Protest bullfighting as French cultural heritage

Please click on and sign the following two petitions (see below for translation instructions):

1. Stop Plans to Honour Bullfighting
2. Protest against bullfighting as French cultural heritage!

1. Background | From PETA

Despite growing worldwide condemnation of killing bulls for sport, France’s Minister of Culture has declared bullfighting to be one of the country’s cultural treasures. This opens the door for the deadly pastime to be considered for inclusion in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation – better known as UNESCO – “World Intangible Heritage List”. Making the list is seen as both prestigious and a source of pride.

Countless bulls are stabbed to death in arenas throughout France and Spain. Bulls are teased and provoked before being led into bullfighting arenas where they are surrounded by screaming crowds. The confused and agitated bulls will naturally “fight” for their lives as men on horses run them in circles while repeatedly piercing them with banderillas (barb-tipped wooden daggers) until they are dizzy, weakened from blood loss and suffering agonising pain. The horses, who are blindfolded, can also suffer serious injuries when they can’t avoid a charging bull. The matador comes in when the exhausted bull is already near death. The bulls are often still conscious as their ears and tail are cut off as “trophies” and as they are dragged from the ring on chains.

The cultural heritage designation flies in the face of growing opposition to these deadly events. Last year, two French MPs introduced a bill in Parliament to ban bullfighting, calling the fights “barbaric spectacles”. The bill has been co-signed by 12 other parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, including UMP member Jean-Marc Roubaud who said, “Bullfighting is an anachronism. In an already extremely violent world, simply adding to the brutality is shameful”.

Petition Message | English Translation

Dear Mr Mitterrand,
Dear Mr Prime Minister,

I am writing to you to express our shock and dismay at learning that you have designated bullfighting as a cultural heritage. We urge you to withdraw this proposal without delay.  Glorifying the deliberate slaughter of animals cannot and should not be tolerated in a civilised society. Despite the history of bullfighting in France, times and sensibilities have progressed.  Torturing animals for entertainment is now rightly looked upon with condemnation and censure.

France stands alone in paying tribute to these bloody spectacles by designating them a cultural heritage. We urge you to reverse course with this plan and consign bullfighting to history alongside other shameful reminders of our past.

Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,

Vodpod videos no longer available.

2. Background | From CAS International

culture schmulture
no excuse
that argument is just an
example
of cruel and obtuse!!!

Karen Lyons Kalmenson