A new petition by AnimaNaturalis - which is a non-profit organisation which works to help animals in Spain and Latin America - has gathered strong support.
The petition has now been signed by over 100,000 people.
What Is The Aim Of This Petition?
The aim of this petition is to prevent the Spanish government or local authorities within Spain from bailing out the bullfighting industry.
The bullfighting industry is now seeking to be bailed out, as it is facing bankruptcy.
The bullfighting industry is facing bankruptcy because they've had to cease all activity within Spain because of Spain's lockdown over the past few weeks.
The bullfighting industry needs 650 million euros to bail it out.
Is Coronavirus The Final, Fatal Blow To Bullfighting?
Coronavirus may be the fatal blow that kills the bullfighting industry, but it isn't the first blow.
These show how Spain's bullfighting industry has been in decline:
For at least the past decade, bullfighting has been in decline in Spain. There is evidence that public and government opinion is turning against bullfighting. In 2010, the Catalonian parliament banned bullfighting throughout Catalonia. Sadly this was reversed in 2016 by Spain's top court, not Catalonia's parliament itself.
In 2017, the Canary Islands also choose to ban bullfighting throughout the Canary Islands. Sadly, this was also (partially) turned over, again - by Spain's top court.
There is also evidence that people themselves are turning their backs on bullfights in Spain. In 2018, it was reported that there was a 40% decline in bullfighting in Spain within just 5 years - an indication that bullfighting is quickly and dramatically declining in recent years. While further evidence last year, in 2019, also indicated that bullfighting now has very little support in Spain, as only 8% of the country's population attended a bullfight in 2019.
People in Spain have been taking to the streets to protest against bullfighting. In 2018, there were 40,000 people who protested in Madrid against bullfighting. And, over the past few years, and what has now become a yearly occurrence - protesters have been protesting the running of the bulls, a yearly event which happens every July and ends in bullfights.
What Is Happening Now Because Of The Virus?
As a result of the virus, the bullfighting industry is taking a hit in several ways.
One of the main ways that the bullfighting industry is taking a hit, is due to it having to cancel bullfights because of Spain's lockdown over the last few weeks.
All bullfights for the foreseeable future are banned.
So are bull runs and events. This includes Spain's most notorious event - the running of the bulls. As stated earlier, the running of the bulls event has now been receiving protests for the last few years, these protests usually happen the day before the running of the bulls start. The running of the bulls usually happens every July. However, this year it has been banned because of the virus.
It doesn't look like there will be any bullfighting for months, at least. But perhaps, this virus could be the fatal blow to the bullfighting industry which ends this cruel activity once and for all.
A few things indicate that this virus could be the thing that kills off bullfighting:
1. The bullfighting industry asked for a bailout to keep the industry alive at the end of March, but as of now - mid-May, there doesn't look like there's been a bailout for them.
2. By July, there will have been no bullfights in Spain for almost half a year and there doesn't seem to be any indication that there will be any bullfights this year, therefore, can this industry survive when it ceases to be a functioning business?
3. There's no public appetite to support the bullfighting industry, as only 8% of the public attend bullfights. As 92% of Spaniards don't go to bullfights, there's probably going to be little appetite or public engagement to keep this industry afloat, especially during an economic downturn.
4. Public opinion has shifted dramatically on bullfighting, which is why we have seen a 40% decline in attendance at bullfights, which is why we've seen protests against bullfights and which is why government regions in Spain have started making bullfighting illegal.
5. Bullfighting was already in decline before this virus took hold.
If there's one positive thing that we can see this virus doing now and in the future is ending the bullfighting industry once and for all.
The signs are encouraging that this virus will kill the bullfighting industry off within industry.
Which is worth us saying: Ole!
If you want to sign the petition to end bullfighting's funding, you can do so - here.
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