SWISS REVIEW The magazine for the Swiss Abroad August 2016 History at the Gotthard – the opening of the base tunnel A cotton and plastic sandwich – the new CHF 50 banknote Keeping an eye on the surveillance – the Davos-born photographer Jules Spinatsch Switzerland is mobile and Swiss Abroad may be found everywhere on Earth. And you, where are you situated around the globe? And since when? Share your experience and get to know Swiss citizens living nearby… and everywhere else! connects Swiss people across the world > You can also take part in the discussions at SwissCommunity.org > Register now for free and connect with the world SwissCommunity.org is a network set up by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) SwissCommunity-Partner: Contents Editorial 3 Casting your vote – even if it is sometimes a chore 5 Mailbag Hand on heart, did you vote in June? If you did, on how many of the five federal proposals? I tried to form an 6 Focus opinion on all of the initiatives and referenda. I stu­ The tunnel­building nation died the voting documents, read newspapers, watched “Arena” on Swiss television and discussed the issues 10 Economy with family and friends. The new banknotes Admittedly, it was arduous at times: Just the doc­ uments themselves, which included two hefty book­ 12 Politics lets, various information sheets and the ballot papers, namely for the five fed­ Referendum results from 5 June eral proposals – pro public service, unconditional basic income, the milch Proposals for 25 September cow initiative, the amendment to the law on reproductive medicine and an Parmelin’s first few months on the amendment to the Asylum Act – plus, because I live in Baselland, six cantonal Federal Council proposals ranging from supplementary childcare to the “Cantonal parlia­ ment resolution on the implementation of the pension fund law reform for 17 Culture the pension scheme of the University of Basel under the pension fund of the The alphorn in the modern age canton of Basel­Stadt – a partnership­based enterprise”. Finally, the envelope A profile of the photographer Spinatsch also contained three ballot papers from my commune of Schönenbuch. These concerned the re­election of members of the school board, the election office 20 Sport and the president of the communal parliament. That comes to 14 referenda Doping in Switzerland and votes in total. This is a lot. And when I think how the proposals at national level are 22 Literature series stacking up this year, I completely understand why some people opt out. The Hugo Loetscher – the global author of electorate is overburdened at times. Even politically­minded people can­ his generation not have a genuine view on everything. I nevertheless tried to, and voted on 5 June. I hope you did, too. Being able to vote in this way remains a privilege 23 OSA news that is only afforded to a few people. Direct democracy allows us as Swiss to actively participate in current affairs and politics. So, we must not shy away 25 news.admin.ch from the effort required, however great, and should even be grateful from time to time. MARKO LEHTINEN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 28 Images Swiss art at the Kunsthaus Zürich 30 Books Charles Linsmayer 30 Sounds Seven 31 Echo Cover photo: Inside the new Gotthard Base Tunnel (Photo NZZ) Swiss Review / August 2016 / No. 4 International Health Insurance Based on Swiss standards Lifelong private medical treatment Worldwidefreechoiceofdoctorand clinic Furthermore: Internationaldisabilityinsurance Internationalpension fund Individual solutions for: Swiss citizens abroad Expatriates of allnationalities Shorttermassignees /Loca lhire Contactus! Tel: +41 (0)4 3 399 89 89 www.asn.ch ASN,Advisory Services Network AG Bederstrasse 51 CH-8027 Zürich [email protected] MIET-PW, MIET-Camper, MIET-4x4 Be Swiss. Wear it. Show it. 160629_Tdh_AnnLegs_94.5x135mm_ASO.indd 1 6/29/2016 3:17:10 PM Ilgauto ag, 8500 Frauenfeld 200 Autos, 40 Modelle, ab Fr. 500.-/MT inkl. 2000Km Tel. 0041 52 7203060 / www.ilgauto.ch 61 11 Online Store www.blueemlisalp.ch Unbenannt-1 1 01.07.16 08:50 Online international health insurance for expats around the globe 10% discount for Swisscommunity.org members www.swisscare.com | +41 58 523 00 40 Mailbag 5 IS is also recruiting in Switzerland. ment. Less can be more if the resources available are de- An interview with the expert Eser Davolio ployed properly. Local knowledge and in-depth analysis of the situation are critically important in this. The staff of the Thank you for this very interesting interview. The expert says implementing institutions who remain in the protected that the motivations of the Swiss jihadists “vary but are often microcosm of their offices and homes cannot identify the more ideological or political than religious. Religious factors causes from there and are not able to take effective deci- are overestimated. Those being recruited have a dichotomous sions or action. In my view such “investment” is counter- view of the world: On the one hand there is the productive and damaging and should therefore not simply Muslim world and on the other there is the West, be cut but thoroughly reviewed. whose values, which are deemed to be decadent, THOMAS ERWIN VON ARX, CENTRAL AFRICA have to be fought…” My question is: Is not their ideology a system of beliefs or theories based, in I have lived abroad since 1964 and have run a private and this case, on the religion of Islam? The prophet highly successful aid organisation for 23 years. I am of Islam, historically speaking, was a religious ashamed of my native country because the Swiss govern- leader but at the same time also a political and ment is mean-spirited and xenophobic citizens are annoyed military leader. The Quran says repeatedly that he is the exam- about millions of economic refugees wanting to come to ple every good Muslim must follow. In light of these facts, are Switzerland. Incidentally, we don’t need money from Swit- you not separating aspects here that need to be together? Do zerland as we are now self-supporting and sustainable. they not feed on each other? OSKAR, UNITED KINGDOM RENÉ SCHÄRER, BRAZIL The new man from Valais in the top job. 100 years of the OSA: Mobility preferable to emigration. FIFA President Infantino under fire Profile of Annemarie Tromp According to details in the press, the new FIFA president, Gi- The Swiss at home are not the only ones to be unaware of anni Infantino, does not appear any better than his predeces- the existence of the Council of the Swiss Abroad. The same sor. Let’s hope it is a short stay. KARL WICKI, THAILAND is true of 99 % of the Swiss Abroad. MICHÈLE ETTLIN MOLLATTE, FRANCE Swiss development aid under pressure. Federal government wants to make savings I am not sure how many people in the First World are aware that the global population will soon reach eight billion. How many of them urgently need help? Estimates indicate 10 % or perhaps even 20 %. The number who actually receive help is a drop in the ocean. I have lived abroad for most of my adult life and have witnessed terri- ble misery. What about people helping themselves? That’s all well and good, but the whole infrastructure costs a great deal. I am in favour of aid abroad if it can help stem the tide of refugees. However, Swiss Post congratulates the these people will come in any case. ERNST RÜTIMANN , THAILAND Organisation of the Swiss I’ve lived in Central Africa for 11 years by the Congo River. In Abroad on their anniversary! my personal experience and view, providing humanitarian de- velopment aid in disaster and crisis areas is the most effective and beneficial way of showing our solidarity with the people concerned. I believe cutting this would adversely affect our rep- utation. However, I would question direct financial aid from our own country and the international community as it disap- pears into the pockets of officials and those in high office. They get rich while preventing and sabotaging economic develop- Swiss Review / August 2016 / No. 4 6 Focus Switzerland bores underground The opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel this year is just one example of Swiss tunnel mania. Transport routes are being systematically constructed underground in Switzerland. JÜRG MÜLLER ment but also by German Chancellor It is a surreal story. A young man sits Angela Merkel, French President on a train that races through a short François Hollande and Italian Prime tunnel for an unusually long length of Minister Matteo Renzi as well as 300 time – faster and faster into the dark media representatives from all over abyss. Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s night- the world. marish story entitled “The Tunnel” could almost be called prophetic if The mountain laden with interpreted loosely. The tunnel near symbolism Burgdorf, which the writer used as a model for his 1952 story, was the only The spotlight once again falls on the major breakthrough on the Berne- Gotthard, a mountain laden with Olten railway line at the time. Today, symbolism like no other in Switzer- there is tunnel after tunnel – and they land. It has shaped national self-iden- don’t lead headlong into an abyss but tity in various ways. The history of instead into Switzerland’s railway the Gotthard and its stories have be- future. come part of national folklore and a For some time now tunnels have collective point of reference. It has not just been constructed in the Alps occupied the thoughts not just of and for reasons of geography but also writers and intellectuals, but also of in the relatively flat Central Plateau politicians, military strategists and, region to save time and as less and less above all, engineers.