The famous Spanish festival of San Fermin was declared open in Pamplona – 155km south-east of Bilbao – on Sunday.<br /><br />The traditional ‘Chupinazo’ rocket was fired from a balcony, signalling a start to festivities.<br /><br />This year, the president of the local Red Cross committee was given the honour of lighting the rocket to mark 150 years of the organisation.<br /><br />Thousands of tourists from around the world come every year to join in the throwing of red wine, running in the streets with the bulls and watching the traditional bullfights.<br /><br />However not everyone is in favour of the bullfights. Protesters took to the streets daubed in fake blood and carrying signs in various languages which said “You Run. Bulls Die.”<br /><br />They argue they want tourists to know that what may look like harmless fun ends in huge suffering for the bulls.<br /><br />All of the 48 bulls which run through the streets in the mornings are later killed in the bullring in a long, drawn-out process where they are speared and stabbed.<br /><br />The official bullfighting begins on Monday (July 7), and the festival lasts for nine days.
