Stop Legislative Bodies of Azores from Legalising Bull Killing

pm@pm.gov.pt, gmei@mei.gov.pt, seturismo@mei.gov.pt, info@turismodeportugal.pt, presidencia@azores.gov.pt, sre@azores.gov.pt, acoresturismo@mail.telepac.pt, geral@alra.pt, pres@alra.pt, gppsterceira@alra.pt, gppsgflores@alra.pt, gppspico@alra.pt, gppssjorge@alra.pt, gppsgraciosa@alra.pt, gppsfaial@alra.pt, gppssmiguel@alra.pt, gppssmaria@alra.pt, gppsdfaial@alra.pt, gppsdsmiguel@alra.pt, gppsdterceira@alra.pt, gppsdsmaria@alra.pt, gppsdgraciosa@alra.pt, gppsdsjorge@alra.pt, gppsdpico@alra.pt, gppsdgflores@alra.pt, gpcdsppfaial@alra.pt, gpcdsppsmiguel@alra.pt, gpcdsppterceira@alra.pt, gpcdsppsjorge@alra.pt, gpcdsppflores@alra.pt, gpbefaial@alra.pt, gpbesmiguel@alra.pt, gpbeterceira@alra.pt, rppcpfaial@alra.pt, rppcpsmiguel@alra.pt, rpppmfaial@alra.pt, rpppmcorvo@alra.pt

To His Excellency the Prime Minister of Portugal
To His Excellency the Minister of the Economy of Portugal
To His Excellency the Secretary of State of Tourism of Portugal
To His Excellency the President of the Regional Government of the Azores
To His Excellency the Regional Secretary of Tourism of the Azores
To His Excellency the President of the Regional Legislative Assembly of
the Azores
To the Presidents of the Parliamentary Groups in the Regional
Legislative Assembly of the Azores
To the President of the Tourism Institute of Portugal
To the Director of the Regional Tourism Board of the Azores/


Dear Excellencies in Portugal and on the Azores,

I have learned that, after the establishment of the new Political Status of the Azores, the legislative regional assembly of the Azores has now the constitutional power to legalise the killing of bulls and picadors (“sortes de varas”) in bullfighting activities in the region.

I have also learned that some parliamentarians of the region want to take legislative action in this way, which I consider something absolutely shocking, as the Azores and Portugal should only take steps to augment and reinforce animal protection legislation and not to make setbacks such as this proposed one, legalising horrifying acts of animal torture, as if it was not already enough for the brutal Portuguese-style bullfights to still be lawful in your country.

I urge you please save the image and reputation of the Azores – a beautiful region which heavily relies on tourism for its economic subsistence – by taking steps to outlaw bullfighting in the region and to do whatever must be done to stop any attempt to legalise this abhorrent form of torture that would add up even more brutality to what already goes in islands such as Terceira, in which so many animals are sacrificed.

I would certainly consider visiting the Azores if you take steps to make it a region where animals are respected and that only has space for progress in the humane treatment of animals – but I would most certainly not go to the Azores ever again, and I would encourage everyone I know to do the same, if such brutality is indeed legalised in your region.

Please, do not let the Azores get even more stained by the blood of bulls! I will be looking forward for a response from you, which I hope may be
positive, and I thank in anticipation for your attention.

Yours respectfully,