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Colombia President Signs A Law Banning Bullfighting
“Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter’s honor.” Ernest Hemingway
Bullfighting has been outlawed by a bill signed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, terminating a custom that was protected by the constitution as a part of the nation’s culture.
President Petro on Monday celebrated the end of the “right to kill” animals for entertainment in front of a crowd assembled at the bullring in the capital city of Bogota, which is now known as the Santamaria Cultural Square.
“Culture, and even less the justice (system), cannot say that it is culture to kill sentient beings, living creatures, for pleasure,” said Petro, about a 2018 Constitutional Court ruling permitting bullfights in places with such a tradition.
“If we have fun by killing an animal, we will have fun by killing human beings,” Petro said, addressing the crowd which included animal rights activists.
“No more ‘ole’!” was screamed by onlookers, echoing a catchphrase that proponents of the late May law popularized during the parliamentary process.
Influencer and bullfighting opponent Luana Delgado emphasized the significance of the prohibition being implemented in Bogota’s bullring.
“A place where you saw blood, where you saw death, now you will see culture,” she said.
The national law opens the door for bullrings to be converted into sports or cultural centers.
To thunderous acclaim, animal rights activist Jesus Merchan declared, “Today, we put an end to a long history of suffering.”
The new regulation will go into effect in 2027, giving time to convert arenas and give people who depend on bullfighting either directly or indirectly other employment opportunities.
Colombia follows Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, and Uruguay as Latin American nations that have banned bullfighting. In addition to the European countries of France, Spain, and Portugal, bullfights are still held in Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
Gentle Reminder: Be careful how you use your authority and influence, be wise, and treat others with respect.
Chychy Jonas
