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A direct action against apathy  audio report from the ‘good bus’ trip to the G8 Summit in Evian is now available. Written report and pictures here.  To get a copy, or if you’re involved in a radio project & would like to broadcast it please get in touch 

The Good Bus cd is a benefit for the medical & legal expenses of activists who took part in the Aubonne Bridge action in Lausanne. Two climbers closed of a motorway by suspending from a bridge. 7 of the good bus crew took part in the action. Martin Shaw was seriously injured when police cut the rope from which he was suspended. 

After both climbers were detached from the bridge at Aubonne, six of the support team were arrested and charge with blocking traffic. In Switzerland this is a serious offence punishable by a period in prison of somewhere between three days and three years.  Martin and his co-climber are being charged with the same offence. 

The five of us arrested together (four Irish, one French) spent 10 hours in police cells, first being told we were there ‘voluntarily’ to give a statement to help Martin, then later being told they had changed their mind and were charging us.  We were not given a phone call or much food.  We had no contact with lawyers or the Lausanne group legal team.

One of the Irish activists not charged will return to Switzerland to testify for Martin in his case against the police.  The Swiss police admit to cutting the rope and new footage shows that the officer responsible first showed the knife to his superior asking for approval.  A police radio scanner recorded the decision to cut the rope. 

Martin is at home in Barcelona now.  His injuries are serious but in time he will walk again.  Any money raised from this cd will go towards his legal and medical fees and those other of the other activists arrested or travelling to testify against the Swiss police.

More coverage of Evian at www.indymedia.org/g8/

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