Image credit: http://boingboing.net/2013/01/26/berlin-activists-create-cctv-s.html
There’s a new street game in town. Well, in Berlin, Germany actually! Activists have created “Camover” where they move through public spaces in disguise (although not essential), smashing CCTV cameras, recording the act and uploading it to YouTube for points.
The rules of Camover are simple: Mobilize a crew and think of a name that starts with "command", "brigade" or "cell", followed by the moniker of a historical figure (Van der Lubbe, a Dutch bricklayer convicted of setting fire to the Reichstag in 1933, is one name being used). Then proceed to destroy as many CCTV cameras as you can. Finally, video your trail of destruction and post it on the game's website – although even keeping track of the homepage can be a challenge in itself, as it is continually being shut down.
Camover is certainly a very challenging game. The authorities will surely consider this as an act of vandalism. Or is it? Can it be considered as a form of valid protest?
Totalitarian regimes are well-known for unleashing the punishing, spying gaze of the “secret police” (think KGB, Stasi), whose surveillance was always couched in the language of "public protection" and "crime solving". Today, CCTVs are extensively used by not just the government but also businesses and corporations. Given that the footage can be seized, often in secret, in the name of "combating terror" and similar rubrics – they are, therefore, really an extension of government surveillance.
It is a matter of perceptive.
This afternoon I was in the city – Changkat Raja Chulan – to attend the demo meeting for Olympia College located in Bangunan KWSP. As this was again a Division B initiative, I gave an opening address on behalf of Meyyappa (Division B Governor) as I was the most senior officer present. Other than this 5-minute contribution I sat out this meeting because there were already sufficient role players.
And in the evening, I was in Jalan PJS1/46 in Petaling Utama where I delivered CC speech #10 (titled ‘A Box of Chocolates’) – thereby completing my CC manual in a record time of 29 days. I must record my sincere thanks to my evaluator Sew Chang Wei for his kind words. Also, it gladdened my heart to note that the IME Toastmasters Club is still very much active and with management support, continue to attract new members.
