20 Minutes. A large majority of Swiss (77%) polled think a stable relationship with the European Union (EU) is an economic necessity and that EU agreements should be maintained. 75% of the 2,500 surveyed by gfs.bern between 9 and 25 February 2017, believe that agreements with the EU are needed to ensure the Swiss economy has […]
Archives for March 2017
Falling Swiss crime rate masks increases in some crimes
On 27 March 2017, the Swiss Statistics Office released 2016 crime statistics. The total number of crimes recorded by the police fell by nearly 20,000 or 4.1% compared to 2015. This brings the total decline since 2009 to 15%. Total recorded crimes in 2016 were around 468,000, far below the 553,000 recorded in 2009. While the total number of recorded crimes […]
Geneva’s shockingly high rate of car theft
Tribune de Genève. Once again Geneva wins the prize for the highest level of car theft in Switzerland. According to Zurich Insurance, Geneva leads by far. Vaud is a distant second. Zurich says there were 200 times more vehicle thefts in Geneva than in Zug in 2016. In addition, since 2014, the number of thefts […]
Where Geneva’s new gondola might go
Le Matin. Grenoble, Medellín, Caracas, and Rio all have gondolas, and New York is planning one. Now Geneva wants one too. Last week Geneva’s Grand Council accepted a plan, put forward by the Greens, to investigate the feasibility of a cable car transport network. Geneva’s department of transport (DETA) has already looked at several gondola proposals, which […]
The real reason Swiss drugs are so expensive
24 Heures. In Switzerland, a 16-pack of 500mg Dafalgan Odis (Paracetamol) costs CHF 8.60. A comparable French product, Doliprane, costs 1.12 euros for a box of 12 tablets the same size. 12 tablets of 500 mg of Algifor (Ibuprofen) costs CHF 9.90 compared to 2.50 euros for a similar box of Advil in France. Another product, Nivea […]
Young man dies of measles in Switzerland
20 Minutes. “This is a tragic but fortunately rare case in Switzerland” Daniel Koch, of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) told the Tages-Anzeiger this morning, regarding the death of a young man in January. This is the first measles death in Switzerland since 2009 when a 12 year old girl died in Geneva. The FOPH […]
Swiss clocks move forward one hour this Sunday
Early on Sunday 26 March 2017 Swiss clocks move forward one hour. Officially time changes at 2am. This means you will miss one hour of sleep and it will be darker when you get up. On the up side, it will be lighter for longer in the evenings. The rest of Europe will adjust its clocks […]
FILM: I am not your negro – incredibly moving and must be seen
24 March 2017. I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO **** Here is a searing, damning document on the black people’s condition in American history. The last work of the infinitely intelligent and eloquent writer and social critic James Baldwin (1924-1987) is narrated here by Samuel L. Jackson in this powerful documentary by Haitian director Raoul Peck. Baldwin’s […]
Switzerland’s spectacular dams and their uncertain future
Switzerland’s 604 hydroelectric plants aren’t just powerhouses for clean energy. Some dams are also dramatic destinations. But their source of fuel is literally drying up. By Bill Harby Switzerland’s glaciers are shrinking. In 2015, of 99 Swiss glaciers measured, 92 were retreating, 3 were stationary and 4 were advancing. Global warming doesn’t just threaten Switzerland’s […]
Swiss report recommends eating more foods typically high in saturated fats
On 16 March 2017, the results of a survey on Swiss eating habits were released. The survey, dubbed MenuCH, quizzed 2,000 Swiss residents between the ages of 18 and 75 on what they eat. The report shows that Swiss meat consumption is at unhealthy levels. Average weekly consumption of 780g far exceeds the recommended level […]