Colombia to Vote on Bullfighting Ban
2023-03-28
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1Colombia is one of just eight countries where bullfights remain legal.
2Many places in those countries are establishing restrictions on the activity.
3Courts and city governments in Spain and Mexico have issued rulings that have discouraged the events.
4In December, Colombia's Senate approved a measure to ban bullfighting nationwide.
5Lawmakers in the House of Representatives could take up the legislation when it returns from its three-month break.
6Bullfights have been a part of life in Colombia for hundreds of years.
7But much of the public now disapproves of the practice because of ethical concerns.
8"We are talking about living and feeling beings," said Andrea Padilla.
9She is a recently elected senator and longtime animal rights activist who wrote the anti-bullfighting law.
10"These are mammals...who shouldn't be exposed to a slow and painful death."
11Padilla's law proposes banning all bullfights within three years.
12It also demands immediate reform of bullfighting shows.
13It bars the use of some weapons and the killing of the animal.
14Bullfighting supporters say those measures would effectively end the tradition.
15In bullfights, the bull is fought and taunted in three stages that last about six minutes each.
16First, a horseman injures the bull with a long wooden weapon with a metal point.
17Then, assistants rush up to the bull to push sharp sticks into the animal's upper back.
18Lastly, the bullfighter stabs and kills the bull.
19Supporters of bullfights say the ban would destroy an art form.
20They also say it will cause job losses.
21They argue that politicians like Padilla are trying to force their beliefs on others.
22Studies suggest bullfighting supporters are a small percentage of Colombia's population.
23In a November public opinion study by research company Datexco, 85 percent of Colombians said they agreed with a ban on bullfights.
24Just 13 percent said they were against a ban.
25However, in Colombia's House of Representatives many politicians have been unwilling to ban it.
26Some lawmakers say they prefer a bill that "moderates" bullfights by making some of the weapons used in these events less violent.
27In some parts of Colombia, like the city of Manizales, bullfights still interest thousands of people each year.
28The local Red Cross owns the bullfighting center in that city.
29Its yearly bullfighting celebration raises thousands of dollars for a children's hospital.
30"It's sad that people who don't know anything about our sector want to make laws about us," said Sergio Alzate.
31The 22-year-old hopes to become a bullfighter, or matador.
32He attends the city's bullfighting school.
33Still, Senator Padilla and thousands of others in Colombia argue that there is no ethical reason for events where animals are killed for show.
34She added that her bill directs the government to help create new sources of money for people working in bullfights.
35I'm Dan Novak.
1Colombia is one of just eight countries where bullfights remain legal. Many places in those countries are establishing restrictions on the activity. Courts and city governments in Spain and Mexico have issued rulings that have discouraged the events. 2In December, Colombia's Senate approved a measure to ban bullfighting nationwide. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives could take up the legislation when it returns from its three-month break. 3Bullfights have been a part of life in Colombia for hundreds of years. But much of the public now disapproves of the practice because of ethical concerns. 4"We are talking about living and feeling beings," said Andrea Padilla. She is a recently elected senator and longtime animal rights activist who wrote the anti-bullfighting law. 5"These are mammals...who shouldn't be exposed to a slow and painful death." 6Padilla's law proposes banning all bullfights within three years. It also demands immediate reform of bullfighting shows. It bars the use of some weapons and the killing of the animal. 7Bullfighting supporters say those measures would effectively end the tradition. 8In bullfights, the bull is fought and taunted in three stages that last about six minutes each. First, a horseman injures the bull with a long wooden weapon with a metal point. Then, assistants rush up to the bull to push sharp sticks into the animal's upper back. Lastly, the bullfighter stabs and kills the bull. 9Supporters of bullfights say the ban would destroy an art form. They also say it will cause job losses. They argue that politicians like Padilla are trying to force their beliefs on others. 10Studies suggest bullfighting supporters are a small percentage of Colombia's population. In a November public opinion study by research company Datexco, 85 percent of Colombians said they agreed with a ban on bullfights. Just 13 percent said they were against a ban. 11However, in Colombia's House of Representatives many politicians have been unwilling to ban it. Some lawmakers say they prefer a bill that "moderates" bullfights by making some of the weapons used in these events less violent. 12In some parts of Colombia, like the city of Manizales, bullfights still interest thousands of people each year. The local Red Cross owns the bullfighting center in that city. Its yearly bullfighting celebration raises thousands of dollars for a children's hospital. 13"It's sad that people who don't know anything about our sector want to make laws about us," said Sergio Alzate. The 22-year-old hopes to become a bullfighter, or matador. He attends the city's bullfighting school. 14Still, Senator Padilla and thousands of others in Colombia argue that there is no ethical reason for events where animals are killed for show. 15She added that her bill directs the government to help create new sources of money for people working in bullfights. 16I'm Dan Novak. 17Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters and The Associated Press. 18___________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20discourage - v. to make less determined, hopeful, or confident 21mammal - n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin 22expose - v. to cause to experience something or to be influenced or affected by something 23taunt - v. to say insulting things in order to make that person angry 24sector - n. a part of an economy that includes certain kinds of jobs