Tdiehe zeitschriftmagazine forfür theauslandschweizer swiss abroad

Djuniecember 2011 2013 / / NNr.3o. 6

The impact of foreign pioneers on Switzerland

Hans Rudolf Herren, a Swiss pioneer in Africa

New Olympic sports – Switzerland is at the forefront Den Briefkasten auf der ganzen Welt leeren PuBLIrePortAGe Post digital empfangen mit der Swiss Post Box

Mit der Swiss Post Box lassen sich Post- sendungen an eine Schweizer Adresse überall auf der Welt anschauen. Das neue Angebot der Post ist deshalb speziell für Auslandschweizerinnen und Ausland- schweizer sowie Personen mit mehreren Wohnsitzen geeignet.

Wer in der Schweiz eine Postadresse hat, aber einen grossen Teil seiner Zeit im Ausland ver­ Die Swiss Post Box ist für Auslandschweizerinnen und Auslandschweizer eine ideale Lösung, bringt, benötigt eine Lösung für die Postsen­ damit der physische Briefkasten in der Schweiz nicht überquillt. dungen. Speziell für diese Kunden hat die Post die Swiss Post Box geschaffen. Die Briefpost lässt sich temporär oder permanent darüber schlag ein und sendet ihm das Bild. Er bestimmt kann man seinen Geschäftspartnern beispiels­ abwickeln. online, was die Post mit dem Brief tun soll: öff­ weise den Zürcher Paradeplatz als Schweizer Die Swiss Post Box ergänzt den physischen mit nen und digitalisieren, an eine beliebige Adresse Firmenadresse nennen. einem digitalen Briefkasten: Wie beim Mail­ im In­ oder Ausland schicken oder sogar ver­ account kann übers Internet rund um die Uhr nichten. Weitere Infos und Registrierung: darauf zugegriffen werden – via Laptop, Tablet Entscheidet sich der Kunde dafür, den Brief www.post.ch/swisspostbox oder Smartphone. elektronisch zu lesen, so wird er ihm innerhalb von 24 Stunden in die Swiss Post Box gestellt. Jetzt ABo-GeBühren Briefe per Mausklick öffnen Egal, wo auf der Welt sich der Empfänger gera­ Für zWei MonAte SPAren Die Swiss Post Box ist in wenigen Schritten ein­ de befindet, er kann nun sofort auf den Brief Wenn Sie bis 28.02.2014 ein Liberty-Plus- gerichtet. Die Benutzerin oder der Benutzer reagieren. Abo der Swiss Post Box abschliessen, erteilt der Post den Auftrag, alle Briefe inner­ schenkt Ihnen die Post die Abo-Gebühren für halb eines bestimmten Zeitraums an die Swiss Firmenadresse Paradeplatz zwei Monate im Wert von insgesamt Post Box zu senden. Erhält der Kunde einen Als besonderes Extra ist bei jedem Preismodell 60 Franken. Brief, scannt die Post den geschlossenen Um­ eine frei wählbare Prestigeadresse inklusive. So Aktionscode: PUBLi-X72-X454-D73D

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SwissCommunity partners EDITORIAL Contents 3

Swiss virtues and immigration

ndependent, resilient, capable and united – these attributes are the 4 basis of Switzerland’s success. These virtues, thanks to Friedrich Schiller’s Mailbag I “William Tell”, have become legendary well beyond Swiss borders. But is 5 Switzerland’s success explained by these qualities alone? Of course not. Many Books: A love letter on an extraordinary ideas conceived by those not of true Swiss origin and implemented by people not journey of pure Swiss stock have also made a contribution. In our key focus article on 8 page 8 onwards, Jürg Müller describes the huge interest shown by many Swiss Switzerland – a breeding ground for pio- during the 19th century in foreign ideas, developments and achievements and il- neers for centuries lustrates the contribution made by various immigrants to Switzerland’s advance- 13 ment, success and modern-day identity. What has the SP achieved in Switzerland? Immigration will also play a key role in political debate in Switzerland in the A review to mark its 125th anniversary near future. The electorate will have several opportunities to voice its opinion on this subject over the coming year. The first will be on 9 February 2014, when the 14 How much immigration can Switzerland su- Swiss people will vote on the initiative against mass immigration. (Further details stain? The people can have their say can be found on page 14). Referenda will also be held on the Ecopop initiative “Stop overpopulation – safeguard our natu- 16 Interview with Hans Rudolf Herren, ral environment” and on the extension of the free movement of winner of the alternative Nobel Prize persons to Croatia. Many Swiss abroad are clearly anxious about the referen- 18 dum on the free movement of persons as they are concerned Promoting young sporting talent – ­Switzerland's five specialist schools about the ramifications of a No vote. This could have grave consequences, resulting in the termination of the bilateral agreements with the Eu- 20 ropean Union (EU). Experts in constitutional law are in agreement, and those be- The new sports in Sochi hind the referendum do not refute the claims either. Whether that is actually their 24 objective, as suggested in some quarters, remains open to debate. Switzerland would Literature series: Friedrich Glauser unquestionably be left in a very isolated position without the bilateral agreements 25 and would have to renegotiate its relations with the EU states. The Federal Coun- OSA news cil has strongly warned against such a scenario and believes it would jeopardise Swit- zerland’s economic development in particular. The end of the bilateral approach 28 Notes from Parliament would also clearly have an impact on many of the over 400,000 Swiss abroad living in a European state. 30 I would finally like to mention some changes taking place within the Organisa- Echo tion of the Swiss Abroad. Rudolf Wyder, who as Director has been a key figure for the past 28 years in representing the interests of the Swiss abroad to Swiss authori-

ties and politicians, will retire at the end of the year. A review of his achievements Cover image: Photographer Alessandro Della Bella can be found on page 26. took this photograph of a moonlit night on Mount Säntis in February. It comes from a new book Barbara Engel ­featured on page 6. 6 IMPRint: “Swiss Review”, the magazine for the Swiss abroad, is in its 40th year of publication and is published in German, French, Italian, English and Spanish in 14 regional editions. It has a total circulation of 400,000, including 140,000 electronic copies. Regional news appears four times a year. The ordering parties are fully responsible for the content of advertise- ments and promotional inserts. This content does not necessarily represent the opinion of either the editorial office or the publisher. ■ EDITORS: Barbara Engel (BE), Editor-in-Chief; Marc Lettau (MUL); Jürg Müller (JM); Alain Wey (AW); Peter Zimmerli (PZ), responsible for “Notes from Parliament”, Relations with the Swiss Abroad, FDFA, 3003 Berne, Switzerland. Transla- tion: CLS Communication AG ■ LAYOUT: Herzog Design, Zurich ■ POSTAL ADDRESS: Publisher, editorial office, advertising: Organi­sation ­of the Swiss Abroad, Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Berne, Tel.: +41313566110, Fax: +41313566101, Postal account (Swiss National Giro): 30-6768-9. ■ EMAIL: [email protected] ■ iew December 2013 / No. ■

v PRINT: Vogt-Schild Druck AG, 4552 Derendingen. All Swiss abroad who are registered with a Swiss representation receive the magazine free of charge. e Anyone else can subscribe to the magazine for an annual fee (Switzerland: CHF 30 / abroad: CHF 50). Subscribers are sent the magazine direct from Berne. ■ INTERNET: www.revue.ch ■ Copy deadline for this edition: 23.09.2013 wiss R

S ■ CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please advise your local embassy or consulate. Do not write to the editorial office in Berne. 4 Mailbag

Flabbergasted some cases, vitriolic individuals the Swiss Ski Pool from 1974 to lation to most arguments and I am an avid reader of the “Swiss whose loathing is primarily aimed 1976 as the representative of the strategies: Have they learned Review” which my wife receives. at the general public. The toler- Swiss ski team’s equipment sup- nothing from the unfortunate I must say that as a Frenchman I ance, respect and altruism demon- pliers and he was Director of the events in places such as Ötztal in was flabbergasted by some parts strated by Adolf Ogi are unfortu- Swiss Ski Association. I will ne- neighbouring Austria? Do the ma- of the editorial in the August 2013 nately rarely found. The SVP’s ver forget the negotiations, jority of people really believe that issue. In particular, Ms Engel’s ranting has done more harm than which although tough were al- the remedy for Swiss tourism lies view that banking secrecy has good to the party and politics over ways conducted in a friendly in alpine fun parks, located over contributed to Switzerland’s sta- the long term. We are fortunate to manner. Adolf Ogi really is as he 3,000 metres above sea level, to bility. Of course, but at the ex- have Dölf Ogi, and I hope that is portrayed in this article. I have which a greedy mountain railway pense of countries whose citizens similar figures emerge and estab- the utmost respect for him! lobby would prefer to transport - as account holders at your banks lish themselves in our national Werner Oertle, Kaposvár, two million visitors a year in fu- - are fraudsters, if not criminals. government. People like Adolf Hungary ture rather than just one million? That must stop as the average Ogi make me optimistic about Do hundreds of Chinese or Indian Swiss person, as I well know, does Switzerland’s future. Sensible changes tourists have to fall from some cliff not benefit. Eugen Ringger, Benkovac, I would like to raise the following walk before people come to their Bernard Buisson, by email Croatia question concerning the key focus senses? We need to move instead article on tourism featured in the towards sustainable tourism and Little tolerance nowadays Utmost respect October issue of “Swiss Review”: make visitors aware of current and I wish to express my gratitude for I got to know Adolf Ogi in 1963 Do we still need a region that sim- future changes. There are so many the article on Adolf Ogi. I am no when he was “secretary of the ply carries on in the way it is do- alternative approaches and oppor- supporter of the Swiss People’s Meiringen tourist office”. His ing? If you consider and reflect tunities for shaping and establish- Party (SVP) in view of the way it title would probably be “director upon the wide range of different ing the tourism of the future now has conducted itself in recent of tourism” today. I followed the opinions and viewpoints of those before the whole thing inevitably years. It has become a party of progression of his career from involved in tourism, just one ques- falls down around us! loudmouths, know-it-alls and, in close quarters. I was President of tion unfortunately remains in re- Rolf Opitz, Munich 6 o. We‘ll take you to Switzerland at the click of a mouse. Information. News. Background reports. Analysis. ecember 2013 / N From Switzerland, about Switzerland. Multimedia, interactive and up to date in 9 languages. swissinfo.ch eview D wiss R S Books 5

it is the story of a letter narrated by Abbas Khider, an Iraqi author, now 40 years of age, who, after a long escape, found a new home in Germany and also writes in German. It is the story of a love letter written by Salim, a Muslim, to Samia, a Kurdish Christian. Salim, who spent a short Homesick? time in prison in Iraq for reading banned books before managing to flee, lives in the Libyan port town of Beng- hazi. It is 1999, four years prior to Saddam Hussein’s downfall, still a time when nobody can envisage the Arab Unlimited free uprisings. Two years have passed since Salim’s escape but he thinks about his beloved in Baghdad every day. Send- ing her a letter by post is impossible. It could fall into the calls home. hands of the censors and put Samia in grave danger. Salim’s problem is that of many refugees, and resource-

A letter on a journey on A letter ful people have long since found ways of getting letters into Iraq – into the Aubergine Republic, as the Iraqis them- selves call their country because aubergines were the only things that were always available in abundance during the trade embargo. Like the smugglers who sneak refugees across the border, the couriers also make their money from people’s fears and yearnings. They slip letters past the censors in return for large payments. In Café Tigris in Benghazi, Salim hears about Malik, who – for a fee of two hundred dollars – agrees to pass the love letter to the first courier, the Egyptian taxi driver Haytham. In Cairo, Malik’s business partner takes charge of the delivery and sends it on a tour bus to the Jordanian capital of Amman. From there the letter is taken by the lorry driver Latif Mohamed across the Iraqi border to Baghdad. Each person through whose hands Salim’s letter passes tem- porarily becomes the main character. In seven chapters, six additional characters besides Salim recount episodes from their lives. This provides an insight into everyday life in the Arab world shortly before the outbreak of the revolutions. Kh- ider masterfully switches between tragedy and comedy in his narrative and underlines just how much real- ity is shaped by perception. The characters are at the same time both victims and beneficiar- ies of the dictatorial regimes. “Brief in die Auberginenrepublik” (“A Letter to the Aubergine Republic”) is Abbas Khider’s third novel. His first novel “Der falsche Inder” (“The Village Indian”) was published in 2008, Download Swisscom iO for free and his second “Die Orangen des Präsidenten” (The President’s Oranges) in 2011. Khider in- corporates many of his own experiences into his novels. He knows the yearnings and fears of refugees, the fatal dangers, the countless risks, the sense of restlessness and the hope for peace and a better life while also appreciating the significance of serendipity. He uses the often sarcastic sense of humour typical of the region mixed with melancholy and opens up a world for readers which these days is almost only ever associ- More information under ated with negative stereotypes. Barbara Engel io.swisscom.ch AbbaS Khider, “Brief in die Auberginenrepublik”. Edition Nautilus, Ham- burg 2013. 160 pages. CHF 25, EUR 18. An English translation of “Der falsche Inder” (“The Village Indian”) was recently published by Seagull Books. The translation of “Brief in die Au- berginenrepublik” is in progress. 6 Images

Night landscapes What does Switzerland look like at night when we are asleep? Could it be even more beautiful between the hours of dusk and dawn than during the daytime? The photographer Alessandro Della Bella allows us to ex- plore the darkness that sometimes seems foreboding but is also magical and peaceful. He spent many nights awake so he could photograph Switzerland, producing spectacular images of mountains, cities and panoramas at night.

Book: “Helvetia by night”; Verlag NZZ libro, Zurich 2013; 192 pages, 100 images with photographical notes in the annex. CHF 84 More at: helvetiabynight.com/ New Year’s Eve in Arosa, taken from the Tschuggen on 1 January 2012

Fog over the Swiss Plateau, taken from the Säntis on 24 November 2011 The constellation of Orion above the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, taken from the Männlichen on 31 January 2011 6 iew December 2013 / No. v ss Re

Swi Snow groomers and snow cannons on the Corvatsch, taken from the Piz Nair on 12 December 2012 Creux du Van, taken on 20 November 2011 7

Lucerne, taken from Mount Pilatus on 5 March 2011 Dusk over Lake Lugano showing Melide, Campione and Lugano, taken from the Sighignola on 11 June 2013

The constellation of Orion above the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, Sea of fog above the alpine foothills, with Mount Pilatus and the Rigi, taken from the Männlichen on 31 January 2011 taken from the Säntis on 24 November 2011

Creux du Van, taken on 20 November 2011 St. Moritz, Celerina and Samedan, taken from Muottas Muragl on 9 February 2013 8 Focus

How foreigners gave Switzerland impetus Switzerland in the 19th century was a country undergoing transformation politically, intellectually and economically. However, it was not its own impetus that accounted for the change in mood. As well as established Swiss figures, a large number of foreigners, immigrants and refugees were ­involved in this new beginning that enabled Switzerland to make significant progress during this ­crucially important century. By Jürg Müller

“Those who have got on the wrong side of the Swiss people as the pamphlet quoted above percent of professorships were held by Ger- law, embezzled money, cursed their rulers or illustrates. mans, and foreigners occupied all the lectur- been involved in botched plots think to them- Switzerland becoming a place of refuge ing posts at some faculties in Zurich. The selves: It doesn’t matter, I’ll go to Switzerland also led to the first foreign political test of University of Berne even dispatched agents where I’ll be safe; the Swiss are stupid and the Federal Council. The major powers to entice highly qualified academic staff to have pots of money – they’ll look after me. Be- condemned the generous granting of asy- Switzerland from abroad. spectacled doctors with moustaches, goatee- lum to their rebellious citizens. France, The achievements of the Germans – par- bearded communists, literati, writers and Prussia and Austria demanded the hando- ticularly in intellectual life and business – teachers are arriving in their droves along ver of refugees, exerted pressure and even were so highly regarded in Switzerland that with raving-mad propagandists, shoe polishers amassed troops on the border. Military in- a veritable Germanophilia took hold at the from Rome and Vienna, uncouth characters tervention was avoided thanks to mediation end of the 19th century. The admiration for and swift-footed freedom fighters.” by Great Britain and several deportations. German culture was so great that questions (Extract from: “Berns moderne Zeit”, The Federal Council deliberately pursued were raised about Swiss identity. Many Stämpfli Verlag, Berne 2011) a dual strategy: it defended its liberal asy- Swiss people – in complete contrast to the lum laws but conceded to pressure in some above-quoted pamphlet imbued with anti- cases. Refugees were magnanimously taken German feeling that was produced by con- This was the mood at the election campaign in but asylum seekers who were excessively servative factions – were so partial to Teu- in Berne in 1850, which had taken on a new politically active were expelled. tonism that they asked themselves in all tone. Switzerland had been a country of im- seriousness: “Are we Germans?” This was migration since the 15th century, welcoming Pastor Blocher asked: the title of a publication by the leading pub- people from all backgrounds with open “Are we Germans?” licist in the field and pastor Eduard Blocher arms. A good example are the French Prot- Switzerland gained a reputation as an arche- (1870–1942). The grandfather of former estants known as the Huguenots. These re- typical asylum country in the 19th century. Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher la- ligious refugees created significant eco- And it also pursued an extremely liberal im- belled German-speaking Switzerland a Ger- nomic momentum in Switzerland. Many migration policy, which was not to the det- man cultural province. His German roots persecuted immigrants also arrived in the riment of the nation as events illustrated. may have had something to do with this: Ed- post-Napoleonic period of the Restoration The immigrants brought dynamism to the uard’s grandfather, Johann Georg Blocher, from 1815. The failed revolutions of 1848 at republic, and Switzerland was to a large ex- had emigrated to Switzerland from Würt- various places in Europe also drove thou- tent dependent on the influx of well-edu- temberg and was naturalised in the canton sands of political refugees to the emergent cated foreigners in certain areas. This is of Berne in 1861. At the turn of the 20th cen- Swiss federal state founded in the same year. highlighted by a look at the university scene tury there were around three times more This provoked a defensive response from the that was just emerging at the time. Up to 50 Germans living in the city of Zurich, for in- 6 w December 2013 / No. e i ev

ss R Napoleon Friedrich Schiller Heinrich Zschokke Eduard Blocher Photos: donated Swi Author Publisher Pastor 9

The three confederates in the Federal Palace symbolise a Switzerland closed off from the outside world – this does not reflect reality

stance, in percentage terms than there are to the fully assembled Federal Council and land from outside. Every child is never- today. Switzerland of why the nation had reason to theless familiar with their names. The be grateful for imported ideas: “It obtained same cannot be said of Heinrich Zschokke Switzerland – a pan-European the philosophy of mediation from the polit- (1771–1848), who is a little-known figure. phenomenon ical genius of the Frenchman Napoleon, This German from Magdeburg influ- The Swiss economy was more oriented to- which once again made coexistence possible, enced Swiss national identity in many wards international trade at that time than and the play ‘William Tell’ from the poetic ways. A comprehensive biography (Wer- during much of the 20th century. “It was brilliance of Friedrich Schiller, which col- ner Ort: Heinrich Zschokke, Baden 2013) scores of foreign entrepreneurs who began ourfully and vociferously testified to the and an exhibition in Aarau, where he to turn ‘underdeveloped Switzerland’ into a whole world of our glorious past.” worked for many years and obtained citi- modern industrial state,” the economic his- It is not just Switzerland’s federal struc- zenship, have gone some way to raising his torian Tobias Straumann recently explained ture that can be traced back to Napoleon’s profile this year. in a newspaper article. And the Germanist mediation of 1803. The modern system of Edgar Bonjour, one of the old masters and literary scholar Peter von Matt observes: democracy with all its liberties also began to of Swiss historiography, said 60 years ago “Modern political Switzerland, which began emerge during this period. Schiller’s Tell of that the emergence of modern Switzer- with the period under Napoleon, was a pan- 1804 poetically canonised the founding land would not have been possible with- European phenomenon from the outset.” myth in its current famous form. This made out Heinrich Zschokke. Zschokke had an (Quotation from: “Die tintenblauen Eid- a major contribution to enhancing the self- impact in many areas: he was a politician, genossen”, Munich 2001). Even leading Swiss assurance of the emergent nation. The tem- statesman, exponent of the Enlighten- figures in literature were heavily influenced poral concurrence of the German and ment, revolutionary, author, publicist, by foreign authors: without the example set French contributions to Switzerland’s self- philosopher, pedagogue, a member of the

6 by German emigrants, “who expressed their perception may be coincidental but it none- Aargau parliament and the Constitutional political fervour in compelling verse”, writes theless indicates that Switzerland and even Council – and he was highly driven. Ac- von Matt, “there would have been no writer its myths are not home-grown achievements. cording to his biographer Werner Ort, by the name of Gottfried Keller”. Zschokke consciously chose to come to It was also Peter von Matt who, at the mo- Switzerland would not exist without Switzerland after spending a brief period mentous commemorative celebration “200 the German Zschokke in Paris and disappointedly turning his

ss Review December 2013 / No. Years of Modern Switzerland” in Aarau on Napoleon and Schiller were not immi- back on France. He believed that what had

Swi Parlamentsdienste, Bern Photo: 17 January 1998, gave a powerful reminder grants; they shaped the image of Switzer- been “discovered” but had failed in 10 Focus

France was possible in Switzerland, “fast”. They actually lost their positions at railway expert, played a key role in the de- namely the establishment of the postu- the University of Berne in a power strug- sign of the Swiss railway network, which lates of liberty, equality and fraternity. gle with the conservatives. Nevertheless, proved a major factor in the economic up- Besides many other achievements, they made their mark on Swiss political turn. He was commissioned by the Federal Zschokke influenced our view of history thought both legally and philosophically Council to visit Switzerland in 1850 and sub- for generations. His historical work, “Des as university lecturers. sequently put forward a line management Schweizerlands Geschichte für das Sch- blueprint. The essence of his proposal was weizervolk” (Swiss History for the Swiss A revolutionary from Dresden to create a great cross-shaped railway sys- People) of 1822, served as the basis for the built Zurich’s skyline tem stretching from Lake Geneva to Lake teaching of history in Swiss schools until Foreigners in Switzerland were also able to Constance and from Basel to Lucerne with into the 20th century. Incidentally, Hein- shape the universities externally, as illus- Olten as the crossover point. Stephenson rich Zschokke’s work was published by trated by Gottfried Semper (1803–1879), thus provided the impetus for integrated Heinrich Remigius Sauerländer from originally Danish, later German and from railway construction in Switzerland, which Frankfurt am Main (1776–1847), the 1861 a citizen of Affoltern am Albis (Zurich). began in the mid-1850s. founder of the eponymous publishing Zurich has him to thank for a defining fea- house in Aarau. Sauerländer was also one ture of its cityscape, namely the present-day Immigrants proved of the key figures in the establishment of main building of the Federal Institute of visionary entrepreneurs modern Switzerland with his publishing Technology (ETH), which sits imposingly The extent to which the development and activities. He was also President of the high above the historical city centre. Archi- essence of the Swiss economy in the 19th Aargau Society for Swiss Culture. tect Semper was also a rebellious figure who century can be attributed to foreign ex- had to leave Dresden – where he built the fa- pertise is highlighted by a particular type The Snells influenced mous Semper opera house – due to his rev- of immigrant – the technically skilled and Swiss political thought olutionary activities. In Switzerland, he de- often visionary entrepreneur. There were The publishing houses and newspapers signed the observatory in Zurich, the city countless creative-minded immigrants obviously played a major role in the lib- hall in Winterthur and the new steeple in who developed into entrepreneurs, estab- eral transformation, among them the Affoltern, which earned him citizenship lishing Switzerland as a modern industrial “Neue Zürcher Zeitung”, which ex- there. He also impressed the Federal Coun- nation. Some of these entrepreneurs laid pounded liberal opinion and campaign is- cil, who bestowed a life-time professorship the foundations for world-famous corpo- sues. It and other newspapers gave col- upon Semper. rations. These included Heinrich Nestle umns to political refugees from (1814–1890) from Frankfurt am Main, neighbouring countries. These included A Briton played a key role who later called himself Henri Nestlé. He Ludwig Snell (1785–1854) and his brother in railway line management had ended up as a journeyman by Lake Wilhelm (1789–1851). The two brothers Switzerland’s growing industrial sector also Geneva, where he passed his qualifying from Hesse were among Switzerland’s looked for specialists and tradespersons examination as a chemist’s assistant, be- most influential constitutional theorists abroad. This was essentially because they fore ultimately founding Switzerland’s and exercised major influence over the possessed technical abilities that the local largest industrial company today and the liberal-radical movement. Wilhelm Snell population could often not yet offer. The biggest food production group in the was the founding rector of the University great Gotthard (1872), Simplon (1898) and world. of Berne, while Ludwig was its first pro- Lötschberg (1907) railway tunnels were Together with Charles Brown, Walter fessor of political science. The two broth- mainly constructed by foreigners in the sec- Boveri (1865–1924) from Bamberg ers, who adopted a radical approach to ond half of the 19th century. founded Brown Boveri AG, which is to- politics, soon became commonly known The Englishman Robert Stephenson day known as ABB and is a leading com- as “the Snells”, from the German word for (1803–1859), an internationally sought-after pany in energy and automation technol- 6

ss Review December 2013 / No. Gottfried Semper Robert Stephenson Heinrich Nestle Alexander Clavel Charles Brown Swi Photos: donated, Photopress donated, Photos: Architect Railway engineer Pharmacist’s assistant Silk dyer Machinery designer 11

Dominating Zurich’s skyline: the main building of the Federal Institute of Technology designed by Gottfried Semper, who was expelled from Dresden

ogy. Ciba, one of the companies that specialities using malt as a carrier for me- Vienna”, as the pamphlet quoted above preceded Novartis – the second-largest dicinal substances. Together with his son from 1850 would have us believe. They pharmaceutical group in the world – in Albert, he created Ovomaltine, which en- comprised many people to whom Switzer- Basel can trace its origins to Alexander sured the commercial breakthrough for land has reason to be extremely grateful. Clavel (1805–1873) from Lyon. Clavel was the company Wander. The company to- In the period of industrialisation, Swit- Switzerland’s first and leading manufac- day belongs to Associated British Food. zerland did not just benefit from immig- turer of aniline inks at his laboratory in Even in the entertainment industry, a rant pioneers but also made significant Basel. foreign company set the standard in Swit- use of foreign expertise in general. “In the The traditional Swiss drink Ovomalt- zerland in the 19th century. The “Swiss leading sectors of industrialisation, the ine was also inspired by a foreigner. The National Circus of the Knie Brothers” textile industry, railway construction and chemist Georg Wander (1841–1897) was traces its origins back to an Austro-Hun- electrical engineering, Switzerland pro- brought to the University of Berne from garian family of artists and was therefore ved innovative insofar as it adopted me- Germany. He founded his own laboratory originally not as national as its current ti- thods and processes developed in other in Berne’s historic city centre where he tle suggests. The patriarch Friedrich Knie countries and cleverly adapted them to succeeded in developing pharmaceutical (1784–1850) founded his own troupe of new requirements,” explains the “Histo- artists in 1806. The circus regularly rical Lexicon of Switzerland” in rather visited Switzerland from 1814 before understated terms. The printing entre- finally choosing Rapperswil on Lake preneur Adelrich Benziger (1833–1896) Zurich as its base for the winter sea- from Einsiedeln made the point more son in 1919. forcefully at the Swiss Patent Congress of 1882, where he is credited with saying: Switzerland conducted innovative “Our industry has only reached its current technology transfer stage of development because it has used So, the influx of people into Switzer- other countries – if that is theft, then we land included far more than just prof- are all industrial thieves.” iteers, “bespectacled doctors with moustaches”, “goatee-bearded com-

Walter Boveri Georg Wander munists”, “raving-mad propagandists” Mechanical engineer Chemist and “shoe polishers from Rome and Jürg Müller is an editor with the “Swiss Review” “Swiss Review” as an e-paper. Anytime and anywhere: focusing on news about Switzerland

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If you would like to receive “Swiss Review” only as an e-paper via the app in future, you can inform the consulate where you are registered or make the necessary changes yourself at www.swissabroad.ch. Contact the FDFA helpline if you have any questions about delivery of “Swiss Review” on +41 800 24-7-365 or [email protected] Politics 13

An infant’s cry that has never fallen silent The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SP) celebrated its 125-year anniversary in October. What has social democracy achieved in Switzerland and are the party’s policies at the time of its foundation still relevant today? An analysis by Hans Ulrich Jost, a pro- fessor of history

“The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland, which was baptised as the liberals were in 1848. It fought for political change, a social last Sunday, could not have begun life with a more delightful infant’s state and restraints on capitalism. A solution along the lines of that cry,” wrote the NZZ on 29 October 1888. The “delightful” was, how- in Sweden would have been possible after the First World War had ever, meant ironically as the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” bemoaned the it not been for the militant anti-socialist position of the right-wing lack of commitment to the army in the SP’s policy agenda. The news- parties. paper continued: “What right does such a party have to call itself Swiss?” The gross errors The SP was effectively ostracised, vilified and monitored by the po- The SP has not been a workers’ party for quite some time. Public of- litical police. This nevertheless failed to halt its growth. It was actu- ficials and teachers, for example, have played a significant role since ally the strongest party in the National Council from 1935 to 1943 as far back as the end of the First World War. Ernst Nobs, who was and during the 1960s and 1970s. However, faced with the block of elected as the first SP Federal Councillor in 1943, was a teacher and conservative parties it always remained in the minority and never a journalist. However, it should not be assumed that a membership obtained more than 30 percent of the vote. The SP has reluctantly extending into the conservative centre ground automatically means become accustomed to the role of an unloved junior partner of the the end of socialist ideals. conservative parties. The “magic formula” was famously introduced in 1959. This meant two seats each on the Federal Council for the liberals, the CVP and Its good deeds the SP and one for the SVP. There is actually little that is magical Despite its minority position and the defeats in referendum campaigns, about it. The CVP, which presented this solution at the time, was some of its ideas have gained acceptance. These include the system of primarily focusing on breaking the liberals’ monopoly on power. Two proportional representation, the right to vote for women, old-age and socialists were accepted in return, albeit only candidates acceptable survivors’ insurance (AHV) and accession to the UN – these were key to the conservatives. policies of the Social Democrats long before the conservative major- People may refuse to believe it but the SP has stabilised the gov- ity came around to them. There have also been times when the SP’s ernment coalition over the past fifty years and has defended the fed- position has been of monumental importance to Switzerland’s destiny. eral state of 1848. It took Article 2 of the Federal Constitution seri- One such occasion was in 1935 when it helped to defeat the initiative ously. This says that federal government shall “promote common for the complete revision of the federal constitution. The fascist fac- welfare” and “ensure the greatest possible equality of opportunity tions, the Catholic Conservatives (today the CVP), parts of the BGB among its citizens”. There is no talk of “more freedom, less state” – (today the SVP) and some Young Liberals were behind the initiative. the slogan of the liberals since the 1980s. Adoption would have resulted in an authoritarian corporative state, The SP has, of course, also committed gross errors. To give just one moving Switzerland towards the fascist camp. example, when it adopted the three-pillar principle in the 1970s, it In relation to the current difficulties being experienced by the helped the financial sector to get its clutches on old-age pensions. Not Swiss financial centre, it should also be remembered that the bank- only did this prevent the extension of old-age and survivors’ insurance ing initiative launched by the SP in 1979 would have saved Switzer- advocated by SP Federal Councillor Hans-Peter Tschudi, it also put land much anguish had it been adopted. This provided for the rescis- the accrued capital of those insured under the second pillar at the dis- sion of banking confidentiality in cases of tax evasion and tighter posal of the banks and stock markets. In light of the moral and mate- controls over the financial centre. As a result of a large-scale cam- rial decline of the financial markets, this is anything but reassuring. paign of intimidation by the banks and conservative parties, the Swiss people rejected the initiative by a large majority in 1984. Embracing its heritage The SP long perceived itself as a “revolutionary” party – but not, The SP launched its first initiative – the right to work – in 1893. This as Robert Grimm underlined in the National Council in 1918, in the sought to give employment the same status as much-revered private sense of seeking a pitchfork revolt. Yet Grimm, the instigator of the ownership in the constitution. The initiative was resoundingly de- national strike in 1918 and the party’s intellectual leader, loved ex- feated at referendum. However, the principle of work before capital

6 pressions like “class war” and “dictatorship of the proletariat”. The addressed at the time is still extremely relevant today. If the SP does fact that the conservatives also fought with the gloves off during the not want to lose its soul, it must continue this fight. The protection industrial disputes at the beginning of the 20th century should not of employment and of the people who depend on it from the caprices be overlooked either. The entrepreneurs fought a “class war from of the capitalist economy is not just a question of material prosper- above” supported by the state, which willingly deployed the police ity. It is a question of the survival of democracy. force and the army.

ss Review December 2013 / No. A lot of nonsense has been written about the SP’s revolutionary Hans Ulrich Jost is a professor emeritus of history in Lausanne. His arti-

Swi potential. The SP was at most as revolutionary in the 20th century cle first appeared in the “Wochenzeitung”. 14 Politics

Immigration initiative opposes free movement of persons The Swiss people will once again vote on the thorny issue of what level of immigration Switzerland can sustain. A referendum will be held on the “Against mass immigration” initiative on 9 February 2014. Experts in constitu- tional law have issued warnings, and the business community is on edge. By Marc Lettau

Shadowy figures in black boots trample over There is much anxiety, with experts in con- cally curb immigration for environmental a red carpet symbolising Switzerland. This stitutional law warning that the rescission reasons and to restructure development aid. is the kind of image that the Swiss People’s of the free movement of persons will put Ecopop is calling for 10 percent of state de- Party (SVP) is using to fight immigration. the entire set of bilateral agreements nego- velopment aid to be used for birth control in It claims that immigrants are putting pres- tiated with the EU in jeopardy, much to the developing countries in order to stem popu- sure on the social security and healthcare detriment of Switzerland and its economy. lation growth. systems, making habitable space scarce and The referendum campaign being run by the A new development has also emerged in expensive, and causing overcrowding in pris- opposing committees is therefore primar- the debate over the free movement of per- ons. The “Against mass immigration” initi- ily focusing on highlighting the fundamen- sons – this concerns Croatia, which has been ative does not provide any figures for how tal importance of the “Bilaterals” to “Swit- an EU Member State since 2013. Right-wing much immigration Switzerland can sustain. zerland’s model of success” and its and conservative groups have already called It calls for controls on immigration by prosperity. a referendum against the forthcoming ex- means of quotas set annually and demands tension of the free movement of persons to that these figures be made dependent on the The next challenges Croatia. The Swiss people also look set to nation’s economic interests. Further challenges concerning immigration have the final say on this issue. The explosive element of the initiative is and the free movement of persons are al- www.masseneinwanderung.ch that it aims to prohibit international agree- ready on the horizon. The Ecopop society’s http://bilaterale.ch/ ments that stand in the way of such immi- initiative is pending. This is seeking to radi- www.ecopop.ch gration control. In specific terms, this means that those behind the initiative are seeking to end the free movement of persons accord with the European Union (EU). They are particularly critical of the fact that immigrants from the EU do not have to leave if they lose their jobs but are instead entitled to Swiss social security benefits. Their verdict is: “Only those wishing to harm Switzerland can support the free movement of persons.” The initiative combines concerns over im- migration-related “density stress” with la- Masseneinwanderung stoppen!

tent EU scepticism. This is no one-off. In PC 60-167674-9 the past, it was guest workers from the south Five “no” votes in succession who caused fears over competition, whereas today it is highly qualified specialists from Five popular initiatives of 300,000 foreigners, was rejected with 67 the EU provoking anxiety in some quarters. aiming to reduce the was rejected by the percent opposed to it. According to the political scientist Michael number of foreigners liv- Swiss people with 54 An initiative that sought Herrmann, this new competition means ing in Switzerland have percent voting “no”. The to restrict the propor- that criticism of immigration is being voiced gone to referendum National Action’s (NA) tion of foreigners to 18 by social milieus previously regarded as ex- since 1970. The first was excessive immigration percent was defeated in tremely “receptive to a policy of openness” – the initiative submitted initiative of 1974 was 2000 with 64 percent by James Schwarzen- defeated with 66 percent against it.

6 scepticism over immigration is currently in vogue among higher earners and the better bach, a right-wing popu- voting against it. 70 per- 1.86 million foreigners educated. list, in 1970. The pro- cent of the Swiss people live in Switzerland to- The Federal Council and a clear major- posal, which sought to opposed the revised ver- day. They make up 23.2 ity of members of parliament oppose the restrict the proportion sion of the initiative in percent of the total resi- SVP initiative. They are supported by all of foreigners to 10 per- 1977. In 1988, the NA’s dent population. Two cent and would have re- “In favour of limits on thirds of them come

ss Review December 2013 / No. the major business federations. These are

Swi donated Foto: vehemently opposed to the initiative. sulted in the expulsion immigration” initiative from the EU. (mul) 15

The people reject proposals from endum campaign. The SVP was seeking tax breaks for families who look after their the left and right children themselves. It argued that this On 24 November the “1:12 – For fair pay” popular initiative suffered an emphatic was only fair as parents who send their defeat. Rejected were also the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) family initiative and the children to crèches can claim tax allow- proposed price increase for the motorway tax disc. ances. Opponents of the proposal criti- By Jürg Müller cised tax breaks for “traditional” families with a stay-at-home mum looking after the The fierce referendum campaign and the percent of the electorate voting against it. The children because no costs are incurred. high turnout of over 53 percent were clear initiative’s opponents had conceded during There were also warnings of huge tax def- indications that Swiss people took a strong the referendum campaign that million-franc icits from various quarters. 58.5 percent of interest in the issues put to the vote on 24 salaries were unjustified, but had argued that the electorate rejected the conservative November. Few people are apathetic about the initiative represented an excessive in- popular initiative. salary and wealth-distribution issues, fam- fringement of economic freedom. The pro- Rather surprisingly, the price increase ily and tax matters and a more expensive mo- posal had triggered widespread debate about for the motorway tax disc from 40 to 100 torway tax disc. However, not one of the fair salaries, but the group behind it shot itself Swiss francs a year also failed to gain ac- three proposals was successful. in the foot with its radicalism. Fears over neg- ceptance and was rejected by 60.5 percent The Young Socialists’ 1:12 initiative sought ative repercussions for the economy saw it de- of voters. This is presumably primarily be- to enshrine in the constitution the principle feated. The debate will nevertheless continue. cause the proposal put forward by the Fed- that the highest salary should not exceed the Those on the left have two further initiatives eral Council and Parliament was opposed lowest at the same company by more than a in the pipeline concerning wealth-distribu- by two camps with different motives. Au- factor of twelve. The proposal addressed a tion issues – the minimum wage initiative and tomobile associations and the SVP argued major issue of the times – the disapproval of the inheritance tax initiative. that the fiscal authorities already charge the million-franc salaries received by top motorists enough. The Greens, Green Lib- management. However, the frontal attack on No tax allowances for looking after erals and some members of the Social the wage packets of bosses failed in contrast your own children Democratic Party (SP) opposed the initi- to the fat-cat initiative in March. The initia- The SVP family initiative sparked a fierce ative to prevent further expansion of the tive was resoundingly defeated, with over 65 row over family models during the refer- road network.

Further proposals going to referendum on 9 February 2014

FABI will regulate railway financing However, the financial impact on roads will not be greater than The Swiss love their railways – in 2012 they travelled 2,274 kilo- at present – on the contrary, some of the fuel duties will be re- metres by train on average, more than anyone else in the world. turned to the roads. The public transport system is constantly being expanded. The In a rare show of unanimity, the proposal is supported by vir- Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world, is tually all parties and associations, even the Touring Club (TCS). set to be connected to the network by the end of 2016. The cost However, this organisation is calling for a similar financing solu- of maintaining the growing infrastructure and the additional ex- tion for the road infrastructure. The public transport-oriented pansion nevertheless has to be met. A further milestone in Swiss Swiss Transport Club (VCS) had exerted pressure with an initia- railway history is about to be set: the Swiss people will vote on tive along the lines of the FABI proposal and has now withdrawn the proposal for the financing and expansion of rail infrastruc- its popular initiative. ture (FABI). The operation, maintenance and expansion of the railways are Meeting abortion costs independently to be financed by a single new railway infrastructure fund (BIF). The “funding of abortion is a private matter” popular initiative The existing resources from the fixed-term FinöV fund (kilome- launched by religious and political groups on the right will also tre-based heavy goods vehicle duty, fuel duty and VAT) are to be be decided at referendum. This aims to stop mandatory health in- transferred to the permanent BIF. There will also be other sources surance having to cover abortion costs. However, it is precisely of financing: the railway companies will pay higher charges for this issue that was expressly decided upon in 2002 with the ac- 6 using the network, ticket and rail card prices will rise, the travel ceptance of the “first-trimester rule”. The initiative’s opponents cost allowance for direct federal taxation will be limited to 3,000 are calling this a direct attack on the achievements of the “first- Swiss francs, the cantons will make a capital contribution of 500 trimester rule”. Adoption of the initiative would jeopardise ac- million Swiss francs and federal government will also increase its cess to abortion for socially disadvantaged women, in turn result- contribution. A VAT per mille will additionally be levied for a lim- ing in more unsafe abortions. Supporters contend that pregnancy ited period. FABI will at the same time ensure the expansion of is not an illness and that abortion costs should not therefore be ss Review December 2013 / No.

Swi the railway network by 2025 at a cost of 6.4 billion Swiss francs. met by health insurance. (JM) 16 Society

“Only a long-term approach will secure our future” Swiss agronomist Hans Rudolf Herren has been presented with the “Right Livelihood Award 2013”. Herren is one of the world’s leading experts in sustainable agriculture and is credited with saving the lives of 20 million people. He believes the award represents a major affirmation of his vision. Interview: Barbara Engel

swiss review: How did you react to the tinent was not an option and we knew that rather than just tackling them from the news that you would receive the “Right Liveli- the cultivation of a resistant plant would bottom up. hood Award”? take at least ten years, so we looked for a bi- hans rudolf herren: It is a wonder- ological method. You now run the Millennium Institute in ful feeling and a great honour to receive such Washington. Does that enable you to bring an award. And the knock-on effect is that How did you go about that? about a top-down approach? the award gives us the opportunity to fund We quickly established that the mealy- The institute focuses on training people a project that we might otherwise have been bug had been introduced from other re- from both civil society and government to unable to afford. gions of the world and had no natural ene- think systematically. We therefore have the mies in Africa. So we focused on identifying opportunity to address matters from the top What kind of project is that? where the mealybug had come from. First down. It’s a joint project between the Millen- of all, we found a “cousin” in Surinam. We nium Institute and the Biovision Founda- then pinpointed five regions between Mex- What does thinking systematically entail? tion called “Changing Course in Agricul- ico and Paraguay. There we eventually We make people aware that everything in ture” and is based on the UN’s 2008 World found a field containing mealybugs, albeit the world is interconnected and that every Agriculture Report. The primary aim is to in very small numbers because natural en- action has a reaction. This may happen im- promote production by small-scale farmers emies existed in this region. We trans- mediately or with a delay. We develop sys- based on eco-friendly principles. We bring ported species that could potentially act as tem models in which actions and reactions all the stakeholders together and analyse the control agents to a quarantine unit in the are presented. An example of systematic agricultural and food production systems of UK and tested them on cassava plants from thinking that many people are familiar with countries or regions and identify where Africa. After six months or so it emerged is the computer game SimCity. My back- problems lie. The people then define their that one of these species, the ichneumon objectives, and we assist them with the se- wasp, was an efficient control agent that re- lection of measures. produced easily and was well suited to the

environment. We bred the ichneumon Hans Rudolf Herren was born in 1947. Did you have a clear idea about the career wasp in large numbers and dropped them His parents lived in Vouvry in Lower you wanted to pursue when you were study- from aeroplanes over the infected regions Valais where his father managed a ing at the Federal Institute of Technology in Africa. The problem was resolved within tobacco plantation. Herren attended a year and a half. grammar school in Berne and later (ETH)? studied agronomy at the Federal In- No, many opportunities have arisen and stitute of Technology (ETH) in Zu- developed along the way. Which field are you working in today? rich and at Berkeley (California). The emphasis of my work has shifted and When he is not away on business, he I now focus on development policy. My now lives between San Francisco and There is a book entitled: “How Hans Rudolf Sacramento in California, which is Herren Saved the Lives of 20 Million People”. path to becoming an expert in development where his wife comes from. How did you save millions of lives? policy also began in Africa. I carried out In 1979, Herren went to Nigeria to I would firstly like to point out that I scientific work and later led projects and, work for the International Institute didn’t achieve that on my own. Working as Head of the Insect Research Institute in of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). He achieved significant research success with a team, I was able to combat an insect Nairobi, managed programmes like the one in combating pests by natural means. that threatened cassava, the staple food of against the mealybug in the cassava fields. In 1995 Herren received the 200 million people in Africa. The insect, the I did that for ten years and realised that World Food Prize. The prize money enabled him to found Biovision – a

6 mealybug, first appeared in the Congo in conducting good research was not enough. foundation for eco-friendly develop- 1974. It quickly spread across Africa and had The research results also have to be put into ment – in 1998. This aims to sus- reached Senegal, in the far west of the con- practice, and that requires a positive envi- tainably improve the lives of people tinent, after three years and had appeared ronment. By that I essentially mean the po- in Africa and to sustain nature as in Maputo in Mozambique within another litical environment. The brakes are con- the basis of all life. The foundation is headquartered in Zurich. two years. The cassava fields affected were stantly being applied, and we lag behind the Herren has been President of the

ss Review December 2013 / No. completely destroyed within a year. Chem- latest findings. I therefore sought a way of Millennium Institute in Washington

Swi Keystone Foto: ical treatment across almost the entire con- approaching issues from the top down since 2005. (BE) 17

ground as an ecologist is very important as achieved using Ghana as an example. We The global population is set to reach some nine there are often very direct reactions to developed a model in which the eight goals billion by 2050 according to the latest estimates. changes in nature. could be simulated. It quickly emerged that Can our planet provide enough food for so broad planning could save lots of money many people? You are often also described as an expert in and enable the goals to be attained more ef- Yes, it can and could even do so today. We sustainability. What is sustainability ex- fectively. currently produce 4,600 calories per per- actly? son per day, which is twice as much as we Anything left in a state that is the same as What do you mean by broad planning? need. The problem is that the right food- or better than when you first encountered it In specific terms, this means the minis- stuffs are not being produced and are being is said to be sustainable. For example, you tries, those, say, of health, the environment grown in the wrong places by the wrong can measure the nutrients in the ground in and agriculture, planning together rather people. We must seek to establish how we a field. If there are as many or more nutri- than each ministry formulating plans and can produce food differently, more diver- ents after a cultivation cycle without the use projects for its own particular area. Our sely and more in line with local require- of fertiliser, then the production is sustain- model allows the countries to assess each ments. In the USA and Europe in particu- able. The nutrient or calorie balance must year whether they have attained the annual lar, we have excess production supported therefore be neutral or positive. We are cur- targets and, if not, which factors have re- by many subsidies which is then exported, rently a long way off achieving that in global sulted in failure to do so. However, this has making survival impossible for farmers in terms. so far only been used in a very small num- the southern countries because they have ber of countries, such as Mali and Mozam- no chance against subsidised products. We There was a mood of optimism when the UN’s bique. will only be able to feed the global popula- Millennium Development Goals (MDG) tion in the future if we ensure more and were set out in 2000. Little of that optimism Achieving the goals worldwide primarily de- better production – in other words by ad- remains. What has gone wrong? pends on the willingness of the large nations to opting a sustainable approach – in the The major error was a lack of proper cooperate. What is their attitude? countries where people actually live, such planning. The UN also realised this after There is a general understanding that as in Africa. a few years. And this is where the Millen- change is needed, but it is taking a long time nium Institute in Washington now comes to develop the specific measures. However, Are you also involved with projects in Switzer- into play, as a small NGO and not a UN de- the Millennium Institute does not produce land? partment. We were tasked by the UN with reviews or reports on countries. We train The Millennium Institute developed a assessing how the MDG could best be people, including government representa- model for the Federal Office for Agriculture tives, so that they can that is being used to define Swiss Agricul- decide for themselves ture 2050. which is the best or most promising ap- You have reached retirement age, but you are proach to adopt. We still working. Are there particular objectives provide them with that you would still like to achieve? the tools. These plan- I would like to drive forward a shift to- ning tools and strate- wards sustainable development goals (SDG). gies have long been We adopt a top-down approach to the Mil- commonplace in in- lennium Development Goals at the Millen- dustry but it is just nium Institute, whereas the Biovision Foun- that governments dation focuses on a bottom-up perspective proceed as though with sustainable development. Combining they only have an ab- these two areas still remains a target, and acus available to this alternative Nobel Prize obviously gives them. Our primary me a new platform and impetus here. I hope objective is to per- I still have a few years in which to bring pol- suade politicians that icies into line with the work being carried a forward-thinking out on the ground. strategy and planning are required rather than just four or five- year plans based on electoral cycles. Only a long-term approach

will secure a future Barbara Engel is the editor-in-chief of for all of us. “Swiss Review” 18 Sport

Elite training facilities for sportspeople There are five Swiss Olympic Sport Schools in Switzerland. These offer elite training facilities for young sportspeople with high potential eagerly working towards taking part in Olympic Games and swotting up on school subjects at the same time. A visit to the sport school in Engelberg reveals how the young people cope with a 60-hour week. By Reto Wissmann

Booming drum & bass music blasts out of at the end of January whether he will be go- kil Läubli, director of the sport school. Such the loudspeakers. Boys in baggy gym shorts ing to Sochi. establishments would be state-funded as a and cool caps are nonchalantly pedalling In any case, Jonas Bösiger will be doing matter of course in Austria. However, in away on training equipment or balancing on lots of travelling before then. Training Switzerland people baulk at the idea of sys- the slackline. But the relaxed atmosphere is camps, competitions and sponsorship com- tematic training for children as young as six deceptive. Hard work is being put in here. mitments will take the teenager all over the or seven. The fast rhythms are part of the plan. All world. He has only spent 16 days at school But Eskil Läubli is not complaining. The the youngsters have their own individual since the summer holidays. Nevertheless, he school founded in 1994 is flourishing, con- training programme beside them. Emerging is not neglecting his studies. “The school- stantly expanding and yet remains far from young stars of the winter sport disciplines leaving diploma is important,” explains the able to offer places to all applicants. And this are trained at the sport school in Engelberg, young elite sportsman. After his exams, he is despite the fact that the parents of the at the foot of the Titlis, where the ski sea- will focus entirely on sport but if nothing young sports stars have to dig deep into their

The sport school in the former sawmill of Head teacher Eskil Läubli The coordination hall where jumps are practised Engelberg­ monastery

son runs from October to June. They are all comes of that he will need a plan B. The own pockets. A study place costs almost talented young athletes who might even Engelberg sport school is providing him 14,000 Swiss francs per year. Further con- compete to win Olympic medals for Swit- with support in that respect. It organises the tributions are made by the pupils’ home can- zerland in Sochi. snowboarder’s hourly, weekly and yearly tons via the funding scheme for highly tal- schedule so that sport and education can be ented individuals. The sizeable training The dream of Sochi combined. costs, standing at 37,000 Swiss francs, are Jonas Bösiger will sit exams for his Swiss ultimately met by additional sponsors. school-leaving diploma shortly but has his Little financial support Exceptional facilities are provided in return: mind on other things at the moment. “I want Engelberg is one of five schools in Switzer- the so-called “powerhouse”, the former saw- to compete with the best in the world,” says land to have been awarded the label of mill of the Benedictine monastery in Engel- the 18-year-old snowboarder. He is one of “Swiss Olympic Sport School” (see box). It berg, contains everything that alpine skiers,

6 the Engelberg protégés with hopes of taking offers exceptionally gifted young sportspeo- snowboarders, freeskiers and now also biath- part in the Winter Olympic Games in Feb- ple optimal training conditions while ensur- letes and cross-country skiers require for their ruary. He became Swiss champion last year ing that they also achieve their educational training. In addition to a gymnasium, there in Zermatt, finished third at the junior objectives. These private institutions do not are weights rooms, large trampolines and half- world championships in Turkey this year benefit from this financially. There is no pipes for the “off-snow training” and, of and won the World Rookie Fest Final Slope- money from Swiss Olympic. “Switzerland is course, a physiotherapy suite. 34 teachers and

ss Review December 2013 / No. style in Ischgl, Austria. There are still a few very different in this respect from a winter trainers focus on the 82 pupils virtually

Swi donated Fotos: qualifying events to go before he finds out sports-mad nation like Austria,” reveals Es- around the clock. In order to keep up, the 19

youngsters also receive individual tuition in have already achieved that goal. The alpine mance level slips, he says. Some pupils might addition to lessons in small classes. They can skiers Dominique Gisin, Silvan Zurbriggen, find this very traumatic. The school never- even do their school work in a training facil- Wendy Holdener and Fränzi Aufdenblatten, theless helps them to deal with such situa- ity on the other side of the world thanks to an the freeskier Jonas Hunziker and the ski- tions. “Even though the pupils here live un- electronic learning platform. crosser Sanna Lüdi are just some of the der exceptional circumstances, they are alumni of this sport school in central Swit- definitely well prepared for life after school,” Rigorous selection zerland. The elite freeskiers Kai Mahler and remarks Eskil Läubli. The talented young sportspeople are under Fabian Boesch are still at Engelberg. Four years ago, the school set itself the tar- tremendous pressure in some respects. With get of ensuring that at least one pupil quali- lessons, training, exam preparation, equip- Preparation for life fied for the Winter Olympic Games. “If you ment upkeep and self-marketing, many have Is such extreme focus on top-level sporting can dream it – do it!” is the slogan on the to put in a 60-hour week – while going performance actually good for young peo- gymnasium wall. Perhaps Jonas Bösiger or through puberty. Eskil Läubli nevertheless ple aged 13 to 19? Or in attending a sport another talented young athlete will succeed. says that few problems arise. One reason for school like the one in Engelberg, are they However, it might be that Engelberg is not this is the “extremely rigorous selection pro- growing up in a world that bears little rela- represented in Sochi. The sport school will cedure”. The school only accepts those who tion to normal life? Eskil Läubli, who was then set itself a new goal for the next Win- possess the personal, academic and sporting once a skier and trainer himself, does not see ter Games and again work hard to achieve it attributes to deal with such a workload. any issues. Elite sport is a good teacher. The in a relaxed atmosphere. The youngsters are highly motivated: young athletes have quickly learned that no-

“they all ultimately want to be the best in the body will wait for them there and that they Reto wissmann is a freelance journalist living world,” explains Eskil Läubli. Some of them will be told immediately if their perfor- in Biel

Three pupils with genuine hopes of qualification for Sochi: Fabian Boesch in freeskiing, The two freeskiers Kai Mahler and Jonas Hunziker and Jonas Bösinger and Verena Rohrer in snowboard freestyle studying together

Exclusive label

In addition to the one in Engelberg, four other establishments “wall of fame” includes names like Markus Keller and Iouri Pod- have Swiss Olympic Sport School status. The title is bestowed by ladtchikov (snowboarding), Marc Berthod and Tamara Wolf (alpine the umbrella organisation of Switzerland’s sporting associations skiing) and Toni Livers (cross-country). upon schools that combine sport and academic education in an n The Kollegium Brig, a bilingual sport school, accepts gifted art- ideal fashion, employ their own trainers and have boarding facili- ists as well as young elite sporting talent. The sport intake is also ties. dominated by winter disciplines. Around 130 youngsters are cur- rently enrolled. The biathlete Benjamin Wenger, the snowboarder n The High-Alpine Institute Ftan in the Engadine offers such Patricia Kummer and the ski racer Elia Zurbriggen are just some conditions to almost 60 talented youngsters, mainly in snow sport of the school’s alumni. disciplines. The young athletes attend the school from year 7 un- n The Nationale Elitesportschule Thurgau in Kreuzlingen has a 6 o. til they sit exams for a school-leaving diploma in technical, voca- unique role to play among the Swiss Olympic Sport Schools in tional or academic subjects. Dario Cologna, who went to the insti- that it focuses on summer sports, such as athletics, tennis and tute and was crowned Olympic champion in 2010, is a source of swimming. But ice hockey players also find ideal training condi- great pride. tions here. The establishment educates its pupils to the point n At the Swiss Sport-Gymnasium Davos, over 120 young elite where they complete obligatory secondary schooling and then ar- sportspeople attend classes while at the same time striving for ranges an apprenticeship for them or tuition at a school that wiss Review December 2013 / N

S donated Fotos: sporting success. Here, too, the emphasis is on snow sports. The teaches at the next level. 20 sport

New sports at the Olympic Games

Three spectacular disciplines will make their Olympic debut at Sochi: the ski halfpipe and ski and snowboard slopestyle. Swiss athlete Virginie Faivre, world champion in the ski halfpipe, stands a good chance to win a medal. By Alain Wey

What’s new at the Sochi Olympic Games from the snowboarders, skiers found them- in February 2014? A raft of new snow sport selves at home on the halfpipe slopes. “Un- disciplines, including the ski halfpipe and til 2010, there was no Swiss team or official ski and snowboard slopestyle. The course training,” says Christoph Perreten, head of involves a series of jumps over various ob- freestyle skiing at Swiss-Ski. “The ski half- stacles and rails. A jury evaluates the tricks pipe was officially integrated into Swiss-Ski for their difficulty and style. These addi- in May 2011.” tions are sure to get the adrenaline pump- Skier Virginie Faivre, from Vaud, is the ing and make the spectacle even more ex- linchpin of the Swiss team. World cham- citing than usual, especially since pion and winner of the World Cup in 2009 Switzerland has regularly won gold when a and 2013, she also won the World Cup stage new discipline has made its debut at the in the Sochi Olympic halfpipe in February Olympic Games: in Nagano in 1998, snow- 2013. The Olympic team is also likely to in- boarder Gian Simmen won in the halfpipe clude Mirjam Jäger from Zurich, who came and Dominic Andres’ men’s team was tri- fifth in the World Cup in 2013, and Nina umphant in the curling; in Turin in 2006, Ragettli from Grisons, who was sixth in the Tanja Frieden took gold in snowboard cross, New Zealand stage last August. For the and in Vancouver in 2010, Michael Schmid men, Nils Lauper from Berne, Frederick Il- was victorious in ski cross. It remains to be iano from Grisons and Jannic Lerjen from Virginie Faivre, the world champion in halfpipe skiing, in action seen how our athletes will fare in the new Valais could potentially qualify for selec- spectacular sports. tion by Swiss-Olympic. “We will know who has been selected for the Games in January where 12 athletes battle it out. “From that Impetus from the Winter X Games 2014,” says Christoph Perreten. It is possi- point on, anything is possible,” adds Per- The American Winter X Games undoubt- ble to send four athletes for each discipline reten. The Swiss-Ski expert also has his edly leads the way in snow sports, smashing and genre, but no more than 26 all told. eye on two young stars, Joel Gisler (aged Audimat records every year. So it is no sur- And there are five Olympic disciplines in 19) and Fabian Meyer (aged 20), both from prise that the most popular disciplines at the freestyle skiing: mogul skiing, aerial skiing, St. Gallen. American event are usually soon after ad- ski cross, halfpipe and slopestyle. The goal As for ski slopestyle, it has followed a mitted to the Olympic Games. Following on for halfpipe skiers is to reach the final, similar path to the ski halfpipe within

able to participate in the Games in Vancouver, but that didn’t work “I love the Sochi halfpipe!” out. When we heard that Sochi would include the ski halfpipe and Twice world champion and winner ski slopestyle, we almost weren’t expecting it. There had never pre- of the World Cup (in 2009 and viously been a ski halfpipe team in Swiss-Ski. We were completely 2013), Virginie Faivre, aged 31, is independent at the World Cup competitions. Since the announce- one of the favourites for a medal ment of our Olympic status, we’ve had a proper structure, with a in the ski halfpipe at Sochi. She trainer and support from the federation. The Games have always

6 has been skiing since the age of been the stuff that dreams are made of. We’ve been preparing for two, and has been participating in them for two years. But if we get injured, we’ll be watching them halfpipe and slopestyle competitions since 2003. Since 2009, she has from the sofa! been focusing solely on the halfpipe. Tell us about the famous Sochi halfpipe. The Olympic Games – is that a dream come true? I love it! The first time I skied it, I had a big smile on my face. It’s

ss Review December 2013 / No. It is. When the snowboard halfpipe became an Olympic discipline, steep and that suits me well. As I have a small build, I achieve more

Swi donated Foto: we were a bit jealous of the snowboarders. We thought we would be amplitude in this type of halfpipe. 21

Winter X Games, where he secured silver Stoneham (Canada) in January 2013. She by completing his best jump while injured. has a chance to win a medal.” There is also “If he manages to recover from his injury Isabel Derungs from Zurich, who has im- and builds on the good start he had to the proved a lot over the past two years. They season, he has the potential to win a medal,” will definitely be in Sochi provided they are believes Perreten. Laurent de Martin from not injured. Valais, Fabian Bösch from Obwalden and Franco Giovanoli believes that the best Jonas Hunziker from Berne are also on the Swiss male athlete is Pat Burgener from national team. For the women, Eveline Valais. “Unfortunately, he was injured last Bhend from Berne is the only athlete on season and couldn’t participate in most the national team. She was forced to take stages of the World Cup, so he still needs some time out in the second half of last sea- to achieve a good result if Swiss-Olympic son due to an injury. Christoph Perreten are to select him.” Giovanoli also sees Jan sees her in the top five all the same: “She Scherrer from Grisons as a potential qual- could win a medal.” Christoph Perreten is ifier. If the halfpipe heavyweights do not also following the careers of Camillia participate in the slopestyle competition in Berra from Valais and the very young Gi- Sochi, it’s for the simple reason that it takes ulia Tanno from Grisons (born in 1998), place before the halfpipe. For Christian who is starting her first World Cup season. Haller or Iouri Podladtchikov, an injury in And who are Switzerland’s rivals in the slopestyle would prevent them from Sochi? “In the halfpipe and slopestyle, the taking part in the halfpipe competition. United States are the frontrunners,” says “It’s just not worth the risk!,” says Giovanoli. Perreten. The Canadians and French are There are still two competitions that could strong in the halfpipe and the Norwegians lead to Pat Burgener and Jan Scherrer be- are good at slopestyle. New Zealand and ing selected: Copper Mountain in Decem- Australia also have good athletes in both ber and Northstar in January. “The slope- disciplines. style team is still being put together, so we don’t have as many athletes as in the half- Virginie Faivre, the world champion in halfpipe skiing, in action Jumps, tricks and snowboard pipe.” Be that as it may, we are in for an Following in the footsteps of Alpine snow- amazing display: the athletes will risk eve- boarding, halfpipe and snowboard cross, it rything and will treat us to just as many Swiss-Ski. Kai Mahler, born in 1996, is one is now slopestyle’s turn to make its Olym- crazy acrobatic and vertiginous tricks on of the youngest athletes and has the great- pic debut. “We have had a snowboard slope- the jumps as in the halfpipe. est potential among the men. And then style team since the decision was taken in there is Elias Ambühl, born in 1992. They 2011 to make it an Olympic discipline,” says are the driving forces in the team. So far, Franco Giovanoli, head of snowboarding at Kai Mahler has achieved his best results in Swiss-Ski. “In the women’s competition, Big Air. In January 2013, he tore the cruci- the best Swiss athlete is clearly Sina Can- ate ligaments in one of his knees in the drian from Grisons who won silver in Alain Wey is an editor at “Swiss Review”

You must have to be slightly crazy and reckless to launch yourself into a etc. An injury quickly throws you off course. You have to regain con- halfpipe… fidence to get back to the level you were at previously. I’m often asked how I ended up participating in this sport, which demands so much of you. You start out slowly, and gradually you So you haven’t had any new injuries since the 2012-2013 season? build up more and more fluidity, height and amplitude. I had a very If only! I had a serious head injury in March 2012. I had to have good technique in alpine skiing, which was an advantage. Nowa- physiotherapy, I suffered from vertigo and I was unable to ski. I days, halfpipes are huge – six to seven metres in height. Before had to learn again how to turn and jump. It was a bonus to be able

6 launching yourself into big tricks, you have to get used to the curve to start this season, but I had problems with my head until the end o. and get your bearings. A fall is very painful and it’s best not to think of last winter. I almost missed the World Championships in March about it. because I fell on my head again a week earlier. I was going to give up but in the end decided to give it a try. When I was standing on You seemed to hit a slump between 2009 and 2013. the first step of the podium and heard the Swiss national anthem, w December 2013 / N What happened? it was all worth it. You forget the pain when you have moments of

ss Revie I still got onto the podiums, but I was injured several times: a happiness like that. i w Foto: donated Foto: S cracked tibia, concussion, a fractured shoulder blade, broken ribs, www.virginiefaivre.com 22 Culture

An excellent way of encouraging reading The “Schweizerisches Jugendschriftenwerk” (SJW), a Swiss organisation publishing literature for young people that was founded over 80 years ago, still focuses on ensur- ing affordable and attractive literature for young people in multilingual Switzerland. By Charles Linsmayer

Klaus Merz, one of Swiss literature’s living were published. It took another 50 years be- greats, has kept all of the 76 SJW books he fore SJW found the courage to publish was given as a child and, when he picks up crime novels. However, with the help of no. 552, “Mit dem Düsenflugzeug durch die teachers, it succeeded in selling large num- Schallmauer” (An Aeroplane Goes bers of copies. The publishing house em- Through the Sound Barrier), he still recalls ployed illustrators like Gregor Rabinovitch his first middle ear infection when his and Paul Bösch from the outset who were mother forbade him from reading further later followed by well-known artists, such because she feared that his ear drum would as Hans Witzig, Isa Hesse, Alois Carigiet, burst. His colleagues Franz Hohler, Meret Oppenheim and Hanny Fries. The Etienne Barilier and Giovanni Orelli also small volumes are therefore also significant go into raptures when they remember their from an art history perspective. The pro- first encounters with the books of the gramme included texts by Swiss authors – Three examples of books from the SJW’s latest publishing programme “Schweizerisches Jugendschriftenwerk Olga Meyer, Elisabeth Müller and Hans (SJW)”, which also exists in the other na- Zulliger – alongside works by teachers that looked the everyday realities facing the tional languages under the labels of OSL told Swiss history from the pile dwellers to young readership. and ESG. the withdrawal from the Beresina. The situation improved when Heinz Weg- mann, a secondary schoolteacher from Zu- Countering smut and trash Intellectual defence of the nation rich, took over the management of the pub- The organisation was founded in Olten on Four books were published in French for lishing house in 1977. There was even a title 1 July 1931 by a group led by Fritz Brunner, the first time in 1935, and the first titles in on AIDS, sparking angry public protest. a schoolteacher from Zurich, whose mis- Italian and Romansh appeared in 1941. At The comic also became acceptable, and sion was to combat “smutty and trashy lit- the same time, a new initiative was the pub- authors such as Franz Hohler and Niklaus erature”. To counteract “trashy novels” ef- lication of a book , “650 Jahre Eidgenossen- Meienberg were allowed to take a critical fectively, their outward appearance was schaft” (650 Years of the Swiss Confeder- look at Switzerland and its history. A book replicated as far as possible. An edition had ation), in all four national languages. entitled “Drogen? Ich nicht!” (Drugs? Not 32 pages, cost 25 cents and had an illus- 614,900 copies were handed out to Swiss Me!) came out in 1990 and one on sexuality trated colour cover. However, the first 12 children free of charge. After the war, when and contraception in 1992. books were unable to compete with John the intellectual defence of the nation had Kling’s sensational crime novels. In 1932, in had its day, SJW failed to recognise the sign Financial crisis addition to stories for very small children, of the times. The publications did not in- The company ran into difficulties in the a biography of Edison, a report from South clude any political or social topics until well 1990s for financial reasons and because in Africa and a case for the “sleuths’ club” into the 1970s and also practically over- 1990 it had broken away from Pro Juventute,

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«DAS BESTE INTERNAT DER SCHWEIZ» Die Weltwoche 23/2012 der-weg-nach-oben.ch ss Review December 2013 / No. Swi 23

Three examples of books from the SJW’s latest publishing programme

which had been responsible for sales, ware- though it covered a much wider range of in- Margrit Schmid was awarded the Swiss housing and accounting. In 1991, to celebrate terests and target groups and – with its at- Youth Book Prize in 2009 for repositioning “60 years of SJW”, it published 60 new titles tractively presented and modern image - SJW and making it a serious player in Swiss and organised a lavish celebratory event – bore little resemblance to the publishing for young people. this resulted in a dramatic net loss that used unadventurous layout of the editions du-

up all its financial reserves and left the pub- ring the war and post-war period. The fi- CHARLES LINSMAYER is a literary scholar and lishing house in a precarious position. Pro- nancial situation has today been stabilised. journalist in Zurich duction was scaled back massively, and sales fell constantly from 439,158 copies in 1994 to 272,277 in 1999. The new programme The 2013/14 programme in- ten by science journalist und der Fluss” – “La riv- Give up or carry on? cludes 24 new titles. A col- Atlant Bieri and illustrated ière de Julien” by the trio In 2005, it looked as though the foundation lection of stories by Robert by Anna Luchs, and pub- of writers Henriquez-Droz- board would have to wind up the company Walser appropriate for lished in German, French, Bertschy, which combines sooner or later. However, after much delib- young people with original Italian and Romansh. two languages in one edi- eration, a proposal was finally approved to illustrations by Anna Som- There are, of course, also tion, is also intended for continue the publishing house with an at- mer entitled “Der Räuber”, new titles that appear in this target readership. tractive new programme and to introduce published in German, just one language. In Ger- There is plenty more be- measures to modernise the sales system and French and Italian, is the man, Anita Siegfried excit- sides – Daniel Badraun’s reduce costs. most spectacular among ingly continues the “pile “Kinderfest auf dem Weis- This had been strongly advocated by the them. Another classic, dwellers” tradition at SJW senstein” and four filmmaker Margrit Schmid – and a mira- “Der Lebhag”, based on a with “Lelech und Nardu. new titles published in culous turnaround was achieved! With the story by Meinrad Inglin, is Pfahlbauer am Zugersee”; Italian. Only a brief over- unveiling of a series of previously success- available in German, Sabina Altermatt has writ- view is provided here. The ful books and four new titles – including French and Romansh. Na- ten a new crime novel en- full list of publications for one in German, French, Italian, Romansh dine Spengler colourfully titled “Der nächtliche Be- 2013/14 can be found at and English – Margrit Schmid started a illustrated this story about sucher”, which is www.sjw.ch. hedgehogs under threat in enigmatically illustrated The cost of individual

6 new chapter in SJW’s history in 2006. This was a chapter in which the expansion of the their natural habitat, by Adrian Tobler, and Lor- books is CHF 5 to 10. Deliv- sales network was just as important as co- which remains relevant to enz Pauli and Kathrin ery abroad is subject to ad- operation with young authors and various this day. Schärer contribute a gem vance payment of the in- outstanding artists and designers. Just a “Salzkrebschen”, a bril- for small children – “Eine voice sent by the publisher w December 2013 / No. ie

v year later, with 27 new titles in all the nati- liant educational book that schlimme Geschichte” upon order placement. e onal languages, the publishing programme serves as a guide for young about a cat that ends up in iss R

Sw had returned to the scale of the 1990s, amateur breeders, is writ- an eagle owl’s nest. “Lilly 24 Literature

Between two worlds: books and literary figures among the Swiss abroad By Charles Linsmayer

Friedrich Glauser disturbingly saw foreign countries, where he spent half of his life, “ from the bottom”

The now legendary author of “Wachtmeister Studer” (“Thumbprint”) spondent. But he was short of money, so he tried to borrow from his and “Matto regiert” (“In Matto’s Realm”), spent 20 of the 42 years of father in Mannheim who showed him no compassion and had him his life abroad. The first and longest period was 1896 to 1909, his child- taken back to Münsingen. He did not manage to depart again until hood years in Vienna as the son of Swiss grammar school teacher Charles 1936 by which time he had completed “Wachtmeister Studer”, spent Glauser and his Austrian wife Theresia, née Scubitz. His mother died many months in Waldau hospital and finally been declared sound by in 1900, and his father’s new marriage resulted in turmoil. After facing a new warden. He went to Angles near Chartres, accompanied by expulsion from grammar school, Glauser was sent to boarding school the nurse Berthe Bendel, with whom he managed a small farm. Al- in Glarisegg (Thurgau) in 1910. His first period in Switzerland lasted 11 though it was barely tolerable in winter, he wrote some of his best years and saw him thrown out of Glarisegg, continue his schooling in stories here. In February 1937, he headed for La Bernerie in Brittany, Geneva, sit his school-leaving examination, begin a chemistry degree in where he worked on “Der Chinese” (“The Chinaman”), staying un- Zurich, write his first literary works with the Dadaists, come into ruin- til December 1937. He then decided to emigrate to Tunis but lingered ous contact with morphine, become incapacitated (1918) and embark in Marseille, moving to the fishing village of Collioure. In early 1938, on an endless sequence of addiction and treatment for his dependence he arrived completely exhausted in Basel and underwent treatment in Witzwil, Münsingen and Burghölzli (Zurich). In 1921, he fled to Man- for addiction at Friedmatt hospital. nheim, where his father was now living, to join the foreign legion. Nervi, Italy, 8 December 1938 Legionnaire, pot washer and coal miner But he sought to leave Switzerland once again, and in April found ac- His second, gruelling stint abroad lasted four years, initially taking commodation in Nervi near Genoa where he worked on a Swiss novel him as a legionnaire to Sidi Bel-Abbès, Sebdou, Oran and then to for the 1939 Swiss national exhibition. He intended to marry Berthe Gourrama, which provided the title for his novel about the legion in and arranged for all the necessary paperwork to be sent. The wed- 1929. Declared unfit for military service ding was due to take place on 6 Decem- in 1923 due to a heart condition, he ber 1938. However, Glauser collapsed worked as a pot washer in Paris and then unconscious over dinner on the evening as a coal miner in Charleroi. He started before and passed away in the early- taking morphine again and ended up in hours of 8 December. He was cremated an asylum in Tournai from where he was in Nervi but was not laid to rest on for- forced to “return home” in 1925 to be eign soil. His ashes were taken to Zu- placed under the care of the hospital in rich where a sombre funeral service was Münsingen. It took him seven years be- held at Manegg cemetery attended by fore he once again succeeded in escaping Felix Moeschlin, the president of the to France. He was then imprisoned in writers’ society. Witzwil jail, but his stories were now be- On 18 November 1938, three weeks ing published in the “Bund” newspaper before his death, Glauser had written and he was soon working as a gardener’s to the actor Heinrich Gretler: “I don’t assistant in Liestal, Basel and Winter- want to reach the top but instead to lie thur, before falling in love with the low and tramp around this filthy world dancer Trix Gutekunst, finishing Quotation: as inconspicuously as possible. I’ve al- “Gourrama” and obtaining gardening “When my case has been resolved, I’d like to ways been interested in seeing what a qualifications in Oeschberg – all con- work and save for six months. You, too. And country looks like from the bottom. stantly interrupted by relapses into then we’ll go to Paris together. That is my hope. That’s how I’ve always lived and intend

6 drug-taking and courses of treatment. To turn my back on Switzerland. Awful coun- to continue living.” try!” (To Liso Ruckteschell, 20 August 1920, Journalist and farmer in France in “Tagebuch aus dem Irrenhaus” in “Mor- In 1932, he finally managed to travel phium”, Arche-Verlag, Zurich 1980) CHARLES LINSMAYER is a literary scholar with Trix to Paris to work as a corre- and journalist in Zurich w December 2013 / No. evie BibliographY: Glauser’s works are available in

iss R German from Limmat-Verlag and Arche. Details of Sw Foto: donated Foto: translations can be found at http://opac.admin.ch Organisation of the swiss abroad 25

OSA advice Educational and Offers of ASO How and where can Swiss television training advice now Youth Service and radio programmes be received abroad? with educationsuisse OSA offers young Swiss abroad a wide range of opportunities for visiting The programmes of the Swiss Broadcast- The Association promoting Education for Switzerland ing Corporation (SRG SSR) are generally Young Swiss Abroad (AJAS) and education- transmitted via satellite and most are en- suisse, which represents the interests of There are still places available in the crypted. This is because the broadcast Swiss schools abroad, have decided to work following camps: rights for many programmes only apply in more closely together in future and to merge n Winter sports week for adults in Davos: Switzerland and not abroad. The pro- as of 1 January 2014. 29 March to 5 April 2014 grammes of SRF info – the repeats’ chan- Fifty years after its founding, AJAS car- A skiing and snowboarding camp for nel of Swiss television – are broadcast un- ried out a review and came to the conclusion adults aged 18 and over in the famous win- encrypted. These are in-house productions that exploiting synergies with educationsu- ter sports resort of Davos has everything which are not subject to copyright restric- isse would be beneficial to both organisa- that winter sports enthusiasts could ever tions. Reception via satellite is also con- tions. desire. The OSA team will be on hand to fined to Europe and some regions of North For educationsuisse – an association that provide tuition on the slopes, to act as Africa. SRF programmes cannot be re- primarily has experience abroad – the co- guides in the vast ski area and to organise ceived via satellite anywhere in the Amer- operation with AJAS presents important entertainment. icas, in central and southern Africa, Aus- networking opportunities with the educa- n Swiss excursion “Across Switzerland”: tralia, Oceania or Asia. tion system in Switzerland. AJAS’ vast 19 to 26 April 2014 To receive the programmes via satellite, experience in providing advice on educa- On this journey we make a stop wherever in addition to a conventional TV set, you tion, courses and grants to young Swiss there is something of interest to see: The need a satellite dish, a satellite receiver and abroad who wish to continue their educa- Rhine Falls, Lake Lucerne, the irrigation a Sat Access card. This card is required to tion in Switzerland will in future also be channels in the canton of Valais and the Aare decode the programmes. Sat Access cards directly available to pupils at Swiss schools river are examples. Those taking part will can only be issued to Swiss households abroad. discover many cities and regions as well as abroad and to persons residing in Switzer- Switzerland’s transport network. land. Official confirmation, for example Information is available from: from a consulate, that a person is a Swiss cit- Fiona Scheidegger, Director of AJAS Educational offers: izen abroad is not required but this must be [email protected], from 01.01.2014 fiona.scheidegger@ Our offers enable holidays to be combined confirmed by signature when ordering the educationsuisse.ch with learning. Young people who wish to card. Irène Spicher, Director of educationsuisse irene. know more about Switzerland’s educational The application for a Sat Access card can [email protected] institutions receive individual advice on ed- be sent by email or by post to the SRG cus- ucational opportunities. Students can drop tomer service department. The order form in at Swiss universities. Friendly host fami- can be found at www.broadcast.ch. Alter- lies look forward to welcoming visitors from natively, you can register by telephone on Summer camps for abroad. the SRG SSR helpline and receive the form 8 to 14 year olds for signing by post. Offers for young people at The card costs 180 Swiss francs for the Registration process for summer camps www.swisscommunity.org first year and 120 Swiss francs for every year will begin in January 2014 SwissCommunity.org is the platform for after that. Payment can be made with a Swiss abroad run by the Organisation of the credit card or via a bank account in Switzer- The exact details, such as location, date and Swiss Abroad. All offers for young people land. age groups, etc., for the various summer can be found on SwissCommunity. On the Barbara Engel camps run by the Foundation for Young Swiss website, young people report on their expe- Abroad (FYSA) will be published in “Swiss riences, post photos and videos and can ex- Review” from February 2014 and at www. change information with each other.

6 sjas.ch. You will also find the registration o. Order form for Sat Access card at: www. forms there. Anyone requiring an overview Information on the offers for young people broadcast.ch. All technical details can also be of the offers in paper form can order the bro- can also still be found at found on this website. chure from the office from January 2014. www.aso.ch or obtained from: Postal address: SRG SSR, sat access, Postfach Foundation for Young Swiss Abroad (FYSA), Organisation of the Swiss Abroad w December 2013 / N e vi 2015, 8052 Zurich, SWITZERLAND Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Berne, Switzerland Tel.: +41 31 356 61 00

ss Re Helpline: + 41 0848 00 44 22 or Tel. +41 31 356 61 16, Fax +41 31 356 61 01 [email protected]

Swi [email protected] Email: [email protected], www.sjas.ch 26 Organisation of the swiss abroad

Farewell to Rudolf Wyder

after 28 years at the helm of the organisation of the swiss abroad, rudolf wyder will step down from his position at the end of the year and officially enter retirement.

georg stucky, honorary president of osa, takes a look back at these eventful years.

t was 1991, the year before the eea referen- asks astute questions to extract important information dum. The issue was all everyone was talking about. from someone he is speaking to. Ruedi has a good head There were even groans about the scores of readers’ for names and facts. I have often been astonished at how letters in the editorial departments of small local far back he is able to recall the details of negotiations or Inewspapers. And, of course, the meeting of the Executive solutions found and the names of those involved. He Board of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad and the is also extremely accomplished, very much the diplomat Council of the Swiss Abroad by Lake Geneva also focused in this respect too, at expressing himself precisely on the arguments for and against accession to the European and elegantly and is well versed in the art of Economic Area. presenting convincing arguments. His contributions and It was the first time I had attended an OSA congress, and reports make pleasant reading, and his proposals are usu- I attentively observed how masterfully Rudolf Wyder navi- ally approved. gated his way through the Ruedi Wyder the diplo- storm. It was not so much the mat is also a realist. When he EEA but a minor organisa- took up the reins in 1985 in tional matter that provoked Alpenstrasse, there were controversy at the time. Out- around 400,000 Swiss resid- raged participants swarmed ing abroad – today, there are around, gesticulating and ar- over 715,000. It is not just the guing with one another. And constant rise in the number of right in the middle stood our Swiss abroad that presents a Director, calm and composed, major challenge for OSA, so with a facial expression that I too do the changes in the rea- saw many times again later and sons for emigration. The no- which I called his “biting the tion of the Swiss emigrant bullet” expression. Ruedi Wy- setting off for the USA by der called for a break, got reorganised, spoke with those on ship, leaving his homeland behind forever, is long gone. In the the left and right and finally restored peace to the proceed- modern day, emigrants leave Switzerland for educational rea- ings. I was not aware at the time of what had long been obvi- sons, for fixed-term secondments at their employers’ subsid- ous to others – an extremely gifted diplomat was at work. iaries or for a less expensive life in the sun in old age. This Later, as President, I would often benefit from this strength changes the relationships between the Swiss residing abroad. possessed by “my right-hand man”. Interest in existing institutions and Swiss clubs is declining, contact with Swiss who have long lived in a foreign country a memory for fine detail is only sought occasionally – mainly just to take advantage of their experience and network. Diplomats are maligned for being long-winded and ob- Ruedi Wyder recognised this development at an early sessed with protocol when dealing with third parties. In stage and as Director constantly raised the question of this respect, Ruedi is no diplomat although he is fully whether the 750 or so Swiss clubs were sufficient as the basis versed in the rules of etiquette, perhaps due to his hotel for relations. He urged the Executive Board to consider new background in Diemtigtal. Dealing with people in this re- strategies, and the expansion of services was one of his main mote alpine valley, Ruedi presumably learned from a young preoccupations. He also pushed for the election of the Coun-

6 age to adopt a direct and honest approach. In discussions cil of the Swiss Abroad via the Internet. Ruedi will not expe- with close friends and colleagues, he unceremoniously gets rience this innovation as OSA Director but that does not di- to the heart of the matter. But he can also be shrewd and minish his achievements.

Rudolf Wyder with Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin and

ss Review December 2013 / No. Georg Stucky at the 2003 Congress of the Swiss Abroad Swi Fotos: OSA 27

right to vote changes relations the closure of another consulate, I see the “biting the bullet” expression on Ruedi’s face. The arguments, contrary to the The introduction of the right to vote by post in 1992 changed facts, which resulted in the restriction of voluntary old-age relations between the Swiss abroad and Switzerland in two and survivors’ insurance, hit him particularly hard. He dog- ways. On the one hand, the Swiss abroad were able to co-de- gedly opposed this and foresaw the negative consequences. termine Swiss issues, which strengthened their relationship These were clearly illustrated, for example, by the crisis in with their homeland, and, on the other, Switzerland became Argentina ten years ago. Many of the 14,000 Swiss living more aware of the Swiss abroad. This is especially true of the there were badly affected. Ruedi Wyder travelled to Argen- political parties, who suddenly had new potential voters and tina and organised effective support. He also helped man increasingly focused attention on them. After all, 150,000 the emergency hotline in 2004 when the campaign to assist voters – roughly the number registered on the electoral rolls the tsunami victims in East Asia got underway over the – equates to a medium-sized Christmas period. canton, such as Fribourg or In his position as OSA Solothurn. Director, Ruedi Wyder is In 1994, I set the objec- also the head of a “household tive of 100,000 voters regis- full of women”. Men are very tered on the electoral rolls. underrepresented on the Ruedi Wyder told me back OSA team. Managing such a then that I was a dreamer di- team is no easy task. How- vorced from reality as federal ever, the boss involves his government was estimating staff in the processes, sets just 25,000. Ruedi smiles to- them objectives, purpose- day when I remind him of fully assigns them responsi- that. The fact that we actu- bility and is capable of acting ally exceeded my target – very decisively when neces- thanks of course to the tremendous efforts of OSA - is of sary. When the Executive Board once criticised him, say- great satisfaction to us all. ing that staff turnover was too high, he firstly showed – with The Director of OSA has had to perform new tasks and his usual composure – his “biting the bullet” expression. He rise to new challenges in view of the electorate abroad. He then pointed out, backed up of course by figures, that there has taken this on courageously and proactively and has was a “very productive” working environment at Alpen- achieved remarkable success. His persuasive efforts in the strasse 26. On countless occasions during Ruedi’s “reign” Federal Palace and the good relationships he has maintained there were celebrations because one of his staff had given with members of parliament and staff at the federal admin- birth. istration also go a long way towards explaining why the And now two women from his team will succeed him - Swiss schools abroad have not been financially starved, why Sarah Mastantuoni and Ariane Rustichelli. They are as- “Swiss Review” continues to receive federal government suming a wonderful legacy but also a challenging task in funding and why the Swiss Abroad Act is extremely likely many ways. to soon become a reality. Dr Rudolf Wyder would have received a medal abroad. In Switzerland, the gratitude of the republic in spirit must man of the people suffice. We are certainly most grateful to him, and his for- mer president, who would not have achieved half the level Of course, there have been and continue to be disappoint- of efficiency without him, wished to express that here in ments. When, for example, federal government announces writing.

Rudolf Wyder at his last Congress of the Swiss Abroad as OSA Director in Davos in 2013 28 Notes from parliament

Honorary represen­ also provide a link to local Swiss communi- Switzerland’s accession to the Schengen ties abroad and help the Swiss abroad to keep Area in 2008 significantly changed the po- tations: to do or not in touch with one another and with Switzer- sition of the honorary representatives. to do – that is the land. Swiss honorary staff can no longer issue vi- Local Swiss societies are in direct contact sas, for example. The only administrative question with the embassy or consulate general with- task carried out directly for the local Swiss out using the services of the honorary rep- community abroad is the confirmation of In addition to Switzerland’s profes­ resentation. However, they are obviously life certificates for the Swiss old-age and sional representations abroad (such as part of the network of the honorary consuls survivors’ insurance/disability insurance embassies, consulates general, mis­ on a social level. (AHV/IV). All other consular services are sions, cooperation offices of the Swiss In agreement with the representation to provided by the embassy or consulate ge- Agency for Development and Coopera­ which they report, honorary representa- neral. tion SDC etc.), the FDFA also maintains tives can also provide assistance for Swiss The FDFA once again wishes to thank all a network of around 200 honorary rep­ citizens in emergency situations, whether Swiss honorary staff for their invaluable resentations worldwide. due to accidents, illness, theft or arrest. contribution on behalf of Switzerland and They keep the representation informed our citizens abroad. Can honorary consulates issue Swiss pass- about local developments and/or security ports or visas? Can they conduct marriages issues that may affect Swiss citizens abroad Text: Ambassador or legalise documents? These are just a few and may be of interest for the FDFA’s travel Marion Weichelt Krupski (Wellington) and Ambas- of the questions that honorary representa- advice. sador Marcel Stutz (Canberra) tives are often asked. This is continually highlighted at the honorary consul confer- ences – most recently held in Sydney in March 2013. Honorary consuls are always assigned to a Swiss representation and represent the ambassador or consul general. They act as the eyes and ears of the Swiss authorities locally. In this role, they also represent Switzerland at local events, such as national holiday celebrations and other official oc- casions. Honorary representatives maintain a net- work of contacts at local level – in the ad- ministration and in business, cultural, edu- cational and scientific circles. They are in regular contact with the embassy or consu- late general and provide information about opportunities to represent Swiss interests in their geographical sphere of influence. They “Rendez-Vous Bundesplatz” – autumn light show on the façade of the Federal Palace in Berne

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Phone from Switzerland: 0800 24-7-365 www.eda.admin.ch/reisehinweise www.fdfa.admin.ch/itineris Phone from abroad: +41 800 24-7-365 Helpline DFAE: +41 (0)800 24-7-365 E-Mail: [email protected] www.twitter.com/travel_edadfae Skype: helpline-eda

Entering 2014 full of vigour The FDFA’s Consular Directorate wishes all Swiss abroad a wonderful festive season and every success in the New Year, and looks for- ward to working with you in 2014!

Front row, left to right: Markus Natsch, Nelly Gagnaux, Peter Zimmerli Back row, left to right: Thomas Kalau, Gerhard Brügger, Maria-Teresa Minerva, Stephan Winkler

Elections and referenda Important notice Three proposals will be put to the vote on 9 February 2014: Notify your embassy or consulate general of ■ Federal decree of 20 June 2013 on the financing and expansion of the railway infra- your email address and mobile phone num- structure (direct counterproposal to the popular initiative “Für den öffentlichen Verkehr” ber and/or any changes to them. (For public transport) – (see also page 15); Register at www.swissabroad.ch to ensure ■ Popular initiative of 4 July 2011 “Abtreibungsfinanzierung ist Privatsache – Entlastung der you do not miss any communications (“Swiss Krankenversicherung durch Streichung der Kosten des Schwangerschaftsabbruchs aus der obliga- Review”, newsletter from your representa- torischen Grundversicherung” (The funding of abortion is a private matter – relief for health insur- tion, etc.). ance through the removal of abortion costs from mandatory basic insurance) – (see also page 15); The latest “Swiss Review” and previous ■ Popular initiative of 14 February 2012 “Gegen Masseneinwanderung” (Against mass immigra- issues can be read and/or printed out at any tion) – (see also page 14) time at www.revue.ch. “Swiss Review” (and All information on the proposals (voting pamphlet, committees, party statements, “Gazzetta Svizzera” in Italy) is sent to all electronic voting, etc.) can be found at www.ch.ch/abstimmungen. Swiss households abroad registered with an Further referendum dates in 2014: 18 May; 28 September; 30 November. embassy or consulate general free of charge electronically (via email and as an iPad/An- Popular initiatives droid app) or in printed format. No new popular initiatives had been launched since the publication of edition 5/2013 of “Swiss Review” and by the time of going to press for this edition. The list of pending popular initiatives can be found at www.bk.admin.ch > Aktuell > Wahlen und Abstim- mungen > Hängige Volksinitiativen.

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S email: [email protected] 30 Echo

Little gems

Incredible journeys dio books of legends, which the for example. Listening allows Fables, legends and myths are German publishing house “Mi- you to escape like a child into the “family history” of a nation chael John Verlag” has been unfamiliar worlds, not least or country. They are both a producing for six years, provide thanks to the extraordinary commemoration and a founda- a new way of travelling. Forty storytellers. A booklet contain- tion for the present. Stories and CDs have been released to date, ing concise additional informa- legends are told to us as chil- including a double album of sto- tion is enclosed with every au- dren, and then we continually ries and legends from Switzer- dio book. (BE) recount them. Listening to sto- land. These include the Rütli ries and legends is like going on Oath and William Tell, but also ends from the cities of Berne Price: EUR 14.90 per CD. Available from www.stadtsagen.de; journeys and discovering cities, the fable of the glow worms and Zurich alongside those Further information: countries and people. The au- from Ticino. There are also leg- from Brazil and New Zealand, www.john-verlag.de

as part of the “literature se- Stories of Swiss emigration ries”). Ilona Shulman Spaar grew up in Engelberg, in the canton of Ob- Other works by Storni – in walden, studied art history in Basel and then emigrated to Vancou- addition to her love poetry - ver, Canada, seven years ago. There she carried out research into have now finally also been contemporary indigenous art and started a family with a Cana- translated into German. dian. She has now published a highly impressive book on the desti- “Meine Seele hat kein Ge- nies of other Swiss emigrants. schlecht” is the title of the She recounts the stories of emigrants to Canada with historical ac- book published by the literary curacy but also great compassion. These include the marriage be- scholar Hildegard Elisabeth tween a 22-year-old named Ermatinger from Schaffhausen with a Keller. As the sub-title indi- 15-year-old Ojibwa princess Mananowe, whose 30 years of happy cates, the book contains nar- wedlock produced 13 children and saw the professional and politi- Finally available in ratives, columns and provoca- cal rise of this Swiss trapper to the upper echelons of Montreal so- translation tive works. Alfonsina Storni ciety in the 18th century. Another story tells of Felix Schellenberg Alfonsina Storni, the wrote for weekly magazines and his modern “cowboy in Canada” dream. Originally from Hil- daughter of emigrants from and newspapers in Argentina fikon in Zurich, Schellenberg and his wife Jasmin from Basel Ticino, is regarded as one of for around 20 years. She founded the bio-dynamic Demeter Cattle Ranch in 1979 in the the greatest artists of the 20th watched people in the streets wilderness of the Chilcotin Valley in British Columbia. Three gen- century in Latin America and and bars of the city, at social erations live there today. The book is richly illustrated and reveals enjoys legendary status in her events, while flirting, dancing much about the Swiss pioneering spirit in Canada. (SIS) homeland of Argentina. As the tango and at work. She Ilona Schulman Spaar “Swiss Immigration to Canada”; she herself said, she wrote “to was a critical observer, a cam- 240 pages; available from www.amazon.ca; 25 CAD avoid dying”. She took her paigner for women’s liberty, own life in 1938 aged 46. Stor- and she possessed a keen sense ni’s work caused a furore and of humour and a penchant for had a major public impact. irony. All of this makes her Her way of life, a single work highly enjoyable read- mother and the lover of a ing. (BE) married man, shocked soci- ety. (Charles Linsmayer gave Alfonsina Storni “Meine Seele hat kein Geschlecht”, Limmat an account of her life in Verlag Zurich, 320 pages. CHF 44, “Swiss Review” in June 2013, EUR 38

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Bulletins Quotes

Rudolf Friedrich passes away hance sustainable domestic “Nobody is going to gift us anything.” Former Federal Councillor Ru- food production”. Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann on international dolf Friedrich passed away in trade relations after a visit to Brussels. his home town of Winterthur in No new canton of Jura “He who was presented with an ox must give in return a horse.” mid-October at the age of 90. On 24 November 2013, the Chinese proverb Friedrich, a trained lawyer, was people of the canton of Jura and elected to the Federal Council of the Bernese Jura voted on “If you start giving presents, the friendship will soon be over.” as an FDP representative in whether a large canton of Jura French proverb 1982, taking over the Federal should be formed. In the canton Department of Justice and Po- of Jura 77% came out in favour “Some of us are a bit too virtuous. I’m not always.” lice. He was forced to step of the proposal, while 72% in Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard on her party, the CVP, and herself down from office just under the Bernese Jura rejected it. two years later for health rea- The project will not be pursued “The sheep is deemed stupid because it’s dutiful.” Farming adage sons and was succeeded by Fed- as it required the approval of eral Councillor Elisabeth Kopp. both regions. However, the “Darbellay is simply too over-excited, he swings from left-wing populism Throughout his life, Friedrich town of Moutier, which was the to right-wing populism from one week to the next.” voiced his views as a committed only commune in the Bernese Michael Hermann, a political scientist, on the CVP’s Party President citizen on political issues, nota- Jura to approve the project, bly during the referendum cam- may request a change of canton. “I enjoy eating and drinking with the people of Appenzell, paigns over Switzerland’s acces- The contentious issue of the but I enjoy being their compatriot even more.” sion to the UN and EEA. Jura appeared to have been re- President of Switzerland Ueli Maurer at the “500 years of Appenzell solved in 1979 when northern in the Swiss Confederation” anniversary event More and more popular Jura separated from Berne and initiatives formed its own canton – but the “Ultimately, man finds in things nothing but what he himself Increasingly frequent use is be- debate has continued, ulti- has imported into them.” ing made of popular initiatives mately resulting in the referen- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), German philosopher in Switzerland to achieve politi- dum on 24 November. cal objectives. The Swiss people voted on seven initiatives per Against the tax agreement decade on average between with France 1940 and 1970. There were 16 Switzerland’s inheritance tax from 1971 to 1980, 34 between agreement with France has lit- 2001 and 2010, and 11 from Jan- tle prospect of being adopted uary 2010 till now. There are by Parliament. The National currently 34 initiatives pending Council’s Economic Affairs or at the signature-collecting Committee has recommended stage. not entering into it at all by 15 votes to seven with three ab- Several initiatives on stentions. The committee’s ma- agricultural policy jority opinion is that an unreg- The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) ulated situation is preferable to launched a popular initiative at the agreement signed by Fed- “Your memory will live on” – “…for millions of years” the start of November that aims eral Councillor Eveline Wid- to enshrine Switzerland’s level mer-Schlumpf. The Mühleberg nuclear power station will be decommissioned in 2019, according to a surprise announcement by its operator, BKW Energie AG, on 30 October 2013. The of self-sufficiency in the consti- management explained that technical, political and economic factors had led to the tution. Other pending propos- Correction decision. Doubts have long been raised about the safety of the Mühleberg nuclear

6 als concerning agricultural pol- An error was made in the re- power plant due to numerous incidents and emergency shutdowns, and a popular icy include the Young Socialists’ port on the 1:12 initiative in initiative calling for the “immediate decommissioning” of Mühleberg was launched initiative “No speculation with the October issue of “Swiss in the wake of the reactor accident in Fukushima. food”, an initiative from the Review”. Oswald Grübel was The shutdown in 2019 will be followed by a “post-operational phase” during which the highly radioactive waste will be cooled down in cooling installations. It will then Green Party seeking to increase incorrectly referred to as be put into transport and storage containers and taken to an interim storage facility import standards for food and Marcel Ospel in the photo eview December 2013 / No. where the nuclear waste will be prepared over a period of some 35 years for geologi- feedstuffs, and the Swiss Farm- caption. We apologise for this cal disposal. The final repository has yet to be decided upon. There is huge opposi- wiss R Foto: ChappatteFoto: S ers’ Union’s “initiative to en- mistake. tion from the public in regions where geological disposal could potentially take place. Vive l’année nouvelle.

Masks for New Year’s Eve in Urnäsch in the canton of Appenzell (AR) on January 13th, Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein

Long live the New Year with vibrant winter traditions.

Welcoming the New Year In Switzerland many different traditions and customs linked Witches on the slopes to New Year’s Eve and winter are celebrated. They often It’s the maddest ski race of the season. give rise to noisy processions of strange and sometimes Kitted out with their brooms, up to 1,000 terrifying figures, accompanied by the sound of bells or the witches take part in this popular race in cracking of whips. It’s a way of chasing away evil spirits in the Aletsch region. order to start the New Year on the right foot, or to see in the

end of a long winter. MySwitzerland.com, Webcode B39363

“Silvesterchlausen” in Appenzell The spirits of Appenzell At dawn on the 1st or 13th of January, strange figures In addition to the procession of the “Chläuse” dressed in beautiful costumes invade the whole valley of figures through the Urnäsch valley, the Säntis Urnäsch in the canton of Appenzell (AR). “Wüeschte” (ugly region offers a vast array of winter sports, figures), dressed in natural materials, “Schöne” (beautiful from trekking in snow shoes to sleigh rides. figures) and “Schö-Wüeschte” (beautiful ugly figures) ring the small and larger bells that adorn their clothing and go from house to house wishing a happy New Year to the MySwitzerland.com, Webcode B36466 residents within. The valley of the masks The wild ones of Lötschental An introduction to sculpting the wooden The remote valley of Lötschental in Valais has given rise “Tschäggättä” masks is a very original way to to a number of different stories and legends. These are be- round off a stay in Lötschental, the winter hind the custom of the dancing, masked carnival figures, sports paradise in the canton of Valais. the “Tschäggättä”, who make their appearance in the valley

around the time of Candlemas, scaring all those in their MySwitzerland.com, Webcode C28416 path.

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A collaboration between Switzerland Tourism and the Organisation of the Swiss in Erlach in a former convent on Lake Biel. Abroad (OSA)

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126_13e_06_publi_schweizer_revue_6_13.indd 1 21.11.13 16:35