Animal rights campaigners are demanding that the Spanish practice of napping in the afternoon be declared a protected art form.

They are angry about a decision of the conservative regional government in Madrid to include bullfighting on a list of items of "special cultural value" protected by law. Campaigners argue that Madrid is also under obligation to protect the siesta and should consider installing beds in the street.

The controversial decision to put bullfighting on the same cultural level as Madrid's most important historical monuments caused outrage amongst animal rights activists. Daniel Dorado, a lawyer who campaigns for the protection of animals, has filed an application arguing that the siesta fulfills the same criteria for protected cultural patrimony as bullfighting.

"The siesta is a cultural fact of special relevance and significance, an art which deserves protection," he declared in the request. "It has been part of Mediterranean and Spanish culture for time immemorial," he said echoing the argument used to justify the inclusion of bullfighting on the list.

Mr Dorado argues that the siesta - traditionally a post lunch snooze of up to an hour - was being threatened by the pressures of modern working practices and that its loss could bring about the demise of the country.

Only an hour!


The first meeting was under-attended due to a problem sending out the invitations

The original was here