The parliament of Catalonia in eastern Spain has voted to ban bullfighting. This is the first region of mainland Spain to take this step.

The vote was a result of a petition sent to parliament and signed by 180000 people who say that the practice of bullfighting is a barbaric and out dated. The ban takes effect in January 2 012. In Wednesday’s vote 68 voted for, 55 voted against the ban and nine people abstained.

Supporters of bullfighting insist it is an important Spanish tradition to preserve and they also fear that the vote could be the first of many throughout the regional parliaments of Spain.

Bullfighting has long been a part of Spanish culture. It is not only practiced in Spain but in Mexico and other parts of Latin America including Peru. In Europe bullfighting takes place in Portugal and the south of France but in these places the bull is not killed in the ring.

The vote in the Catalan parliament was very close as the two main parties allowed their members to vote according to their conscience. The debate and a vote might be over animal rights but many people believe this is an attempt by the Catalans to mark their difference from the rest of Spain by rejecting this most visible of Spanish traditions. Possibly they see this as a step towards independence for the nationalistic minded Lands.

Today’s modern young Spanish people are more interested in animal rights and against cruelty to animals than their parents and grandparents. The majority of the world outside of the bullfighting countries abhor this so-called sport and now the Spanish people themselves are becoming the same.