Elections are always fun events in Happy Valley. Think splendid, colourful posters plastered on our streets. Think informed debate and discussion at every street corner. And think intriguing flyers left in our mailboxes. And while an unfortunate court ruling in my native land has reduced my electoral rights to voting only vicariously, what could be […]
A gloomy start to the school year
Few things get the heart pumping of your Happy Valley correspondent more than la rentrée…that splendid combination of the first whiffs of fall air, and the return of horrendous traffic, as la Suisse Romande re awakes from its summer slumber. But this year, the rentrée in Happy Valley somehow feels…well, rather different. Rather morose, in […]
Festivities, song and fire strikes Happy Valley
June is a particularly important month in Happy Valley. It’s more than just the month that signals the arrival of wonderful festivals in the area, ranging from classics in Cully, to flamenco in Renens. And it’s more than simply the month that kicks off clearance sales at Movenpick Wine. (Check out the marked down Albarino. […]
Lausanne under the spotlight – the good bad and ugly
Happy Valley’s 15 Minutes of Fame Another day in Happy Valley…as the world’s spotlight moves away from the region with the Iran talks completed, and tranquility returns. The past few weeks must have been one of the biggest moments for the word “Lausanne” to be splashed across the front pages of the world’s press. And […]
Climate change in Switzerland; plus newspapers for young people.
Following this week’s compromise Lima Climate Change agreement, which basically keeps the global initiative on track with governments promising to bring forward their commitments until next year’s pivotal Paris conference, the question now is whether this will finally mean real action. It’s taken a long time for politicians and select business interests to acknowledge that […]
Swiss democracy and xenophobia: Need for more open debate
Last week’s Le News editorial questioning whether the over use of Switzerland’s referendum system was actually undermining democracy through too much democracy received considerable reaction, much of it irate. Clearly, we had touched on a sacred cow, even if not of the Swiss Brown or Simmental variety. How dare one criticize Swiss democracy? It has […]
Switzerland’s initiatives: Too much democracy?
Взять онлайн займ на карту. The overwhelming vote on 30 November against even more limited immigration (Ecopop); an end to special tax rates for wealthy foreigners and minimal gold reserves enabled the Federal Council in Bern, which had opposed all three initiatives, to sigh with relief. What the government did not need were more obstacles […]
Hoch Schwyz! – Who’s really Swiss in sports?
This week’s incredible Davis Cup victory, Switzerland’s first, was proudly wowed by Swiss both at home and abroad, including those who vehemently oppose migrants coming to this country, whether through last February’s anti-European Union vote and this month’s 30 November referendum. At least two of this month’s federal and cantonal initiatives are particularly xenophobic. The […]
Switzerland’s Anne Frank Legacy: Beyond frontiers and religions
Several weeks ago, I travelled to Basel with my wife and 14-year-old son to see an old family friend, Buddy Elias, now 88 and the last living relative of Anne Frank. The first cousin of Anne, Buddy had emigrated to Switzerland in 1931 with his family from Frankfurt, two years prior to the Nazi takeover. […]
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 […]
