Swiss animal rights activists recently handed a petition to members of parliament demanding a ban on eating cats and dogs, a custom still practised by hundreds of thousands of Swiss people. According to the activist group, up to three per cent of Swiss secretly eat the animals, especially in the regions of Lucerne, Appenzell, Jura […]
New kindergarten planned for Lausanne
The Petit de Chateau de Vennes, a charming period mansion originally built in 1839 is being re-developed as a nursery and kindergarten at a cost of nearly CHF 3 million. The much-needed municipal facility, on the Route de Berne, will service families in the Vennes and La Sallaz neighbourhoods of north Lausanne. It is expected […]
Swiss vote: three times “NO”
30 November 14 Swiss referenda. According to the newspaper 24 Heures, preliminary national results of the three votes in Switzerland this weekend were overwhelmingly “No”. The Ecopop initiative resulted in 74% voting “No”, the initiative seeking to do away with lump sum taxation or forfait fiscaux resulted in 62% voting “No”, and 77% voted against […]
We are the champions! Roger and Stan wow Lausanne
Around 10,000 people gathered at the Place de la Navigation in Ouchy, Lausanne yesterday evening to celebrate Switzerland’s first ever win in the Davis Cup’s 115-year history and to congratulate the players, above all Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer. They came straight to the Vaud capital off their flight from Lille, bearing the trophy with […]
Geneva: Assisted suicide central?
Geneva will become the new home for the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, which voted in favour of leaving New York in late October. According to GenevaLunch.com, the move, which is likely to take place in 2015, is associated to possible changes in the NGOs tax status in the US. The organisation has […]
Impressions from Kiev: Russia and Ukraine fighting an identity war
Membership in the European Union is sometimes referred to as a “géométrie variable,” member countries have different obligations; the United Kingdom is a full member but retains its own currency, the Pound and not the Euro. On a recent visit to Kiev, I was impressed by how my comments on the need for international cooperation […]
Fight against impunity
On 17 September this year, Martina Johnson a former Liberian rebel commander, was arrested in Belgium. She is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The charges have been brought thanks to the determination of a Geneva Lawyer, Alain Werner, who specializes in documenting crimes committed during the civil wars in western Africa. For […]
Geneva ranked as best city in the world
While currently draped in November fog, Geneva might not seem to be the most liveable city in the world. When my wife first came here some years back in mid-winter, she did not even realise that Geneva was surrounded by mountains until one of those heavenly days suddenly lifted the grey from the end of […]
New Ebola vaccine trials begin in Geneva
Geneva University Hospital (HUG) is beginning clinical trials today (10 November 2014) of a new Ebola vaccine (VSV-ZEBOV) after receiving the green light from the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) last Thursday. Ethics committees from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Canton of Geneva have also approved the trials. Two different doses of […]
Remember our veterans with a poppy
Why are all those people wearing poppies? Everyone on British television – newscasters, weather forecasters, programme presenters – they’re all wearing poppies! This question and accompanying exclamation one often hears in Switzerland (and other, non-UK countries) when the November page is turned on our calendars. So, why this modest little wildflower and what its deep […]