2015 Havana: "Germany sends peace message through sculptures in Cuba". 124 bears are standing "hand in hand" on the square "Plaza San Francisco de Asis". They were designed by 124 artists and represent 124 countries. All these countries – large or small, poor or rich – are placed together at the same level, including the US and Cuba! All these countries are reaching out – for tolerance, peace and democracy. The Minis In the autumn of 2003, the circle of United Buddy Bears-The Minis — was presented in Berlin for the first time. Since then, this circle has been shown in Frankfurt/Main, in Potsdam and at the Sony Center in Berlin, as well as destinations outside of Germany, including Bratislava in Slovakia, Calais in France, and Yekaterinburg and Kazan in Russia. Aid for children in need , donations and proceeds from the sale of Buddy Bears at auction had generated a total of Euro 2,300,000 in support of UNICEF and local nonprofits that help children in need. Involved artists In the early years, the Bears were designed by regional artists and Berlin celebrities for the exhibition Art in the City. From 2002 onwards, thanks to support from Lufthansa, Air Berlin and the Berlin Hotel Association, artists from all five continents took part in the international project United Buddy Bears. More than 240 artists from over 150 countries have taken part in this project to date, such as, for example Arik Brauer, René Cadena Ayala, Hernando León, Ibrahim Hazimeh, Carlos Páez Vilaró, Seo Soo-Kyoung, Helge Leiberg, Leda Luss Luyken, Ludmila Seefried-Matějková – this is also echoed by the artist and UNICEF Australian National Ambassador, Ken Done. Publications Herlitz, Eva & Klaus, Buddy Bear Berlin Show. NeptunArt Publisher, 2001. . Herlitz, Eva & Klaus, United Buddy Bears — Die Kunst der Toleranz. Bostelmann & Siebenhaar Publishers, 2003. . Herlitz, Eva & Klaus, United Buddy Bears — World Tour. NeptunArt Publisher, 2006. . Herlitz, Eva & Klaus, United Buddy Bears — The Art of Tolerance. 384 pages, English/German, December 2009, . Herlitz, Eva & Klaus, Buddy Bear Berlin. 4th edition, December 2015, . Herlitz, Eva & Klaus, United Buddy Bears — The Art of Tolerance on World Tour. 288 pages, English/German, November 2017, . Jian-Min Huang: Public Art as Festival. Hong Kong 2005, (Pages 63–111: Buddy Bears; Chinese/English). References External links Classic Buddy Bears home page The Golden Buddy Bears Jackie Chan and