ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide. Founded in 1992, ANIMAL PEOPLE has no alignment or affiliation with any other entity.

 

This site built and maintained by: GREANVILLE ASSOCIATES and CRESCENT COMMUNICATIONS • Rev. 12.1.05 Copyright ANIMAL PEOPLE, INC. 1992--2005

 

 

 

 

 
   
 
powered by FreeFind

ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

MONTH: SEPTEMBER 2006

Streaking Pamplona

PAMPLONA, Spain-- "More than 1,000" nude or semi-nude protesters, according to PETA, "several hundred" according to Associated Press, on July 5, 2006 streaked the 825-meter route of the "Running of the Bulls" that has preceded the nine-day Festival of San Fermin bullfighting orgy for more than 500 years.

The PETA-sponsored "Running of the Nudes" debuted in 2003, held each year one day before the official San Fermin events begin. The 2005 edition attracted 700 participants, Associated Press said.

The Pamplona bull run and similar events in which often inebriated runners try to stay ahead of panicked bovines appear to be more popular than ever, worldwide, but bullfighting itself is in general decline, especially in Spain.

Barcelona, once among the global hubs of bullfighting, declared itself to be opposed to bullfights in 2004. Twenty-two other Catalan cities have passed similar resolutions against bullfighting during the past two years. The resolutions cannot be enforced without state enabling legislation, but opinion polls show that 71% of Catalonians favor a state bullfighting ban which received preliminary legislative approval in June 2006.

Bullfighting returned to Lisbon, Portugal, in May 2006, after a six-year absence, attracting a crowd of about 7,000 to the newly re-opened Campo Pequeno ring--plus an estimated 1,000 protesters. Built in 1892, the ring seats 9,000.

The bullfighting industry claims that the 291 bullfights held in Portugal in 2005 drew an average crowd of 3,000.