For an animal rights activist, the only thing worse than being beaten by a deranged individual at a protest would be to be beaten by a deranged individual using one of the very animals you are trying to protect. That happened to a man in the Catalonian town of Roses when a woman hit him with one of the ducks that protesters were trying to protect from use in an annual festival. The video is below.
Every August for 98 years the town has thrown ducks in the water for people to catch and swim back to shore with them. About 50 ducks are thrown into the sea. The video below shows a woman capturing a duck as the protester is heard saying “Continue, continue. Continue to abuse, I am filming you. A little bit of empathy for the animals. They also have a life, like your children or your family.” He is a member of the animal rights group Animal Rescue Espana and other protesters can be heard yelling “You would not do that to your dog”.
It is not clear why the woman was not charged with assault. While I would not classify a duck as a lethal weapon, it would certainly classify a duck attack as assault.
The woman then turns violent and, holding the duck by the legs, repeatedly hit the man with the animal. It is not clear how the duck fared. Animal rights activists say that these ducks (even though being used as weapons) suffer “stress, internal hemorrhaging, pain, fear and suffering.”
The mayor has promised to hold a referendum on whether to end the “duck chase” like bull fighting in Spain on the basis for animal cruelty. A petition with 10,000 signatures have called for its end — two years before its 100 year anniversary.
Supporters of the festival say that there is no reason (when they can eat the ducks or stuff their livers for food) that they cannot use them for a swim and capture game. Activists say that many animals are eaten but that does not relieve humans of the obligation to treat them humanely and that capturing and holding these ducks for a long swim is facially cruel.
What do you think?
isaac
I do believe that your version of how these animals are treated–in life and prior to death–may just be, if you will excuse the pun, a load of bull. Here is just one, of many articles, which gives extensive details regarding that idyllic treatment you mention. In no way does it comport with what you wrote at 5:42 pm on August 21, 2015.
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BULLFIGHTING: THE FACTS
THE MYTH
It seems hard to believe that in this so-called civilised age, a most vicious and cruel spectacle of blood continues to flourish in Spain and certain other countries. Bullfighting is barbaric and should have been banned long ago, as bear-baiting was. It is difficult to understand how crowds of people will pay money and take pleasure in watching one lone creature – who has never done them any harm — getting hacked to death. How can anyone with an ounce of compassion, cheer and chant olé as a banderilla or lance is thrust into the animal’s pain-racked body?
Bullfighting has a very glorified public image — it is presented as a contest between the brave matador, who boldly risks life and limb to tackle a mad and ferocious beast. The matador is always dressed in a traditional costume of brilliant colours: the bullfight is seen by many as the mysterious ritual between man and beast, which is an integral part of Spanish culture and custom. For this reason, many tourists who visit Spain feel that seeing a bullfight is a necessary part of their holiday, just as tourists visiting Britain go to see the Tower of London.
However, after witnessing the sheer horror of this sickening slaughter, only the most hardened and callous would consider a second visit to the bullring. The purpose of this booklet is to fully explain what the bull has to endure, both during his last hour of life in the ring, and also the other side of the bullfight not commonly known to the vast majority of people: the pre-bullfight treatment.
THE PRE-FIGHT TREATMENT
PicadorsThe bull is not an aggressive animal, and the reason he is angry and attempts to charge at the matador whilst in the bullring is mainly because he has been horrendously abused for the previous two days. In fact, what spectators see is not a normal, healthy bull, but a weakened, half-blinded and mentally destroyed version, whose chances of harming his tormentors is virtually nil. The bull has wet newspapers stuffed into his ears; vaseline is rubbed into his eyes to blur his vision; cotton is stuffed up his nostrils to cut off his respiration and a needle is stuck into his genitals. Also, a strong caustic solution is rubbed onto his legs which throws him off balance. This also keeps him from lying down on the ground. In addition to this, drugs are administered to pep him up or slow him down, and strong laxatives are added to his feed to further incapacitate him. He is kept in a dark box for a couple of days before he faces the ring: the purpose of this is to disorientate him. When he is let out of the box, he runs desperately towards the light at the end of the tunnel. He thinks that at last his suffering is over and he is being set free — instead, he runs into the bullring to face his killers and a jeering mob.
THE “FIGHT”
Strictly speaking, a bullfight is composed of 3 separate “acts”, and the whole thing is supposed to last for 20 minutes, though in actual fact it varies. The opening of a bullfight begins with a tune being played on a trumpet — the tune is the special, signa lure Rifle which characterises the beginning of the horror. Upon entering the ring, bulls have been known to collapse through exhaustion alter their pre-fight ordeal — they have been dragged to their feet by the bullfighter’s assistants.
The Picadors
The sequence of events begins when the bull faces the picadors — these are the men on horseback, whose purpose it is to exhaust the bull. They cut into his neck muscles with a pica. This is a weapon of about 6-8 inches long, and 2 inches thick. Once it is thrust into the bull it is twisted round and a large, gaping wound appears. The bull then starts bleeding to death.
The Assistant Matadors
After the picador has finished his sordid business, the assistant matadors then get to work with the banderillas (sharp, harpoon-like barbed instruments). These are plunged into the bull’s body, and he may also be taunted by capes. Up to six banderillas may be used. When the banderillas strike the bull stops in his tracks and bellows madly.
Main matadorThe Kill
A trumpet signals the final “act” — in fact, during the whole nightmare, strange, slow tunes are played throughout. It is, of course, during the final act that the bull is killed (and hopefully goes onto a better life). The kill should last 6 minutes, and is done by the main matador. If he has any difficulties (which is an extremely rare occurrence), the others immediately rush in to his aid and finish off the bull.
THE FINAL DEGRADATION
The matador is supposed to sever the artery near the heart with one thrust of the sword — in fact, this never happens. It often takes 2-3 times before the creature is mercifully released by death. By this time, the bull’s lungs and heart will be punctured and he always vomits blood. Miraculously, he sometimes attempts to rise again, and gets up on his knees, only to receive further mutilation at the hands of his tormentors. He finally gives up, goes to his knees and lies down. Even then, he is not allowed a little dignity to leave this world in peace, his ears and tail are cut off (often when he is fully conscious), and his broken, bleeding body is dragged around the ring by mules, to which he is attached by an apparatus made of wood and chains. Not content with his suffering, which must be too horrible to describe by words, the crowds boo and jeer him. They even throw empty beer cans at him. His body is then taken away to be skinned, and even then he may not be dead when this happens.
HORSES
A horse being gored by a bullThe bull is not the only animal to suffer in the ring — hundreds of horses die long and agonising deaths as they are gored by the pain-crazed bull. Horses have their ears stuffed with wet newspaper, they are blindfolded and their vocal chords are cut so they are unable to scream in pain. It is not an uncommon occurrence for horses to stumble upon their own entrails after being badly gored. After a horse has been wounded it is led out of the ring, given crude surgery, and sent back in. Horses used in bullrings sweat and tremble from fear — they are forced to return to the ring time and time again. The picador’s horses are generally animals whose working life is over, and which are, therefore, old, infirm and docile. Their reward for serving mankind faithfully is to end their days in the bullrings. They are kept in poor conditions between fights, arid, not surprisingly, their life expectancy is short.
ARGUMENTS IN DEFENCE OF BULLFIGHTING
“But it’s part of their culture’ is the argument commonly used to defend bullfighting, but this argument is also used to defend female circumcision (genital mutilation). It could also have been used to defend witch-burning, bear-baiting and a multitude of other evils, “Culture” is not a magic word, and simply labeling something as such doesn’t make it right and above criticism. Also, the word “culture” suggests the enhancement and enrichment of people or a society, and watching animals being tortured to death doesn’t fall into this description.
Death“Get your own house in order” is another argument put forward, with reference to our own bloodsports such as hunting and harecoursing. Well, there is no reason why we can’t support the Spanish Animal Rights movement as well as fighting animal abuse in our own country. An animal doesn’t regard itself as being Spanish when it is being tortured to death — rather it is a member of the anima[ kingdom being tortured to death by humans. The Animal Rights movement is a worldwide one and should not be restricted by boundaries.
As has been mentioned previously, bullrings are largely sustained by tourists who visit out of curiosity and a misguided belief that if they fail to visit this unique part of Spanish culture, their visit to Spain will not be complete.
The vast majority of tourists are appalled by what happens at a bullfight and leave after they see what happens to the first bull (three separate bulls are killed at bullfights, but spectators are not allowed to leave until the first one has ended).
However, the purchase of their ticket keeps the bullrings open.
Spain is a popular holiday destination for British tourists, so for this reason a campaign in this country to educate people about what really happens at bullfights is a necessary and vital step towards closing down the bullrings.
Frank Evans from Manchester who runs a bedroom and kitchen showroom in Eccles called “Ladyline” is a bullfighter who regularly travels to Spain to torture bulls to death. This is another reason why bullfighting is an issue for the British Animal Rights movement.
The Anti-Bullfighting Committee, P.O. Box 175, Liverpool L69 8DX has started a campaign against Evans by demonstrating and leafletting outside his shop and his house. Anyone interested in joining this campaign should contact this address. Also, anyone wishing to express their views on Evans’ activities should write to him at:
19 Monks Hall Grove,
Eccles, Manchester
Also, please write to:
The Spanish Ambassador,
The Spanish Embassy,
24 Belgrave Square,
London SW1
There are now serious moves to have bullfighting banned as Spain is a fairly recent member of the European Economic Community, and has been under severe pressure from campaigning Animal Rights groups.
Dragged awayHowever the powerful lobby of bullbreeders are intent on evading this. In 1989 33,000 bulls died the death previously described, and this means profit for the bullbreeders.
A boycott of Spanish produce i.e. wine, sherry, fruit and vegetables would help persuade the Spanish Government to outlaw bullfighting.
Also, a boycott of Spanish holidays would be an excellent form of economic pressure as Spain relies heavily on the tourist industry.
The Spanish Green Party has announced its intention to ban bullfighting, if it were elected to Parliament.
In recent years, there has been a sustained press interest in the atrocities involved in bullfighting and fiestas involving animal abuse. This media focus has been not only in Britain but has caused worldwide concern. This has deeply embarrassed the Spanish Government who are under extreme pressure to change their laws. Also, it has made people in general more aware of the cruelties involved in bullfighting and the fiestas, and therefore less likely to visit bullrings.
It is only a matter of time before this abomination has ended, and bulls are allowed to live their lives in peace.
bam bam
f I was to come back as a bull, I would rather go the route that leads to the arena where, slim as it might be, there was a chance of living out my days boinking cows and being looked at with respect and admiration, than shuffling around in my own feces and then persuaded to ‘come over here’. At the very least I would have lived like a king and have been given the illusion that it was a fair fight. It’s a ‘King of the Bean’ thing.
Issac
I’d rather come back as a bull in the PBR. That way I’d have a shot at eliminating clowns.
Bam,
I think we are pretty much in agreement over animal abuse in general, it’s just that these things fall somewhere else on your sensibility scale as compared to mine. Not far off, just not the same.
Bam,
Apologies for the long delay, I had to go to work, etc. I was not going to let your thoughtful replies languish.
I was well aware as a child of the trauma induced on the ducks. I did it anyway. That’s why I prefaced my story with ‘how dark and twisted my person can be’. Now as I perceive your comment, you don’t realize I understood this. I did fully, and I did it anyway. One of my hobbies is ‘messing with nature’, albeit pretty harmlessly. IF we take my duck snare example and compare it to, oh say, a FOX leaping out of an undisclosed location and snapping the neck of a duck, and eating it somehwere- well then. Imagine the trauma caused the ducks from this experience! It is a natural experience in the existence of animals to be frightened, terrified, and perhaps eaten alive. I made this point on the lion thread, and I think it was a very good one!
I wonder if the ducks I snatched were affected in one or more ways: They were prepared for the next unexpected attack, and thus spared. Since they were released, they did not react as quickly to the next attack, and were eaten. They were overcome with depression of the embarrassment of it all, and isolated themselves, eventually succumbing to nature.
The justification for hunting is that we are animals, hunters/gatherers traditionally. It is part of our blood to take down a savage beast. Why is the beast savage? Because the beast does not take the time to put itself in the place of others, the savage beast is merely sentient, not sapient. The beast cannot empathize like humans. Again, a lion does not know your rights. See the game of thrones producer who had a chat with a lioness.
Why would anyone enjoy it? Adrenaline rush is a good one. Satisfaction of besting something which itself could turn you into a meal. How one goes about it is a matter of individual choice. When I speak of hunting, I am speaking mainly of ‘for food and use’. I do not like trophy hunting, but I don’t see it as a big deal either.
“While the ducks are not killed, Animal Rescue Espana said they suffer “stress, internal hemorrhaging, pain, fear and suffering””.
From the linked article.
Isaac:
You may enjoy Portuguese bloodless bull fighting in CA, which is done on horseback. The bandarilhas are tipped with velcro, so it’s about the rider’s skill rather than a blood sport. The bull’s horn’s are padded to protect the horse, but there is some risk involved.
That’s different, of course, to how bullfighting is done in Portugal, itself. The bull is not killed in sight of the public, but he is exhausted and bloodied, and killed at the end behind closed doors.
I’ve never heard of this duck swim. Is this for people to get a free duck to eat? As a pet? What’s the purpose besides swimming in ocean water full of duck poop? I didn’t see the video, but someone said the person taking the video was struck once with a duck. Birds have hollow bones, which break quite easily. It’s surprisingly easy to kill a chicken – I’ve seen two die from shock from a single dog bite when a dog attacked my little flock when they were out of the coop. So it depends on what’s involved. If people just gently pick the duck up and swim with it, that doesn’t sound too stressful. Just messy. (Have you ever seen a duck pond? Swimming with 50 ducks sounds really gross, even if the ducks themselves are cute.) Are people drowning the ducks or hurting them? The way it’s described, it sounds like the cousin of the typical county fair games like turkey or pig races.
I believe that livestock should be handled humanely, and that is the relevant question. Are hurting the ducks part of this activity, or just swimming with them? Did she beat him with the bird or just get it to flap its wings at the guy?
There are all sorts of animal activists who believe that people should not own any pets, all animals should be wild, and are against driving or riding horses. That’s why I ask for further information on how the birds are being harmed. Why is swimming with a duck cruel or harmful? What are they doing to the birds while they’re swimming?
bam bam
The bull that one tucks into from time to time lives a rather miserable life. Typically in a space way too small and eating all sorts of chemicals and other stuff that we will not go into here. A bull bred for fighting lives the life of king. He is kept away from the nuisance of humans, has more space than he needs, can boink any female he wants, and eats the best. Then instead of being trundled up a ramp and being zapped, he is asked to perform. If he beats the man he gets to retire. This does happen. Often times he gets his licks in and gores the man and lately woman. The bull is not tortured but nurtured towards his end.
There is this form of bull and man dance that has been going on since the times of the Minoans. Is this wrong.
Ducky ducky bo bucky
bananna fanna fo mucky
fee fi mo mucky
Ducky!
If the first two letters are ever the same…
Ya drop them both and say the name like..
Bob, fob , f ing f bo rob or red fred friggin f so red
Or mary mary, is like larry, thats the only rule that is contrary.
Ducky! Ducky with a D. Well there is not any name that cannot rhyme. etc