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Demand an end to the cruel "Toro de la Vega" festival in Tordesillas, Spain
09 September 2015

On September 15th 2015, the town of Tordesillas (in Valladolid, Spain) will again host the disgusting "Toro de la Vega" fiesta.

The festival begins with the release of a bull into the countryside surrounding the town, whereupon dozens of people then pursue the bull on foot and on horseback, stabbing him with daggers and spears until he collapses exhausted on the ground.

The lancer who delivers the deadly thrust, ending the bull’s immense suffering caused by multiple stab wounds, cuts off his tail, attaches it to a lance, and shows it off to the crowds.

On top of that, the town council rewards him with a golden badge and an iron lance.

It is time for this cruel festival to be scrapped.

 ACTION ALERT 

Sign petitions calling for an end to the fiesta

http://rompeunalanza.org/firma
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-toro-de-la-vega-2012#

Copy the sample letter below and send it through each of the following 3 portals:

1) Municipality of Tordesillas, Valladoid: http://www.tordesillas.ayuntamientosdevalladolid.es/?q=contact

2) Office of Tourism, Tordesillas: http://www.tordesillas.net/webs/inicio.php?cont=8&lang=por

Letter in Spanish:

Senores, Senoras,

Protesto energicamente contra el espectaculo del ‘Toro de la Vega’, por cruel y sangriento.

Una muchedumbre, armada con terribles lanzas medievales, persigue a un animal por el campo, acorralandolo y clavandole sus lanzas en cualquier parte del cuerpo, hasta matarlo.

Esto deja en entredicho, ante el mundo entero, la calidad moral del gobierno de la Junta de Castilla-Leon y del Ayuntamiento de Tordesillas al seguir apoyandolo.

Solicito la prohibicion de este salvaje martirio y me uno a la propuesta de declarar a Tordesillas "Ciudad non grata" mientras persista en defender este acto de feroz barbarie.

Ademas apoyo la proxima manifestacion que tendra lugar en Tordesillas contra la tortura de un inocente animal llamado Volante.

English Translation:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am shocked to learn of your annual Toro de la Vega event in which a bull is chased, stabbed, mutilated, and, after enduring prolonged agony and terror, is killed.

This event is promoted as a cultural tradition, a celebration of your heritage and spirit, but your mitigating words and euphemistic descriptions cannot conceal the inherently barbaric nature of this event. Any celebration built on a foundation of extreme animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering cannot be justified; condemning bulls, or any other animals, to a torturous ceremony for mere entertainment is indefensible. Commemorating your cultural history is admirable, yet subjecting an innocent creature to such a primitive ritual only demonstrates yours as an uncivilised, undereducated society.

Animals, like humans, are sentient creatures, capable of emotion, thought, and pain; when you support the exploitation of them, you only promote indifference and establish that you are unsympathetic to suffering. Furthermore, the global community will certainly recognise and scoff at your shameless attempts of justification and will refuse to financially contribute to such an archaic demonstration of savagery.

Indeed, until you stop the Toro de la Vega in favour of a celebration that embraces compassion and respect towards all living beings, I will necessarily maintain the only ethical decision is to promote a boycott of your country and your country’s commerce. Please choose compassion and empathy and permanently ban the Toro de la Vega and any other rituals that inflict suffering and pain on our animal friends.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.

 ACTION ALERT 

Please join us in making a complaint to the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland.

The Spanish Ambassador to Ireland
Embassy of Spain
17A Merlyn Park
Dublin 4.

Email: emb.dublin@maec.es
Tel 1: +353 (0)1 2691640
Tel 2: +353 (0)1 2692597
Fax: +353 (0)1 269 1854

Videos: Toro de la Vega cruelty

5 images that capture the horror of Spain's Toro de la Vega

The bull named Rompesuelas has been brutally killed in Tordesillas today September 15th 2015. The animal is the latest victim of town's shameful Toro de la Vega festivalThe festival begins with the release of a bull into the countryside surrounding the town, whereupon dozens of people then pursue the bull on foot and on horseback, stabbing him with daggers and spears until he collapses exhausted on the ground.The lancer who delivers the deadly thrust, ending the bull’s immense suffering caused by multiple stab wounds, cuts off his tail, attaches it to a lance, and shows it off to the crowds.On top of that, the town council rewards him with a golden badge and an iron lance.It is time for this cruel festival to be scrapped. ACTION ALERT Sign petitions calling for an end to the fiestahttp://rompeunalanza.org/firmahttp://www.change.org/petitions/stop-toro-de-la-vega-2012#Copy the sample letter below and send it through each of the following 3 portals:1) Municipality of Tordesillas, Valladoid: http://www.tordesillas.ayuntamientosdevalladolid.es/?q=contact2) Office of Tourism, Tordesillas: http://www.tordesillas.net/webs/inicio.php?cont=8&lang=porLetter in Spanish:Senores, Senoras,Protesto energicamente contra el espectaculo del ‘Toro de la Vega’, por cruel y sangriento.Una muchedumbre, armada con terribles lanzas medievales, persigue a un animal por el campo, acorralandolo y clavandole sus lanzas en cualquier parte del cuerpo, hasta matarlo.Esto deja en entredicho, ante el mundo entero, la calidad moral del gobierno de la Junta de Castilla-Leon y del Ayuntamiento de Tordesillas al seguir apoyandolo.Solicito la prohibicion de este salvaje martirio y me uno a la propuesta de declarar a Tordesillas "Ciudad non grata" mientras persista en defender este acto de feroz barbarie.Ademas apoyo la proxima manifestacion que tendra lugar en Tordesillas contra la tortura de un inocente animal llamado Volante.English Translation:Dear Sir/Madam,I am shocked to learn of your annual Toro de la Vega event in which a bull is chased, stabbed, mutilated, and, after enduring prolonged agony and terror, is killed.This event is promoted as a cultural tradition, a celebration of your heritage and spirit, but your mitigating words and euphemistic descriptions cannot conceal the inherently barbaric nature of this event. Any celebration built on a foundation of extreme animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering cannot be justified; condemning bulls, or any other animals, to a torturous ceremony for mere entertainment is indefensible. Commemorating your cultural history is admirable, yet subjecting an innocent creature to such a primitive ritual only demonstrates yours as an uncivilised, undereducated society.Animals, like humans, are sentient creatures, capable of emotion, thought, and pain; when you support the exploitation of them, you only promote indifference and establish that you are unsympathetic to suffering. Furthermore, the global community will certainly recognise and scoff at your shameless attempts of justification and will refuse to financially contribute to such an archaic demonstration of savagery.Indeed, until you stop the Toro de la Vega in favour of a celebration that embraces compassion and respect towards all living beings, I will necessarily maintain the only ethical decision is to promote a boycott of your country and your country’s commerce. Please choose compassion and empathy and permanently ban the Toro de la Vega and any other rituals that inflict suffering and pain on our animal friends.Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.

Posted by Ban Bloodsports on Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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