Goodyear remove billboard from "TG4 bullring" 11th July, 2003 The Mexico branch of the Goodyear Tyre Company have responded positively to an appeal by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports and removed a billboard from a local bullfighting arena. ICABS spotted the Goodyear advertisement billboard during the TG4 travel programme, Amu Amigos, which included a shocking segment on Mexican bullfighting. A bull was filmed being speared in the back and stabbed with spiked banderillas. Finally, with the animal severely injured, the matador moves in for the kill, plunging a spear between its shoulder blades and into its heart. The bleeding animal collapses onto the ground where it is finished off with a dagger to the head. "The sign was removed...Goodyear does not sponsor the bullfight season in Mexico. Thank you for your kind observation and please accept our recognition for your commitment to the preservation of fauna." (Ms. Pilar Bernal, Public Relations Manager, Goodyear Mexico) Most people would be absolutely disgusted and upset to see such animal abuse but the response of programme presenter, Hector O hEochagain, was to shake the matador's hand and express respect for him. ICABS was disgusted to see Hector O hEochagain: Declaring that he "loves the bullfighting" Hugging a matador who was on his way into a bullfighting arena to kill a bull Shaking the matador's hand moments after a bull is viciously stabbed to death Expressing "respect to Fabien, the bullfighter" His reaction to the appalling scenes prompted many to lodge complaints with TG4. Goodyear Mexico's Public Relations Officer, Ms. Pilar Bernal, wrote: "The sign was removed...Goodyear does not sponsor the bullfight season in Mexico." "Thank you for your kind observation and please accept our recognition for your commitment to the preservation of fauna," she added. ICABS congratulates Goodyear on its positive move. Meanwhile, we are appealing to Irish holidaymakers in Spain, Mexico, Portugal and other bullfighting countries to boycott the bullrings. An horrific scene from TG4's Amu Amigos. Congratulations to Goodyear Mexico for removing this advertisement sign.

Appeal to Irish Holidaymakers

This summer, Irish holidaymakers have the opportunity to help bring to an end one of the world's cruellest blood "sports". Bullfighting - which savagely claims the lives of tens of thousands of bulls every year - subjects each of its victims to the most horrific of suffering.

You can help abolish this sick excuse for a sport. When in Spain, Portugal, Mexico or other bullfighting countries, show your opposition to the inhumane treatment of animals and boycott the bullrings.

Each bullfight involves the slow torture to death of six or more bulls. The terror begins behind the scenes, before the fight, when the bull is severely handicapped. Cotton wool is stuffed into its nose to hamper breathing, vaseline is smeared into its eyes to blur vision and its horns are often painfully filed down to distort its sense of direction.

The worst is yet to come however. Once in the arena, horseback riders weaken the bull by stabbing its neck and shoulders with long, sharp lances. Then, to make it lower its head into the typical charging pose, six hooked spears are forcefully driven into its neck muscles. The cruelty culminates with a fatal stabbing through the heart with a sword.

Afterwards, the bull's ears and tail are cut off and thrown to the crowd. Horses are also victims, often being gutted, gored and killed.

Bullrings in holiday spots survive thanks to ticket sales to unsuspecting tourists. Many are disgusted at what they see and regret having supported such barbarity. Now that you know the facts about bullfighting, please decide now to make your holiday cruelty-free.

Bullfighting: Further Information

Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe
International Web Against Bullfights
Antibullfighting Movement of Portugal
Movimiento Antitaurino de Colombia