Each year during Holy Week, coastal communities in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina conduct a violent festival known as "Farra do Boi", which loosely translates to "Oxen Fun Days." This festival is anything but fun, and features a frightened ox being chased through the streets by drunken revelers. Often, the animal is driven into the sea and drowned, or it is simply beaten and tortured to death.

After years of campaigning by WSPA and legal proceedings spearheaded by our member society, Sozed, the Farra do Boi was banned by the Brazilian Supreme Court in 1997. Polls have shown that the majority of Brazilians do not support Farras.  However, there are some communities where the tradition continues and local police and politicians refuse to take an unpopular stand against the festivals.

One of the most effective tools in the fight against the Farra do Boi is public opinion. There is an urgent need for a stronger  enforcement to wipe out this activity and you can help us pressure Brazilian authorities to uphold the law by sending a message to the Governor of Santa Catarina and other officials. Below, you will find a sample message written in Brazilian Portuguese (along with an English translation) that you may want to use.

Sample message:

Instamos para que seu governo faca cumprir a decisao do Supremo Tribunal Federal, de 1997, de proibir a Farra do Boi como pratica intrinsecamente cruel. Este ritual selvagem que implica na tortura e matanca de bois principalemente durante a Pascoa denigre a imagem do estado de Santa Catarina e e um incentivo e desrespeito as leis brasileiras.

Signed:
Country:

[English translation]

We urge you to comply with the Brazilian Supreme Court decision of 1997, which prohibits Farra do Boi as an intrinsically cruel practice. This savage ritual, resulting in the torture and slaughter of oxen, especially during Easter, stains the image of the state of Santa Catarina and encourages violence and disrespect of Brazilian laws.

Send this message to:

Dr. Luiz Henrique da Silveira
Governado do Estado de Santa Catarina
Centro Administrativo
Rod. SC 401-Km. 05 N 4600
88032-000 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil
E-mail: camich@pm.sc.gov.br
Tel: 55-48-221-3130  Fax: 55-48-221-3160

Coronel Ivan Morelli
Comandante Geral da Policia Militar de SC
E-mail: cmtg@pm.sc.gov.br

Dr. Ronaldo Benedet
Secretario de Seguranca Publica
Rus Esteves Junior, 80
88015-530 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil
E-mail: ssp@ssp.sc.gov.br

Please also send copies to these local Brazilian newspapers, as well as WSPA's Brazilian office:

Jornal A Noticia: opiniaoanc@an.com.br
Diario Catarinese: diariodoleitor@dc.com.br
WSPA Brazil: wspabrzl@iis.com.br