Ms Vittoria Brambilla, Minister of Tourism
Dear Minister Brambilla,
Your recent declarations regarding the 'consciousness of animals', which appeared in the press on May 13th 2010, have had a real effect, in that they have prompted in me a mix of feelings that I would like to share with you, in the hope of beginning a reasoned and constructive exchange of opinions with you.
I write to you as a member of a family that has, for seven generations, enthusiastically and selflessly dedicated itself to the circus: a world that has its roots in our collective history, and which, for us, is much more than a simple show, but the product of a life of sacrifice and hard work, together with the love that all circus people have for their art.
These profound roots of the circus have always seen its performers accompanied by their animals: it follows that it is also in the performers' interests to have the greatest possible care of their animals. This partnership between man and animal has contributed to bringing many generations of youngsters into contact with animals that they would otherwise not have had the opportunity to encounter in real life, and in this way the circus helped and helps generate an interest towards the animal kingdom on the part of young children.
Clearly, and in accordance with Darwin's theory regarding the "variability of characters" within a species, there are humans whose conduct with and care of animals is not ideal, and such people's actions should rightly be investigated and punished. However you will also know that this "variability" forms the basis for "natural selection", with its inevitable results.
But it is this same "variability" within a species that precludes an ingenerous generalization in respect of those who work in the circus and in particular those who work with animals. I can assure you that the vast majority of animals that belong to circuses and work in the shows are trained and kept in optimum conditions, compatible with all the relative existing laws and regulations. On this point I can guarantee that I, or anyone in the circus community, would be pleased to offer proof and demonstrate the veracity of this affermation.
I would also like to point out to you that the grouping of circus people with the practicers of ritual butchery and with hunting seems to me to be excessively harsh. None of us would dream of using a rifle as a means of amusement by killing animals in the guise of a 'sport', neither would we tolerate any form of maltreatment or punishment towards our own animals, who are companions in life as well as in work. Apart from anything else, this would be counterproductive in that in order to work harmoniously with animals one first needs to have a good rapport with them.
Who amongst us of the circus community would be contrary to punishment for maltreatment towards animals by another member of our community?
The answer is none of us: it is in our own interests, and obviously on behalf of our animals, that we all respect and adhere strictly to the laws and regulations relating to the care and training of circus animals.
Not only for that reason, but also to free the world of the circus from prejudices and inferences, which have too often in recent years become an easy option for people, famous and not so famous, to jump on the bandwagon and express negative opinions without having the minimum experience or knowledge of the subject to do so.
As President of the only International Circus Festival that takes place annually in Italy, I have had, and continue to have, the chance to travel all over the world as a guest at international circus events. I asssure you that the circus world, particularly in Eastern Europe and Asia, apart from not having continual criticism levelled at it, is considered not only as one of the most important forms of entertainment, but is also actively promoted and encouraged on an economic level and in the context of tourism, a fact that I am sure will be of particular interest to you, as Italy's current Minister for Tourism.
I applaud your recent initiative to create a dedicated call centre for tourists, and would like to suggest to you that a less prejudiced approach to the circus would be more productive, as can be seen with the success attained in The Principality of Maonaco, where their annual Circus Festival actually generates tourism and is considered to be a prestigious event, to everyone's satisfaction.
I'm sure, Minister, that you will comprehend the sentiments expressed in this letter, and in the hope of meeting you and continuing this discussion, I would like to personally invite you to come as my guest to the upcoming International Circus Festival to be held at Latina from the 14th to the 18th of October 2010. I feel it could be an important occasion on which to meet and exchange ideas and, hopefully, be reciprocally enriching.
Latina, 17th May 2010
Yours sincerely,
Fabio Montico
President of The International Circus Festival "City of Latina"
www.festivalcircolatina.com
segreteria@festivalcircolatina.com
+ 39 0773 474000
