In a follow up to 'Bond 22 horse angers animal welfare groups....'
DCinB received a copy of a letter from PETA encouraging the boycott of Bond 22 now known as Quantum of Solace.
We agree that glamorizing the cruel Il Palio horse race is unacceptable.
Like many cruelties defended in the name of culture or tradition, this race has caused immeasurable suffering for horses over the years. Since local advocates began keeping statistics in 1970, at least 50 horses have died and countless more have been injured.
The terror begins literally at the beginning of the race which starts with an explosive charge. Horses, who are naturally spooked by loud noises, explode from the starting line. The horses run on a narrow, dangerous steeply-canted track, and the riders are allowed to use their whips—with no restraints--not only for their own horse, but also for whipping other horses and riders. The “San Martino curve” is almost 90 degrees and down hill. Doping the horses is wide-spread.
The Italian AntiVivisection League (the equivlant of a U.S. humane society) has said that continuing to hold the Palio was “madness.” Eleonora di Giuseppe, spokeswoman for the Italian Federation of Equestrian Sport, said the horses in Il Palio “are exposed to unacceptable risks”. An article about Il Palio in the August 2007 issue of Men’s Vogue called it “the most brutal horse race on earth.”
According to news reports, this portion of the as yet unnamed film has been completed, so at this point, the best weapon we all have is to not buy a ticket when the movie comes out.
Perhaps this is where 'the Bond curse' began.
Or did it begin in 2006 when the studio burned down?
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