Activities / News

International Anti-bullfighting Conference

Barcelona, February 3rd, 2008.- If you go directly to ACTIVITIES/NEWS, it is important to click on the icon “International Anti-bullfighting Conference” above on the left, you will know that ADDA and WSPA are organising an International Anti-bullfighting Conference untitled : “Bullfighting: United Against Cruelty”, to be held in Barcelona, next 21st (Thursday) and 22nd (Friday) February.

A meeting of important figures from Spain, Canada, United States, New Zealand and United Kingdom from the fields of science, art, politics, philosophy, education, law, media, who will give their views on this important issue.

If you are an association, even if you cannot attend the Conference, please give us your support.

If you have received this information by e-mail: you will find all the information, programme and registration form in our website www.addaong.org. You just have to click on the icon “International Anti-bullfighting Conference.

Registered now! Seating is limited.

Barcelona reacts: 5000 protestors took to the streets.

Catalonia/June 2007.- Yesterday, 17th June, there was a mass anti-bullfighting demonstration in Barcelona, the biggest ever seen so far. Approximately 5000 people marched in the main streets of Barcelona for over an hour towards the Monumental, the Barcelona bullring, demanding a bullfighting-free Catalonia, against torture and cruelty.

For the first time, it was not only activists but the citizens of Barcelona who took part in this protest. Their participation demonstrates that awareness of the bullfighting issue is increasing. Organisations from Spain were joined by international associations in the demonstration, including the French CRAC, FLAC and Alliance Anticorrida, The League Against Cruel Sports from the UK, the CAS from Belgium and The Netherlands.

Some days before, ADDA launched an advertising campaign in local newspapers, calling on people to participate and protest against bullfighting in Barcelona.

Last Sunday, the majority of people who attended José Tomás’ bullfight came from outside Barcelona. In the next bullfight, the bullring will be nearly empty as usual. Bullfighting is a failing business in Catalonia, something which its supporters must accept.

Meanwhile, ADDA and WSPA continue to collect signatures to be handed in to the Catalan Parliament, urging it to put forward a vote for the ban on bullfighting.

ADDA congratulates all citizens that participated in the demonstration against cruelty and torture on 17th June 2007.

Exclusive and urgent

76% of people from Barcelona are animal-friendly and against bullfighting.

Barcelona - June 2007 - ADDA has had access to an internal report conducted in November and December 2007 by Barcelona City Council’s Dirección de Estudios y Evaluación (Office for Studies and Evaluation). Those polled were asked if they like animal defenders and anti-bullfighting supporters ‘very much’, ‘quite a bit’, ‘a bit’, or ‘not at all’. The results were as follows:

I like them very much: 10.7%
I like them quite a bit: 65.3%
I like them a bit: 15.8%
I don’t like them at all: 4.7%
“Don’t know”: 4.7%

The results show that over 70% of the citizens of Barcelona support those fighting for the ban on bullfighting. These results confirm those from surveys previously conducted by ADDA/WSPA.

Anti-bullfighting Summit

International/May 2007.- Last 18th May was held in Lisbon (Portugal) an Anti-bullfighting Summit, gathering over 25 anti-bullfighting and animal protection organisations from across Europe and Latin America. The summit was preceded by a demonstration at the Campo Pequenho, Lisbon’s bullring.

This International Anti-bullfighting Summit has been organized by the Portuguese animal protection ANIMAL, in collaboration with The League against Cruel Sports from the UK and the Comité Anti-Stierenvechten, from the Netherlands and Belgium. In the summit, the participant organizations have assessed the present state of bullfighting in the world and the success of the movement which, both in bullfighting and anti-bullfighting countries, takes continuous action to end this brutal business. ADDA attended the summit and gave a talk about the current situation of bullfighting in Spain and , in particular, in Catalonia.

Anti-bullfighting demonstration on 17th June 2007

Barcelona/May 2007.- After Barcelona was declared an anti-bullfighting city in 2004, the bullfighting lobby started an offensive to pretend that Catalonia supports bullfighting. Consequently, they have heavily publicised the recruitement of a former bullfighter, José Tomás, who is to fight on 17th June at the Monumental, the Barcelona’s bullring, the only one still active in Catalonia. They want to fill up the bullring although it is increasingly empty and bullfights are occurring this year on a fortnightly basis.

To respond to this offensive the animal welfare associations Libera, Faada and Fundació Altarriba, have organised a demonstration that will take place on 17th June, the same day of José Tomás’bullfight. The protestors will gather at the end of the Ramblas (Drassanes) and march until the Monumental.

ADDA will be there and ask people to support and participate in the demonstration.

Anti-bullfighting campaign : over 750.000 citizens call the Catalan Parliament for the ban on bullfighting

Catalonia.- 200.000 signatures have been added to 550.000 ones already handed in, and rising. At present, over 750.000 citizens are asking to the Catalan Parliament to act democratically and put the ban on bullfighting to the vote.

ADDA, WSPA and the Platform of Entities and Citizens for the ban on bullfighting, PECISCOT, have strengthened their anti-bullfighting campaign, with advertisements in newspapers. The last one was placed in ADN. (find it attached)

We do not know how the Parliament will be long to comply with the will of the overwhelming majority of citizens. We are convinced that soon a million of voices will clamour for putting and end to the bullfighting cruelty and torture. Sooner or later, the politicians will become aware of ti.

That’s enough! 73,1 % of Catalan people is against bullfighting. Over 750.000 citizens have already signed to call for the ban. Our politicians must listen to them.

The campaign goes on: sign and spread it around..

Animal welfare in Europe – a growing concern

March 2007.- According to the Eurobarometer survey, there is a high awareness on farm animal welfare in the EU.

Spain, together with Lithuania, is the country where consumers are less concerned about it (69%). They are, also, those who have less farming conditions knowledge (48%). Nonetheless, they would be willing to change their normal place of shopping in order to be able to buy more animal welfare friendly food products (64%).

In spite of the awareness of animal welfare, a majority of European citizens are not prepared to pay a higher price when buying food. Nonetheless in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy and Germany, the consumption of welfare friendly eggs is about two and a half times higher than it was 10 years ago, and rising. Besides, some of 51% of EU consumers said that they can rarely o never identify from the label on eggs, milk and meat whether the production system is animal welfare friendly or not.

Campaign on behalf of the Spanish greyhounds (Galgos) to make law being observed.

ADDA together with FEBA (Spanish Federation for Animal Welfare), SPAP (Society for the Protection of Animals and Plants of Madrid), “Galgos sin Fronteras” (Greyhounds without borders) of Madrid and any other associations that join us, has launched a campaign to prevent the awful conditions of the greyhounds in Spain.

Every year about 50.000 greyhounds are abandoned, mistreated o hanged when hunting season is over. Before this cruel destiny, greyhounds are raised in small confined and unhealthy places where they are underfed and are only released to go “hunting”.

Although this situation has been denounced repeatedly by many associations and people who feel helpless, nothing has been done to resolve this severe problem that affects thousands of animals.

Under the slogan “Put a greyhound in your life… help them!” the campaign we have launched aims to denouncing the appalling state of these animals in certain autonomous regions of Spain that are used to go hunting and then slaughtered or abandoned when we are considered useless as a hunting dog.

One of our goals is to make greyhounds known as a peaceful and home-loving pedigree and encourage adoptions and so support the shelters that are working very hard to take care of these abandoned dogs.

Please download and sign our petition to put an end to this shameful and cruel indignity.

http://addaong.org/pdf/hojafirmgalgweb.pdf
http://addaong.org/pdf/galgos2web.pdf
http://addaong.org/pdf/webgalgos.pdf

Catalonia eats up its symbol, The “Catalan donkey”

February 2007
Catalonia – The Catalan donkey is protected under Spanish law because it is an endangered species. However, in February 2006, the Dinning Club “La Xicoia” located in Sort,(Pallars Sobirá), organized a dinner using the slogan “ If you are one of those people who love the Catalan donkey, make your dream become true: eat him up” and two male donkeys were slaughtered and cooked.

The donkey has, for centuries, been our fellow worker and our means of transport. In that sense he has become a symbol of Catalan culture and traditions. Presently, there are 300 donkeys protected and they are part of our cultural heritage.

Eating donkey meat at a so-called ‘party’ simply to promote a village dining-club is truly a bizarre way to protect such innocent hard-working animals. What is even worse is that the poster that promoted the event shows that it has been sponsored by the Generalitat of Catalunya (local government) and two important Catalan saving banks, Caixa Catalunya and La Caixa.

It is regrettable that this kind of grotesque initiative has been carried out and it would never occur in another European country.

Take action: Please write protest letters and emails to the institutions responsible for this initiative.

Please write protest letters…”

- Associació La Xicoia de Sort: laxicoia@hotmail.com
- Ayuntamiento de Sort: ajuntament@sort.cat
- Departamento de Cultura i Mitjans de Comunicació
- Hnble Sr. Joan Manuel Tresseras
Rambla de Santa Mònica, 8
08002 BARCELONA

- Consell Comarcal del Pallars Sobirà
Sr. Àngel Guiu
c/ del Mig, 9
25560 SORT
Fax: 973 620 078

Nº 26 and 27 of the Bull Tribune on the Net:

We invite you to visit our on-line bulletin The Bull Tribune www.thebulltribune.org promoted by ADDA in an English and Spanish version.

Exclusively published against bullfighting, it comes out three times a year. The 26 and 27 issues have just come out and deal with current news.

ADDA joins the world-wide campaign “Animals matter to me”

November 2006
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has launched the “Animals Matter To Me” campaign, which represents the biggest-ever global animal welfare initiative linking the entire animal welfare movement under one strategic goal—global recognition that animals are sentient beings, capable of feeling pain and suffering. As such, WSPA is seeking 10 million signatures to let governments of the world know that we are serious about achieving a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations.

Around 60 billion farm animals are used each year globally to produce meat, milk and eggs. The majority are raised in industrial farming systems where their welfare needs are not met.
Globally, there are some 600 million dogs, and a similar number of cats, of which an estimated 80% are stray or unwanted.
The illegal and often inhumane trade in wildlife and wildlife parts is a soaring black market worth $10 billion a year, exceeded only by arms and drug smuggling. Millions of wild animals are killed, captured or traded inhumanely in this shady business.
An estimated 80% of power input on farms in developing countries is supplied by draught animals, however the resources made available are often woefully inadequate, leading to significant welfare issues.
Animals are also affected on a huge scale by natural disasters, though seldom considered.

Improving animal welfare can also improve the welfare of people relying on these animals. Over a billion people directly rely on animals around the world for their livelihoods. People rely on animals' companionship as well, and in many cases animals are considered part of the family.
For a global problem you need a global solution. Agreement on the importance of an issue affects people's attitudes, and people's attitudes affect their actions. A Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare would have a real, long-term impact on the welfare of billions of animals worldwide.

Act now. Make the animals matter to governments. Sign the petition. Click here: www.animalsmatter.org

Anti-bullfight Catalonia campaign. Help us to achieve a ban on bullfighting

ADDA and the WSPA are campaigning hard against bullfighting. In the next days, advertisements will be publicized in the newspapers “Metro”, “20 minutes” and “ADN” calling for a ban on bullfighting. You can download petitions from our web site to urge the Catalan Parliament to put an end to this cruelty. You can find the petitions in the section “What we are denouncing - Torture Shows” on our website or you can click on this link: www.addaong.org/que_7.html

Starlings

December 2006
Figueres (Catalonia – Spain). Last 14 February, the City Council of Figueres authorized 50 hunters to shoot starlings which roosted each night in Bosc Park. ADDA reported this slaughter to the Environment Department of the Generalitat and the Public Prosecutor’s Office on the grounds that alternative methods to discourage starlings from flocking in towns could have been employed.

Eight months later, and after pressure from ADDA, the City Council of Figueres recognized that the hunting had, unsurprisingly, been useless and this autumn they have hired a biologist.

ADDA is pleased to know that Figueres has changed, although too late, and we hope that others towns will discuss this kind of problem with associations and experts in order to avoid killing animals.

This year, Perpinyà (France) and Tarragona will use alternative methods to control the birds.

ADDA and WSPA resume their campaign to abolish bullfighting in Catalonia.

November 2006
Barcelona/ November 2006.- In the former session, the bill proposed by ERC and Iniciativa-Verds to abolish the exception that approves bullfighting was pending after the penultimate plenary of the Catalan Parliament.

With the new term of office, ADDA, WSPA and the Platform of entities and citizens to ban bullfighting PERISCOT urge all the political parties and the new MPs to take into account the results of the surveys (73,1% of the Catalan people want to put an end to this cruel spectacle).

Today, 23rd November 2006, ADDA and WSPA have unfurled banners in front of the Catalan Parliament on the occasion of the investiture of the new President of the Catalan Government, José Montilla.

The slogan of the campaign is : “PUT CATALONIA ON THE WORLD MAP: BAN BULLFIGHTING”

Stop Icelandic whale killing

November 2006
International.- Iceland has resumed commercial whaling in defiance of a 20-year-old international moratorium.

Commercial whaling is cruel, outdated and unnecessary and leads to the depletion of an endangered species.

ADDA, as a member society of the WSPA, urges you to sign the petition to save the whales.

Click here to take action against whaling: www.wspa.or.uk/icelandwhaling .asp

ECEAE and ADDA against primate experiments.

September 2006
Around 10,000 primates are used every year for scientific experiments in the EU. Primates (chimpanzees, macaques, marmosets, tamarins).are intelligent, sociable and, with complex needs, suffer particularly in a laboratory setting. They are used as “models” for human diseases and are subjected to many distressing and intense experiments, such as being infected with contagious diseases and undergoing brain surgery. Like all animal experiments, the use of primates is scientifically flawed. For all the similarities, there are significant species differences between human and non-human primates.

Alternative methods already exist, but due to inertia amongst researchers and funders, lack the support they need. But there is hope. The EU is currently reviewing Directive 88/609 which sets out the rules for animal experimentation across the whole of Europe. For this reason, the ECEAE (European Coalition to end Animal Experiments) has launched a campaign calling for a ban under the slogan “HELP US STOP PRIMATE EXPERIMENTS. FOR GOOD”.

ADDA which is a Coalition member is asking for your help. Please send an email to the European Commission, using the form below, and ask them to ban primate tests. It will take you just a few seconds but will help hugely in putting pressure on politicians to ban these immoral and scientifically flawed experiments.

See the sample letter in this link: www.eceae.org/saveprimates/es/actions.html

Tons of support for unwanted and abandoned animals

October 2006
Barcelona.- This year, during the second ANIMALADDA Fair, volunteers collected basic essentials for the hundreds of animals awaiting adoption in shelters. Taking care of unwanted and abandoned animals is a very costly business and thanks to individuals and firms including Yarrah, Dingo Natura, Qulillet and Bailach I Fills aid, we have collected 800 kg of food for cats and dogs, 175 blankets, 300 collars and leads and 130 kg of cat litter, amongst other items. The shelters had been crying out for more supplies and thanks to the generosity of our supporters they now have their stocks replenished.

Over 150 cats and dogs were adopted during the II ANIMALADDA Fair. So, we thank all those who supported us during the event.

Barcelona/October.- During the last 22nd , 23rd and 24th September 2006,within the framework of the Mercè Festival, was held, in the triangular building of the Forum, the II Fair for the defence and welfare of stray animals, ANIMALADDA. This year it gathered over 8000 visitors, and the main thing is that over 150 cats and dogs were adopted.

The ANIMALADDA Fair is a pioneering initiative in Spain for awareness-raising and promoting adoptions. This year there have been lectures and debates, and also playful activities like agility shows, rescue dog shows of SEPRONA (Police Nature Protection Service), dogs for disabled people. For children, there were educational videos and storytellers.

In addition, the journalist Albert Castillón, broadcast live his radio programme Friday 22nd from the Fair.

Once more, the most successful show was the “Catwalk” where volunteers, celebrities and politicians took to the Catwalk together with the dogs. This year we emphasised how important it is to identify dogs and cats with a plaque and a chip. All the dogs adopted during the Fair were granted a free plaque with its name and the telephone number of its owner.

News from Mallorca.- The duck release comes to an end.

July 2006
The animal protection law of the Balearic Islands, bans the shows which entail mistreatment and cruelty to animals, except bullfights. Our correspondent in Mallorca, Maria Sansó, has been working for ADDA for 14 years. She had been reporting to the city council of Santa Margarida and in particular in Can Picafort Beach, as well as in the Colonia Sant Jordi, nearby Cabrera Island, that the law was not being properly observed.

In summer 2005, after ADDA repeatedly denounced the traditional practice of duck hunting, the City Council broke off relations with ADDA, criticising us in the local press. However, the Council was penalised with a 9.000 euros fine and has desisted from the practice of releasing ducks for hunting purposes.

Since August 2006, duck hunting in the water is over in Mallorca. Can Picafort and Colonia Sant Jordi, and these towns have found a novel way to keep the tradition alive without cruelty. They have replaced the real ducks with toy ducks. Lots of people took part and there were prizes to be won. It was a worthy, successful celebration and every one had great fun.

ADDA congratulates and thanks the City Council for having this good idea.

ADDA and WSPA have launched a new campaign in Catalonia to ban bullfighting

December 2006
ADDA together with WSPA have started a new advertising campaign in the Catalan media urging the Catalan Parliament to put to the vote the ban on bullfighting. Also, anti-bullfighting petitions, amongst other actions, are being collected.

In 2002, ADDA and WSPA launched their first campaign requesting that Barcelona City Hall declare Barcelona an anti-bullfight city during the “Universal Forum of Cultures” held in May 2004. In April 2004, Barcelona City Council Plenary, taking an historic vote, officially declared Barcelona anti-bullfighting, by a majority.

This landmark decision was supported by hundreds of groups and associations from Catalonia, Spain and around the world. Another 22 Catalan cities have declared themselves anti-bullfighting so far. 77% of Catalan people agree that Barcelona should declare itself anti-bullfighting after the Declaration of Barcelona, the next stage was to call on Parliament for a ban on bullfighting. Together with the results of three surveys of Demoscopia poll on behalf of ADDA and WSPA, on April 6th 2004 and October 10th 2005, 550.000 petitions were delivered to the President of the Catalan Parliament, M.H. Ernest Benach. The Demoscopia poll found that 82% of people surveyed think that bullfight is a cruel and unfair show and over 70% that it should not be broadcast on TV. The results reveal the Catalan people’s awareness on animal rights: the overwhelming majority of those surveyed agree that animals suffer when mistreated (nearly 100%).

74% of the people surveyed want Parliament to amend article 6 of the Catalan Animal Protection Law 22/2203 which bans the use of animals in fighting, shows and other activities, except bullfighting.

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Circus? Yes, but without animals

Circus animals forced to work in touring circus’ are transported from site to site, enduring long journeys and unhealthy climate changes.

When not performing, they are often confined in their small travelling cages that can’t provide them with the facilities they need. They spend weeks, even months, chained to their cages, barely able to move. This creates stress and frustration and leads to abnormal behaviours such as swaying, butting and mutilating themselves.

Circus animals undergo training with questionable methods aiming to keep them absolutely under man’s domination.

Circuses are purely for entertainment but nothing justifies the use of animals which are humiliated and ridiculed.

Animals are forced to perform unnatural acts. It is not educational for children to watch wild animals reduced to performing tricks instead of teaching them to respect animals.

We respect circuses, but without animals.

HE SUFFERS
HE IS BORED
HE IS FRUSTATED

REACH

November 2006
After prolonged procedure, the REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation on all CHemicals) Chemicals Legislation was finally adopted last 16 November 2006.by the EU. ADDA represents in Spain the ECEAE (European Coalition to End Animal Experiments) and had previously worked together with the Coalition members to inform all the MEPs of how to ensure safety in chemicals without having to use animals, or at least, to reduce as much as possible the number of animals used in cruel and painful experiments, although ADDA rejects the use of animals in experiments and supports alternative methods. In the new Legislation, the number of animals has been reduced. The 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive which bans the use of animals in safety testing for most cosmetics ingredients or products from 2009 (and all from 2013) has been preserved. Another success was the mandatory sharing of animal test data and the 45-day window for public scrutiny of any tests. This will reduce the number of animals involved in testing. The development, use and research of alternative methods has been placed centrally in the Legislation.

ADDA delivers 549.000 signatures to the Parliament of Catalonia to ban bullfighting.

December 2005
ADDA and WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) have delivered to MH. President of Catalan Parliament, Ernest Benach, 96.400 signatures, to be added to those already delivered on April 6th 2005 calling on the Catalan Parliament to vote on the bill which proposes an amendment to the Catalan Animal Protection Law and ban bullfighting. An overwhelming majority of Catalan people (73,1% according the surveys) support the ban. Consequently, to be coherent, Catalonia must put an end to this anachronism which allows the torture, lynching and killing of a sentient being for entertainment while the Catalan Animal Protection Law 22/2003 states that animals are sentient beings. These 96.400 signatures were delivered during a New Orleans style “funeral” procession: 6 coffins carried by 40 activists dressed as mourners led by New Orleans style jazz band.