———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Sun, Apr 27, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Subject: Cancel Charity Bullfight, May 3 [KC MEMBER ALERT]

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Please DO NOT hit reply! Respond directly to: miguel.moutinho [at] animal.org.pt

ALERT FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE MEMBER:
4/27/08: Ask Portuguese Fire Fighters To Cancel “Charity Bullfight,” May 3

ALERT FROM / REPLY TO:
Miguel Moutinho | ANIMAL, miguel.moutinho [at] animal.org.pt

BACKGROUND:

The Portuguese Fire Fighters League seems to persist in having its so-called “charity bullfight,” on 3rd May, near Lisbon, Portugal, to raise funds to build the “Fire Fighters House.”

Bullfights are extremely violent spectacles which consist in harassing and torturing 6 bulls just for fun, as part of a tradition which is no longer accepted by the majority of the Portuguese society (despite the lawful standing this spectacle still holds) and which could never be justified under any possible moral grounds.

It is absolutely shocking to know that the organisation that represents fire fighters, nationwide, in Portugal — and which holds “a life for a life” as its motto — is involved as the beneficiary and co-promoter of this “charity bloodshed.” It is also disappointing to see that, despite the many hundreds of emails sent from people across the world and from within Portugal to this league, this institution has not even bothered to respond — while keeping its programmed bullfight.

CONTACT INFORMATION / TAKE ACTION:

1. International pressure from Portugal’s fire fighter colleagues may help. Ask the International Association of Fire Fighters to urge their Portuguese colleagues to cancel their “charity bullfight.”

TO: International Association of Fire Fighters, bglanz [at] iaff.org

Dear Madams/Sirs,

I write to urge the International Association of Fire Fighters to call the Portuguese Fire Fighters League to cancel a so-called “charity bullfight” to raise funds to build the “Fire Fighters House” in Portugal (Europe), a cruel spectacle of which this agency is both beneficiary and co-promoter.

There are many ethical ways to raise funds for this institution’s precious work. There is no good reason for Portugal’s fire fighters organisation to consider jeopardising its respectability by associating itself with a spectacle such as a bullfight, which is an abhorrent and extremely violent show, colliding with all the basic principles of aid, solidarity, compassion and altruism which serves as a moral and social ground for the work of fire fighters. Plus, bullfighting is firmly condemned by the majority of the Portuguese society, which is another reason to stop this.

I have contacted the Portuguese League of Fire Fighters urging them to step away from bullfighting and from its blood stained money. However, they have not responded so far – but are keeping their cruel plans. I believe that the IAFF can greatly help in persuading your Portuguese colleagues of what a disgraceful and dishonourable decision it would make for them to go ahead with this spectacle of animal cruelty.

Please do what you can to stop Portuguese fire fighters from becoming forever stained by this unspeakable event.

With my best regards,
Name / City, Country / E-mail

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2. Write to Portuguese Fire and Civil Defence officials to call the Portuguese Fire Fighters League to drop plans for this “charity bullfight.”

TO:
sepc [at] mai.gov.pt, geral [at] prociv.pt, direccao [at] enb.pt, provedor [at] enb.pt, geral [at] enb.pt

COPY (Cc):
infor [at] lbp.pt, rui.mota [at] lbp.pt, jornal [at] lbp.pt, publicidade [at] lbp.pt, campanhas [at] animal.org.pt

Mr. Secretary of State of Civil Defence of Portugal,
Mr. President of Portugal’s Civil Defence National Authority,
Mr. President of Portugal’s National School of Fire Fighters,
Cc: Board of the Portuguese League of Fire Fighters and “O Bombeiro” Newspaper

Dear Sirs,

I am shocked with the fact that the Portuguese Fire Fighters League has become involved with a so-called “charity bullfight” to raise funds to build the “Fire Fighters House” in Portugal – to be held on 3rd May in Montijo.

With so many good, positive, ethical and educational ways of raising funds for the precious work of this institution, how could they have even considered jeopardising the credibility and respectability of this agency by associating it with a spectacle such as a bullfight, which is nothing but an abhorrent and extremely violent bloodshed, which clearly and shockingly violates the League’s motto: “a life for a life”.

I urge you to please call the Portuguese Fire Fighters League to cancel this bloody event and to fully and permanently step away from the terrible activity of bullfighting, and from the acceptance of any of the funds resulting from it. The basic principles of aid, solidarity, compassion and altruism which serves as a moral and social ground for the work of fire fighters is absolutely incompatible with any other position on this matter.

Please stop this bloodshed — and stop Portuguese fire fighters from becoming forever stained by this event in which poor animals will be cowardly tortured. It is already shameful enough to see local fire department associations in some regions of Portugal associating themselves to bullfights. To have that on a nationwide scale is outrageous.

Hoping that you will make steps to avoid this sad and disgraceful episode from happening.

Looking forward for your reply,
Name / City, Country / E-mail

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For more information, contact:
Miguel Moutinho | ANIMAL, miguel.moutinho [at] animal.org.pt

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts kinship circle brenda shoss bulls bullfight bullfighting Miguel Moutinho ANIMAL Portuguese Fire Fighters League Portugese Portugal International Association of Fire Fighters charity bullfight fundraiser blood sports animal fighting