A 23.5km race planned for Brittany, France this May, offering the winning male and female their weight in pork, has sparked controversy from animal rights activists.
The race named ‘Pig & Run’ has been organised by the regional pig committee and will take place on May 18 on the banks of the Ria d’Étel.
The event is open to all adults for both seasoned runners and beginners, and participants are encouraged to dress in costumes, with prizes for the best outfits.
The event will also feature refreshment stations offering local delicacies with pork produce, and will conclude with a communal meal of grilled pig for runners, supporters, and volunteers.
Following advertisement of the race, animal rights activists and environmentalists have formed a petition with over 23,000 signatures so far.
The petition is calling for a boycott of the run, claiming that intensive pig farming in Brittany is causing green algae tides that make beaches and waterways “unusable”.
Pork prize
The petition states that the race “advertises for the agro-industrial lobby of pig farming”, which is “a major source of pollution” of Breton water and soil.
“This irresponsible promotion of environmentally damaging practices must stop. The pig lobby has no right to advertise itself on the backs of runners,” the petition states.
The petition also states: “By signing this petition, we are calling for a boycott of the Pig and Run until more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices are adopted by the pig lobby.
“We cannot continue to endanger our beaches, our rivers, and ultimately our lives and those of future generations.”
The author of the petition Livie Chatelais said “the fight is not over” and that the “type of practice is no longer acceptable”.