Ban bull torture!

VALENCIA'S Culture Council (CVC) is demanding sweeping changes to protect bulls from unnecessary suffering in fiestas.

Most controversially it wants a complete ban on the ‘bou embolat' in which bulls have material wrapped around their horns and set on fire during bull-running events.

This move will cause uproar among revellers as the ‘bou embolat' is included in eight out of 10 of the more than 6,000 bull-running events celebrated every year in the Valencia Region.

The CVC was debating yesterday (Thursday) to present the recommendations of its judicial commission to adapt bull-running events so the animals do not suffer unnecessary pain and their agony prolonged just for the fun of the public.

The council has drawn up the proposals on its own initiative after seeing that the proliferation of bull-running events in recent years has also brought an increase in the number of animals dying or suffering severe injuries.

Its report also says that bull-running events should be restricted to towns that can prove the event forms a traditional and continual part of their fiestas - stopping further spread of the controversial festivity.

The groups of volunteers that check on the safety of the events should always include members of animal protection societies who would have the power to report any maltreatment of the animals.

Observers say the spirit of the proposals is to adapt the bull-running events to modern values that recognise the rights of animals not to suffer maltreatment and to have a painless death.

{moscomment}