Teddy Bears Cause International Diplomatic Crisis

[Radiatia]

We promise - we had nothing to do with it.

I'm disappointed that this had nothing to do with you... I actually clicked this thread thinking it might have been you.

[Teddy Bear Republic]

We promise - we had nothing to do with it.

I'm disappointed that this had nothing to do with you... I actually clicked this thread thinking it might have been you.

Beats the hell out of dropping bombs to spread democracy.

Our secret's out! These bears are actually secret commandos, part of our plan of world domination! Toy shops have simply been our forward operating bases! *Evil laughter*

Seriously, though, I think this fracas will blow over quite quickly. The conditions there just don't seem to be the same as those that brought on the Arab Spring. The effect of the bears seem to have had more effect on the international community than the people of Belarus. Of course, I might be wrong.

[Risottia]

The effect of the bears seem to have had more effect on the international community than the people of Belarus. Of course, I might be wrong.

I personally expect the Belarusian Inquisition to start searching houses looking for proof of treason... that is, teddy bears.
Belarusian children revolt, Lukashenko is beaten to death by a flash mob of angry kids out on a vendetta.

[Bombadil]

*** Ecce Eduardus ursus scalis nunc tump-tump-tump occipite gradus pulsante post Moderatorem descendens! ***

See what happened the last time players turned a perfectly respectable thread into a beargarden?

Now stop ruffling the OP's fur and get back on topic.

Good work people.

Beats the hell out of dropping bombs to spread democracy.

Entirely agree.

[Liriena]

Oh, Sweden, I couldn't possibly love you any more than I do right now. ^_^

[Yaltabaoth]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

[Napkiraly]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

I have a feeling that Lukashenko's inner circle operates in a similar manner.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

I have a feeling that Lukashenko's inner circle operates in a similar manner.

Yes, past observations show that the Belarus President has no room for tolerance and seems to ban or fire anything he suspects that would try to knock him off power in any way. If the President bans teddy bears then that's is so unwarranted and would make his government look more untrustworthy.

[The House of Petain]

With all that is going on in the world -shootings, racist olympians, civil wars and terrorist attacks -this is unbearable!

Sorry. I'm sure I'm late to the party with the puns, but you'll have to bear with me.

In all seriousness, what the hell...

[Pope Joan]

I have a feeling that Lukashenko's inner circle operates in a similar manner.

Yes, past observations show that the Belarus President has no room for tolerance and seems to ban or fire anything he suspects that would try to knock him off power in any way. If the President bans teddy bears then that's is so unwarranted and would make his government look more untrustworthy.

Now they have banned clapping in Belarus. Seriously. They also arrest people who cluster on sidewalks, just for clustering. what about, oh, shoppers? People waiting for a bus? "We know who the bad ones are" said the police.

[Sailsia]

But, should AMERICA be dropping these "Teddy Bears"? I mean, we are the bringers of democracy, the barers of liberty! I thought it was our moral obligation to bring down the dictatorships of the world! Oh- what was that? Belarus doesn't have massive quantities of oil exploitable by our largest corporations? Never mind then.

Good on you, Sweden. You evil socialist communist Muslim-turning Frenchies are apparently better Americans than we are.

[Nordengrund]

At first I thought this was an RP with the TBRE.

[Sedikal]

Is this like the EU's joke to the world?

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Is this like the EU's joke to the world?

No, it was the work of Studio Total on behalf of Charter '97. They say that "A dictator can be hated, despised or feared. The only thing he cannot survive is being laughed at". So their idea was to drop about 1,000 teddy bears with pro-democracy signs so that the government would have to go and arrest them, and they say that such action would make the government look silly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxXnbgT_dzg).

[Mad hatters in jeans]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

what the...

[Tmutarakhan]

Lukashenko tore the teddies away from the journalists, but they kept a grip on some parts-- standing up for their right to bear arms.

[Laerod]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19191667

The EU is to hold urgent talks on Friday over the diplomatic row between Belarus and Sweden, which followed a political stunt involving teddy bears.

Belarus effectively expelled Swedish diplomats after a Swedish PR firm parachuted toy bears bearing pro-democracy messages over its territory.

Sweden responded by taking action against diplomats from Belarus, one of Europe's most authoritarian states.

It is thought that new EU sanctions may be discussed in Brussels on Friday.

The serious line is that both the EU and Sweden are taking a hard line on Belarus after it expelled Swedish diplomats. Their patience is running thin for Belarus Government to swiftly release and rehabilitate all political prisoners. Because of the bears, they are probably talking of more sanctions on Friday.

Best concerted littering effort ever =D

[The House of Petain]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

what the...

"Wtf is this? Highlander 2?"

[Nationalist State of Knox]

Well, what are we supposed to say?

"Go, Sweden!" or something? What's the debate? Whether or not Lukashenko is a terrible human being who should rot in a prison somewhere for the rest of his life?

You fool, we're not supposed to say anything, we're suposed to pun the hell out of this thread with bear jokes until the Mods shut it down, we have limited time, we must get started!!

Or I wouldn't be able to.. wait for it.. bear the lost opportunity.

Let's just get our bearings first, okay?

[Risottia]

Is this like the EU's joke to the world?

Wait until we drop pelouche pigs on Syria.

[Dyakovo]

But, should AMERICA be dropping these "Teddy Bears"? I mean, we are the bringers of democracy, the barers of liberty! I thought it was our moral obligation to bring down the dictatorships of the world! Oh- what was that? Belarus doesn't have massive quantities of oil exploitable by our largest corporations? Never mind then.

Good on you, Sweden. You evil socialist communist Muslim-turning Frenchies are apparently better Americans than we are.

If we were to do it they be explosive teddy bears...

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Lukashenko tore the teddies away from the journalists, but they kept a grip on some parts-- standing up for their right to bear arms.

You may be interested to know that the Belarusian government has used conscription to deter free expression (PDF file, scroll to page 20 for article).

[Sailsia]

But, should AMERICA be dropping these "Teddy Bears"? I mean, we are the bringers of democracy, the barers of liberty! I thought it was our moral obligation to bring down the dictatorships of the world! Oh- what was that? Belarus doesn't have massive quantities of oil exploitable by our largest corporations? Never mind then.

Good on you, Sweden. You evil socialist communist Muslim-turning Frenchies are apparently better Americans than we are.

If we were to do it they be explosive teddy bears...

Yes. And knowing us the only people they would blow up would be small children.

[Yaltabaoth]

I'm just gonna leave this here...

I have a feeling that Lukashenko's inner circle operates in a similar manner.

Someone should over-dub Sean Connery's dialogue in an Eastern European accent, add a bit of grain and camera-shake, and release it as secret footage of his Government in session.

[Wamitoria]

Swedish imperialism at its finest.