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Remembering Florian
In some weird twist of fate, Exit got news last week that the charges against former President of The Last Resort - Florian Willet - over the use of the Sarco in Switzerland in September 2024 - have been formally dropped.
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However, the only reason that the Swiss Prosecutor in Schaffhausen canton has eliminated Florian from his ongoing investigation is because poor Florian is dead!
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Brave New World?
In addition to the news that the charges against the late Florian Willet had been dropped by the Swiss Prosecutor, Exit learned this week that the journalist from the Dutch newspaper, de Volkskrant, was now formally considered a defendant in the Sarco case.
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Today (3 May) is World Press Freedom Day, yet UNESCO is reporting that press freedom has experienced its steepest decline since 2012. Indeed, a record number of journalists (361) were imprisoned in 2024. This journalist was one of them (48 hours detention).
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Who would have thought this could happen in Switzerland?
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That the independent reporting by this Dutch journalist is being weaponised (and possibly criminalised) in a seeming effort to prevent the Sarco being used again in Switzerland, goes against the central tenets of press freedom.
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The United Nations states that in ‘the fostering [of] access to reliable information, accountability, dialogue, and trust, press freedom and independent journalism are key to peace, economic recovery, sustainable development, and human rights’.
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From Venice to Schaffhausen
The final important recent news regarding the Sarco is that the Schaffhausen prosecutor has succeeded in his application to extradite the 'Venice Design' Sarco from the Netherlands to Switzerland as part of his investigation.
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This particular Sarco was exhibited at Venice Design 2019 which was held simultaneously with the Biennale.
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This version of the Sarco was created in 2018-2019 with the express intention that it be a non-functioning piece of art: intended to generate discussion about the future of death and dying.
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Prior to its seizure by the Swiss, this Sarco was exhibited at:
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- Venice Design, Italy - 2019
- Cube Design Museum, Netherlands - 2020
- Museum for Sepalcral Culture, Germany - 2021
- Nowry Theatre, Poland - 2022
Exit is not aware of the current location of this ‘ art display' Sarco, nor why it could be considered useful to the Schaffhausen prosecutor (since they already have in their possession the operational Sarco).
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Perhaps it is one more way to deny the future as far as the Sarco is concerned?
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Despite some delays, Exit is pleased to announce that the new 'Couples Duo Sarco’ - the ‘Double Dutch’ - is in production in Rotterdam and is on schedule to be completed later in 2026.
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Register Close Soon
Registrations for the Exit Melbourne workshop will close next Monday (11 May). So if you are planning on attending, you need to register now.
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The Melbourne workshop will focus on new & emerging DIY end of life methods.
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11am, Wednesday 20 May 2026
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340 Toorak Rd, South Yarra
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- Workshops are free for Exit Members
- Over 50s only
- Morning tea served in Melbourne
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Exit Book Store
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