No drones or selfie sticks allowed for Pope's US visit


  • TECH
  • Thursday, 17 Sep 2015

Respect: No drones and selfie sticks will be allowed for the Pope's visit to the United States next week. Pictured are rosaries with the image of Pope Francis.

Drones, big or small, and selfie sticks are banned during Pope Francis's visit to the United States next week.

Here are some of the rules covering his Sept 22 to 27 visit:

Leave your drone at home

Papal host cities Washington, New York and Philadelphia have all been declared "No Drone Zones," according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

"If you plan to attend any of the papal visit events, please leave your drone at home," FAA administrator Michael Huerta said in a statement.

"Anyone flying a drone within the designated restricted areas may be subject to civil and criminal charges."

Any unmanned aircraft, even remotely controlled model planes, are not allowed.

The FAA is currently drafting regulations on small drones, amid concerns about personal privacy.

No selfie sticks or plastic guns


Selfie sticks, telescoping poles that can be attached to a smartphone to take wider angle photographs, are also forbidden during gatherings linked to the pope's visit.

Firearms are of course banned, but so are plastic guns and any other toy made to look like a weapon, along with laser pointers.

Animals and large-scale religious statues also must stay home.

Fasting for climate

Under two large, igloo-shaped tents planted in a square near the White House, six Global Catholic Climate Movement activists are fasting for 10 days to raise awareness about climate change and to back Pope Francis's efforts on the issue.

"We need to make changes in our lifestyles," said Patrick Carolan, executive director of the Franciscan Action Network.

"Just stop being such consumers. We have to really live simply, stop using so much fossil fuels, (moving) toward renewable energy, eat less meat."

But he acknowledged the task was "extremely difficult" in the United States, where climate skeptics have a strong voice. — AFP Relaxnews

The Star Festive Promo: Get 35% OFF Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tech News

Czech prime minister in favour of social media ban for under-15s
Analysis-Investors chase cheaper, smaller companies as risk aversion hits tech sector
PDRM calls for greater parental vigilance as grooming by online predators leads victims to share more CSAM content
New app helps you sit up straight while at your computer
Dispose of CDs, DVDs while protecting your data and the environment
'Just the Browser' strips AI and other features from your browser
How do I reduce my child's screen time?
Anthropic buys Super Bowl ads to slap OpenAI for selling ads in ChatGPT
Chatbot Chucky: Parents told to keep kids away from talking AI dolls
South Korean crypto firm accidentally sends $44 billion in bitcoins to users

Others Also Read