Stop rodeo in China

Plans for a giant rodeo in Beijing have been postponed but pressure must be kept up to stop the event altogether

Following an outcry from animal welfare groups in China and pressure from international animal organizations, a rodeo due to take place in Beijing in October has been postponed until spring 2012.  Organizers of the rodeo are saying that the postponement is because of quarantine issues for the animals being shipped to China to take part in the event, but public opposition to the plan may have played a part in the delay.  In any case, it is vital that pressure continues to mount on Chinese authorities to cancel the event entirely.

The cancellation of the highly publicized rodeo would be a huge embarrassment to the North American rodeo industry.  If even China, with its much criticized record on animal welfare, were to reject the event it would have a substantial negative impact on the reputation of rodeo in Canada and the U.S.  A cancellation will also hurt attempts to promote rodeo to Chinese tourists visiting North America.

Please send a letter to the Chinese authorities by clicking here.

 

Background

Rodeo China, the company organizing the scheme to introduce rodeo to China, was planning to send 120 cowboys, 180 horses, 36 bulls and 90 steers to Beijing to perform in the famous Bird’s Nest stadium for eight days.

Richard Tucker, the retired Texas businessman who is behind the event told the Toronto Star: “This is the biggest venue and the finest stadium in the fastest-growing market in the world,”  “And I want to put on the biggest and best rodeo that has ever been seen in the world.”

But a coalition of 71 Chinese animal welfare groups campaigned against the plans, attracting support from the Chinese public and international animal welfare organizations.

Now the event has been postponed.