Public Affairs

Autumn semester 2016

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Bullfighting in Portugal

Tourism & Leisure ERASMUS PROGRAM Paula Mariana Costa copyaah.met

 I. Bullfighting in Portugal
For my individual essay, I've decided to discuss bullfighting in my home country, Portugal,
due to its controversial history and my personal interest in animal abuse related issues. Portugal is
still one of the few countries in the world where bullfighting is legal, however, in 2002, a new law
was introduced that states any spectacle, in which the bull is killed, must apply for exceptional
authorisation unless it is in a place where it has been carried out uninterruptedly for at least 50
years as part of popular culture on a historic date. This happens in Barrancos, a town in the south,
where special permission has been granted to kill the bull during fights, due to it being a long-
standing tradition.
During the XVI century, several countries (such as Netherlands, Italy, Britain) abolished
bullfighting, considering it cruel and unfit for civilized societies. Several religious figures tried to
prohibit bullfighting, considering it to be a bloody spectacle. Portugal is a very religious country,
which should influence the people's attitude towards bullfighting. Truth is, through out history, the
Catholic church has held a strong position against bullfighting, with several attempts to make
Portugal (and Spain, of course) eradicate this practice, without success. To make it even worse, an
authoritarian regime installed in Portugal in 1933, which took pride in bullfighting, describing it as
national heritage, during its political propaganda. It was during this period, that bullfighting in
Portugal reached its peak, and when its best bullrings were built.
The presence of this activity is not strongly felt the same way through out the country. In
Portugal's northern regions, bullfighting has a much lower presence. Some southern and central
regions of Portugal, such as Ribatejo and parts of the Alentejo, as well as Terceira Island in the
Azores, are traditionally more interested in bullfighting.
The public television station RTP usually shows bullfights in prime-time. This has been
notoriously criticized by left-wing parties who have tried to ban the programme and, in another
instance, rating the show to an adults-only classification. RTP considers bullfighting "Portuguese
cultural heritage" according the Portuguese Constitution, therefore it should be televised. In 2015,
there were 8280 complaints for this animal torture entertainment to get off the TV, where people
argue that it violates their rights, liberty and guarantees, "bullfighting shouldn't be a public service".
One might argue "Not everybody has to watch it, if you don't like - change the channel", but we
can't just simply turn our backs to something this violent. We can turn our backs when it's soccer
games, fighting matches and advertising... But I think it's important to face these activities, where
human beings are being tortured, against their will. When its a matter of animal rights, liberty of
opinion just isn't a valid argument.
In 2014 ONU (Children's right committee) adverted Portugal, quoting: "The Committee is
concerned about the physical and mental well-being of children involved in the training of bullfighting,
and performances associated with it, as well as the mental and emotional well-being of child
spectators who are exposed to the violence of bullfighting. The Committee, with a view to the eventual
prohibition of the participation of children in bullfighting, urges the State party to take the necessary
legislative and administrative measures in order to protect all children involved in bullfighting training
and performances, as well as in their capacity as spectators. This may include increasing the minimum
age of 12 years for the training, including in bullfighting schools and private farms, and for participation
of children in bullfighting, as well as increasing the minimum age of 6 years for children allowed to
attend such events as spectators. The Committee also urges the State party to undertake awareness
raising measures about the physical and mental violence associated with bullfighting and its impact
on children."1
However, unconfirmed reports indicate that even these age limits are not being respected,
either at bullfighting schools or at national bullrings. The Portuguese political party PAN (People,
Animals and Nature) has been trying to achieve this goal, but with no success. The executive of the
Portuguese Bullfighting Federation, Hlder Milheiro, argues that in the bullfighting schools,
children are always safe and that it is the same as learning ballet or how to play an instrument. He
strongly states that bullfighting is a multigenerational activity, that come from our ancestors, as a
way to show courage, quoting: "Bullfighting isn't violence, its didactic and recommendable, because
it teaches children a way to be in life".
In this matter, one might encounter opinions that state: the bull breed is fit for this kind of
activity. That he doesn't suffer that much, he can handle it very well. A Veterinary association
against bullfighting and animal abuse has done some research on the production of beta-
endorphins with the bulls used in the rings. This kind of morphine is produced in various situations,
such as: stress, pain, hunger, thirst, physical exhaustion,... All of these situations occur during
bullfighting, and that's why it's not considered a pleasurable hormone, neither does it numb the
pain.

II. Analytical chart

Players Position Roles

In 1567, Pope Pio V, tried to
Against bullfighting and prohibit bullfighting in Spain
Catholic church animal abuse and Portugal, but his orders
were ignored.
Founded and led the Estado Used bullfighting in his
Novo, authoritarian propaganda as Portuguese
Salazar government that ruled heritage to be proud of. Also,
Portugal until 1974. built dozens of bullrings were.
Argues that bullfighting is
RTP Portuguese television channel heritage and should be on the
media and televised.
Concerned about the physical Urges the State party to take
and mental well-being of the necessary legislative and
ONU (Children's rights children involved in the administrative measures in
committee) training of bullfighting and order to protect all children
performances associated with involved in this activity (min.
it. age of 12).
Argues that it makes no
sense, for a child, to witness
Political party advocate
or participate in a violent
PAN animal rights, nature and
activity such as bullfighting,
people.
which could have
psychological, social and

1 United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (2014)


Executive of the Portuguese
Hlder Milheiro Bullfighting federation &
member of Prtoiro
Association of Vets agains
AVATMA bullfighting and animal abuse
emotional repercussions. End
of bullfighting in Portugal ir
one of its main targets.
Claims that bullfighting
doesnt receive any kind of
financial support from the
government. That it is used to
influence public opinion.
Researches made to prove the
suffering the bulls go through.

III.

How bullfighting affects tourism in Portugal

While tourism is strongly developing in Portugal, we should focus our attention on the
tourist's concerns towards some bullfighting related activities. Security is supposed to be one of
Portugal's best advantages tourism wise, but the tourists are starting to feel intimidated by the
presence of loose bulls on the streets, rising up an unsafe environment. There have been several
accidents because of these activities and one death in 2016.
To be more specific about how bullfighting can compromise tourism in Portugal ,let's take
for example the Island of Terceira in the Azores, where during the high season, a daily event is
created: the "Tourada corda", meaning bullfighting by rope. This kind of practise results in various
traffic congestions, paralysing the economy and creating ridiculously dangerous situations for both
the tourists and the locals. It is believed to be one of the most ancient recreational traditions in the
archipelago. The bull is controlled by a rope around its neck, held by six people (pastores) that direct
the bull and prevent its leaving the field of play. The bull is led along the course of the road, and
taunted and teased by players, but with no intent to kill the animal.
Many argue that these kind of "cultural activities" actually constitute tourism attractions,
however, the tourists claim to be disgusted by this, relating bullfighting to unlearned and
uncivilized people, which results in a obstacle to development. The small percentage of tourists
attracted by this kind of activity, would be relatable to those who go to Amsterdam to smoke
marijuana, or those who go to Netherlands for legal prostitution. Is that the kind of image we want?
A country where tourists come to see an animal suffer in the ring? The Civic Movement to Abolish
Azores Bullfighting has been trying to go around this, in order to find ways to make the tourists feel
safe.

"What a bull goes through", by Pedro Martins Santos

"Under high temperatures that can reach 30C, without any breeze of air, and after staying more than
12h inside a small metal container in a truck, where they can't move, not even lay down, the 6 bulls
will face the bullring. They will be stabbed with 70cm bedecked steel sticks (bandarilhas). These same
sticks will rip out their muscles and provoke an hallucinating pain. After this, exhausted and weak, they
will be tormented by 8 men, who will jump on them and pull their tails (vertebras will be broken), and
humiliate them in front of everyone. When the show is over, the bulls will be forced to drag themselves
inside the same truck, where the steel sticks will me removed, cold-blooded, chopping off the skin
around the wound, with a knife, leaving the bull's torso exposed flesh. If it wasn't already enough, the
bull will be taken to the slaughterhouse, leaving behind tracks of blood and diarrhea. It's Friday night.
Tomorrow Saturday, when the slaughterhouses don't work. Neither on Sundays. With luck, and if they
haven't died until then, they will be killed on Monday, stunned to death and hanged upside down.
Finally peace."

Strategies against bullfighting in Portugal

The best and most efficient way to fight against bullfighting, if we seek for long term effects,
is to improve humanitarian education. It is essential to introduce values that can prevent children
from taking these destructive paths. Inflict pain to a being will never be considered a healthy
behaviour in an infant's life.
Efforts should be taken to stop the public subsidies, supports and benefits towards the
bullfighting community. These groups usually have fiscal and state benefits, being tax-free, which
results in an annual loss of 20 million euros. PAN has been trying to reach out to the Portuguese
Parliament with several strong arguments against bullfighting, and are in the right path to end this
activity.

In 2015, The European Parliament stated that Commune Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds
should not be used for the financing of lethal bullfighting activities, adding that such funding is
a clear violation of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming
Purposes. Even though in Portugal, the bull isn't killed in the arena (except for Barrancos),
therefore it doesn't ban the activity itself, but is a huge step towards victory.
The natural tendency, according to the following chart, has been to increase restrictions
towards the development of this activity, because of the violence and risks associated, but mostly,
because of the animal abuse before, during and after the "show". The number of bullfighting
spectacles has been diminishing in result of lack of financial support from the government and
decreasing public interest in attending these.

Number of
Years Number of attendants
bullfighting shows
2010 301 681.140
2011 274 609.052
2012 254 479.560
2013 241 441.551
2014 221 422,597
2015 207 395.463
Source: Bullfighting Activity Annual Report (2015)

My opinion on bullfighting
I was born in one of the few countries that, unfortunately, still commits this kind of animal
abuse atrocities. It is usually argued that it's part of our cultural heritage, but if we take it like that...
then genital mutilation in the Middle East is also none of our business, right? And we shouldn't
forget that bullfighting appeared around the XII century, when public consciousness was quite
medieval. By that time slavery and burning people in the public square was also considered
"normal". But there is light at the end of the tunnel, in my point of view.
Bullfighting, not only in Portugal, is doomed to extinction. This only still legal because the
government still allows it, due to corrupt politicians being bought by the bullfighting lobby. But the
majority of the Portuguese people do not link their culture to this type of activity, and have began
to engage take action against it. If we take a look at pictures of fairly recent bullfights in Portugal,
you'll notice that the vast majority of them are performed before a small group of people, because
this kind of show is losing its public, even if the tickets were free. Televised bullfights are fewer than
ever and the people are complaining more and more.
Many might wonder what would happen if bullfighting met its end. If we take a look at what
happened in Barcelona - the bullrings were converted into other kinds of facilities (this is already
happening in some Portuguese cities, like Viana do Castelo). You might wonder what happens to
the breed if bullfighting finally disappears. Studies have shown that bulls are not a special asset to
our biodiversity/ecosystem. Besides, why preserve a breed that will only end up in suffering
anyway?
One might me concerned about the number of people that depend on bullfighting to receive
income, however, the unemployment would be residual, since a big percentage of their main
source of income doesn't come from this activity.

IV. References
http://observador.pt/2015/10/30/o-cerco-aperta-as-touradas-em-portugal-e-na-europa/

http://observador.pt/2015/10/28/parlamento-europeu-solicita-proibicao-de-financiamentos-para-
touradas/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/11961010/EU-cuts-subsidies-that-
support-Spanish-bullfighting.html
http://porfalarnoutracoisa.sapo.pt/2014/07/10-argumentos-favor-da-tourada.html
http://www.jn.pt/nacional/interior/noite-de-manifestacoes-contra-transmissao-de-touradas-na-
rtp-5356853.html
"Bullfighting Activity Annual Report" (2015) , IGAC.