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Annual "slaughter of the bulls" begins in Pamplona

File Image: (c) Photabulous!

Running of the Bulls, or the festival of San FermÃ­n as itâ€™s more commonly known in Spain, has it origins from the process of transporting the bulls from fields outside the city, where they were bred, to the arena, where they will be killed in a centuries long speciesist tradition.

Between July 7 and 14, each day, 6 bulls accompanied by steers in an attempt to keep the them relatively calm, are forced to run 825 meters on average every morning at 8am, through the streets of Pamplona from the corral at Santo Domingo where the bulls are kept on hold, to the bullring in the Plaza de Toros where they will be taunted and then slaughtered later that day under the guise of tradition, festivities and entertainment.

Those that watch or participate in this event are equally responsible for the stress, suffering and ultimate death of the bull as the matador that drives the sword into the flesh of the animal.

Ernest Hemingway is given credit for giving more exposure and notoriety to the Pamplona bull run fiesta, which he attending nine times. He apparently also "loved" the pastime of goading fish onto sharp hooks.

Hemingway's book, The Sun Also Rises, is apparently full of bull and metaphors glorifying bull fighting. It features a group of American and British expatriates who travel from Paris to the Festival of San FermÃ­n in Pamplona to watch the running of the bulls and the bullfights. Ironically, bulls are seen to symbolize passion, physicality, energy, and freedom and the bull fight itself portrayed as a sensual manipulation between bull-fighter and bull.

Pamplona is the capital city, of the historic autonomous Navarre province in northern Spain. Unfortunately, one of the first notations Wikipedia makes is that "the city is famous worldwide for the running of the bulls. Hopefully one day soon this speciesist and brutal activity will cease and the city and region, can become known for its centuries rich history, architecture and culture.

This YouTube video shows the madness that occurs prior to the ritual slaughter of the animals, otherwise know in carnist terms as a "bull fight".

GruntVegan