A special note in my Cool Book today for the protesters in Barnaul, Russia. People in the Siberian city are protesting corruption in politics, both in the region and at the national level (I know, you say Whaaaat? Government corruption? In Russia??). Specifically, they’re protesting the impending switch Vladimir Putin is making from the parliament back to the presidency (after having moved from the presidency to the parliament… and taking the presidential powers with him).
Only, the authorities aren’t allowing protests of any kind, so the citizens have resorted to alternatives. Specifically:
Toys! They’ve set out Legos, South Park figures, stuffed animals, et cetera, to do what they can’t. In this one, it’s the moose and alligator on the left who just kill me. The toys are armed with signs saying things like “A thief should sit in jail, not the Kremlin” and “I’m for clean elections.”
In addition to being just adorable, here’s what so great about it – besides the obvious…
Monkeys and pigs are a united front on the issue.
This is a no-win for the authorities. The police are denouncing this as “an unsanctioned event” and trying to apprehend the protestors (well, not the dolls. They were pretty easy to catch). This, of course, makes them look just ridiculous. So either they let it go, allow the people to set out the toys in protest, or they put out an APB on Wall-E.
You'll never take me alive, copper! Attica! Attica! Attica!
Initially I’d thought about the various jokes to be made, and the list of “Other Ways They Could Protest” – and oh, it’d be delightful, trust me there – but instead I’d rather just highlight how great I think this is.
Barnaul protesters? You’re all in my Cool Book, and if we ever meet up I’d love to buy you a drink.
Vodka, I assume.
The Byronic Man 
January 27, 2012 at 8:22 am
I think this is fantastically brilliant. For some reason, the little Lego cop is cracking me up the most.
January 27, 2012 at 11:16 am
There are a lot of great little details. I do like the Lego cop because he’s yelling at the protestors, but he’s so little, and it’s having no effect.
January 27, 2012 at 8:24 am
This is about the best thing that I’ve read all day.
Legos + Russians = one cool protest
January 27, 2012 at 11:17 am
I’m hoping political strife and warfare can move to a largely toy-based system.
January 27, 2012 at 10:23 am
This is awesome! A creative work around in a politically oppressed nation – hells yes!
January 27, 2012 at 11:17 am
Just kind of makes you happy, doesn’t it?
January 27, 2012 at 11:00 am
This is the coolest thing EVER! Thanks for bringing it to my attention–I certainly hadn’t come across this before!
January 27, 2012 at 11:18 am
Glad I could help.
January 27, 2012 at 2:01 pm
This is indeed cool. Here’s me thinking that those Pixar characters were all just money grabbers. Nice to know they have a social conscience too.
January 27, 2012 at 4:50 pm
It’s true. Well, except for Nemo. That’s one cold-hearted fish. Crazy with power.
January 27, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Great story! But one question: Do the toys have access to twitter? 🙂
January 27, 2012 at 4:51 pm
They do, but the lego-people have a terrible time using it. No fingers.
January 27, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Brilliant! Occupy LegoLand! I hope the Lego paddywagon (which is apparently a culturally insensitive word since it’s named after all the Irish that got picked up back in the day, but I’m fine using it because that’s what my grandfather called it and he himself was an Irish cop) doesn’t come to take them away. Somebody’s head always winds up sticking out the door when that happens. It’s too cold for that there.
January 27, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Yeah, you do have to hope the story doesn’t end with some horrible brutality. Or old-fashioned paddy-wagons.
January 27, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Far better than our ‘Occupy’ stuff here.
January 28, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Certainly more googly-eyes.
January 28, 2012 at 1:00 am
Can you really say no to Wall-E? Just look at those puppy dog eyes! …er I mean uh lenses.
January 28, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Plus the whole “cleaning up the Earth” thing he did.
January 28, 2012 at 4:32 am
I love it. Brilliant idea.
January 28, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Somebody on the Byronic Man Facebook page asked about it, and it turns out she’s actually from this Siberian town, and hadn’t really heard it referred to so far away, much less getting to hear about something that cool happening there.
January 28, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Wall-E? Really?
January 28, 2012 at 8:21 pm
He’s pretty hardcore in his activism.
January 28, 2012 at 4:40 pm
I’ve always said I thought legos were one of the top toys invented ever….what I really love is this will most likely get more attention than the usual protester with a sign.
January 28, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Yeah, it’s just an inspired idea, no matter how you look at it.
January 30, 2012 at 6:18 am
I don’t know what’s better – this or your Lego post. I seriously think about those Legos all the time.
January 30, 2012 at 8:32 am
It’s great to see people coming up with an inventive way to protest when protests are outlawed! Go for it!