Fresh tuna has is a nice red colour, however it quickly turns brown when exposed to the air. Tuna is easier to sell red than brown so those involved in the trade are faced with a temptation to reverse the discolouration. In 2017, an estimated CHF 200 million was made tricking retailers and consumers in […]
Parts of Switzerland shaken by earthquake
If you live near Montreux you might have felt an earthquake yesterday at 10:48 am when one measuring 4.2 struck. The quake was widely felt in the region and the police received a number of calls from concerned residents. Many would have heard a loud bang. The quake’s epicentre was around 15 km from Montreux in […]
Only 38% of young Swiss men fertile, according to research
Research by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) found that only 38% of the men it studied in Switzerland had sperm above the standard the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers men to be fertile. The study, which analyzed sperm from 2,523 men between the ages of 18 and 22 who were conceived and born in Switzerland, […]
Question of the week: why do so many expect government to solve climate change?
Climate protests are becoming increasingly regular and their message appears to be aimed primarily at government. However, we are all, protestors included, contributing to the problem by consuming food, energy, clothing and by moving around. And while there are things governments could do, they appear to be largely damned if they do and damned if […]
Swiss nuclear power station automatically shut down
Over the weekend the nuclear power station at Leibstadt was stopped, according to the broadcaster RTS. At 2:16am on Sunday one of the reactors at the nuclear power station of Leibstadt was automatically stopped in response to the malfunction of a pressure regulator. After the shutdown the reactor was in a stable state with no […]
The price of some Swiss train passes could rise significantly
Some travelers on Swiss trains could be in for a shock. The price of a GA travel card, an annual pass that allows unlimited travel of the Swiss Rail network, might rise 10% in 2021, according to the newspaper Le Matin. Compared to the price of other passes and tickets, the AG pass is relatively […]
Two thirds of Swiss food waste avoidable
A report by Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) estimates that 2.6 million tonnes of fresh food is wasted in Switzerland every year. Two thirds of this is avoidable, meaning that the food is still edible by the time it is discarded. Food losses occur throughout the chain from food production to purchase. Around […]
Geneva blocks the erection of 5G mobile antennas
Last week, Antonio Hodgers, the head of Geneva’s executive, announced a ban on the erection of further 5G mobile antennas in the canton, according to an interview on RTS. Motivated by uncertainty on the potential health effects of the new technology, the temporary freeze is the most the cantonal government can do to stop the […]
Smoking ban on Swiss train platforms coming soon
Non-smokers will soon be able to breathe easily while waiting for Swiss trains, according to the newspaper Le Matin. In 2005, it was still possible to smoke on Swiss trains in special smoking carriages. From 1 June 2019, it won’t even be possible to smoke on train platforms. Smokers will soon have to take their […]
Greenpeace attacks Nestlé’s office in Vevey over plastic waste
This week, Greenpeace activists protested against single-use plastic in front of Nestlé’s headquarters in Vevey, according to the newspaper Le Matin. One group of protesters, carrying a plastic monster made from plastic waste that has been touring Europe after arriving in Rotterdam from the Philippines, demanded that Nestlé take back its plastic monster. Take back […]
