Publicphotography.org

Part of the war on photography involves making the public think that photographers and other artists might also be potential terrorists. The sad truth is, yes some photographers might be terrorists. People that watch birds through binoculars might also be terrorists. Gardeners that buy fertilizer might also be bomb-making terrorists. Please be on the lookout for all suspicious gardeners.

Here’s a leaflet put out by the Ottawa – Gatineau transit department to warn the public about suspicious activity. http://www.sto.ca/secure/index_en.html

Read this carefully. Especially the paragraph in the link that says

What unusual situations we should be watching for?

Although the chance of such situations occurring is unlikely, we urge you to be alert to any unusual situation.

- A suspicious package left unattended in a bus, near a bus stop or in a transit shelter;
A package, bag or other carry-on baggage left unattended at some distance or purposely left out of the way;
- A package carrying unusual items such as batteries, electrical wires or containers;
- A jittery or nervous individual loitering near a transit shelter or whose behaviour on board a bus appears suspicious, abnormal or out of the ordinary;
- An individual taking photos or pictures in a location that has no particular interest, drawing maps or sketches, taking notes or wandering in the same location for an unusually long time;
- An unexpected detour of your bus from its regular transit route, unannounced by your driver or an official notice from the operator of the transit system.

Particular interest? Who defines what is of “no particular interest”??? I do all of that downtown every time I go out with a camera!

Disney Thinks Photographers Are Terrorists William Beem Photography