Waterstone’S Drops British Bullfighter Promotions After Animal Protection Groups Cry Foul

For Immediate Release:
9 September 2009

Contact:
Sam Glover 020 7357 9229, ext 229; [email protected]

Liverpool – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animal protection groups in the UK and around the world have just received assurances from national bookstore chain Waterstone’s that the company has decided to cancel its planned promotions for the release of The Last British Bullfighter, a book that chronicles the life of 67-year-old matador Frank Evans and his slaughter of bulls.

Evans’ scheduled book signings at Waterstone’s in Liverpool and Manchester resulted in a flood of complaints to the store’s headquarters from disgusted PETA supporters and other members of the public. Other animal protection groups, including the Born Free Foundation, CAS International, Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe and North West Hunt Saboteurs Association, wrote to Waterstone’s asking the company not to glorify Evans for killing animals in the name of sport. In an e-mail sent from Waterstone’s this week, the book chain announced that the promotions have been cancelled.

During a typical bullfight, the bull is approached by men on blindfolded horses who twist and gouge lances into the bull’s back and neck muscles. Then banderillas – bright sticks with harpoon points on the end – are thrust into the bull’s back. The matador finally provokes the exhausted, dying animal and attempts to kill him with a sword. If he misses, an executioner is called in to stab the animal with a dagger. The executioner is supposed to cut the spinal cord, but this often goes wrong, leaving the bull conscious but paralysed as his ears are cut off and he is chained by his horns and dragged from the arena.

“Bravo to Waterstone’s for distancing itself from the sadistic cruelty and gore of bullfighting”, says PETA’s Poorva Joshipura. “There is nothing brave or admirable about anyone who participates in or pays to watch a violent spectacle in which the bull always loses.”

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.