RFI
25 Nov 2022, 14:46 GMT+10
A group of French activists protesting against the holding of the World Cup in Qatar is using home-made remote controls to switch off pub television screens in the middle of the football matches.
French football supporters, gathered in a bar in Paris on Tuesday night, were surprised when the television showing the match against Australia suddenly went blank.
Nothing wrong with the power supply, just a touch of sabotage, or in the new protest lingo "direct action".
"This is our way of showing 'peaceful resistance' to the world," Dan Geiselhart, one the organizers of this action told Le Parisien daily.
He had just turned off the television remotely using a device known as a "TV-B-Gone", invented by the hacker Mitch Altman. The box incorporates the signals of nearly 160 brands of television and works from 45 metres away.
Giroud equals goal record as France waltz past Australia in World Cup opener
This model was designed at the Recyclerie, a creative workshop in Paris, initiated by Geiselhart.
Geiselhart does not encourage confrontation but insists on the need for dialogue with the fans in the bar when a match is interrupted by the remote control.
Making a point
He says the television can be quickly turned back on once the activists' point has been made.
The World Cup in Qatar has been dogged by controversy, notably over Qatar's alleged human rights abuses, the suppression of social and political dissent, the mistreatment of foreign workers, and the persecution of LGBTQ people. Then there's the environmental impact of air-conditioned stadiums.
Catcalls dog Qatar's moment in the World Cup limelight Paris joins list of cities to snub giant screens for World Cup fan zones
"The idea is not to weigh political decisions on the back of the supporter, or to annoy them. But more to signal something, and to say that we can love football, but that we can also say that in this World Cup, things are not going well," Thomas, a volunteer hacker and designer told Le Parisien.
Nicolas, who participated in the workshop says he's boycotting the World Cup matches but is reluctant to impose his choice on others.
"It's not very cool for the guy who runs the bar, because he is not responsible for all that," he says, referring to the problems in Qatar.
Instead, Nicolas intends to use the remote to turn off advertising screens, to cut down on wasteful electricity use, another rising trend in "direct action" used by environmental activists in Paris and around the world.
Get a daily dose of Australian Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.
More InformationBRUSSELS, Belgium: Meta is holding firm on its controversial pay-or-consent model, a move that could lead to fresh antitrust charges...
LONDON, U.K.: American consumers and businesses could soon face the highest overall tariff burden in more than a century, according...
The family of Sayfollah Saif Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West...
CONCORD, New Hampshire: A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a crucial ruling on July 10 against President Donald Trump's executive...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: A cargo ship flagged under Liberia, known as the Eternity C, sank in the Red Sea following an attack executed by Yemen's...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has started sending some weapons to Ukraine again, just a week after the Pentagon told officials...
BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia - Two French girls barely out of high school remain behind bars after their arrival into Australia's...
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah congratulated South African batter Aiden...
Kingston [Jamaica], July 14 (ANI): Australia's seasoned speedster Scott Boland still sees a 'big future' for teenage Sam Konstas despite...
(250714) -- CANBERRA, July 14, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Binoy Sarkar (R), senior research fellow at University of South Australia (UniSA)'s...
(250714) -- CANBERRA, July 14, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Sanjay Garg (R), lead researcher Professor from University of South Australia (UniSA)'s...
Dubai [UAE], July 14 (ANI): South Africa right-hand batter Aiden Markram was announced the Player of the Month for June on Monday following...