|  | |
Anti-bullfighting bill introduced VISIT OUR ANTI-BULLFIGHTING PAGE FOR RECENT UPDATES
On April 8, 2004, the Catalonian Parliament took a landmark step by considering a new bill that would ban bullfights.
The bill was introduced by MP Oriol Amoros, of the Izquierda Republica party, and comes after years of campaigning by the Asociacion Defensa Derechos Animal (ADDA) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).
Just days earlier, ADDA and WSPA presented a petition to the President of the Catalan Parliament, signed by 453,000 people who oppose bullfighting.  | | WSPA and ADDA deliver 453,000 signatures of those opposed to bullfighting. |
If passed, the bill would radically update the existing Catalan Animal Protection Law (22/2003) by prohibiting any events involving the killing of bulls or use of lethal weapons, including spears, ‘banderillas' and swords – this would in essence put an end to bullfighting in Catalonia.
Leah Garces, WSPA Campaigns Director, said: “This pioneering move could mark the beginning of the end of bullfighting in Spain and indeed the world. We commend the courage that the Catalan people have shown - they are taking a stand against animal cruelty that has no place in the modern world.”
Carmen Mendez, ADDA President, commented, “The rest of the world is watching and waiting - it only takes one brave leader for the rest to follow. We hope the Catalan Parliament will rise to the challenge and become this leader by banning bullfighting in Catalonia.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a supporter of ADDA and WSPA's ‘Culture Without Cruelty' campaign calling for an end to bullfighting, said, "I'm opposed to the killing of bulls - animals should not be killed in the name of human entertainment. In the 21st century, bullfighting should be confined to the history books." Other international figures supporting the campaign include Sir Paul McCartney, Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop International, and primatologist Dr Jane Goodall.
Since Barcelona declared itself an anti-bullfight city, on 6th April last year, other Spanish towns have followed suit, including Torello, Calldetenes, and Olot, which has the second oldest ring in Spain.
An opinion poll commissioned by WSPA and ADDA late last year revealed that more than 80% of people in Catalonia agree that bullfights are unjustified and cruel events. The results echo those of other polls conducted in Catalonia and Barcelona since 2002.   | |