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place as the result of a petition brought to parliament, signed by 180,000 people who say the practice is barbaric and outdated.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

 

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 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.

 

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

 

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.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10784611

 

 

 

 

 

Personally I don't really care much for why they banned it. Just glad that they have.

 

What chance the rest of Spain votes on it?

 

 

 

The whole "tradition" argument for this sort of thing is absolute bullsh!t anyway... I mean, it was "tradition" for Fox-hunting, dog-fighting, cock-fighting and bear-baiting to take place as well, so, I guess we Europeans should keep those "traditions" too then, eh....?

 

Even though I do eat meat, this is a good day for those of us who actually do believe that animals should be treated with some dignity... Bullfighting has bugger all to do with sustenance, it's the wholesale exploitation and barbaric slaughter of animals for so-called "sport", this is not acceptable in a civilised 21st Century Europe....

Good decision. Now what about cock-fighting in the Philippines? Or lovely male Siamese Fighters, fish, deliberately put together to fight in Thailand? Females are fine together but two males will fight until one is dead.

Edited July 28, 201014 yr by Common Sense

Good decision. Now what about cock-fighting in the Philippines? Or lovely male Siamese Fighters, fish, deliberately put together to fight in Thailand?

 

Didn't know Philippines and Thailand were in the EU Chris.... :lol: :lol:

Didn't know Philippines and Thailand were in the EU Chris.... :lol: :lol:

 

No but they're barbaric spectator sports that should be banned in those countries. Didn't know we were just talking about the EU.

There was a really arrogant tosser on Sky News earlier (never normally watch it but it's my main source of news here in southern France :( ) trying to defend bull-fighting. He actually said to his female opponent "You don't understand bull-fighting my dear".

good.

There was a really arrogant tosser on Sky News earlier (never normally watch it but it's my main source of news here in southern France :( ) trying to defend bull-fighting. He actually said to his female opponent "You don't understand bull-fighting my dear".

 

 

Wonder if it was the same guy who was Sky News yesterday morning who said he took his 16 year-old daughter, at her request and she loved it!

There was a really arrogant tosser on Sky News earlier (never normally watch it but it's my main source of news here in southern France :( ) trying to defend bull-fighting. He actually said to his female opponent "You don't understand bull-fighting my dear".

 

"Yeah, cos the supposed "complexities" of the "sport" really justify animal cruelty don't they..." would have been the perfect way to reply to that one..... -_-