His Excellency Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza Embassy of Spain 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20037-1736 ph: 202-452-0100, 202-728-2340 fax: 202-833-5670 email: [email protected], [email protected] related emails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
His Excellency Senor Don Carlos Miranda Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom 39 Chesham Place - London SW1X 8SB email: [email protected]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Place de la Province, 1 - 28012 Madrid email: [email protected]
Honorable Sra Dna Yolanda Barcina Alcaldesa-Presidenta Ayuntamiento de Pamplona Plaza Consistorial 31001 Pamplona, Spain
Pamplona City Council Plaza Consistorial, s/n 31001 - Pamplona (Navarra) – Spain ph: 011-34-948-42-01-10 email: [email protected], [email protected]
Jesus Vicente Cia Garza, Director Casa de Misericordia C/Vuelta del Castillo, 1 31007 Pamplona – Spain ph: 011-34-948-26-48-11 fax: 011-34-948-19-90-44 email: [email protected]
His Excellency Sr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Palacio de la Moncloa 28071 Madrid – SPAIN fax: +34 913 900 217 email: [email protected] Honorable Officials Of Spain:
I am dismayed the "Running of the Bulls" annually features a chaotic rush of bulls through Pamplona streets. I cannot tour any society that condones the senseless brutalization of animals.
I call upon officials to forbid the use of animals in the Festival of San Fermín. In place of old- fashioned stampedes and bullfights, please consider an all-human race that rejoices in the human spirit.
Bulls — restrained in darkness before goaded into the streets with electrical shocks — are temporarily unable to see in the bright sun. Running crowds smack the frightened animals with rolled newspapers. Most bulls stumble and collide with walls as they try to navigate the route’s jagged corners. They smash bones and hurt themselves during the frenzy.
At night, the animals die in violent bullfights staged to “celebrate” each run. Many tourists lose respect for a culture that promotes animal torment and slaughter as entertainment.
In Spain itself, a 2006 Gallup survey shows 72% of Spaniards are disinterested in bullfights. Barcelona City Council proclaimed Barcelona an anti-bullfighting city in April 2004, with another 38 Catalan municipalities voicing their opposition to bullfighting. The Catalonian government has debated the inclusion of bullfighting in anti-cruelty laws.
Tradition never justifies cruelty. If it did, child labor, slavery, lynching, cannibalism, and foot binding would remain acceptable customs. I urge you to take a stand against bull runs and fights by refusing to permit these blood spectacles in the 21st Century.
Please inform me about any plans to ban the Running of the Bulls and bullfights during the Festival of San Fermin. Thank you for your valuable time and attention.
Sincerely,