WSPA Campaign Against Bullfighting

More than 10,000 bulls are tortured and killed each year in Europe's bullrings. Due to persistent campaigning by WSPA and other animal welfare groups, lethal bullfights have been banned in many countries. Attempts to introduce bullfighting have been successfully stopped in Egypt, Mozambique, Greece, Italy and Poland.

WSPA is working to:

• Encouraging tourists to boycott bullfighting

• Persuading governments to ban bullfighting

• Urging governments to pass laws making all cruel sports illegal

It's not widely known that France is Europe's second home for bullfighting; and as Jonathan Pearce reports, the spectacle is no less bloody there than on its home territory.

Wielding a slender sword the matador moved forward to finish off the stricken bull. His first attempt left a deep wound in the side of the animal. The bull made a loud howling noise as the blade pierced its lungs.

Antony Losada attempted to stay calm, enacting a series of grotesque poses to show the discipline of his so-called art; but after several more failed attempts the thrusts of his sword became more and more desperate. The crowd grew restless. The bull was exhausted and recoiled in pain. Unable to charge, it stared in confusion at the red cape. The eighth stab must have found the bull's heart and it slowly collapsed, choking on blood. Losada received a quiet applause.

Watching this dreadful scene with Claire Starozinski, President of the anti-bullfight group ASACC, it conjured up an image of what it must be like to witness a public lynching or to see gladiators fight in ancient Rome. But this was a small town in Southern France in 1998; a crowd of around 1,500 people had chosen to spend a Sunday afternoon watching six bulls slowly tortured and killed.

The spectators at the small arena in St Gilles, whom I could only assume were otherwise normal people, showed no concern or pity for the animal. At one point a bull that had been stabbed twice in the back began to breakdown from the massive blood loss. The crowd joined together in a slow hand clap as its legs trembled and its body shook for a full 30 seconds. The clapping turned to cheers as the bull collapsed to the ground in agony.

Bullfights like this are a wholly Spanish tradition which have grown strong roots in France. The first recorded event took place in the town of Bayonne in 1701. By the early part of the nineteenth century, Spanish style bullfights were being held in many Southern towns and in 1889, an arena was built in Paris.

An Animal Protection Law was passed in 1850 which prohibited the blood sport but strong opposition in the south forced the government to reverse its decision, and within two years bullfights were allowed to take place under permit from local mayors.

Today, there are around forty towns regularly holding events, stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Côte d'Azur. In 1996, there were 107 bullfights staged in these centres, resulting in the death of more than six hundred animals. These figures do not include events in which the bulls are not killed in the arena, or the numerous private bullfights in which the cruelties can be even worse.

A national opinion poll in France conducted in 1993 showed that an overwhelming 83% of the population were against bullfighting. Even in Nîmes, where the economy is hugely dependent of the influx of tourists who come for the festival, support is declining. A survey commissioned by ASACC revealed that 55% of the population of Nîmes were opposed to public funds being used to promote bullfights.

"The poll was very encouraging for us," commented Clarie Starozinski. "It also showed that 75% of young people would like to see Spanish style bullfights replaced by the French tradition known as Course Camarguaise, a bloodless event in which competitors attempt to remove a ring placed over the horns of a bull." Unfortunately, support for bullfighting is strong amongst the French establishment, from the media, which reports positively on events, to the main political parties which all provide subsidies for bullfights. As yet, no major parties have opposed this practice although in response to a recent campaign some parties declined to mention the funding of bullfights in their manifestos.

Robert Clavijo, who has campaigned for many years with the Béziers-based group COLBAC characterises the bullfight supports as extremely well organised and determined. "In Béziers there are no more than 1,000 bullfighting fans, but they have established more than 20 different clubs," he explains. "These are active all year round organising any number of different events which attract the attention of the media and potential sponsors. In this way, a small minority of fans are able to generate subsidies from all quarters and give the impression that the bullfight is an authentic and essential aspect of the cultural life of Béziers."

But despite their best efforts, there is good evidence that ordinary people are rejecting bullfights. In August last year, the three fiestas at Béziers, Bayonne and Dax all bore witness to half empty bullrings, and the organisers of an event at the plaza of Le Grau-du-Roi acknowledged a 40 per cent drop in attendance.

Other victories have been won. ASSAC took up a complaint with the French Minister of Justice after two child bullfighters performed at events in Nîmes and Arles. Subsequently the court prevented El Juli, aged 12 and Andy Cartagena, aged 15 from taking part in more bullfights until they were 16. Unfortunately, there is no law to stop children watching bullfights - they are admitted for free.

Bullfights are often held to raise money for charity. For the organisers, this gives them an excuse to charge lower admission prices to try and draw in more spectators since charity events do not have to charge tax on admission prices. After being challenged for receiving proceeds from the torture of animals, the Director General of the Association des Paralyses de France, one of the country's most important charities, acknowledged their poor judgement and agreed never to accept money from bullfights again.

An important bullfight-free zone in Southern France is Marseilles, the region's biggest city. Bullfights were last performed there in 1962 and recently attempts have been made to re-establish the tradition. This year a demonstration was organised in the city by FLAC, the French federation against bullfighting, and the Council affirmed its position not to permit bullfights. For now, at least, Marseilles remains a haven of anti-blood sports in the heart of France's most bloodthirsty region.

It is through decisions like this that the end of bullfighting will be seen in France. Step by step, decent people with some influence within the establishment of French society, need to stand up to the bullies of an industry which brutalises animals and people alike.

This year WSPA has been working hard to focus attention on the continuation of bullfighting in France, and has supported an annual demonstration against the blood sport in Nîmes. In conjunction with our member society Aequalis, WSPA has distributed leaflets to tourists all over France, urging them to avoid the towns that organise bullfights and to sign a petition. These were handed to the Mayor of Nîmes in September at a peaceful demonstration organised by ASACC.

Muriel Arnal, President of Aequalis, believes that the battle can be won in France more easily than in Spain. She explained why the time is right for a strong campaign, "This Summer, as the World Cup is staged here, France will be hosting the world's most popular sporting event; we need to make it absolutely clear that no civilised person wants to see the continuation of the world's ugliest sport."

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