France Considers a Ban on Bullfighting
2022-11-29
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1Supporters and opponents of bullfighting recently marched on the streets of several cities in southern France.
2Earlier this month, an opinion study said about 75 percent of the French public want to ban bullfighting.
3But a small group of supporters say it is a tradition that should continue.
4Baptiste is a 16-year-old boy training to be a bullfighter in southern France.
5He lives in Arles, a town close to the Mediterranean Sea.
6Baptiste says the people who want to ban bullfighting do not understand Corrida, another name for bullfighting.
7"Corrida is a tradition, an art, a dance with the bull," Baptiste said.
8He is one of about 12 students in Arles learning how to fight bulls.
9The people in France who do not like bullfighting wonder how it can be called an "art" when an innocent animal is killed at the end.
10During a recent protest march, one sign read: "Corrida is not a fight, it's the execution of a tortured innocent."
11Aymeric Caron is a French lawmaker who sent a bill to parliament that would ban bullfighting. It is currently being debated.
12He said some parts of France permit bullfighting as long as fewer than 1,000 bulls are killed each year.
13Just because it is a tradition, he said, does not "morally justify a practice."
14Other lawmakers in Caron's party are not supporting his bill, so it is not likely to pass.
15But the news of the anti-bullfighting proposal started a discussion in France.
16Frederic Pastor oversees the bullfights in the city of Nimes.
17He said the bull is "glorified" during the fight although it is killed.
18Nimes is home to 14 bullfighting shows each year.
19They bring in over $60 million to the city, which is just northwest of Arles.
20Tiphanie Senmartin Laurent is one of the protesters. She said most people are against bullfighting.
21"Torture is not a show," she said.
22Spain is considered the place where bullfighting began.
23People there are also questioning the practice.
24Bullfighting was banned in the Spanish province of Catalonia in 2010 but later brought back.
25A major court in Spain called the practice a "cultural asset."
26That means it is considered a tradition that has value.
27A new proposal on animal safety in Spain does not discuss bulls.
28Yves Lebas runs the bullfighting school in Arles.
29He said some have wanted to ban bullfighting forever.
30"But they never managed, because people said 'no.'"
31I'm Dan Friedell.
1Supporters and opponents of bullfighting recently marched on the streets of several cities in southern France. 2Earlier this month, an opinion study said about 75 percent of the French public want to ban bullfighting. But a small group of supporters say it is a tradition that should continue. 3Baptiste is a 16-year-old boy training to be a bullfighter in southern France. He lives in Arles, a town close to the Mediterranean Sea. 4Baptiste says the people who want to ban bullfighting do not understand Corrida, another name for bullfighting. 5"Corrida is a tradition, an art, a dance with the bull," Baptiste said. He is one of about 12 students in Arles learning how to fight bulls. 6The people in France who do not like bullfighting wonder how it can be called an "art" when an innocent animal is killed at the end. 7During a recent protest march, one sign read: "Corrida is not a fight, it's the execution of a tortured innocent." 8Aymeric Caron is a French lawmaker who sent a bill to parliament that would ban bullfighting. It is currently being debated. 9He said some parts of France permit bullfighting as long as fewer than 1,000 bulls are killed each year. Just because it is a tradition, he said, does not "morally justify a practice." 10Other lawmakers in Caron's party are not supporting his bill, so it is not likely to pass. But the news of the anti-bullfighting proposal started a discussion in France. 11Frederic Pastor oversees the bullfights in the city of Nimes. He said the bull is "glorified" during the fight although it is killed. 12Nimes is home to 14 bullfighting shows each year. They bring in over $60 million to the city, which is just northwest of Arles. 13Tiphanie Senmartin Laurent is one of the protesters. She said most people are against bullfighting. "Torture is not a show," she said. 14Spain is considered the place where bullfighting began. People there are also questioning the practice. Bullfighting was banned in the Spanish province of Catalonia in 2010 but later brought back. A major court in Spain called the practice a "cultural asset." That means it is considered a tradition that has value. A new proposal on animal safety in Spain does not discuss bulls. 15Yves Lebas runs the bullfighting school in Arles. He said some have wanted to ban bullfighting forever. "But they never managed, because people said 'no.'" 16I'm Dan Friedell. 17Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by Reuters. 18_________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20practice -n. an activity that is done again and again 21glorify -v. to make something seem better or very important 22manage -v. to succeed in doing something 23__________________________________________________________________ 24We want to hear from you. Do you think France will ban bullfighting? 25We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 26Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.