|
Nabarralde | Nabarra Papers
Animal
torture is used for entertainment
in the Basque territories
Josu
Eguskiza.
During my visit to San Diego (California) in 2001, the Discovery
channel aired a show 'Animal Attacks'. It was watching this
program when I became more fully aware of the many injustices
and cases of cruelty against animals in our world and especially
in the Spanish Basque town of Lekeitio.
 |
|
 |
|
Day of the Geese in Lekeitio.
Photo: Reuters |
|
To be an animal in Spain and its Basque provinces is the worst
misfortune that can happen to such a living being. A few weeks
ago a news agency distributed a disgraceful picture of one of
the fun games played in the Basque territories. The picture
was taken in Lekeitio, the Day of the Geese.
People
in Lekeitio torture animals for entertainment during the traditional
"fiesta" of the Day of the Geese, when men try to pull the
neck off a goose while being repeatedly plunged into the water.
The Day of the Geese is "celebrated" with a goose hanging
from a rope over the harbor as men passing on a boat attempt
to grab the poor animal and are then lifted up and plunged
into the water until they pull off its neck or fall down into
the water. Those who succeed in pulling the neck off get to
keep the dead goose.
Another
fun game
in Lekeitio has some of its proudest citizens play the "goose
game" in horses. Led by their "king", these young
men riding horses try to pull the neck off a goose hanging
from a rope.
They call this disgusting game an "initiation ritual" and are
proud to have it preserved in Lekeitio and several other Basque
towns.
Obviously
the Basque territories badly need guidelines to create and
implement its own humane education programs. Our political
leaders should not to wait to get "independence" from France
and Spain in order to stop these horrifying acts of animal
cruelty.
September
15, 2002
Translation by Gigi Bidarte.
Josu Eguskiza is an animal activist and physical trainer.
|
