Dear Ambassador:

I am writing in reference to the cruel festival "Farra do Boi". I respectfully urge the State of Santa Catarina to take immediate action and abide by the decision of the Supreme Tribunal Federal to ban the Farra do Boi.

The holy day tradition involves the population of each of the little coastal towns and villages. The day is spent beating to death an ox with knives, stones, sticks and piercing objects. The animals bones are broken and the eyes are poked out. Exhausted, tortured and suffering, they "comfort" the animal by giving him salt water to drink.

This barbaric "holy day" tradition has been posted on the Internet for the world to see. People in Brazil, as well as my friends and associates, are astonished by the lack of respect for the law. Your support is needed.

We've learned that right after the last Carnival, people in the city of Florianopolis have promoted Farra do Boi and none were arrested. The practice has been banned since 1997 but the Governor Esperidiao Amin does not take action in order to educate people or stop the torture.

According to Federal law number 9605/98, torturing animals is a crime. It's outrageous that violent people, such as the seven men who tortured and killed a horse in 2000, are not in jail.

People throughout the world are waiting and hoping for severe changes in the State of Santa Catarina.

Thank you for you attention.
Sincerely