Speed of Life: Sweden

Thursday, August 02, 2012

Teddy Bear Airdrop Over Minsk, Belarus Draws Attention to the Oppressive Lukashenko Government

Last month two brave Swedes wearing teddybear masks took off in a small plane from Lithuania and flew unannounced into the airspace of Belarus armed only with a sense of humor and parachute equipped teddybears. The plush arrivals carried leaflets proclaiming "We support the Belarusian struggle for freedom of speech." As noted on their website: "A dictator can be hated, despised or feared. The only thing he cannot survive is being laughed at." The oppressive leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, now knows what it is like to be laughed at. And the people of Belarus now know that the world has seen their plight.

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Studio Total
Minsk Teddybear Drop

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Summer Ambassadors: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Video: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform Drive All Night in Gothenburg, Sweden on July 28, 2012.

Tonight, July 31, 2012, in Helsinki, Finland, the indefatigable Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band just finished one of their most powerful European music tours with the longest show of their career. The show in Helsinki began with an impromptu pre-show set of songs with just Bruce and an acoustic guitar.

Video: Bruce Springsteen - No Surrender - acoustic solo - Helsinki July 31, 2012

Video: Bruce Springsteen, Helsinki 31.7.2012 - Back In Your Arms

The show ended not long ago with a run time of just over four hours.

Video: I Don't Want to Go Home - Bruce Springsteen in Helsinki July 31, 2012

This summer, Springsteen and the E Street Band were true American cultural ambassadors as they roamed across Europe armed with searing music and goodwill. The presumptive Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, could learn a thing or two about international relations from Bruce and the band.

Video: Jake Clemons' Sax solo from Jungleland live on July 28, 2012 in Gothenburg, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Video: Bruce Springsteen and Little Steven performing We Shall Overcome in Oslo, Norway, in memory of the 77 Norwegians murdered on the 22nd of July 2011.

"Steve and I are honored to be included here tonight, and for all of us who love democracy and tolerance, it was an international tragedy," Bruce told the assembled crowd in Oslo. "I want to send this out as prayer for a peaceful future for Norway, and dedicate it to the families who have lost their loved ones."
-Bruce Springsteen