The actions

The UNESCO file Alarm ! Open letter to the Mayor of GIMONT (GERS) Rémich (Luxembourg) associated as "Twin-Town" with a pro-animal torture Town (Bessan / Department of Hérault - 34) Bessan twinned with Rémich : the Bourgmestre answered us. "La Traviata" directed by Henry-Jean Servat No to corridas ! Yes to Traviata ! "Human race" in Pamplona organised by PETA Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone His prison... his arena

The UNESCO file

Alarm !

Regarding : Association of REMICH as a Twin-Town with BESSAN, Department of Herault(34-France)

Mister Mayor,

Since 1993, our Federation, which includes most of the animal defense Associations in France and in several European Countries, fights cruelty against animals and torture inflicted to animals as part of the so-called Spanish Toromachy, also called "corrida".

Whilst we congratulate you for the twinning of Remich with the town of Bessan, based on the fact that cultural exchanges between people are a considerable progress for civilisation, we nevertheless have to say that the Town of Bessan is unfortunately participating in the animal torture activity called corrida in France.

As a matter of fact, every year, one or several shows of animal torture and killing of animals are organised in Bessan.

To make things worse, Bessan not only hosts a "Club" for animal torture but also the PERNOD-RICARD, company, which is the main sponsor of animal torture (promoted under the cover name of corrida) in France ; the fact that Pernod-Ricard runs a production site in Bessan only reinforces the links between this Town and the corrida.

However in Bessan, as everywhere, animal torture promoters (calling themselves "aficionados") only represent a very small minority of the population. We have therefore considered an absolute necessity to informe you of this specific situation.

On the other hand, the animal torture Towns of the South of France are often associated as twin-towns with Northern Europe towns, and we know that the Mayors of the latter do not hesitate to challenge their collegues Mayors of the South of France about theses barbaric "traditions" - without questionning the fact that good relationship between the population of their repective Towns are to be promoted.

We are convinced that the Town of Remich will do a good use of this information, and we thank you for the attention brought to this letter.
Please be assured, Mister Mayor, of our consideration.

For the F.L.A.C
The Presidente
Josyane QUERELLE

Mister Bourgmestre,

We thank you for your response of June 13th to our letter. In effect, you intention to discuss the issue of animal torture with the Bessan administration is very satistfactory for us.

We must ask you indulgence for being late to recontact you.
This delay has however been useful for us to check that there had no bull torture during the annual Bessan entertainement activities organised from the 7th to the 10th of August, and this is a source of relief and satisfaction for us, that we intented to communicate to you.

We even hoped that there would be no cruelty at all this year in Bessan ; unfortunately, a young bulls torture session (designed under the euphemism of "novillada") took place on August 21st which was a pain and disappointment for us.

Our struggle is very tough in the South of France where those barbarian traditions continue. But our determination to fight these old and unacceptable practices is strong ; and we are sure that with the slow but ineluctable evolution of the cultural and ehtical context, we will win at the end. Along with this view, we have great hopes on the help that Northern European countries can provide to us, since your citizens have a more advanced civilisation level and they duely respect all living beings.

Please accept, Mister Bourgmestre, our renewed thanks, as well as our respectful consideration.

For the F.L.A.C
The Présidente
Josyane QUERELLE

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"La Traviata" directed by Henry-Jean Servat
No to corridas ! Yes to Traviata !

To : Monsieur Henry-Jean SERVAT

Re : Thanks

Agde, July 29th, 2005

Dear Sir:

we would like to thank you immediately for your successful outright expression of your views on corridas and moreover to publish your et qui a "statement of belief " in the libretto on the Traviata whose artistic director you are!
We would also like you to know that we are very sensitive to your great demonstration of courage which indeed nowadays is a prerequisite for daring to express one's feelings publicly, as you have done, as there are numerous pressures from all parts particularly on VIPs who, like you, work in the front of the stage. For almost two decades torturing bulls and horses in the arena has been fashionable. And daring to dissociate one's voice from the hymn aiming at praising corridas can be considered to be an iconoclastic or almost suicidal act! At least in the current context. You are heading in the direction of History with a capital " H ", the one which first and foremost is pacing forward in the sense of the evolution of human conscience in contrast to the little (hi)story framed by our societies craving for condemnable entertainment.
May you enjoy a success that reaches the high standard of your ethics and may this " Traviata ", if for a moment it glorifies corridas and toreros, be your best ambassador and support you in your active participation in the battle by printing logos of various organisations fighting for the abolishment of corridas, here and elsewhere, on the bottom of your text. Beyond this, you might have achieved some sort of syncretism establishing and restoring a link which is so badly needed between all good-wills. And even if, for the time being, this battle is far from having come to an end, you have undoubtedly contributed to bringing forward an issue of high importance. Last, be assured that as far as we are concerned, we are particularly thankful to you and that we will always keep excellent memories of our meeting in Cannes in May 2002 when the " Film de la Honte " (Film of Shame) by Thierry HELY was displayed. Repeating our congratulations we remain

with best regards, on behalf of FLAC our office

President Josyane QUERELLE

Vice-President Alain CAMISULI

Federal Secretary Colette COSTE

Treasurer Alain JORON

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July, 5th, 2005
Human race in Pamplona organised by PETA
A report by the representative of FLAC Roberto Rinaldo

To be honest, when I agreed to participate in the action of Pamplona, I wondered whether this demonstration's target group was not only curious people.
This is how I experienced it.

Montpellier : 6 a.m. I had hardly got into the bus that was taking us to Spain that I began to understand that the participants (numerous young people, maybe I was the eldest) were all highly motivated. The trip had been rather tiring and we arrived at destination at about 7 p.m. at the camping site that had been booked for us.
Some of us set their tent whereas others took place in common dormitories or the public tents from the camping site. And then everybody went to the vegetarian BBQ! There, we were given instructions in English on the next day's demonstration (if necessary, you will always find somebody to provide you with a translation).
A few hours later some of us had spent some more time together at the bar and then, to bed we went! The next morning at 9 a.m. we left for Pamplona where I noticed that everything had been perfectly organised. Indeed, everybody's clothes with their owner's name on them had been put in bags, sorted by nationality in chariots drawn by volunteers. Thus, in the end, everyone could easily find their clothes. Originally, the participants used to run completely naked but a formal decision by the mayor put this to an end. Now, some people wear a string, others a white swimming suit, others e.g. like me are dressed all in white. Among the female participants, many wearing self-sticking labels on their breasts or were carrying abanner that was hiding them: nothing provocative or vulgar. There were Britons, Americans, Dutch, Swedes, Germans, French, and as far as I know only one Italian: myself.
The "race" took place two rows of the audience, among which I can testify supporters were more numerous than the opponents who were inciting us to go home. N.B. The marching policemen were watching the public, ready to intervene in case these - and not the 600 demonstrators - would trespass the limits.
On our way we distributed here and there necklaces in various colours with a badge from PETA (edition of the race in 2005) . At the end of the "race", actually just a simple walk, we visited the city of Pamplona, which is very beautiful and paradoxically in this place of corridas, we encountered a statue of Saint Francis of Assisis - the protector of animals.
Towards the evening, we went back to the camping site, and through telephone calls from several countries we heard that the national TV programmes had broadcast the news with a few pictures. At the camping site we could see that the Spanish TV spent as many as five minutes on the race. The next morning in the bus everybody was happy and though I was tired, I sang a few melodies from my country once in a while to enliven a little the monotonous trip. For, besides our success, which is not to be neglected, this enabled me, and not only me, to make new friends with people who share the same ideals. Indeed, next year I intend to participate again. And most of all, I do hope that numerous members of FLAC will seriously consider doing so, too, with our banners, provided that FLAC and PETA can reach a prior agreement

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Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone
His prison... his arena!

To : Mr Gérard Buisson
Mayor of the city of Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone
Hôtel de ville (Town Hall)
Place Porte Saint Laurent BP 15
F-34 751 Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone Cédex

inauguration of the arena on Saturday, Septembre 10th, 2005

Agde, Septembre 6th, 2005

Dear Sir:

The city of Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone is going to inaugurate its arena on Saturday, Septembre 10th, 2005.
It seems that it is planned to host corridas in the Camargue style. However, we need to let you know our fears that these might soon be replaced by Spanish corridas.
Indeed, we are well aware of the targets of the Spanish corrida lobby whose introduction has been supported from west to east in the south of France by the organisation of so-called non-cruel corridas in the style of the Landes or of the Camargue. This is why we will be particularly alert and--if necessary--we will not fail to intervene/demonstrate as citizens and to fight against violence.
We thank you very much in advance for paying attention to our concern.

With kind regards,

on behalf of F.L.A.C
The President
(Ms) Josyane QUERELLE-RIQUIER

Committees

Paris / IdF Carcassonne / Aude Nîmes / Gard Perpignan / P O Marseille / BdR

The Commissions

Culture and Media Collusions et ramifications : Tour de France Youth Protection UNICEF Operation : "Children-friendly Towns" Letter to the "Association des Maires de France" Letter to the Président of the "Groupe d'études pour la Protection de la Jeunesse" (Study Group for the protection of Youth). Denouncing the invitation of youth to violence. Support letter to Mme Claire Brisset, Children defender Lettre to the director of Calvisson (département of Gard / 30) Economic Commission Large plan on the FIGURES and the ECONOMY

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