For the first time in 15 years, bullfighting has reappeared in Albox, a municipality in the Spanish province of Almeria. The cruel sport was included on this year’s All Saints Day itinerary — a council decision that was defended by local mayor Francisco Torrecilla in an interview with the Euro Weekly News.
Torrecilla stated that his administration received an overwhelming number of requests from bullfighting enthusiasts for a revival of the sport. He also justified the decision by pointing out that bullfighting has ‘national fiesta’ status and is not illegal.
Others have defended the return of bullfighting to Albox. One local, Manuel Gutierrez, stated of the protesters: “They don’t understand the fiesta. They don’t know about the money it generates.”
Joaquin Horta of Granada, who was working the ticket booth, believes that people who are against bullfighting don’t consider a bull’s “privileged life” prior to its entry into the ring or the “sacrifices” made by bullfighters.
Despite such glorification of the sport, its incorporation into the All Saints Day program was also met with opposition. A peaceful protest was held by Antitaurinos Almeria, an anti-bullfighting organization, in front of the temporary ring in La Molata.
Protesters made their concerns clear at the demonstration, shouting statements like “this is a national disgrace” and “this is not for children.” They also blew whistles and waved placards. Among the protesters were expatriates and British residents.
One protester, Audrey Bullen, described bullfighting as “unspeakable” and “barbaric.” She also pointed out the apparent hypocrisy of a country that is known for its animal welfare campaigns condoning the sport.
Vicky Evans, a volunteer with the Albox-based animal rights organization APSA, was motivated to participate in the protest by her strong convictions against bullfighting. It was the first protest she ever attended.
Amparo Rodriguez likened the sport’s comeback in Albox to “an enormous step backwards in a civilized society” and echoed the sentiments of many anti-bullfighting activists: “There is no tradition, culture or art in something which is the suffering of a living creature.”
What’s New…
This stupid , cruel so- called sport MUST be abolished!!
Cruelty needs to STOP!
Please everyone find the Stephen Eke petition on Change.org it’s close to 100,000.. He is sending a letter to the Pope once it reaches 100,000 seeing if the head of the Catholic Church will publicly condemn what happens to Bovine animals in the name of one catholic saint or another. This petition involves specifically the Bull Burning Fiestas that happen all over Spain an utter abhorrence if ever there was one.
FIND the petition — copy its address — paste it here on this forum in comment box.
Stop Bull fighting completely. So sad these bulls see how cruel humans are to them, and they are so alone. Shame on you bull fighters. Bull fighters cause much injury, pain and death to the bulls. It is Pirate Master fault that he got injuried in the bull fighting, he caused it. The bulls are forced to defend themselves, and force to fight.
I lived in Mexico years ago as a child, and at a bullfight, witnessed a bull jump into the spectator section. The bull was the most terrified, panicked creature I had ever seen. Everyone was screaming as the bull neared me. I looked into his eyes, and saw something I will never forget. Abject terror, desperation and hopelessness. All he wanted was to exit to safety. He knew he was doomed. I stayed where I was. I was not afraid of the bull, but I understood his panic could have inadvertently injured me. My heart broke for him. He was chased back into the arena, where he was eventually taunted to death, skewered, and killed. That event is etched in my soul. All the blood sports throughout the years that have involved animals must stop. goats in Afghanistan, bear baiting, dog fighting, cock fighting, it’s all just so horrible.
This is truly heart-breaking — to engage in such horror — to go out of one’s way to create this brutal event — inflicting such torturous suffering on innocent, vulnerable animals who are always at human being’s mercy — only irrational, hateful MONSTERS would engage in such sadistic events — what’s more, these events are NOT entertaining, they are NOT fun, they do NOT prove a thing — in brief, there is no pay-off — WHY do this! — we all get to feel sick, terrorized, depressed, heartbroken — need I go on.
Senor Torrecilla should play the bull, not the Mayor.
VERY VERY LITTLE LOVE TOWARDS ANIMALS IN SPAIN. I LIVED THERE FOR 20YRS. REALLY BACK 100YRS TOWARDS ANIMALS. IT’S DISGUSTING WHAT THEY DO TO THEIR HUNTING DOGS. SUCH A SICK MENTALITY TOWARDS ANIMALS. THAT’S WHY MEXICO CENTRAL AMERICA MOST OF SO. AMERICA ARE LIKE THIS. SPAIN IS THE MOTHER COUNTRY. ALMOST ALL OF IT IS DONE FOR RELIGION. BASTARDS
Yes — thank you — you are probably right — there are many now, in present day Spain — who want to abolish, demolish, destroy these horrific bullfighting events — let’s do everything we can to help them — by the way, there are quite a few arenas that have already been closed — let’s keep up this momentum.
I wish i could boycott them better than i already do. PPL have been rightly talking mess about them and what do they do? Learn a lesson? Nope,they turn more idiotic. Sacrifices the bullfighters make?Buzz off. We don’t understand the fiesta? The whole world knows what the sht it is and condemns it. These ppl should not have kids. Maybe some weather will get them or something. Poor animals. These ppl have no right to bother normal sane animals who act better than them. I think them ppl are brain damaged.Definitely pansies.
This is heartbreaking. It feels like one step forward and two steps back in the fight to stop appalling cruelty to the helpless. I pray that the next great extinction this poor planet experiences is the demise of any human that justifies or perpetuates such evil behavior against any other of Mother Earth’s species.
Perfect. An extinction I can get behind! Brava!
Employ more female law makers they should ban these rituals. Wonderful to see so many protesters.
REMEMBER — We need more HUMANS who respect, love and care about animals — both men and women fit this profile.
I respect and have pride for the activists of Spain. This is such a primitive and barbaric act of torture. Why do so-called “humans” want to continue to destroy animals, the environment, etc. and still want to be referred to as “civilized humans.” They are truly less than an uncivilized Neanderthal. It’s hard to believe that we are in the 21st century with all this inhumane cruelty against animals and other humans are being perpetrated.
Gotta rethink “Neanderthal”. Recent info indicates they were more humane than we thought. As to the rest of your comment, spot on.
Stop this horrible horse shit
Incompréhensible que de telles barbaries persistent au 21ème siècle. Qui sont donc ces “humains” capables de torturer ou d’assister à ces spectacles sanglants où un animal est massacré dans une euphorie malsaine . Il est inquiétant de constater que la cupidité, la cruauté, le sadisme , etc … sont toujours présents chez de nombreuses personnes, et entretenir toutes ces bassesses et lâchetés sont une honte pour les responsables des villes organisatrices de ces spectacles monstrueux, et les dirigeants de ce pays qui n’évolue guère vers le respect de la vie, quelle qu’elle soit.
I would have loved to have left a comment but Randoph Cirilo has said everything for me. His comments make so much sense and point to the total mockery and hypocrisy of these ignorant stupid people. Congratulations Almeria for taking such a huge retrospective step back into the Dark Ages.
Hey Torrycilla! A great way to honor your saints, by torturing and slaughtering one of Gods creatures!! Makes perfect sense to me, moron!! You call it tradition, what would you call it if we through your son in the ring to be stabbed and drugged and tormented?!? What do you think that bull feels, tradition?!? Your stupid, foolish, evil man! You and anyone that enjoys this are ignorant and evil fools! Cowards! Pick up a knife, get in the ring and fight each other of you want sport you stupid assholes!!
I am so proud of our activist friends in Spain who risk so much to protest against this grotesque form of ‘entertainment’.VENCEREMOS! (WE WILL OVERCOME!)
What a huge step back and so disappointing! Shame on the official who authorized this to be reinstated. I dare say money is involved in this. Greed is always present when terrible things are done to people and animals! Shameful!
Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.” If you accept this idea, then you must agree that clearly the country of Spain is woefully lacking in moral progress.
MONEY TALKS. BOYCOTT all bull-torturing countries. Do not even travel through them. They are barbarians, but even barbarians need tourist money. Loss of the tens of millions of tourist dollars, euros, etc., yearly will have a huge impact on their economies. MONEY TALKS. [email protected]
All Saints Day to me use to mean something, but not to these idiots. Don’t profess religion when you do this to innocent animals.
This is barbaric and must stop.
This must stop. What a backward step for Spanish civilisation.
HOW POETIC…SPANIARDS PROTESTING THE BLOODSPORT OF SPAIN! NOTHING HUMAME ABOUT BULLFIGHTING…ALASKA’S IDITAROD…GREYHOUND PARKS… THE TRIPLE CROWN OF THOROUGHBREDS…NOTHING HUMANE!!! PUT GREEDY STUPID INHUMANE HUMANS TO THE TEST…
TORTURE IS NOT CULTURE — bullfighting is a shameful, sadistic, cowardly, unconscionably cruel event — the well-being of the BULL is NOT taken into consideration at all — bulls suffer from Day One — the bulls are made to torturously suffer for the pure pleasure & entertainment it gives to the humans — SHAME ON YOU — only hateful, irrational cowards would engage in such barbarity.
Hopefully it stops !!!
What a bunch of pathetic, miserable ‘excuses’ so these blood-thirsty, heartless, soul-less, depraved pieces of human trash can carry on torturing and murdering bulls for their own perverted pleasure. There’s always the excuse that its for ‘religion, culture, tradition’ well, so was burning witches at stakes and public hangings and beheading, do these mindless animal abusers and killers want those brought back as well??? Come on TOURISTS, stop visiting this cess-pit country and tell them WHY, let these soul-less animal abusers know that YOU do not support these barbaric and sadistic ‘cultural’ atrocities. And to think these brain-dead POS actually PAY to watch such heinous brutality and cruelty.
This just shows the hold the RC Church has over the people by keeping them in the darkness of superstition.
Just barbaric. Spain are going forward in a lot of ways, but this is surely going backwards. Unfortunately, many small children were taken along to the event. Not a thing for future generations. 90% of the people protesting and against the event were in fact Spanish! And 10% other nationalities. The Mayor wants to make this an annual event. It doesnt bear thinking about. Let’s hope in the local elections coming soon he is voted out and bullfighting becomes a thing of the past worldwide.
I’m a Spaniard and I’m ashamed how this country treats animals – not just this festivity but there are other’s just as gruesome Everyone has been brainwashed from generation to generation. We probably need to take classes in school for empathy and other humane senses that are “missing” from neglect and having fathers and forefathers practice nothing but bravery against poor creatures that should be protected. This is no longer caveman days – there is nothing “machista” about torturing an animal. There is nothing to conquer on the earth or the sky – but ignorance and cruelty..
Well said Frances.
¿Por qué, por qué, por qué, ustedes los españoles continúan con un camino cruel, ignorante, codicioso, no evolucionado a las llamadas “tradiciones “? ¿Es matar por el infierno de su tradición? Si es así, entonces todos ustedes necesitan estar extintos como obviamente la evolución nunca LLEGArá a España. ¡ SÓLO volvemos a tiempos preHISTÓRICOs!
I find it especially hypocritical that bullfighting is “celebrated” on Christian holidays. In this case All Saints’ Day. The traditional beginning of the bullfighting season is Easter Sunday. What a pagan ritual to trot out for public display on such a remarkable Christian holiday as Easter Sunday!