It’s Official – Bullfighting Is No Longer Considered Part of France’s Cultural Heritage
In a step forward for animal rights, a Paris court ruled last week that bullfighting is no longer part of the official list of France’s “intangible cultural heritage”.
Bullfighting was added to the list in 2011 by an “obscure committee” in the Ministry of Culture, provoking outrage among compassionate, forward-thinking people all over the country. French culture is awash with things to celebrate, but stabbing frightened animals to death for “entertainment” is not one of them.
French animal rights groups – PETA France among them – have been campaigning for bullfighting to be taken off the list ever since. The victory may be largely symbolic, but it speaks volumes about attitudes towards bullfighting today. For most French people, this archaic custom belongs firmly in the past, and they would never dream of setting foot in a bullring – with good reason.
From the moment the bull enters the ring, he is destined to die. His death will be slow and painful, and the last moments of his life will be full of terror and confusion as he hears the sounds of a jeering crowd. For the bull, bullfighting is no “competition”. It’s simply slaughter for human “entertainment”.
We were deeply disappointed last year when the Spanish government moved in the opposite direction, awarding special status to bullfighting in the face of opposition from tens of thousands of Europeans. However, the fact remains that the majority of Spaniards would never set foot in a bullring, and the cruel industry survives only because of massive European Union subsidies.
Please join us in asking the EU to stop spending millions of euros – taken from taxpayers – to prop up barbaric bullfights.
