Virus threatens bullfighting season in Spain

[emad]

Independent
By Elizabeth Nash in Madrid
13 March 2005


A rare cattle disease threatens Spain's popular bullfighting festivals, including bull running in Pamplona, in what breeders claim is their worst crisis for 100 years.

Some 65 per cent of Spain's bull-breeding farms are affected by the "blue tongue" virus, which is transmitted by mosquitos.

Measures to combat the spread of the disease include restricting movements of bulls from affected areas in Andalucia, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha, where most fighting bulls come from. Animals may be transported outside those areas only for slaughter.

"The government is behaving shamefully, and sending our national fiesta into free fall," said Eduardo Miura, president of Spain's Union of Breeders of Fighting Bulls, which met in session last week. "There's no co-ordination by the authorities, and the bull-breeders suffer most." The Agriculture Ministry insists that it must protect the health of livestock.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=619536

[Yupster]

1. I went to one in Barcelona

many years ago.

I was thoroughly grossed out. Maybe if they can't do this they can entertain their fans with bear baiting or pit bull fighting instead.

[BuddhaGirl]

2. I saw a bullfight in Spain too,

years ago. It was so barbaric - I had to leave the stadium.

[Warpy]

4. It's one of those cultural things

and represents a pre Christian morality play.

I'd never go because I'd never get it. All I'd see would be the cruelty.

Remember, the bloodied bull doesn't go off in a corner to rest until his flesh wounds heal. He's a semi willing participant in the whole thing. He's just outmatched most of the time.

Sometimes he gets the matador, though, which is part of the whole thing.

Again, I can't begin to "get" something so completely outside my culture. I can't be arrogant enough to condemn those who do, though.

[many a good man]

5. Catalonia has officially banned bull fighting

The first province in Spain to do so.

[Catchawave]

3. I always cheer for the bulls during the

running of the bulls. That's even hard to watch. Not sure if it's because the bulls are doomed anyhow, or I'm watching the stupidest humans in the world!