The charity Four Paws International rescued the last 3 dancing brown bears in Serbia this week, Natasha,Milena and Seida.  They have now been taken to the largest bear sanctuary in Europe for rescued dancing bears - The Dancing Bear Park in Belitsa, Bulgaria.  The operation had taken over a year to arrange due to the logistics and beaurocracy involved.  All three bears are now enjoying the freedom of their new environment after suffering many years of brutality, cruelty and abuse.  Many dancing bears are trained as young cubs by gypsy owners who start by having the animals claws and teeth plucked  out ( so not to be able to harm their trainer ),  then music is played while the bear is forced to walk over hot metal plates forcing the animal to Jock Palfreeman, 21 yr old British army cadet found guilty of murder today and given a 20 year sentence, Sofia, Bulgaria - 2/12/2009. The Australian national has always insisted that he was a 'good samaritan' coming to the assistance of a Roma Gypsy that was being attacked by drunken yobs.  Picture Credit: Balkanpix.com Creations of Russian fashion designers MiMi.  They have designed a range of fashion rings that can be transformed into living art using frogs as accessories. Inspiration is drawn form ancient greek mythology of Ikarus, Prometheus and Zen Budhism. ( Siberian Postman ring ) - 26/4/2009   Picture credit: Balkanpix.com A motorist takes a wrong turn and attempts to negotaite a large puddle.  The puddle turns out to be a collapsed water main that has produced a 12 ft crater in the centre of Kiev, Ukraine.  The driver had to smash his rear window in order to escape  - 26/03/2009  Picture credit: Balkanpix.com Tattoohamon tattoo parlour in Moscow, Russia where a new sick craze with pet Moscow office workers performing The car with a split personality, half cabriolet and half hard top cruiser World Record jump of the largest amount of people to simultaneously leap on static lines.  Dmitry Novikov, head of command of the ' Mad Squirrels'  had to co-ordinate the jump attempt through internet forums and networking sites bringing adrenalin junkies together from all over Russia., 8th February, Vodniki Bridge in the Moscow suburbs, Russia  Picture credit: Balkanpix.com

Jane Perkins - re-cycled pop art

Portrait of HRH the Queen by British artist Jane Perkins.  Her art works are all made of recycled materials, from St Andrews golf tees to plastic cutlery, Michelle Obama's nostrills ( action mans hands ) / barack Obama nose ( Shark tooth & action man head ) - 11/9/09    Picture credit: Balkanpix.com A master of the Avant-garbage school of art, Jane Perkins creates portraits from Junk Bric-a-brac

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Babies for sale

Young Roma woman with daughter she offered for sale to under cover journalist.  Balgarski Izvor,Near Lovech, Central Bulgaria - 20/5/2009  Picture credit:  Balkanpix.com When Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali was offered for sale with a £200,000 price tag there was worldwide outrage. But it wasn’t a one-off.

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