Spain's National Broadcaster Bans Bullfighting

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Jan. 8, 2011
Spain's National Broadcaster Bans Bullfighting
State TV Network Ends Broadcasts of Bullfights Under New Guidelines Governing Violence and Animals

(AP) MADRID - Spain's leading broadcaster says it will no longer show the country's centuries-old tradition of bullfighting in order to protect children from viewing violence.

RTVE lists its new ban on transmitting bullfighting programs under a chapter called "Violence with animals" in its latest stylebook and says it "will not broadcast bullfighting."

One of the reasons given by RTVE - Spain's state network - is that bullfights "generally coincide with hours protected or specially protected for young viewers."

Spain has seen a fierce debate over the blood-soaked pageant that has fascinated artists and writers from Goya to Hemingway.

In July, the influential northeastern region of Catalonia became the second Spanish region to ban bullfighting, joining the Canary Islands, which outlawed the practice in 1991.



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/08/world/main7225474.shtml

[xchrom]

1. good. nt

[InvisibleTouch]

2. To protect children???

How about to protect the *animals* who are being tortured to death for sport?

Gods, what fucked-up priorities.

Just refusing to broadcast the debacle doesn't mean it's not happening. Maybe if those "poor impressionable" children *did* happen to witness it, they'd grow up to demand the practice be outlawed completely. Kids are more resilient than some seem to think, and depriving them of a chance to grow a social conscience does the world no favors. Where will we get our advocates for a better future from, if the poor little kiddies are shielded from every horrible thing that happens?

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Broadcasters make decisions about broadcasts, not the bullfights

Maybe if those "poor impressionable" children *did* happen to witness it, they'd grow up to demand the practice be outlawed completely

That hasn't been the general effect so far, has it? 2 areas have banned it, but most still allow it. Do you really think that broadcasting bullfights makes more Spaniards anti-bullfighting, rather than giving a literal audience for it?

[InvisibleTouch]

8. Reducing the audience is a good reason to stop the broadcasts...

...but I was boggled by the reason given: to "protect children" from viewing the violence! I don't think the kiddies are the ones being violated here.

I'm sure there are many people in Spain who are vocally opposed to bullfighting, and I'm sure many of them came to their opposition when they actually witnessed the event. Though I'll agree with you that a case can be made for cutting down demand by reducing the audience.

[harvey007]

3. Some traditions need to die

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inaugural_games_of_the_Flavian_Amphitheatre#Animal_entertainments

[femrap]

4. This barbaric slaughter

needs to stop completely.

[roody]

5. This and not smoking in restaurants! Spain is getting better all the time.

[harvey007]

7. Another stupid tradition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvS6JFWl6SE

[saras]

9. It's a step forward

It may be the only step forward currently practical under Spanish law.

If it means less funding for them, good.

If it means fewer people get involved enough to seek out live events, good.

If it keeps children from viewing them until they are old enough to seek it out themselves, good.

So it's not a perfect, complete solution? Anyone have one of those for America's problems? I just don't see anything WRONG with the move at all, except that it's one move, not the whole game.