 December 3, 2007, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, excluded from the Salon du Cheval (a horse conference), receives the support of the Elysée.
Since the Salon du Cheval opened on December 1, 2007, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation’s stand has been empty. In fact, the Foundation has been excluded from the conference so that it “doesn’t bother some of the other exhibitors.”
But, during the weekend, this dilemma found the support of the Elysée in favor of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
Mr. Christian Patria, president of the National Center for Expositions and Agricultural Shows (CENECA), the organization that hosts the conference, received many phone calls, from the presidency, that encouraged the inclusion of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in the Salon du Cheval.
The Elysée intervenes in support of the Foundation
On Saturday, December 1, the Elysée called Mr. Patria to attempt to convince him to allow the Brigitte Bardot Foundation to participate in the Salon du Cheval. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation obtained, through this support, a confirmation that its actions were legitimate. The call also underlined the fact that the Elysée fights to guarantee freedom of expression here in our beloved Republic. After several calls, CENECA appeared to cede, and informed the Presidency’s representatives that the Foundation would be well-presented at the Porte de Versailles until December 9th.
BUT…
CENECA goes against their promise
Strengthened by the support, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation contacted the organizers of the Salon du Cheval. But, CENECA added conditions to the participation of the Foundation. Judging this process as scandalous, the Foundation refused to give in to the blackmail; the restriction of free speech at the Salon imposed by CENECA would achieve an immoral, total control.
A support call
CENECA, beyond overriding the Foundation’s freedom of expression, deprived the Salon du Cheval’s visitors from the information that they had the right to expect during a major event like this
SUPPORT PETITION
Thus, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation invites all who are passionate about horses, and all visitors to the Salon du Cheval, to support us in face of the opposition from the conference’s organizers by signing our petition. . SIGN OUR PETITION
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December 1, 2007: While the Salon du Cheval was preparing to open its doors to welcome tens of thousands of horse lovers, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation was being denied inclusion by its organizers (even though they had reserved a stand).
For the Foundation, this exclusion is a strike against its freedom of expression and its duty to inform.
For several months, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation has been leading an informational campaign against hippophagy that is directed at the general public.
Founded as a public utility, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation has a duty to deliver the truth and to assume the role of counter-authority so that each consumer can have access to the facts.
To assure this mission, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation had reserved a stand at the Salon du Cheval and, moreover, had received approval from the conference to be able to exhibit. Moreover, this would not be the first time that the Foundation participated in the conference; it had exhibited three other times, without any incident.
But, on November 23rd, the National Center for Expositions and Agricultural Shows (CENECA) informed the Foundation that it was not welcome at the Salon du Cheval.
Muzzled, deprived of its freedom of expression, and unable to deliver its message to conference goers, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation showed up to demand an explanation for its exclusion.
Campaign against hippophagy – press release
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