Comedian, Ricky Gervais, applauds Catalonian parliament's move to ban bullfighting

As a direct result of a citizens’ advocacy campaign in Catalonia, local politicians have approved a debate on changes to the Catalan Animal Protection Law. Currently, all animals except bulls and horses used in bullfights are protected by this legislation.

Today’s result puts in motion a Parliamentary process that will take place at the Catalonian parliament during the first half of 2010. Future votes could result in extending the Animal Protection Law to these animals, which will effectively result in the enforcement of a ban of bullfighting.

WSPA supporter Ricky Gervais, who has very publicly condemned bullfighting, says: "Where is the fun in seeing a bull speared to death? I think it is fantastic that the people of Catalonia have spoken out and forced their government to debate ending such an outdated and cruel ‘sport’. Traditions are valuable, but not at the cost of another animal’s suffering. I hope the Catalonian government makes the right choice and shows that there is no place for bullfighting in the modern world when the next vote takes place.”

WSPA New Zealand’s Progammes Manager, Bridget Vercoe, said polls have repeatedly shown that bullfighting is not a tradition most Catalonias are proud of. Earlier this year, more than 180,000 Catalonian citizens united behind Plataforma ‘Prou’ (“Enough” in English) demanding an end to the bloody cruelty of bullfighting in their region.

“Over 85,000 WSPA supporters from 140 countries, including New Zealand, have signed on to a petition campaign in support of Prou, an indication of the level of international interest in this momentous step Catalonia is taking. Not only would a successful PLI in Catalonia lead to 100 less bulls a year being inhumanely slaughtered in the ring, it could also lead the way for the rest of Spain and other bullfighting countries to embrace a modern culture without cruelty,” she said.

The anti-bullfighting movement has experienced growing support throughout the world, with a surge in the last two years of towns and regions across Europe and Latin America having declared themselves ‘anti-bullfighting’.

Note to editors:

• 70 municipalities in Catalonia have declared their opposition to bullfights, including Barcelona.
• According to Spain’s paper, La Vanguardia, only 1/5th of Barcelona’s bullring’s seats were occupied at the season’s opening (they had already had to reduce the fights to fortnightly instead of weekly due to low attendance).
• Polls conducted in Catalonia have repeatedly shown a lack of support of the Catalonians for bullfights. In March 2007, a Gallup poll on opinions of bullfighting has found that 80.7% of Catalonian people were not interested at all in the activity.
• For a list of cities that have declared themselves ‘anti-bullfighting’ please visit: http://www.prou.cat/index.php?idiom=cat