theist Posted April 3, 2004 Report Share Posted April 3, 2004 Brazil's festival from hell: ------------------- One of the most savage and cruel rituals involving animals is Brazil’s “Farra do Boi.” Loosely translated as “Festival of the Oxen” or “Ox Fun Days,” the annual event involves the systematic and deliberate torture of several hundred oxen in more than 30 communities throughout the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. Before the event, oxen are confined and starved for several days. To increase the frenzy, food and water are placed within the animals’ sight but out of their reach. The Farra begins when the first ox is driven from his pen and chased through the streets by crowds of villagers with sticks, knives, whips, stones, bamboo lances, and ropes. The attackers—men, women, and children—pursue the ox as he desperately attempts to escape. Oxen are tormented in every conceivable way. The helpless animals are doused with gasoline and set on fire. Pepper is thrown into their eyes, which are often gouged out. Participants break the animals’ horns and legs and cut off their tails. Participants may stab or hit the animals as many times as they want, as long as the blows are not fatal because the oxen must survive until the end of the event. This torture continues for three days or more. Finally, the animal is killed, and the meat is divided among the participants. Until recently, Farra do Boi occurred primarily during the week of Easter and on New Year’s Day in remote coastal villages. Today, some communities hold weekly Farras to “celebrate” weddings, birthdays, soccer games, and other occasions. Prominent businesspeople, citizens, cattle breeders, restaurateurs, and politicians often donate the oxen. In 1997, Farras do Boi were outlawed by the Supreme Court of Brazil. However, the participants have organized in order to ignore the law, claiming that Farra do Boi is not cruel, that the animals are not tortured, and that it is part of their tradition. The governor of the state of Santa Catarina refuses to repress the events, and police do not arrest anyone, so the Farra do Boi continues despite the ban. Please write polite letters to the Brazilian ambassador, asking him to intervene and help enforce the law: His Excellency Rubens Antonio Barbosa Ambassador of Brazil Brazilian Embassy 3006 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20008-3634 202-238-2700 202-238-2827 (fax) ambassador@brasilemb.org Please also contact representatives of the Brazilian Department of Tourism and tell them that you will be spending your vacation dollars elsewhere until these cruel events are permanently stopped: 1-800-7BRAZIL visitbrazil@braziltourism.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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