Catalonia bans bullfighting in landmark Spain vote

[Treffie]

The parliament of Catalonia has voted to ban bullfighting - the first region of mainland Spain to do so.

The vote took place as the result of a petition brought to parliament, signed by 180,000 people who say the practice is barbaric and outdated.

Bullfight supporters insist that the corrida, as it is known, is an important tradition to preserve.

They also fear the vote could be the first of many in the country. The ban takes effect in January 2012.

The last bullring In Wednesday's vote, 68 backed a ban, 55 voted against and nine abstained.

Barcelona's main bullring is one of the oldest in Spain, but support for the bullfight has waned. The Barcelona bullring is the only functioning one in Catalonia.

The vote was brought to the agenda by activists who argue it is cruel and unacceptable and say most spectators in Catalonia these days are tourists. The campaign was led by the animal rights lobby group Prou! (Enough!).

Supporters says the corrida is an art form that it is vital to preserve.

Catalan nationalism

The vote was close as the two main parties in parliament took the unusual step of allowing members to cast their ballots according to their conscience.

But while the official debate is over animal rights, many believe this process is an attempt by nationalist-minded Catalans to mark their difference from the rest of Spain by rejecting one of its best known traditions.

Pro-bullfighting groups fear that a ban could spark a wave of similar campaigns across the country. They argue that threatens the livelihood of thousands of people.

The first Spanish region to ban bullfighting was the Canary Islands, in 1991.

Deep-rooted tradition

A bullfight typically lasts about 20 minutes, and the bull is stabbed numerous times before the fatal blow delivered with a sword blow between its shoulder blades.

The fighting bulls are specially bred and traditionally a corrida involves six bulls and three matadors, each of whom tackles two bulls.

In Portugal and the south of France the bull is not killed in the ring.

Bullfighting is also widespread in Latin America. The Plaza Mexico arena in Mexico City is the biggest in the world, seating up to 55,000 spectators. One of the oldest is the 18th-Century Plaza de Acho in Lima, Peru.

Source

[Liffrea]

Nothing against it on principle, however it should be made a fair contest, one man, one spear, one bull.

[antonio]

I hope Spanish Parliament will get the appropiate answer hence banning slaughter animal to human comsumption...just in Catalonia.

If they're so animal lovers as it seems, double cause for being happy will get!

[Comte Arnau]

But while the official debate is over animal rights, many believe this process is an attempt by nationalist-minded Catalans to mark their difference from the rest of Spain by rejecting one of its best known traditions.

Pro-bullfighting groups fear that a ban could spark a wave of similar campaigns across the country.

Spanish right media try to sell this as a nationalistic vote, saying everything Spanish is being banned in Catalonia. Apparently those non-Catalans who don't support bullfighting in Spain either -and who are probably a majority in many regions- must be 'bad Spaniards' for them...

Funny how nobody cared when it was banned in the Canary Islands but oh, everyone criticizes it now. When something happens in Catalonia, the DEFCON gets activated in Madrid.

I hope Spanish Parliament will get the appropiate answer hence banning slaughter animal to human comsumption...just in Catalonia.

Well I'm sorry for you, but agricultural regulation and comsumption are competencies devolved upon the Catalan Government.

[antonio]

Well I'm sorry for you, but agricultural regulation and comsumption are competencies devolved upon the Catalan Government.

But you know very well our common constitution is a text full of surprises.

Seriously, what makes me really hungry is that just one group seems to had conceding freedom of vote to their parliament members -and just for being PSC-PSOE, a party trying to appeal to heterogeneus voters- . The fact that majority of members were banned from voting on their innermost feelings on such subjective thing clearly tells what kind of "democracy" we're suffering.

[Sol Invictus]

Viva la autonomía!

[Comte Arnau]

But you know very well our common constitution is a text full of surprises.

I'm seriously worried about the Spanish State becoming an oligarchy. If we start a wheel in which everything approved by the Catalan Parliament is going to be appealed by the Popular Party and taken to the Constitutional Court, this means the power is up to half a dozen of outdated judges. Terrific. If there is a party in Spain that seems to wish the independence of Catalonia, that's the PP. At least their behavior looks like it.

Seriously, what makes me really hungry is that just one group seems to had conceding freedom of vote to their parliament members -and just for being PSC-PSOE, a party trying to appeal to heterogeneus voters- . The fact that majority of members were banned from voting on their innermost feelings on such subjective thing clearly tells what kind of "democracy" we're suffering.

Not only the Socialists. CiU deputies also had freedom to vote according to their conscience. Otherwise the result would have been known in advance.

That made up to 85 votes which were the decisive ones. We all knew that ERC and IV were going to vote against and that PPC and C's were going to vote in favor.