CAS International
CAS International (Comité Anti Stierenvechten) is the biggest organization in the world which works exclusively on the abolition of bullfighting and cruel fiestas (festivals) during which bulls and other animals are tortured. Together with our colleague organizations, we want to end this animal abuse as soon as possible.
More information about CAS International.
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is one of the most cruel forms of animal abuse. Every year, more than 250,000 bulls and cows are tortured and killed worldwide during bullfights and similar events.
Also during fiestas ('village festivals'), tens of thousands of bulls and other animals are severely maltreated.
More information about bullfighting and fiestas.
Petition with 71,000 signatures against Toro de la Vega
CAS International, PACMA, and Humane Society International have collected 71,000 signatures against the traditional feast of Toro de la Vega.
On June 19, this petition was presented to Pablo Trillo-Figueroa, Deputy of the Governing Council of Valladolid, Spain.
During the annual Toro de le Vega, in the province of Castilla y León, a bull is chased by a crowd of people on foot and on horseback. Meanwhile, the animal is repeatedly stabbed with spears till death follows. The tradition of Toro de la Vega is very controversial in Spain due to the extreme suffering that the bull must undergo. Many Spaniards believe that the event should be banned. Many lovers of bullfighting even openly speak out against this tradition. Toro de la Vega has been declared as an event of "national tourist interest" since 1980 and was in 2011 recognized by the Council of Valladolid as 'cultural heritage.'
CAS International, started together with the Spanish political party PACMA and HSI, launched the campaign ‘Rompe una Lanza’ (break a lance) with the purpose of widely drawing attention to this subject and to gather signatures against this cruel tradition. "Break a lance" symbolizes the lances used against the bull.
Toro de la Vega © PACMA
“Toro de la Vega is not only a despicable event in itself, but also a bad thing for Spain, which lives on tourism," said Silvia Barquero, spokesman of the Spanish party for the animals. "The image that we show the rest of the world is regrettable, and it is incomprehensible that this event is still allowed." Marius Kolff, director of CAS, says that "CAS International since seven years annually visits Tordesillas with Dutch and Belgian volunteers to protest against this cruel tradition."
Marius Kolff informing the Spanish press © PACMA
You can watch a video here of Toro de la Vega (note: these are shocking images of animal cruelty).
Photos of the protest against Toro de la Vega in Tordesillas in 2011 can be seen here. Click here for a report of our journey to Tordesillas in 2011.
Watch the video of the hand in of the signatures:
How can I help?
Tips for tourists
CAS International has made a list of tips for tourists, so you can also help us abolish bullfighting and other cruel events with bulls and other animals as a tourist.
The main tip: never go to a bullfight or a cruel fiesta, like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona!
Please take a look here for more tips.
Videos
Videos of bullfights, cruel fiestas and protests of CAS International and others.
Photo album
In the CAS photo album, you can find photos of protests, bullfighting and cruel fiestas.
CLICK HERE for the photo album.
