The below press statement was written by us with Martin's consent and feedback.
It is a good starting point for media outreach, and was used by the Gaurdian as the basis for their article on Monday, June 9th. please feel free to pass it on how you like.
If you have any questions or comments about it, please email  organico@soon.com

Statement from Martin Shaw 6 June 2003

At three in the morning on the first of June, an affinity group of seventeen of us left Lausanne to head for a strategic bridge on the main motorway between Geneve and Lausanne. For days we had been preparing the non-violent blockade, in order to disturb the G8 meeting, which we consider illegitimate. We aimed to stop the delegates reaching the conference centre in Evian. Our research told us that they would have to cross this bridge when travelling via road convoy from their hotels to the conference centre.

The plan was for Christina and I, both very experienced climbers, to be suspended off either side of the bridge, on a single (but very strong) specialised climbing rope. To do this, the rope had to cross the carriageway, effectively creating a road blockade on the bridge with the rope to which we were attached. If the cars would drive through the blockade, they would break the rope, and send Christina and I falling twenty meters to our potential deaths.

After trapsing in the dark through the valley below the highway, the thick woods, and across the stream, we reached the place under the bridge where we made final preparations for the action and hid for the remainder of the morning while waiting for the call from our scout stating that the convoy had been sighted and was on its way.

After hours of waiting and repeatedly going over and over the plans, we received a call saying that the delegates were underway. We jumped into action all assuming our different, and well rehearsed roles.
I, along with my rope assistant, hiked down into the valley to wait for the line to be tossed to me from the bridge so that I could climb up into position. Meanwhile the others made their way onto the bridge. Ten of them slowed and stopped the trafic, using banners explaining that if they continued to accelerate, they could kill the two climbers.

While the traffic was being blocked, Christina and her two climbing assistants set up the ropes. Every precaution was taken to make sure that the action was as entirely safe - rope guards to stop fraying were put into place, the ropes were wound around the bridge’s crash barriers (which later saved Christina’s life), fluorescent orange and silver flags were hanging from the rope to make it visible, the banner used to stop the trafic clearly said in French that two people would die if the rope was crossed, among many other safety elements we had been planning for days.

As soon as the traffic came to a stand still, the climbing assiatants gave Christina and I the signal to begin. I pruseked up as Christina abeiled down; we served as a counter balance for each other.

While the police were creating havic out of a very controlled and calm situation on the bridge, Christina and I were in the process of finalising our positions underneath. I was prepared to stay suspended off of the bridge until forcably taken down, because for me the G8 have no right to collectivley dictate a global economic policy which puts their own profits over the needs of people and the environment. Take for instance the recent illegal war in Iraq or the issue of debt cancellation for the worlds poorest countries.

As three policemen climbed over the gap between the two carraigeways from where my rope was hanging, their eyes followed the rope down and aknowledged me; I waived to them and shouted ‘bonjour’. I did this in order to establish a friendly connection with the police, as I expected that a team of experienced police climbers would be deployed, survey the situation before acting, and finally get us down safely. In all of my many years of experience as a climber, I could never have fathomed that anyone would touch the ropes by which you hang. But then I felt the rope as it was cut. During my fall of 25 meters I thought, ‘Oh my God, they cut the fucking rope.’
I was conscious through the whole event. I remember hitting the ground; I landed in the small and rocky creek at the bottom of the valley. I landed more or less feet first on my left side; my head hit in the deepest pool in the very shallow creek, which probably saved my life. I was chest down in the freezing water, trying to hold my head and upper body out of the water with my hands; I was completely entangled in the rope that fell with me. I knew Christina was still hanging from rope off the bridge, but I had no clue that she was still suspended only due to the efforts of our friends on the bridge who caught her rope and held onto it for her life. I was amazed I was not dead, infact I hadn’t even lost consciousness.

However, I was in incredible pain, mainly in my legs, lower back, and pelvis.

I was in the creek for a long time getting colder and colder. I was worried that I had a spinal inqury and I was not sure how to deal with it.

I was not sure if I should move or not, but the water was moving me anyway. I decided it was best to get out of the water, so I tried to drag myself out onto a rock, but I could not do much. The first person to reach me was my rope assistent, who was stationed nearby under the bridge. From the top of the bridge our group’s doctor came running down; she and the other two members from our group in the valley helped me. There were several military police who, after a lot of persuading in French, also came to get me out of the cold water and rocky creek. I was in severe pain, mostly in my left leg and back and hip. They moved me to a grassy area above the creek where I received medical care from our group doctor, and, after a long wait, by emergency Swiss medical doctors. I was then flown by helicopter from the site to the CHUV hospital.

The authorities seem to be creating many difficulties for my friends working in Switzerland to support me, at all times I have a gaurd outside of my hospital room who stops all but the few ‘allowed ‘ to see me, they check any paper work that is brought into me before I am able to see it, and there is a total media ban. Strictly speaking in terms of my health, I am receiving wonderful care from the doctors in Switzerland, and I wish that the millions of people across the world who do not have adequate health care due to policies impossed by the G8 through international financial institutions, such as user fees on health care, could have acccess to the same health care as I have received.

However, I am not happy that the Authorities wish to repatriate me so quickly. I do not feel ready to leave, needing a further operation to stabalise my injuries. It would be very convienient for the Swiss State if I was no longer in their country, and could cloud legal issues of culpability if mediacal complications were to arise once I was being treated in another country. There seems to be a desire from the Swiss Government to pass off this whole event as an ‘accident’. I am entirely positive that the police knew I was hanging from the rope ; for me this event cannot be passed off as an accident.

There has been no offer from the Swiss Police, or Government, to cover any of the medical and legal bills I am facing Infact my support group are experiencing severe difficulties researching my legal rights under international agreements between Switzerland and the EU, receiving largely conflicting information from various Swiss Agencies involved.

Currently we are working to mount a legal case against the Police and the Swiss State, to recoup the medical costs and for compensation, as well as to challenge the increasing inpunity of the state and its executive forces.

The plan, in the spirit of non-violent direct action, was to create a road blockade with the rope, but that of course goes on the assumption that the police and their governments care more about human life than trafic. But on June 1st that was not the case for us, and the only reason I am still here to tell this story is sheer luck, the amazing and quick response from my friends on the bridge, and the emergency doctors who have taken care of me since the incident.

Martin Shaw CHUV Hospital Lassanne Switzerland
« I am really quite angry about the difficulties my friends have in visiting me. Whilst I understand the delicacy involved in respecting the needs of the other patients in my room, I find it reppresive that only a list of three people can visit me, even during the official visiting hours. To station a security gaurd at the door, who checks the identification of my visitors, is clearly reppresive and undemoctratic, and an infringement of my civil liberties. » Martin Shaw about his hospital conditions
« It is a fundamental of any democratic State, that any free individual has free and uninhibited access to speak with the press.
Yesterday, against my protest, a female journalist who was interviewing me was physically dragged out of my hospital room, even though she was attending during regular visiting hours. It seems a political, as opposed to medical, decision that the access of the media is impinged. I find it quite unaceptable that I am being treated in this way .is it that the Swiss State is trying to bury this story ? » Martin Shaw on his access to the media

« I am incredibly frustrated that I will have to spend the next 6 weeks bed bound, and that after that I face a further three months in constsnt medical care. All this, due to the wreckless and life threatening actions of the Swiss Police, and their unaccountable puppet masters. This story is only one of the thousands of acts of political repression that occur daily, the world over. At least I am fortunate enough to have access to western hospitals, unlike the majority of people in the world, who are kept poor and denied the most fundamental of human needs, by the dictatorial and undemocratic neo liberal policies of the G8 governments and their corporate partners. » Martin Shaw on his western fortune

« They wage illegal wars in the name of freedom and democracy, whilst violently reppressing those who dare to advocate geniune liberty » Martin Shaw on global repression