The European Union cuts subsidies to bullfighting

Il Parlamento europeo ha deciso di eliminare i fondi destinati agli allevamenti di tori per la corrida.

Drugs and purgatives, blows with sandbags, smoothed horns to increase pain sensitivity, turpentine on paws, vaseline on the nose and in the eyes, pins in skewered in testicles.

 

corrida
Bullfighting in Spain

 

These are only some of the tortures bulls undergo before entering the arena to participate to what is defined a “folkloristic show of cultural interest”, the bullfighting.

 

On Wednesday 28 October we’ve finally arrived at a turning point. With 438 votes in favour and 199 against, the European Parliament has approved an amendment to cut subsidies to bullfighting.

 

manifestazione contro la corrida
Demonstration against bullfighting

 

The decision has arrived after years of protests. For example, the Italian association Animalisti Italiani Onlus launched in 2013 a campaign against bullfighting and waste of European public money, underlining how subsidies that should be destined to support agriculture actually contribute to torture and kill at least 40,000 bulls each year.

 

Last year, a similar amendment was vetoed because it didn’t reached the quorum. The 58 parliament members who abstained thus allowed the approval of subsidies. Despite the EU has cut the funds, Spain continues to claim the cultural, traditional value of bullfighting. It is thus possible that it will overcome the lack of European subsidies by using its own budget.

 

However, figures suggest a decline in this barbarity: 72% of Spanish people is in favour to abolish bullfighting, which is now a “show” fuelled exclusively by tourists.

 

toro
Bull

 

There’s still a long way to go, as there are numerous rooted celebrations exploiting different animal species all over Europe. However, there’s an ongoing change and one day we won’t need to inflict pain and death to enjoy ourselves any more.

Translated by

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