The latest poll run by broadcaster SRG shows waning support for a referendum on the environment organised by the youth league of Switzerland’s Green Party. The initiative calls for Switzerland to add a clause to its constitution that would require Switzerland to operate within sustainable planetary boundaries within 10 years. The recent poll, which was […]
Victim of abuse in Swiss army speaks out
In October 2024, Switzerland’s military published the results of an anonymous survey, which showed widespread discrimination and sexualised violence in the organisation. Recently, RTS interviewed a victim of the discrimination and violence who described her experience in detail. In the October survey, around half of survey participants (49.6%) claimed that they had or may have […]
Ukrainian vocal group to perform fundraising event in Lausanne, Geneva, Vevey and Montreux
The Ukraine Centre is organising a series of concerts by ManSound, a successful and well-known Ukrainian vocal group. The performance is a fund raiser for the Centre and the concerts will be held in early December in Lausanne, Geneva, Vevey and Montreux. ManSound (Ukrainian “МенСаунд”) is a vocal sextet, founded in 1994 in Kyiv, Ukraine. […]
Switzerland exploring new form of burial
In Switzerland, 90% of people opt to have their remains cremated. The other 10% opt for burial. However, traditional burial contaminates soil and takes up valuable space. While cremation consumes significant energy and pollutes the air. Four women who created the organisation Werde Erde hope to make compost burial an option, reported SRF. When someone […]
FILM: MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR **** an outstanding story
25 October 2024. By Neptune MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR **** (vo French) Writing last week about excellent to failed biopics, I mentioned that the best are often about musical artists. Well, here’s yet another example – this outstanding story of Charles Aznavour’s fascinating life. Who does not know the great songwriter, singer, actor Aznavour? From his poor […]
New initiative launched to require votes before Switzerland accepts EU law
Currently, Switzerland is negotiating an update to its relationship with the EU. Some fear the new deal will include clauses that lead Switzerland to automatically adopt EU laws and to fall under the authority of the European Court of Justice, something the initiative organisers call passive EU membership. Known as the Compass Initiative, the new […]
Arrests after death pod used in Switzerland
On 23 September 2024, the controversial “Sarco” suicide capsule was used for the first time in the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen. One person died after using the device. Following the death, Schaffhausen police arrested several people, reported SRF. The device allows an individual to suffocate themselves by pushing a button that replaces the air inside […]
Swiss parliament to investigate false vote signatures
To run a referendum in Switzerland, vote organisers must first collect a minimum number of signatures from qualified voters. Not all are deemed valid. This week, Switzerland’s federal parliament said it would like a formal investigation into false signatures, in particular those collected by companies paid to collect them for the organisers of referenda, reported […]
Swiss train police to wear body cameras from September
This week, Swiss Rail announced that its transport police would wear body cameras from September 2024. The hope is that the cameras will reduce and diffuse conflict in the face of rising violence in certain situations, said the company. Each team will be equipped with at least one of the 100 cameras purchased, which cost […]
Group against Swiss motorway enlargement launches its campaign
This week, a group in the Lake Geneva region against the federal government’s plan to expand key stretches of the A1 motorway in Switzerland, launched its campaign against the idea ahead of a vote on 24 November, reported RTS. The federal government recently announced a plan to add lanes to six stretches of Switzerland’s A1 […]