragall, Meszerics, Reda, Reimon, Reintke, Rivasi, Ropė, Sargentini, Scott Cato, Sebastià, Škrlec, Smith, Šoltes, Staes, Tarand, Terricabras, Trüpel, Turmes, Urtasun, Vana
Against (–): 309 votes
ALDE: Arthuis, Cavada, Deprez, Guoga, Nicolai, Riquet
ECR: Czarnecki, Jurek, Karski, Piecha, Ujazdowski, Vistisen, Złotowski
NI: Aliot, Arnautu, Buonanno, Epitideios, Ferrand, Fontana, Fountoulis, Goddyn, Mélin, Salvini, Schaffhauser, Synadinos, Voigt
EPP: Adaktusson, Alliot-Marie, Ayuso, Balz, Bocskor, Böge, Bogovič, Boni, Brok, Buda, Buşoi, Buzek, Cadec, Casa, Caspary, del Castillo Vera, Cicu, Cirio, Coelho, Collin-Langen, Comi, Comodini Cachia, Corazza Bildt, Csáky, Danjean, Dantin, Dati, Delahaye, Deli, Deß, Deutsch, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Donchev, Ehler, Engel, Erdős, Estaràs Ferragut, Ferber, Fernandes, Fisas Ayxelà, Fitto, Gabriel, Gahler, Gáll-Pelcz, Gardini, Gieseke, González Pons, de Grandes Pascual, Gräßle, Grossetête, Grzyb, Gyürk, Hellvig, Herranz García, Hetman, Hohlmeier, Hökmark, Hölvényi, Hortefeux, Hübner, Jahr, Jazłowiecka, Jiménez-Becerril Barrio, Joulaud, Juvin, Kalinowski, Karas, Kariņš, Kefalogiannis, Kelam, Kósa, Kovatchev, Kozłowska-Rajewicz, Kudrycka, Kuhn, Kukan, Kyrtsos, Lamassoure, Landsbergis, Langen, Lavrilleux, Le Grip, Lewandowski, Liese, Lins, Lope Fontagné, López-Istúriz White, Łukacijewska, McAllister, Maletić, Malinov, Mănescu, Mann, Marinescu, Martusciello, Matera, Mato, Metsola, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Morano, Morin-Chartier, Mureşan, Muselier, Mussolini, Niebler, Olbrycht, Pabriks, Patriciello, Paunova, Peterle, Petir, Pieper, Pitera, Plenković, Plura, Pogliese, Polčák, Ponga, Pospíšil, Preda, Proust, Rangel, Reul, Ribeiro, Rosati, Ruas, Saïfi, Salini, Sander, Saudargas, Schöpflin, Schulze, Schwab, Sernagiotto, Siekierski, Sógor, Spyraki, Štefanec, Štětina, Stier, Stolojan, Šuica, Šulin, Szájer, Szejnfeld, Tajani, Theocharous, Thun und Hohenstein, Tőkés, Tomc, Toti, Urutchev, Valcárcel, Vălean, Verheyen, Voss, Vozemberg, Wałęsa, Weber Manfred, Weber Renate, Wenta, Wieland, Winkler Hermann, Winkler Iuliu, Záborská, Zagorakis, Zdechovský, Zdrojewski, Zeller, Zver
S&D: Aguilera García, Andrieu, Androulakis, Assis, Ayala Sender, Balas, Balčytis, Berès, Blanco López, Blinkevičiūtė, Bonafè, Borzan, Boştinaru, Bresso, Cabezón Ruiz, Christensen, Cozzolino, Cristea, Dalli, Dăncilă, Danti, De Castro, Delvaux, De Monte, Denanot, Drăghici, Ertug, Fajon, Fernández, Ferreira Elisa, Flašíková Beňová, Fleckenstein, Freund, Frunzulică, García Pérez, Gardiazabal Rubial, Gebhardt, Geier, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Grapini, Groote, Gualtieri, Guerrero Salom, Guillaume, Gutiérrez Prieto, Hoffmann, Jaakonsaari, Jáuregui Atondo, Kaili, Kammerevert, Kaufmann, Keller Jan, Köster, Krehl, Kumpula-Natri, Kyrkos, Lange, Lauristin, Liberadzki, Lietz, López Aguilar, Łybacka, Mamikins, Maňka, Manscour, Martin Edouard, Maurel, Mavrides, Melior, Moisă, Molnár, Morgano, Mosca, Negrescu, Nekov, Neuser, Nica, Niedermüller, Noichl, Panzeri, Paolucci, Pargneaux, Paşcu, Peillon, Pittella, Preuß, Rebega, Revault D'Allonnes Bonnefoy, Rodrigues Maria João, Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández, Rodust, Rozière, Sant, Sassoli, Schuster, Silva Pereira, Simon Peter, Sippel, Smolková, Soru, Steinruck, Tănăsescu, Tapardel, Thomas, Toia, von Weizsäcker, Werner, Westphal, Zala, Zemke, Zorrinho
Abstentions (o): 58 votes
ALDE: van Baalen, Bilbao Barandica, de Sarnez, Faria, Girauta Vidal, Goerens, Ježek, Lambsdorff, Mlinar, Müller
ECR: Hannan, Tošenovský, Zahradil
EFDD: Mazuronis
GUE/NGL: Hadjigeorgiou, Le Hyaric, Mélenchon, Sylikiotis
NI: Balczó, Bizzotto, Borghezio, Boutonnet, Grigule, Kappel, Kovács, Lebreton, Le Pen Marine, Loiseau, Mayer, Monot, Morvai, Obermayr, Philippot, Vilimsky
EPP: Becker, Clune, Gál, Hayes, Kelly, Koch, Köstinger, McGuinness, Melo, Reding, Rübig, Schmidt
S&D: Costa, Kadenbach, Kofod, Leichtfried, López, Moretti, Picierno, Regner, Sehnalová, Valenciano Martínez-Orozco, Weidenholzer
Greens/EFA: Ždanoka
Source: http://supportgreens.eu/bullfighting/results
The European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming is clear:
"Animals should not suffer pain, injury, fear or distress."
It's also clear that farmers who breed and raise bulls for bullfighting do not comply with those conditions. Therefore these farmers should not be eligible for agricultural subsidies. The European Commission has the task as guardian of the Treaties to report on the measures it has taken as to comply with the Convention.
Eickhout's proposal to end European subsidies on bullfighting did get the support of a majority of members of the Environment Committee, however the Budget Committee did not support it. Eickhout re-tabled his amendment in the plenary session with a roll call vote to know exactly who supports these subsidies and who does not.
Sadly, no majority of votes could be obtained during the voting from 22nd of October, and the EU will continue to fund the breeding of bulls for bullfighting. Although there were more votes in favour than against, the amendment of Bas Eickhout needed an absolute majority (376 votes) in order to be adopted.
In favour (+): 323 votes
ALDE: Auštrevičius, Bearder, Becerra Basterrechea, Charanzová, De Backer, Diaconu, Dlabajová, Federley, Gerbrandy, Goulard, Griesbeck, Huitema, Hyusmenova, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Jakovčić, Kallas, Maura Barandiarán, Meissner, Michel, Mihaylova, van Miltenburg, Nart, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, van Nieuwenhuizen, Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Paulsen, Petersen, Radoš, Rehn, Ries, Rochefort, Rohde, Schaake, Telička, Theurer, Tørnæs, Tremosa i Balcells, Vajgl, Väyrynen, Verhofstadt, Wikström
ECR: Ashworth, Barekov, Belder, Campbell Bannerman, van Dalen, Demesmaeker, Deva, Dohrmann, Duda, Duncan, Dzhambazki, Ford, Foster, Fotyga, Fox, Gericke, Girling, Gosiewska, Gróbarczyk, Halla-aho, Henkel, Ide, Jackiewicz, Kamall, Karim, Karlsson, Kirkhope, Kölmel, Krasnodębski, Kuźmiuk, Legutko, Lewer, Loones, Lucke, McClarkin, Marias, Messerschmidt, Nicholson, Ożóg, Piotrowski, Poręba, Pretzell, Škripek, Starbatty, Stevens, von Storch, Sulík, Swinburne, Tannock, Terho, Tomaševski, Trebesius, Wiśniewska, Wojciechowski, Zīle, Žitňanská
EFDD: Adinolfi, Affronte, Agea, Agnew, Aiuto, Aker, Arnott, Bashir, Batten, Beghin, Bergeron, Borrelli, Carver, Castaldo, Coburn, Collins, Corrao, D'Amato, (The Earl of) Dartmouth, Etheridge, Evi, Farage, Ferrara, Finch, Gill Nathan, Helmer, Hookem, Iwaszkiewicz, Lundgren, Mach, Moi, Nuttall, O'Flynn, Parker, Pedicini, Reid, Seymour, Tamburrano, Valli, Winberg, Woolfe, Zanni, Zullo
GUE/NGL: Anderson Martina, Björk, Boylan, Carthy, Chrysogonos, Couso Permuy, De Masi, Echenique, Eck, Ernst, Forenza, Glezos, González Peñas, Hazekamp, Iglesias, de Jong, Juaristi Abaunz, Kari, Katrougkalos, Konečná, Kyllönen, López Bermejo, Lösing, Maltese, Maštálka, Matias, Mineur, Ní Riada, Omarjee, Papadimoulis, Ransdorf, Rodriguez-Rubio, Sakorafa, Sánchez Caldentey, Scholz, Senra Rodríguez, Spinelli, Vallina, Vergiat, Zimmer
NI: Annemans, Briois, Dodds Diane, Gollnisch, de Graaff, Jalkh, Jansen, Korwin-Mikke, Le Pen Jean-Marie, Maeijer, Martin Dominique, Marusik, Montel, Papadakis Konstantinos, Stuger, Troszczynski, Zarianopoulos
EPP: Arimont, Bach, Belet, Bendtsen, van de Camp, Dorfmann, Gambús, Kalniete, La Via, Lenaers, Niedermayer, van Nistelrooij, Pietikäinen, Radev, Rolin, Sarvamaa, Schreijer-Pierik, Šojdrová, Virkkunen
S&D: Anderson Lucy, Bayet, Benifei, Bettini, Brannen, Briano, Caputo, Childers, Chinnici, Cofferati, Corbett, Dance, Dodds Anneliese, Gasbarra, Gentile, Gill Neena, Giuffrida, Gomes, Grammatikakis, Griffin, Guteland, Honeyball, Howitt, Iotova, Jongerius, Khan, Kirton-Darling, Kyenge, Leinen, Ludvigsson, McAvan, Martin David, Mizzi, Moody, Moraes, Nilsson, Papadakis Demetris, Picula, Piri, Pirinski, Poc, Poche, Post, Rodrigues Liliana, Schaldemose, Schlein, Simon Siôn, Stihler, Szanyi, Tang, Tarabella, Ujhelyi, Ulvskog, Van Brempt, Vaughan, Viotti, Ward, Willmott, Zanonato
Greens/EFA: Albrecht, Andersson, Auken, Bové, Buchner, Bütikofer, Ceballos, Cramer, Delli, Durand, Eickhout, Engström, Eriksson, Evans, Harms, Häusling, Hautala, Heubuch, Hudghton, Jadot, Jávor, Joly, Keller Ska, Lambert, Lamberts, Lochbihler, Lunacek, Maragall, Meszerics, Reda, Reimon, Reintke, Rivasi, Ropė, Sargentini, Scott Cato, Sebastià, Škrlec, Smith, Šoltes, Staes, Tarand, Terricabras, Trüpel, Turmes, Urtasun, Vana
Against (–): 309 votes
ALDE: Arthuis, Cavada, Deprez, Guoga, Nicolai, Riquet
ECR: Czarnecki, Jurek, Karski, Piecha, Ujazdowski, Vistisen, Złotowski
NI: Aliot, Arnautu, Buonanno, Epitideios, Ferrand, Fontana, Fountoulis, Goddyn, Mélin, Salvini, Schaffhauser, Synadinos, Voigt
EPP: Adaktusson, Alliot-Marie, Ayuso, Balz, Bocskor, Böge, Bogovič, Boni, Brok, Buda, Buşoi, Buzek, Cadec, Casa, Caspary, del Castillo Vera, Cicu, Cirio, Coelho, Collin-Langen, Comi, Comodini Cachia, Corazza Bildt, Csáky, Danjean, Dantin, Dati, Delahaye, Deli, Deß, Deutsch, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Donchev, Ehler, Engel, Erdős, Estaràs Ferragut, Ferber, Fernandes, Fisas Ayxelà, Fitto, Gabriel, Gahler, Gáll-Pelcz, Gardini, Gieseke, González Pons, de Grandes Pascual, Gräßle, Grossetête, Grzyb, Gyürk, Hellvig, Herranz García, Hetman, Hohlmeier, Hökmark, Hölvényi, Hortefeux, Hübner, Jahr, Jazłowiecka, Jiménez-Becerril Barrio, Joulaud, Juvin, Kalinowski, Karas, Kariņš, Kefalogiannis, Kelam, Kósa, Kovatchev, Kozłowska-Rajewicz, Kudrycka, Kuhn, Kukan, Kyrtsos, Lamassoure, Landsbergis, Langen, Lavrilleux, Le Grip, Lewandowski, Liese, Lins, Lope Fontagné, López-Istúriz White, Łukacijewska, McAllister, Maletić, Malinov, Mănescu, Mann, Marinescu, Martusciello, Matera, Mato, Metsola, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Morano, Morin-Chartier, Mureşan, Muselier, Mussolini, Niebler, Olbrycht, Pabriks, Patriciello, Paunova, Peterle, Petir, Pieper, Pitera, Plenković, Plura, Pogliese, Polčák, Ponga, Pospíšil, Preda, Proust, Rangel, Reul, Ribeiro, Rosati, Ruas, Saïfi, Salini, Sander, Saudargas, Schöpflin, Schulze, Schwab, Sernagiotto, Siekierski, Sógor, Spyraki, Štefanec, Štětina, Stier, Stolojan, Šuica, Šulin, Szájer, Szejnfeld, Tajani, Theocharous, Thun und Hohenstein, Tőkés, Tomc, Toti, Urutchev, Valcárcel, Vălean, Verheyen, Voss, Vozemberg, Wałęsa, Weber Manfred, Weber Renate, Wenta, Wieland, Winkler Hermann, Winkler Iuliu, Záborská, Zagorakis, Zdechovský, Zdrojewski, Zeller, Zver
S&D: Aguilera García, Andrieu, Androulakis, Assis, Ayala Sender, Balas, Balčytis, Berès, Blanco López, Blinkevičiūtė, Bonafè, Borzan, Boştinaru, Bresso, Cabezón Ruiz, Christensen, Cozzolino, Cristea, Dalli, Dăncilă, Danti, De Castro, Delvaux, De Monte, Denanot, Drăghici, Ertug, Fajon, Fernández, Ferreira Elisa, Flašíková Beňová, Fleckenstein, Freund, Frunzulică, García Pérez, Gardiazabal Rubial, Gebhardt, Geier, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Grapini, Groote, Gualtieri, Guerrero Salom, Guillaume, Gutiérrez Prieto, Hoffmann, Jaakonsaari, Jáuregui Atondo, Kaili, Kammerevert, Kaufmann, Keller Jan, Köster, Krehl, Kumpula-Natri, Kyrkos, Lange, Lauristin, Liberadzki, Lietz, López Aguilar, Łybacka, Mamikins, Maňka, Manscour, Martin Edouard, Maurel, Mavrides, Melior, Moisă, Molnár, Morgano, Mosca, Negrescu, Nekov, Neuser, Nica, Niedermüller, Noichl, Panzeri, Paolucci, Pargneaux, Paşcu, Peillon, Pittella, Preuß, Rebega, Revault D'Allonnes Bonnefoy, Rodrigues Maria João, Rodríguez-Piñero Fernández, Rodust, Rozière, Sant, Sassoli, Schuster, Silva Pereira, Simon Peter, Sippel, Smolková, Soru, Steinruck, Tănăsescu, Tapardel, Thomas, Toia, von Weizsäcker, Werner, Westphal, Zala, Zemke, Zorrinho
Abstentions (o): 58 votes
ALDE: van Baalen, Bilbao Barandica, de Sarnez, Faria, Girauta Vidal, Goerens, Ježek, Lambsdorff, Mlinar, Müller
ECR: Hannan, Tošenovský, Zahradil
EFDD: Mazuronis
GUE/NGL: Hadjigeorgiou, Le Hyaric, Mélenchon, Sylikiotis
NI: Balczó, Bizzotto, Borghezio, Boutonnet, Grigule, Kappel, Kovács, Lebreton, Le Pen Marine, Loiseau, Mayer, Monot, Morvai, Obermayr, Philippot, Vilimsky
EPP: Becker, Clune, Gál, Hayes, Kelly, Koch, Köstinger, McGuinness, Melo, Reding, Rübig, Schmidt
S&D: Costa, Kadenbach, Kofod, Leichtfried, López, Moretti, Picierno, Regner, Sehnalová, Valenciano Martínez-Orozco, Weidenholzer
Greens/EFA: Ždanoka
Source: http://supportgreens.eu/bullfighting/results
Torture is no Culture!
Bullfighting is one of the most cruel forms of animal abuse.
Every year, more than 250,000 bulls and cows are tortured and killed
worldwide during bullfights and similar events.
Please SIGN the PETITION to UNESCO
against the declaration of bullfights as World Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This petition is in Spanish, English and French
Thank you!
For more facts about bullfighting,
please visit StopBullfighting.org
Sources & references
1. http://www.drclas.harvard.edu/publications/revistaonline/spring-2012/bullfights
2. http://www.iwab.org/
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish-style_bullfighting
4. http://www.totalspain.org/bullfighting.htm
5. http://www.hsi.org/issues/bullfighting/facts/child_bullfighters.html#2
