The President of Colombia signs historic ban
Bullfighting traditions have existed in Colombia since the Spanish colonial era. In May, the Parliament of the South American country voted for a ban. Now, President Gustavo Petro has taken a historic step - in a bullfighting arena.
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro signed the Law Prohibiting Bullfighting in the South American country. "We cannot tell the world that killing living and feeling beings for entertainment is part of our culture", Petro told hundreds of animal rights activists at a bullfighting arena in Bogota. A supporter of the initiative presented him with a copy of the law at the bullfighting arena of the Colombian capital Bogota on a Monday.
"We cannot tell the world that killing living and feeling beings for entertainment is part of our culture", Petro said in a speech after signing the law. "If nature is destroyed, humanity is at an end", Petro added. "Nature has rights that are independent of us, and these rights must be respected."
The bullfighting arena will in the future be a stage for "Culture, Sport, Life and not Death", said the President. The country now has three years to transform bullfighting arenas into cultural and artistic centers. Workers who earned their living from bullfighting must be re-trained, and losses should be minimized, Petro said.
The Colombian Congress passed the ban in May in a historic decision at the end of May. The law "No mas ole" (No more bullfighting) was passed after heated debates that lasted for months. An increasing number of people find it unacceptable that animals suffer for entertainment.
Bullfighting has been a tradition in the South American country since the Spanish colonial era. The tradition originated on the Iberian Peninsula. Colombia was one of the eight countries that allowed bullfighting as a legal activity, along with Spain, Portugal, France, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
The international community is likely to commend Colombia's stance on animal welfare, as President Petro's ban on bullfighting sets a precedent in South America. This move will significantly improve the welfare of numerous animals in Colombia. The President's decision to transform bullfighting arenas into cultural and artistic centers in Bogota is a testament to Colombia's commitment to animal rights and environmental conservation.
