Bullfighting action

This is Catalonia’s infamous blood sport: men on foot or horseback repeatedly stab a trapped, exhausted bull with knives and spears. After twenty minutes, most are dead.

Polls repeatedly show that this is NOT a tradition most Catalonians are proud of.

This year, over 180,000 Catalonian citizens have united behind the Prou (‘enough’) campaign, demanding an end to the bloody cruelty of bullfighting in their region.

The Prou campaign calls for a modification to Catalonian animal protection law, which currently safeguards all animals except the bulls and horses used in bullfights.

Overwhelming public support has forced the Catalonian Parliament to schedule a vote on removing the exemption; it will take place later in 2009.

A ‘yes’ vote for animal welfare in this key region would be a groundbreaking step towards making bullfighting history across Spain.

Make it happen. Support the Catalonian people and say ‘enough’!

Already 69 Catalonian towns have declared themselves anti-bullfighting. Your encouragement at this vital moment can inspire politicians with the confidence to vote for an end to this archaic ‘sport’ throughout Catalonia.

Enough is enough. Let’s show the Catalonian Parliament that their citizens’ anti-cruelty campaign has worldwide backing.

Please add your name to this letter. We will deliver your signature and message to every Catalonian MP.

Title

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

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Dear Member of Parliament,

The current Catalonian Animal Defence Law of 2008* condemns all cruelty and forbids any spectacle where an animal is ill-treated or killed, with the exception of bullfighting. Catalonian law therefore denies the bulls and horses used in bullfights the protection accorded to all other animals.

As you know, the citizens of Catalonia have recently been presented with an opportunity to voice their opinion on this exemption. The Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP) that has been in motion since December 2008, under the name Plataforma Prou, has received an overwhelming response from the Catalonian people, easily reaching the 50,000 signatures required to force a parliamentary vote.

In fact, an unprecedented 180,000 signatures have been collected, all calling for bullfighting to be banned.

Every individual that has signed the ILP has done so in order to inform you and your colleagues – their representatives at the Catalonian Parliament – that they support a modification to the animal protection law that removes the exemption of bullfighting. They want you to recognise that the bulls and horses involved in bullfights are sentient beings, capable of suffering, and deserve the same protection that other species enjoy in Catalonia.

I am adding my signature to this letter in support of the Catalonian people’s call for action. While my support cannot be officially recognised, it is important for the Catalonian Parliament to know that individuals across the world back the proposed modification to the law and that we look forward to celebrating a democratic, historic decision that represents progress towards recognition that all animals can suffer.

I therefore call on you, in your role as representative of the Catalonian people, to respect their call of ‘enough is enough’ and vote in favour of the modification: the time has come for an end to bullfighting in Catalonia.

Yours faithfully

* Decreto Legislativo 2/2008 de 15 de Abril por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la ley de protección de los animales (legislative resolution 2/2008 from April 15 by which the consolidated text of the law of protection of animals is approved).

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