Country Descriptions

Bigbearlandia

Official Name: Shenkulian of Raju

Short Name: Raju

Population: 527,000,000                                 Spoken Language(s): Bananam and RaJuan

Government Type: Democracy                       Religion: Despicable Me

Leader: President Judy                                   Ambassador: Rainy

Short Description:

Like its neighbor, Republic of the Union of Monster, Shenkulian of Raju (or Raju for short) was once part of the nation of Rocky Mountain Panem. Raju won its independence peacefully in 1800. Later, Raju assisted Panem in its civil war with Monster. They remain good friends. After independence, Raju became a democracy and has prospered.  The first president, Luke Kuna, served for 30 years and helped dramatically improve Raju’s economy. The second president,  Johnny Sea, also served for 30 years and led Raju to become not only the richest nation in Bigbearlandia, but also a world leader and champion of justice. Recently, they elected their first woman president, Judy, who won by promising to help bring peace, democracy, and vegetables to the whole of Bigbearlandia. 

Official Name: People’s Republic of Ching Hsueh

Short Name: Ching Hsueh

Population: 322,000,000                                 Spoken Language(s): Taiwanese

Government Type: Communist                       Religion: None allowed

Leader: Super Flora                                        Ambassador: Heroine April

Short Description:

For the past 900 years, the People’s Republic of Ching Hsueh was filled with “People’s Communes”that were self-sufficient in agriculture. After the Great Leap Forward in the last century, however, Ching Hsueh grew into a giant industrial nation. Though it is now rich and prosperous, the People’s Communes have been largely abandoned, meaning there are many people without food. Although Ching Hsueh is a world leader in technology, industry, and military power, they are often not respected because of their poor human rights record. They have tried to improve their image with increased tourism, but have so far been unsuccessful. Food shortages and pollution remain major problems. Same-sex marriage has recently been outlawed and Ching Hsueh executes prisoners daily. They are also often accused of brainwashing their young people. Ching Hsueh recently lost control of Cha Ji Er, which used to be a colony.

Official Name: Cha Ji Er

Short Name: CJE

Population: 12,490,000                                   Spoken Language(s): Thai & Mandarin

Government Type: Theocracy             Religion: Buddhist

Leader: Dalai Claire                                        Ambassador: Angel

Short Description:

Cha Ji Er is a Buddhist theocracy situated on an island chain in the Shengkung Sea. It has a long history of being invaded and controlled by other nations. Most of the conquerors were interested in CJE’s diamonds, which are beautiful, abundant, and highly valuable. 20 years ago, Dalai Claire led her people in a revolution against Ching Hsueh and gained independence. Although claiming to be peaceful and Buddhist, Dalai Claire is very paranoid and spies on all her citizens. It is said that there are more than five spy cameras in every house and public building. As a Buddhist theocracy, the people of CJE are forced to adhere to strict moral and legal principles. They must be vegetarian, meditate three times a day, and must work in the diamond mines. CJE’s biggest problems are feeding their people, who are so busy mining diamonds they don’t have time to farm, and preventing another takeover from jealous neighbors.

Official Name: Republic of the Union of Monster

Short Name: Monster

Population: 103,000,000                                 Spoken Language(s): English

Government Type: Military Junta                   Religion: Catholic

Leader: Generalissimo Amy                           Ambassador: Shelley

Short Description:

Like its neighbor, Shenkulian of Raju, The Republic of the Union of Monster used to be part of the great nation of Rocky Mountain Panem and was ruled by their queen. After watching Raju gain independence, Monster started a bloody civil war with Panem to win their freedom. After 25 years of fighting, Monster was finally independent and Panem is left with small territory in the mountains. Monster has always been jealous of Raju and its great wealth, especially since Raju helped fight for Panem in the civil war. Monster is ruled by a military junta, primarily Generalissimo Amy, who rule the country with an iron fist. No freedoms of any kind are allowed, even though Monster is technically a Catholic nation. Recently, oil was discovered in the northern highlands of Monster, close to Raju and Panem. This might be the secret to Monster becoming the major world power it has always wanted to be.

Official Name: Rocky Mountain Panem

Short Name: Panem

Population: 233,000                                        Spoken Language(s): Panemanian

Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy Religion: Islam

Leader: Royal Queen Angel                           Ambassador: Lucy

Short Description:

Years ago, the whole continent was called the Great Nation of Panem, ruled by a glorious line of Royal Queens. Alas, that was the past. After granting independence to the Shenkulian of Raju and losing a bloody civil war to the Republic of the Union of Monster, Panem has been greatly reduced in size and power. She is now a small mountain nation with few resources and few people. Royal Queen Angel has made sure that her citizens are well-fed and well-clothed and have a few luxury items, but overall Panem is a poor nation. Worse than that, it must depend on the support of Raju to survive. Worst of all, Monster is always threatening to finish the civil war and eliminate Panem once and for all. The Royal Queen must do what she can to protect her people and find a way forward.

Official Name: Democratic People’s Republic of Stitch

Short Name: Stitch

Population: 69,000,000                                   Spoken Language(s): Stitchenese

Government Type: Dictatorship                     Religion: Stitchian

Leader: Queen Ivonne                                                Ambassador: Michelle

Short Description:

The Democratic People’s Republic of Stitch is an odd country. Its people are not related to any others in Bigbearlandia. They speak a strange language, Stitchenese, that virtually no one can understand. They practice a bizarre religion, Stitchian, which instructs that Queen Ivonne must be worshipped like a god. In reality, Queen Ivonne is a heartless dictator who rules Stitch for her own benefit and little else. Her people are even more desperate and pitiful than those of neighbor Ching Hsueh. The country itself has enough food and has a very strong army, but to improve its place, Stitch must make alliances or find some other way of improving its industry and economy.

Official Name: Giant Bear Federation

Short Name: Giant Bear

Population: 1,233,000                                     Spoken Language(s): English, Mandarin, Taiwanese

Government Type: Democracy                       Religion: Animist

Leader: President Leona                                 Ambassador: Sandy

Short Description:

The Giant Bear Federation is a truly peaceful democracy, whose people are active participants in their democracy. As an island nation, they have not been involved in the many wars that have ravaged Panem or the continent across the Shengkung Sea. However, Giant Bear has also been left behind by economic development. Though her people excel in making beautiful and valuable bear-skin rugs, bear-skin coats, and bear hats, there is little industry on the island. They are also renowned for creating very very expensive purses and other fashion accessories. Giant Bear’s people have long depended on fishing to feed themselves, but recently it seems most of the fish in the Shengkung Sea have died, leaving Giant Bear without a source of food. Many people believe the fish have died because of pollution from Panem and all its factories.