28 October 2014 No 26 ISSN 1664-7963

Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Current Concerns Switzerland The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law

E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.currentconcerns.ch English Edition of Zeit-Fragen

National Referendum of 30 November How large should our gold reserves be according to the wishes of the electorate by Dr rer publ Werner Wüthrich Is the popular initiative “Save our Swiss al Bank. – Large parts of the population millions of working hours accomplished Gold” really “unnecessary, harmful and wished the gold reserves to be anchored by the population. This currency poli- utterly undesirable” as Federal Coun- in the Federal Constitution. cy, which was supported by the people, cillor Widmer-Schlumpf and the finan- The Swiss National Bank, the Federal has undoubtedly contributed to the good cial director of the Canton of Zug al- Council and the Parliament learned the name of the Swiss franc and has strength- lege in the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” from lesson from this vote. They worked out ened the export industry over the years, 8 October 2014? a new proposal. This said in paragraph because Swiss exporters learned to assert 7: “The notes issued must be backed by themselves on the international markets The ongoing discussion about our gold gold and short-term deposits”. – How- even with a strong currency. The can- reserves is not new. Since the Sec- ever, banknotes were not convertible tons were strengthened as well, because ond World War there have been several even then. Various members of the Na- they could not – as they do now – always “gold votes”, which are worthy of being tional Council and the Council of States count on National Bank profits, but relied brought to mind once more. Already in expressed their view that gold should on their own strength. 1949 the situation was politically very serve as a precaution in case of a catas- similar. It concerned a new monetary trophe. The spokesman for the prelimi- Federal Council and Parliament constitution and, in particular, the type nary commission, Renold, explaned this undermine the people‘s will and composition of foreign exchange re- in the National Council on 22 June 1950 Further details are known: The gold re- serves. In collaboration with the Swiss as follows: “To be sure, the notes are not serves remained untouched until a few National Bank, the Federal Council convertible until further notice. Howev- years ago – until a committee of experts and the Swiss Parliament then drew up er, the gold remains associated with the declared them as “excessive” and the Na- a Currency Article for the Federal Con- banknote coverage for widest sections tional Bank in consultation with Govern- stitution, which would leave open the of the population. It is notably the gold ment and Parliament then sold more than question of the composition of foreign standard by which the currency is judged half. They did this, however, without ask- exchange reserves. The proposed Article most often. [...] In the present unbalanced ing the voters whether they agreed to this 39, paragraph 6, was to read as follows: international economic and currency con- sale of national wealth, and without a wide “The Federal Government may declare ditions, it is very important for a country debate with the people, as had taken place the banknotes and other similar mone- to have sufficient gold reserves. [...] And at the beginning of the 1950s. The legal tary units as legal means of payment. It if a country also has, along with these, basis was provided by the new Federal determines the nature and scope of cov- regulations concerning a minimum gold Constitution of 1999, of which the Feder- erage.” Had this article been adopted, coverage, then I think there is a greater al Council had claimed – contrary to facts Parliament could have created the legal guarantee that the gold reserves are fur- – before the vote on it, that it was merely conditions to keep mainly US dollars ther accumulated and kept at an appro- an update without any substantial chang- as reserve currency – which the United priate level”. es. The protest of the people against this States advised the countries participating approach and against the incipient mas- in the Bretton Woods system to do. This Assent to more gold reserves sive gold sales manifested itself not only in was possible because the banknotes were on 15 April 1951 letters from readers, but also in two plebi- no longer convertible in gold. The new On 15 April 1951, 71% of the voters and scites. On 22 September 2002, the elector- monetary constitution was unchallenged all cantons said yes to the new mon- ate blocked the distribution of the sales rev- in Parliament and in the media. The Fed- etary constitution, which again gave enues. They said no to the Government’s eral Council, the National Council and greater weight to gold and thus set the and Parliament’s proposal to bring in the the Council of States approved it almost course for the future. In the follow- money into a Swiss Solidarity Foundation, unanimously. Only the two members of ing 15 years, the National Bank ac- and they also said no to the proposal of a the National Council who were close to cumulated the gold reserves from popular initiative to use the money for the the demurrage movement voted against about 800 tons to 2,600 tons. It bought old-age and survivors’ insurance. it. All the more surprising was the voters’ the gold for 4,500 francs per kilo- reaction on 22 May 1949: 61.5% of the gramme and held on to this valuation Gold reserves instead of risky citizens and 20 ½ of 22 cantons reject- until a few years ago. Economically, currencies ed the proposal. The reason was obvious: Switzerland financed the gold from the Against this background, some citi- The clear majority of voters refused to current account surpluses of those years, zens have started the popular initiative leave the type and composition of foreign since the country exported more goods exchange reserves to the Federal Govern- and services than it imported. These sur- ment, i.e. the politicians and the Nation- pluses were generated by hundreds of continued on page 2 No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 2 Will the Swiss vote to get their gold back? by Ron Paul*

On November 30th, The Swiss tradition of bank secrecy is in recent years established a currency peg, voters in Switzerland legendary. The reality, however, is that with 1.2 Swiss francs equal to one euro. The will head to the Swiss bank secrecy is dead. Countries such peg’s effects have already manifested them- polls to vote in a as the United States have been unwilling to selves in the form of a growing real estate referendum on gold. keep government spending in check, but bubble, as housing prices have risen dan- On the ballot is a they are running out of ways to fund that gerously. Given the action by the Europe- measure to prohibit spending. Further taxation of their popula- an Central Bank (ECB) to engage in further the Swiss National tions is politically difficult, massive issu- quantitative easing, the SNB’s continu- Bank (SNB) from ance of government debt has saturated bond ance of this dangerous and foolhardy policy further gold sales, markets, and so the easy target is smaller means that it will continue tying its mone- Ron Paul to repatriate Swiss- countries such as Switzerland which have tary policy to that of the EU and be forced to (picture ma) owned gold to gained the reputation of being “tax havens.” import more inflation into Switzerland. […] Switzerland, and to mandate that gold Remember that tax haven is just a term for a The Swiss people appreciate the work make up at least 20 percent of the SNB’s country that allows people to keep more of their forefathers put into building up large assets. Arising from popular sentiment their own money than the US or EU does, gold reserves, a respected currency, and a similar to movements in the United States, and doesn’t attempt to plunder either its cit- strong, independent banking system. They Germany, and the Netherlands, this izens or its foreign account-holders. But the do not want to see centuries of struggle referendum is an attempt to bring more past several years have seen a concerted at- squandered by a central bank. The results oversight and accountability to the SNB, tempt by the US and EU to crack down on of the November referendum may be a bell- Switzerland’s central bank. these smaller countries, using their enor- wether, indicating just how strong popular The Swiss referendum is driven by an mous financial clout to compel them to movements can be in establishing central undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the hand over account details so that they can bank accountability and returning gold to a conduct not only of Swiss monetary poli- extract more tax revenue. monetary role. • cy, but also of Swiss banking policy. Swit- The US has used its court system to ex- zerland may be a small nation, but it is a tort money from Switzerland, fining the Source: Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, nation proud of its independence and its US subsidiaries of Swiss banks for alleg- http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured- articles/2014/september/14/will-the-swiss-vote-to- history of standing up to tyranny. The fa- edly sheltering US taxpayers and allow- get-their-gold-back/ mous legend of William Tell embodies the ing them to keep their accounts and earn- essence of the Swiss national character. But ings hidden from US tax authorities. EU no tyrannical regime in history has bullied countries such as Germany have even gone Switzerland as much as the United States so far as to purchase account information government has in recent years. stolen from Swiss banks by unscrupulous bank employees. And with the recent im- Current Concerns plementation of the Foreign Account Tax The international journal for independent * * Ronald Ernest “Ron” Paul, physician and Compliance Act (FATCA), Swiss banks thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, author, several times Republican Congressman and for the promotion and respect and twice Republican presidential candidate, will now be forced to divulge to the IRS all of public international law, human rights advocates, among other things, a non-interven- the information they have about customers and humanitarian law tionist foreign policy as well as the gold stand- liable to pay US taxes. Publisher: Zeit-Fragen Cooperative ard. To this end he wrote the book “Gold, Peace On the monetary policy front, the SNB Editor: Erika Vögeli and Prosperity – The Birth of a New Currency”, sold about 60 percent of Switzerland’s gold published by the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Address: Current Concerns, Auburn, Alabama, in 1981. reserves during the 2000s. The SNB has also P.O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich Phone: +41 (0)44 350 65 50 ”How large should our gold …” rencies”. Indeed, it makes sense to buy not Fax: +41 (0)44 350 65 51 continued from page 1 only shares – as is already happening today E-Mail: [email protected] – with a portion of these surpluses, but also Subscription details: “Save our Swiss Gold” and collected over to buy gold. published regularly electronically as PDF file 100,000 signatures. Annual subscription rate of Yes to the initiative SFr. 40,-, € 30,-, £ 25,-, $ 40,- The dollar has meanwhile dropped for the following countries: from 4.37 Swiss francs (in 1949 – the year “Save our Swiss Gold” Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, of the first gold vote) to below 90 rappen If the gold initiative is adopted by the Cyprus, , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hongkong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, today, and the price of gold had risen from people and cantons on 30 November the Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nether- 4,500 francs at that time until recently to National Bank will – in consultation with lands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, 50,000 francs per kilo. According to its bal- the people – again increase the gold re- Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab ­Emirates, ance sheet, the National Bank today holds serves. As yet, gold has survived every United Kingdom, USA foreign currencies worth about 460 bil- currency crisis and currency reform. I Annual subscription rate of SFr. 20,-, € 15,-, £ 12,50, $ 20,- lion Swiss francs – about half of them in deem the principle moderate that the Na- for all other countries. euros and a quarter in US dollars. These tional Bank is to hold at least 20 percent Account: Postscheck-Konto: PC 87-644472-4 currencies are associated with significant of assets in gold in the current system (as The editors reserve the right to shorten letters to risks. Today, the National Bank holds sig- the initiators require it). It is an insur- the editor. Letters to the editor do not necessarily nificantly less than 10 percent of gold re- ance for the case of a disaster and also reflect the views and opinions of Current Concerns. serves compared to these currencies. There strengthens the National Bank, if this is © 2014. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or is good reason to refer to this enormous put under pressure – from the inside or transmission of this publication may be made without written amount of risky currencies as “excess cur- from the outside. • permission. No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 3

25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall – What lessons can be learned? by Karl Müller 9 November marks the yearly anniversary not forget that. It is enough just to de- crises, and the central banks with their of the Berlin Wall opening for the citizens nounce the prison system in the GDR as policy have reached the end of the line.” of the former GDR. This day 25 years ago, well as the political criminal law, and this Max Otte then added two considera- was a day of joy for many people. But the is done to this day over and again. This is tions about the economic decline in Eu- people’s hopes that the doors would be true but it is not the complete reality of rope: “We have decided on sanctions pushed open to a better world have not life for people in the GDR, let alone the against Russia, many of them too early been fulfilled. On the contrary – humani- motives of people who thought the regime and much too strong. They are of course tarian organizations today say that the al- had the right answer to the fateful German mainly affecting Germany and Austria.” ready high number of crisis regions will history. All this must be considered from a And next: “In the field of high technolo- presumably even increase in the years to differentiated perspective without relativ- gy it is top priority that Europe becomes come. The international world order is in a ising the matter. But one does not need to independent from its total dependence on very unstable condition, and the economic worsen the GDR. [...] Among those who the USA”. In that respect the Europeans and social development is not going well supported the system, there were certain- are “an appendix of the USA”. in many countries of the world. ly people who wanted something great, The third interviewed was the owner All this is no accident but the result of namely that the alienation of work ceas- of the Swabian textile company Trigema, policy mistakes of the past 25 years that es, that the exploitation of man by man is Wolfgang Grupp. He is considered one of were intentional – not for the general stopped, everything – as it was expressed the most distinguished leaders of German good, but for very specific interests. back then: “With the people, for the peo- family owned mid-sized businesses. He This can be well exemplified by look- ple and by the people”. was interviewed by the magazine Com- ing at three interviews conducted in recent These views are not well received by pact in its October issue of 2014 where weeks. the West German elites. They do not fit he answered questions and very explicitly The first interview was conducted by into the habit to paint everything black gave his opinion on the policy of sanctions the Deutschlandfunk (German Radio) on and white, nor do they fit a deluded West- against Russia: “My vote against sanc- 10 October 2014 with the former East ern complacency, above all they disturb a tions is certainly not caused by econom- German civil rights activist and Protestant small minority’s claim to power. ic reasoning and certainly not from selfish theologian Friedrich Schorlemmer. Occa- The second interview was conducted motives. The export of Trigema products sion for the interview was the renewed de- by the Deutschlandfunk on 14 October to Russia is zero. mand of West German politicians, to re- 2014 with economist Max Otte. Togeth- I am talking about peace on our conti- gard the GDR as an illegitimate state in er with Eberhard Hamer, Professor Otte nent. It cannot be that we let ourselves be its entity and thus to delegitimize every- was one of the few economists who pre- drawn into a new Cold War by the Amer- thing in the GDR. Schorlemmer rejected dicted the global financial crisis at a point icans. The big winners of the sanctions this view. He stated inter alia: “This kill- of time considerably before 2007. Now policy are the United States. The Amer- er argument prevents any differentiating he commented on the current economic icans have little exchange of goods with consideration of what the GDR was and downturn. Among others Max Otte said: Russia, but they want us to ban exchange wanted. [...] One must also understand the “The fact is that the policy is slowly run- of goods. The reason is clear, the US sees initial intention of the GDR in 1949. If ning out of options, this slump is perhaps Europe as the major economic competi- even a person who was chased away from more dangerous than the one we had in tor, and with these sanctions they want to the GDR, the great Hans Mayer says, the 2008. We have been ripped out by cheap weaken Europe.” GDR was an attempt, and if you look at money again, but the policy of the central And with respect to Russia he added: the pathos of Becher’s national anthem, banks is at its limits now. [...] The poli- “In Moscow there are no Stalin and Brezh- ‘Let us plow, let us build, learn and work cy of the central banks is now at an end. nev any longer. A lot has happened since as never before’, this were superior ethi- We have arrived at almost zero interest Gorbachev. Putin has continued this path, cal ideas. But in my view the impossible rates now, we have penalty interests. This and therefore we need to deal with him in a was tried with inadequate means. But to is somewhat reminiscent of the late peri- friendly manner. We can even express criti- call the whole thing an illegitimate state is od of the GDR, when those Potemkin vil- cism, but we should not pose as teachers.“ misleading. [...] Peaceful Revolution also lages were built as well. [...] If it hits us, It is worth to reason about the present means that the ones did not hang, and the it probably means a downward spiral in state of Europe, its inner workings and the other did not shoot. Why not acknowledge the entire world economy. [...] The whole now 25 years of Western dealings with the them. It is true, one must not prostrate be- lot of money, we have printed lately, that former GDR. Painting in black and white, fore them. But to say, well, dear Hans has gone to the banks, that has been chan- arrogance and condescension are “useful Modrow, you did prevent the impending neled into speculative areas, and is not re- idiots” to an ice-cold power and interest civil war in Dresden on your own respon- ally gone to where it should have gone, policy. Close and careful examination of sibility, or take Roland Wötzel in Leipzig. namely in the south, to the SMEs in Ger- facts, independent thinking and equal treat- I think we should also recognize that they many, where investments are making a ment of all people on this planet are a good finally withdrew peacefully from power difference. [...] The situation is now more immunization against this interest policy. and we were initially able to organize de- serious than it was over the last couple of 25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall we mocracy on our own; I think we should decades, because in reality we have many may learn our lesson from history. • No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 4 Lampedusa – the southernmost lighthouse in Europe Report from South Italy by Heinz Werner Gabriel, Marina di Camerota The small Italian island of Lampedusa is Why isn’t Spain, which is only 25 kil- fenders” to eliminate the president who the main gateway for refugees from Afri- ometer away from Africa, used as a des- had been re-labeled as villain. After he ca and the Middle East. More than 15,000 tination to flee? Moreover, Spain has two had almost destroyed the self-proclaimed of them arrived only in the first week of small colonies on the opposite African human rights activists with external help, August 2014. coast. The answer is simple: in the Afri- they were allowed to move on mostly to To date the Italian Navy has taken can countries, which are opposite Spain, Iraq... of course protected by their origi- about 90,000 into safe havens. peace and stability prevail. nal clients. Italy is under strain. The EU has still From which countries do the refugees In the meantime this Sunni force wants not got an effective action plan. 500,000 come then? to build an Islamic State (IS) in Iraq with asylum seekers are expected. Today, the regions of origin are Libya, brute force, which are to be fought by the The adverse repercussions in particular Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Central and West on request from the Iraqi Kurds... i.e. on the region south of Naples are serious, West Africa. All these regions have been fought just by those who created it. as talks to people reveal who work in the destabilized by war and civil war system- What is the obligation of the Western administrative bodies of towns, as well as atically. democracies? police and tourism managers: turnovers Who initiated the civil war and thus According to their oath the heads of decline, social frictions and the crime rate caused the wave of refugees? Governments have to avert harm from are on the rise. Let’s take the example of Libya: the their citizens. Planned, costly wars with Causes and options for action will be majority of refugees came from there after huge waves of refugees and thousands of discussed below: the bombing by Western forces. An un- dead people are not acceptable as ethical Lampedusa, the southernmost Pelag- popular dictator had to be eliminated. Mi- and material burdens on Europe. The Eu- ic island, is reached from Sicily after ap- litia set up simultaneously destroyed the ropean States are guilty as accomplicits proximately 250 km, passing the islands prosperous country’s infrastructure and re- in the current situation because of their Pantelleria and Linosa. At night, you are sidual groups of this militia are still op- active contributions or their acquies- welcomed by a beacon with 3 flashes. The erating today. Next, most of these troops cence. • distance to African Tunisia is about 120 km. were sent to Syria as “human rights de- (Translation Current Concerns)

Pope Francis on World Food Day: Global solidarity for sustainable management Pope Francis acknowledged rural families Dramatic present-day paradox: Pope calls for fair global economy as a role model for sustainable agricul- Waste and hunger In his letter Francis additionally calls for ture. In a message to the Director-Gener- In view of World Food Day, Pope Fran- a general reconsidering of aid- and de- al of the Food and Agriculture Organiza- cis once again called on the global com- velopment policy. Countries that primar- tion of the United Nations (FAO) on the munity to consolidate its efforts in the ily depend on their agriculture should be occasion of World Food Day on 16 Oc- fight against hunger. Highlighting that guaranteed “self-determination of their tobe, Pope Francis calls on protecting global crisis and current trouble spots own market“. Consequently, the rules peasant farming families worldwide, predominantly affect the world‘s poor, of international production and trade to continue developing their potential he refered to “one of the most dramat- modes have to be adapted. In summa- and supporting their working methods. ic paradoxes of our time“ that in some ry, the pope calls for a fair global econ- In his letter to José Graziano, da Silva parts of the globe people suffer from omy among mankind and the protection published by the Vatican this last Fri- hunger while food is wasted in other of the Creation at its core, stating that day, the Pope puts further emphasis on parts. Moreover, he named the gen- maybe this would be “the only chance to the rural family as a role model for re- eral decline of public funding for for- build an authentic future of peace“. sponsibility towards the Creation as well eign aid as a contributing factor to an as for collaborative work. According to Source: http://de.radiovaticana.va/ overall “alarming situation”. Pope Fran- Pope Francis, these forms of sustainable news/2014/10/17/papst_zum_wel- cis also strongly opposed speculation in ternährungstag:_globale_soli-darität_für_ management should be supported even food commodities and condemned this nachhaltiges/ted-831481 stronger locally, nationally and on an in- sort of pursuit of profit in the name of from 17.10.2014 ternational level. “God profit”. (Translation Current Concerns) No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 5

The fight against terrorism may be conducted only on the basis of the rule of law and respecting human rights Address by President of the Republic of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to the UN Security Council on 24 September 2014

(picture ma) (picture ma)

I greet all the dignitaries belonging to and 2012 in order to interrogate these de- You are aware of the fact that the mem- the Security Council. I have come to this fendants. In addition, we offered – as in bers of ISIS are Sunnis and the rulers of meeting of the Council with some certain- the case of Lockerbie – the alternative to Iran Shiites. You, the United States, want ties and with some questions, I have come judge the defendants in the court of a third to see what degree of cooperation they can to approve the resolution we have agreed country. reach and what progress they can make on; and undoubtedly also to condemn ter- Finally in the year 2012, the Irani- with respect to the issue of their nuclear rorism energetically and definitely. an foreign minister proposed a bilater- program. I note how much more friend- My country, the Republic of Argenti- al meeting on the basis of which we then ly and amicable the dialogue is now held na, and the United States of North Amer- signed an agreement on judicial coopera- even by those who were still reproach- ica were those countries in the Americas, tion in 2013, with the sole purpose of al- ing us last year because of our dialogue that have been targeted by brutal terror- lowing the [Argentinian] judge to interro- with the Iranian “terrorists”. The dialogue ist attacks: In 1992, the Israeli embassy in gate the Iranian citizens. We had to do this seems to me to be no bad thing. On the Buenos Aires was blown up, and in 1994, because the Argentine legal system knows contrary, I appreciate it. I believe that dia- the headquarters of the AMIA [Asociación no conviction in absentia, but according to logue between nations is always good. Mutual Israelita Argentinia, a center of our Constitution the defendants have to be But I am concerned about what has the Jewish community in Argentina – edi- tried and condemned in our country. happened since the 1994 AMIA attack: the tor’s note]. Since the signing of this agreement, bombing of the Twin Towers by al-Qae- Starting from that point, many ques- non-governmental organizations that had da, conceived and executed by Osama bin tions arise in my mind. Because what is always supported us when we called on Laden, who had not appeared out of the happening now, i.e. the appearance of this the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate blue. Osama bin Laden was trained along- phenomenon ISIS, which was still virtual- with Argentina have begun to reproach us side the Taliban to fight Russia during the ly unknown a year ago, is somewhat like because of our agreement with the Irani- Cold War in Afghanistan, in that foreign what happened in Argentina in 1994. At ans. So we came to doubt whether those country from which – as I like to say – that time the word spread in my country who had always required us to demand only Alexander the Great came out alive. and around the world was that Hezbol- cooperation from the Iranian government, Another question that has newly devel- lah was responsible for the bombing of really did so with the intention of realiz- oped: the famous Arab Spring, in which the AMIA. Today, Hezbollah is a party in ing this cooperation, or rather, in order to seemingly everybody was a freedom fight- Lebanon. Later, in 2006, and after a Spe- create a “casus belli”. er and in which new democracies were ex- cial Prosecutor had been established at the And here, in this country, the so-called pected to arise. Now it turns out that many urging of President Kirchner, the judiciary vulture funds engaged in massive lobby- of the Arab Spring freedom fighters are of my country began to undertake a thor- ing in the US Congress. You can check fundamentalists who were at that time ough examination of what lay behind the this on the vulture funds’ websites. And being militarily trained and today fight attack which – I will repeat it here – had on those of the Task Force, where they in the ranks of the ISIS and recruit young occurred in 1994. This year it’s been 20 showed pictures of me with Ahmadenejad, people. years since the assassination took place. in order to condemn Argentina’s legal as- As an anecdote I can tell you that I have And still it has not been possible to con- sistance agreement with the “Islamic ter- also been threatened by the ISIS. There is vict the guilty, even though the competent rorist state” Iran, as it was called up to last a legal investigation in my country what judge had decided to indict eight Iranian year. this threat really means. I do not really citizens living in Tehran on the basis of the I was really surprised, but not angry; think that the ISIS cares about the Pres- findings of the Special Prosecutor (2006). yes, surprised, but not angry – because ident of Argentine. The motives for the From then on, that is from 2007, first it cannot be bad to have a dialogue – to threat to kill me are my friendship with President Kirchner and later I myself have learn that this weekend, the head of the Pope Francis and the fact that I am recog- demanded the cooperation of the Islamic State Department had met with his Iranian nizing and endorsing the existence of two Republic of Iran at each General Assem- counterpart at a popular hotel in this city bly of the United Nations between 2007 to tackle the ISIS problem. continued on page 6 No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 6

”The fight against terrorism…” against civilians, but we have not seen the But often I think that it is not enough continued from page 5 death of any of the leaders who fired mis- to dispose of information. In addition it is siles at their opponents. Instead we have necessary to understand what is going on states: the state of Palestine and the state seen the deaths of children, women and in- in each society and in every country and of Israel – in order to enable them to live nocent elderly people. All this will remain then to find the right means to efficiently to coexist peacefully. a fertile soil for these groups. fight terrorism. Because it would not be a I have noted here a few questions which This is why I think that – beyond this surprise if next year, in 2015, the ISIS had came to my mind: during the interregnum resolution which we share and support – disappeared and was replaced by anoth- of all this, Saddam Hussein had appeared it would be dishonest, wrong and cynical er faction with another strange name and in Iraq with chemical weapons; a war was if I came here to tell you that we are using even more violent methods and we would waged against him, which finally ended with his elimination. Since then the situ- ation in Iraq and the global situation has grown more and more complicated. Last “This is leading me to the question: What is really going on there year’s scenario, when Iran’s nuclear threat and how can we efficiently fight this terrorism? There is no doubt that was top priority, is now completely out- we need a military response in order to defend ourselves against the dated. Now we have the ISIS, new terror- ists, where we have no idea who is buying aggression – this is not a question. [However, it is just as clear] that oil from them, who is selling them weap- the present method to fight terrorism is not the proper one, because ons and who has trained them. Obvious- the situation is permanently growing more complex. More and more ly they command huge financial resources and supplies of weapons. groups are getting involved, each time they are more violent and each This is leading me to the question: time they are more powerful.” What is really going on there and how can we efficiently fight this terrorism? There is no doubt that we need a military response the right method. I think that the situation eventually do nothing but aggravate the in order to defend ourselves against the in the Middle East is about to deteriorate situation. aggression – this is not a question. [How- dramatically. To come to the conclusion, Mr Presi- ever, it is just as clear] that the present Moreover: when I was last year in St dent: I think that the base for this involve- method to fight terrorism is not the proper Petersburg as member of the G-20 – not ment must be respect for human rights. one, because the situation is permanently so long ago; if I remember well it was in And why are we emphasizing this? We growing more complex. More and more November, not even one year – the Syr- are a country that has suffered an unprec- groups are getting involved, each time ian government was considered the big edented genocide dictatorship, a coun- they are more violent and each time they enemy and those fighting against it were try where afterwards justice has acted in are more powerful. freedom fighters. Now it was discovered an unprecedented way. We did not need If I use a certain method to solve a that many of those freedom fighters are a Nuremberg Trial here; we also did not problem and if this problem, instead of actually members of the ISIS. But who have to invoke the Court in The Hague in shrinking or even disappearing, is grow- was it who supported the opposition, who order to convict our dictators. It was Ar- ing larger, it would make sense to ques- provided them, as freedom fighters, with gentine by itself, our own justice, which tion the efficiency of the method since it is weapons and means? put the responsible persons to trial and apparently not successful. I am not claim- For me it seems like many things convicted them, including those responsi- ing to know how we should proceed. Nor should be reconsidered now, most of all ble for the death of French citizens like do I have any absolute certainty regard- by those who have a lot of information – the French nuns or the disappeared Swed- ing what should be done. A proverb of my more information than I have at my dis- ish citizens. country says: The only thing you should posal as President of Argentine. My coun- From our experience we think that the not do with cannibals is to eat them. I be- try is not producing any weapons and not current struggle may only be conducted lieve that it is most crucial to understand selling any. On the contrary, we have to with respect for human rights and based the logic of terrorism. It is meant to pro- buy oil because we do not have enough on the rule of law. Only this can ensure voke the same, symmetric reaction to the energy, even though we have large oil that we are no longer feeding the mon- violent attacks. This would justify perma- fields which will make us large suppliers ster. nent bloodshed because for each person of oil in the future… and I do not know if Thank you very much, Mr President. • killed there will be two new ones, for two I should be happy about this, since obvi- Source: Unauthorized translation from the Span- killed there will be three new ones – an in- ously every country that has gas and oil, ish transcript taken from the official website of the finite bloodshed. also has a lot of problems. But it is defi- President of Argentine http://www.cfkargentina. And all this is happening in the Mid- nitely true that we are a country that is not com/discurso-de-cristina-fernandez-de-kirchner- dle East where the state of Palestine is still producing any weapons, we are a country en-el-consejo-de-seguridad-de-la-onu not recognized. There we have seen the that is buying energy and we do not have disproportionate application of violence as much information as the superpowers. (Translation Current Concerns) No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 7 Fundamental reflections on the cultural situation of Switzerland by J.R. von Salis, lecture at the meeting of delegates of the Swiss Teachers Association on 25 September 1955 in Lucerne

Nine months ago, returning from a distant part of the world, I could see and experi- ence Switzerland anew after having been “We do not only have a wonderful home, but also a Swiss allowed to represent it as a member of a mental heritage, and we should defend and maintain both. delegation to the General Conference of We can, however, prepare the ground for the receptiveness Unesco. I had spent a radiant and hot summer and the attention of the young, especially in teaching. Not day on the Pacific coast in Chile. The everyone is a cultural creator; actually only very few are. next day I started off in Santiago. The aircraft screwed up to a height of 6,000 But we as teachers are cultural mediators, and much de- meters within a short period of time in pends on how we communicate the cultural heritage, in order to be able to fly across the jumbled wilderness of rock and ice in the Andes which spirit we do it, whether a broad and open-minded and then cross the pampas. In the glow- class of culture recipients will grow up in our country.” ing evening light we landed in Buenos Aires and only some time later, at noon the next day, we landed in Rio de Ja- customs and civilized behaviour, an edu- to identify the country that, in a sense, is neiro at almost 40 degrees in the shade. cated people, formed by its good schools, entrusted to every one of us. After a Christmas party in which we sat an acquired and developed small world What is the thing, which is given to us, around the Christmas tree in shirtsleeves embedded in a magnificent nature, a actually made of? I do not want to speak and with the windows open until late at night, I boarded the Swissair flight across the South Atlantic the next morning, first to Senegal, then to Lisbon on the next day. It was Sunday, and it seemed to me that we were almost at home. We were on the Iberian peninsula. Another lunch high above the Pyrenees and now an al- ready wintry afternoon over France. Then above the cover of fog and clouds, the chain of the Alps and the summit of Mont Blanc appeared. It was a new discovery to fly across the Alpine foothills from Geneva at dusk, to see the fading evening on the Bernese Alps, below us Lake Thun, then the fall- ing night on the already barely recog- nizable central plateau, until we set foot on Swiss soil again in the early evening hours at Kloten airport. Four days from the Chilean highlands to the Limmat, from summer on the southern hemisphere (picture thk) to winter in the North yielded time for contemplation; first to be grateful for our homeland, beautiful beyond all compari- democratic political system that keeps up about the teaching materials, from the el- son, then time to think. its rights and practices, but sandwiched ements up to the basic scientific research, What had I left behind? An empty con- between larger nation states, without ac- but about our task for the youth, for our tinent, tremendously vast plains, vastly cess to the sea, doomed to constant ef- own people; about the contribution that superior, but almost shapeless mountains fort and diligent work, but also capable of each of us must make to provide the ad- without any profile, jungle and tropical enjoying life and having pleasure: So it olescent, the young man and young girl climate in Brazil, peoples and races in looked again. And what had seemed com- with an awareness of what Switzerland is, their colorful mixture of skin color, vast mon before, what had been one’s every- and what our national community means, oceans, a world in the making, far from day life and one’s own existence, had and in this context, in particular, what the Europe. An optimistic and forward-look- to be touched, understood and affirmed cultural life of Switzerland is and what it ing determination together with a leisurely anew, with its daily detailed work, with looks like. pace gradually conquer the space there. It the schools starting again, with all the Forgive me if I start with a perhaps triv- is a new world, where they still have plen- many and inevitable that is given to each ial remark: “Each of us teaches in his own ty of time ahead. of us. Yes, it was again an effort about language.” That is, however, very signifi- And here? Our small, densely populat- identity, not only of the homecomer him- cant for a country like Switzerland. With ed country, where each patch is utilized, self, but also about the identity of the lo- its four languages, we must remember, our fostered and cared for in every way, high- cation, the identity of the community to ly developed civilization and entrenched which the homecomer belonged; an effort continued on page 8 No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 8

”Fundamental reflections on …” assume that this is more important and nic community, and this would also form continued from page 7 more powerful than the language com- a state, has prevailed in the 19th century munity. It is now a basic presupposition and at the beginning of the present centu- country is divided into several language for the entire political, but also cultural ry, mainly promoted by the Germanic and communities. This fact alone gives our behavior of the Swiss. Slavic peoples by the way. But already the whole educational structure but also cul- I want to examine very briefly the po- French Revolution had set up similar pos- tural life an entirely different basis from litical aspect, as far as it has consequences tulates, although the addition of romantic those states which rest on one national for cultural life. Remember that the culture ideas about popular customs and traditions culture. In other words, our ethnic com- in Europe has increasingly developed on a was less among the peoples of England, munity is not also a language communi- national basis since the end of the Mid- France and Italy than among the German- ic and Slavic peoples. Certainly some cultural phenomena of “… in this sense we have to regard our national and state universal or international importance have structure: as a community of fate and will. We must assume always remained the same in spite of this development towards national cultures that this is more important and more powerful than the lan- and nation-states, for example, the natural guage community. It is now a basic presupposition for the sciences and the worldview they had cre- entire political, but also cultural behavior of the Swiss.” ated. Today’s modern, perhaps partly still nascent worldview of philosophers, psy- chologists and natural scientists is based ty. I would therefore like to point to the dle Ages. The Renaissance and the Refor- on international work. So one should nei- importance of language here, because it mation pushed the universal conception of ther overestimate the national element. is the one who teaches, that passes on the culture into the background and brought to There is a duality: the national cultures, culture, or, if he is a writer, it is him who light the special features, and thus also the which are based on the linguistic commu- creates culture. Creators must use the lan- national features. The Middle Ages’ inter- nities, and the internationally valid and ac- guage as the first and most important tool, national language of culture, the Latin lan- tive philosophical, scientific and technical as material for ideas and thoughts, as a guage, has been replaced by the European structure of the modern world. material for design, either educational or vernacular languages since the 16th cen- Returning to Switzerland, our country for a literary work of art. In his form of tury. The universal religion of the Middle offers the worst possible conditions for a speech man bespeaks himself. Ages, Catholicism, broke apart as a result national culture at first sight. No common Now, entitled “Sprachgemeinschaft of the schism, and the unity of religion in cultural language is present, no common und Volksgemeinschaft” (Language Europe was replaced by variety. denomination unites the entire people; community and ethnic community) the The emergence of the nation state in we do not have a nation-state in the prop- linguist Professor Albert Debrunner in Berne recently published a very inter- esting treatise worth knowing, in which he says among other things: “A German- speaking Swiss person, who has been living in Germany for a long time, will certainly hear the assertion that he – the German Swiss – belongs to the German people that he is a German because he speaks German. If he answers that he be- longs to the Swiss people, he might meet with utter incomprehension in most cases or even with a derogatory remark: ‘There is no such thing as a multilingual people.’ I realized in numerous conversations in Germany how firmly this opinion is set in the minds of Germans.” It is in fact true that for those living in a nation-state the (picture thk) phenomenon Switzerland as a Swiss peo- ple with multiple languages is difficult to Europe made the realization of national er sense, we do not have a capital that in- understand. “The Swiss national commu- culture a public task, fostered by the state. fluences and represents the whole country. nity”, Debrunner continues, “is essential- The so-called principle of nationality, There are contradictions between the ex- ly a community of established by the will which set up the postulate that language of the people. The most serious internal community equals the cultural and eth- continued on page 9 crises of the Confederation were over- come by the desire to stay together: 1476, 1847, 1914–1918.” By the way, there are “The Confederation Switzerland (must we say it again and definitions in which the national commu- again?) is a political creation. The patriotism of its citizens nity and the nation is conceived essential- ly as a community of will. I think, above is a much more cooperative, democratic, federalist form of all, of that of Ernest Renan, in which the expression of the national, so that the national, if one ap- element of communion of will is equal- ly important, and in this sense we have to plies the word to our country, looks completely different regard our national and state structure: as from that in other European countries.” a community of fate and will. We must No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 9

”Fundamental reflections on …” of the languages gains more or less impor- ers; it is an advantage, because the Swiss continued from page 8 tance than the other, so that no minority people share with all these languages and problems arise. The Federation may estab- denominations share the cultural and reli- istence of Switzerland, which has always lish certain guidelines for education, for gious life of great European nations. We segregated a bit in the midst of Europe, the medical service; it provides for a sin- have wide-open windows directed towards and, I would say, separated itself from gle university that is dedicated to the tech- large areas in the north, west, south and the popular European rules of identifica- nical sciences; it ensures the freedom of east of our country. Switzerland is equal- ly composed of several cultural provinces that have their centers in other states; but “Now this overlapping of different culture circles in Swit- these different cultural provinces of Swit- zerland, the Roman Catholic one, the Reformed one, the zerland in turn form a unit with their own centers. German, French, Italian, Romansh, is both a disadvantage There is a big difference, not only be- and an advantage. It is a disadvantage because of the in- tween us and the great nation-states on our border, but also other small countries, direct dependence on foreign cultures and cultural cent- such as Holland, Denmark, Poland, Por- ers; it is an advantage, because the Swiss people share with tugal, etc. Since these countries have one national language. Compared to Switzer- all these languages and denominations share the cultural land they have the advantage of their own and religious life of great European nations. We have wide- cultural centers, their own national litera- ture, and yet these small states are disad- open windows directed towards large areas in the north, vantaged by the fact that it will always be west, south and east of our country.” more difficult for a French, English, Ger- man or Italian person to become familiar with the cultural, especially the literary tion of language, culture and country. The scientific research and teaching activities; productions of Poland, Holland, Denmark Confederation Switzerland (must we say it watches over the peace between the dif- or Portugal than with those of Switzer- it again and again?) is a political creation. ferent ethnic groups, and this peace among land, which due to its spacious languages The patriotism of its citizens is a much the various ethnic groups is a cornerstone belongs to the larger European area, the more cooperative, democratic, federalist of Switzerland’s cultural life. larger European community. It is obvious form of expression of the national, so that To be a stickler for details, this affir- that nobody will be a great Swiss writer, if the national, if one applies the word to our mation of the cultural diversity of Swit- he is not also a big German, French or Ital- country, looks completely different from zerland has initially been a stopgap. Swit- ian writer. He may be a good writer of di- that in other European countries. zerland was not founded to give the world alect or Rhaeto-Romanic, but in this case The result was that church, educa- an example of cultural, linguistic and de- he faces tight constrictions of being uni- tion, science and culture were matters nominational diversity, but its polymor- versally accepted. Here we might remem- for which the cantons were responsible. phism was nothing more than a condition ber in worship Rudolf von Tavel or Peider This was undoubtedly right, and practi- of the Swiss Confederation that had devel- Lansel, who were masters of native idi- cally this organization led to the slightest oped just like this, and once it was there, oms. But if we think of the big languages, friction. Such conflicts would emerge in its care, the care of these multiform Swit- Jean-Jacques Rousseau is without a doubt large numbers, if Switzerland had some- zerland, had to be construed and accepted the greatest writer of the French speaking thing like a joint Ministry of Education or as a positive task. I would not say that we Switzerland, because he is also one of the a Department of Education. Only about 80 or 90 years ago a period of cultural and science-promoting activity of the federal “It could and can happen that for the sake of our state’s government began. I will not describe it, however mention it briefly. Since the fed- and our national community’s preservation that we real- eral government guaranteed support for ly need to prioritize the Fatherland, the defense, the resist- cultural matters of national importance, it has, perhaps, taken possession of com- ance against foreign influences before the unlimited free- petences that go beyond its constitution- dom of movement into the neighboring country which all ally defined obligations; they do, howev- er, not concern the school system itself of us might favor. Unfortunately, we do not yet live in the but the advancement of art and literature, cosmopolitan universe of Goethe.” the protection of nature, historical monu- ments and cultural heritage, scientific re- search and other branches of cultural life, made a virtue of necessity, but Switzer- greatest French writers. The same also ap- in case they cannot be handled by the can- land had to justify its existence as a multi- plies to Jeremias Gotthelf, Gottfried Kel- tons for the entire country, but have to be lingual and culturally multifarious people ler and others. However, it is noteworthy promoted at the national, that is at the fed- towards the all around nationally organ- that each of them is deeply and unmistaka- eral level. But in terms of our cultural life, ized Europe. bly committed to Switzerland by their ed- the federal government may basically only Now this overlapping of different cul- ucational backgrounds and literary topics. guard the freedoms that are necessary for ture circles in Switzerland, the Roman We will always remember how a seeming- cultural life, the freedom of religion, the Catholic one, the Reformed one, the Ger- ly extramundane poet like Carl Spitteler, freedom of political and ideological atti- man, French, Italian, Romansh, is both a in the dark winter of 1914, when internal tude (“Weltanschaung”) and the forming disadvantage and an advantage. It is a dis- distress and dangerous conflicts threat- of an opinion. It may also watch over the advantage because of the indirect depend- freedom of linguistic usage and that none ence on foreign cultures and cultural cent- continued on page 10 No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 10

”Fundamental reflections on …” he did acknowledge the federal adminis- things seem alien to us in our own country, continued from page 9 tration and the militia. But to explain a na- to the ones as well as to the others. Only tion that did not exist, was “une entreprise on the basis of these conditions am I able ened our country, held his courageous and accablante”, Ramuz said. to look at what unites them and what are masterful speech as a true citizen about I think we should not denounce those the common tasks of the Swiss people and “Our Swiss position”. It should, it seems who embodied Swiss literature in the pur- the federal state. I do not think we should to me, be printed in every Swiss German est way because of such phrases. One ignore that which separates us. Quite the reading book. should not see these things differently contrary, we should raise it to our aware- Nevertheless, one must admit that a from what they actually are, or something ness and acquire or understand it to a cer- great literary impact is possible only in the artificial will emanate, or otherwise mod- tain degree, so we can recognize and pro- sphere of a larger cultural nation. Here a erate we would simply be of the kind that mote the common characteristics. conflict appears that we cannot escape, we oppose the cultural realities of the greater We should accept another style, a dif- cannot ignore, but which we have to tack- European family of nations, which would ferent language, different denomina- tions, different feelings. It is a divine gift if we then find something common “It always takes the good will of everyone, the consent to in the broadest sense of the word, some- the just-so-and-no-different features of Switzerland, if you thing truly Swiss, in the works of litera- ture, the arts and the humanities. It is hard want to preserve it and keep its sense and its right to exist. to say what actually makes up these com- This is more difficult in cultural sphere than in all other mon characteristics: but it is there, and the less consciously and intentionally a areas, because it repeatedly requires tolerance, i.e. not only Hodler painted, a Honegger composed, a the acceptance of the difference, but often also of the un- Gottfried Keller or Ramuz portrayed, the more convincing and true is it. In that case comfortable and of startling our mental inertia.” it is evident that someone from a foreign culture says: Your Ramuz, your Keller, your Hodler, your Honegger. le and which will only be overcome if the be unjust; because the same people, who I think the attempt to explain a Swiss roots are firmly embedded in the home- sometimes surly distance themselves a bit culture from its national character is a land. That was not the case with every- from a too fervent regional art, are also little “accablant”. If you try it with the one. Here is an example: The farther back those who have earned our country its cul- Platonic idea and say there is one, so to the past events fade into the distance, the tural raison d’être in the world. To teach speak pre-formed Helvetian culture, I clearer appears the tragic side of a fate as them lessons about proper civic thinking have to shake my head and say: “Anyone it was destined to Jakob Schaffner. I do is an unfortunate effort in most cases that who claims such a thing is always a little not hesitate to call this name. This man does not honor those who with a stern above, below or beside it.” has paid for his political mistakes, for his face wag their all-knowing finger. The question is justified whether one wicked treachery of the homeland, sufer- One cannot speak about fundamentals should say: “Swiss culture” or “culture in ing in a cellar in Strasbourg, where he was of a culture, if a creative cultural produc- Switzerland”. Related to different mani- killed by a bomb. But would it not be a tion is not available in the first place. We festations of cultural life both may be jus- shame to have to miss for ever his adoles- do not want to replace the creative, spon- tified. The decisive factor seems to me cent work and masterpiece in the catalog taneous cultural production by an organ- the profound national community, root- of Swiss education novels? I ask this ques- ized cultural policy; because as far as such ed in history and decisive for the civic tion merely in passing. Maybe the critics a policy has a justification and a right to and political decision-making process. It in our country will even deal with it one exist, it is only to hold out a carefully sometimes requires, hence in dangerous day. serving hand in the background, wherever times, a certain renouncement in the cul- The Zurich literary historian Fritz the culture creator’s power may be insuf- tural sphere. It could and can happen that Ernst, who under the keyword of “Hel- ficient; and that usually concerns the ma- for the sake of our state’s and our nation- vetism” ever and again raises his concern terial side of the whole matter. al community’s preservation that we re- for common Swiss features of our litera- Depending on the region of our na- ally need to prioritize the Fatherland, the ture, honestly pointed out in a speech enti- tional territory, it is not only the language defense, the resistance against foreign in- tled “Is there a Swiss national literature?” but also the sense for form, the mentali- fluences before the unlimited freedom of (“Neue Zürcher Zeitung” of 10 October ty, the sensitivity that are different. There- movement into the neighboring country 1954) that Gottfried Keller rejected with- fore one should not seek to blur and merge which all of us might favor. Unfortunate- out quite some acrimony the demand for them, because they are not a unitary cul- ly, we do not yet live in the cosmopoli- a “so-called national literature in the cor- ture. They belong to us, the Swiss, while tan universe of Goethe. German speaking ner”. “He decidedly does not want,” says at the same time they belong to our rel- Switzerland’s relations with Germany Ernst, “to have anything to do with the atives across the borders. On Swiss soil during the times of Hitler and the Third ‘eternal founders of a literary home in- we should acknowledge everyone accord- Reich could not be as impartial and frank dustry’.” In 1880, Gottfried Keller wrote ing to his kind. The confederate roof pro- as they had been before. It is true that the in a letter that if anyone wanted to liter- tectively spreads over all of us. We are a profound disturbance of these relations arily accomplish anything in Switzerland, nation in which sometimes the one feels called for a defensive position, because “he had to adhere to the great language somewhat strange to the other one. I can- we were barked at from over there that a area, to which he belongs.” Fritz Ernst not see these things differently. Recent- multilingual nation would not exist. Lan- also reminds of Ramuz’ letter from 1937, ly one of my Geneva colleagues told me, guage community was also a national and in which he denied that the Swiss could “We have the outland in our own country” Reich community, it was claimed! We had be one people. As common characteris- (l’étranger chez nous), a remark which is to defend ourselves against this point of tics, Ramuz merely recognized the mail- actually obvious when you consider that boxes and military uniform, so apparently as a result of language barriers certain continued on page 11 No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 11

”Fundamental reflections on …” in the fight against excessive nationalism a background of tyranny. Between Ital- continued from page 10 of the northern neighbors. Heritage and ian Fascism and German National Social- national culture are certainly to be pro- ism we had a kind of monopoly of politi- view, and thus an alienation occurred, at moted, but with all that care of the folk cal freedom and the freedom of thought in least for the duration of the Third Reich, culture, all our love for dialect we should Central Europe. We were the defenders of an alienation that was the expression of a not underestimate the danger of a provin- Schiller and of all that Schiller had pro- defensive reflex. cial turning away from the great world of claimed. So it came about that in the cul- You remember that just at that time of culture. It really does matter for a coun- tural area, for example, the “Schauspiel- the defense against Nazi imperialism the try that trades with the whole world, that haus” in Zurich, the Swiss press and the idea and also the thing that was called is on the technical and scientific fore- Swiss Radio, the Swiss film and the Swiss mental defense emerged. From 1939 on- front together with other civilized nations, cabaret, universities and publishing hous- ward, the Landi with its mountain trail de- whether its world view keeps pace with es were given a great importance because veloped from this mental defense of the the times and is part of the great develop- this theater, this press, this radio could country. It was also the source of an in- ments of the century or whether it is some- adopt philosophical and literary products, creased preservation and promotion of times anxious and embarrassedly leaning if I may say so, which were outlawed in Swiss peculiarity, of typical Swiss cultur- on its dialect and its home region and uses Italy and especially in Germany. We could al values. At that time Federal Council- them as a refuge. They should probably impartially publish and show products of lor Etter in his memorable message to the be a refuge, but this refuge should not pre- foreign culture in German-speaking Swit- councillors proposed the establishment of vent the people from also treading the path zerland, admire or criticize them. It was the Association of Pro Helvetia in order to to the outside, also in the sense of cherish- our pride to lead a cultural life in the heart respect and promote Swiss culture. ing the standard German language. I am of Europe with this impartiality and free- You might object that in the Romanic convinced that it is a national educational dom, which contrasted so strongly to the part of the country this defensive position task to clearly and cleanly distinguish di- keywords and the marching bands in the had had less impact. People had not got alect and written language. Give to each Millennial Kingdom. We could also fulfill as excited as in German-speaking Switzer- what it deserves, and let none of them go humanitarian tasks. We could afford help land against German Nazism and Hitler- short. This is one of the difficulties posed and services of various kinds. ism. In addition, the bonds of the French by the educational tasks of the German This monopoly does no longer exist. speaking part of Switzerland with the cul- Swiss who does not know the French- The time has gone when someone or tural centre Paris was stronger than to- speaking Swiss. The neglect of the stand- something was sought for abroad, only day’s bonds between the German speak- ard language is certainly inappropriate. because it was Swiss. ing Swiss and corresponding cultural It is to be learned by children at school Rather the opposite can sometimes be centers in Germany. That’s true. Howev- and learned well, and it should be applied noticed. The mood is not always sympa- er, there was also a similar defensive posi- properly in life. I mean less the pronunci- thetic towards Switzerland. Not even in tion in French-speaking Switzerland at the ation in which we can always easily de- the small states, such as Holland and Bel- time of Napoleon I and III. At that time a tect the Austrians, the Rhineland people gium, which – in contrast to us – had suf- part of the culture-creating Swiss lived in and the Swiss in the German language fered the enemy inside their country and a state of emigration towards France. Re- area; but I think the correct, clean, con- during the war and who now bear us a member the memorable role of Madame scientiously written and oral application grudge for not having suffered and having de Stael and her circle at Coppet Castle, of the standard language should be an im- achieved material gains. Our agency ser- in the Canton of Vaud. Madame de Stael portant cultural concern with us. A Gott- vices are no longer so important and not and the best minds of French-speaking fried Keller would be the first who would so much in demand. Former enemies com- Switzerland faced Napoleon in a position blame us very much if we neglected the municate directly today. As a result, we of political and ideological defence. They standard language or treated it with ne- can only survive in competition with the were also constantly monitored and har- assed by Napoleon’s police. They could not go to France and had to stay away “But in the Federal Constitution there are no minorities from Paris for years. This was not with- out consequences, and the French crit- and no citizens of less rights, but only equals in Switzer- ics of these writers reproached them with land, which is not egalitarianism following the mediocre, their “style émigré”. Even under Napole- but which includes the right to one’s own personality and on III some French-speaking Swiss stayed at home and did not want to see Paris that one’s own expression. We are careful not to let extensive way protesting against the dictatorship freedom, given to us by law and justice, be stunted by cus- of the emperor. The most famous among them was Frederic Amiel. tom.” It must be admitted, and here we return to the issue of the meaning of language for culture, that such periods of cultural glect. We would defraud ourselves of an other nations, if we accept only the real seclusion can have adverse effects on lin- essential part of the cultural importance of thing, the excellent, the quality in the cul- guistic skills and the literary expression of our country, if we let the German language tural sphere, and by coming in direct con- the Swiss. Amiel, who had never been to and its knowledge be decomposed by mis- tact with the spirit and the currents of our Paris, wrote a style that bore clear traces understood patriotism. century in various areas through our medi- of his provincial seclusion. Our role throughout European and per- ators of cultural values. That may oppose In German-speaking Switzerland, we haps non-European cultural life is natu- a certain popular distrust in the extraordi- have a flexibility that our French and Ital- rally different in times of peace than in nary and superior and reveal our conserv- ian speaking confederates do not have to times of war. In the last World War this ativeness and self-sufficiency to a bigger the same extent. We have agreed on the task was simpler in a sense, however not use of the vernacular as a political weapon easier. We defended our freedom against continued on page 12 No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 12

”Fundamental reflections on …” only become properly recognized and fa- I do not want to mix cheap irony into continued from page 11 mous after their death. these considerations. But I think that we When an innovator and younger writ- rendered our country a better service if world. But it is in no way written down er like Max Frisch criticized his city and we candidly and humorously called these in our old alliances and not even in the his country, he must indeed be prepared things by name, so that they do not taste constitution that we have to sacrifice ex- to meet with opposition and counter-crit- too bitter. And let us not forget: It is no cellence to the good average. It is like in icism.When, however, a Swiss newspa- longer a situation like war, not even the sports: Only the top results count, but they per writes in the aftermath that this man immediate post-war situation, where we must be supported by all levels of the pyr- should emigrate since he was no longer were able to help, but now we are to some amid, which rise from the base to the tip. a Swiss, it is miserable and infamous. As extent referred back to our seat by the oth- I see the only correct and possible so- if Gotthelf had not recklessly denounced ers who have taken their seats again. lution in a genuine competition with for- the abuses in his country at the time and We should, I would like to say in con- eign countries, which ensures that no own Gottfried Keller had not written his “Sa- clusion, not let entire ethnic groups nor cultural achievement stays behind that of lander”! Were they asked to emigrate for some outstanding cultural creators feel the rest of the world. For it is the outstand- that? Our great thinkers or outstanding their shortcomings in the totality of our ing works of the mind, which distinguish a people often had a difficult time with us. controlled everyday life too much. There nation. Our country owes its cultural repu- Pestalozzi, for example, could never per- are in fact minorities with us, as there are tation to men like Heinrich Pestalozzi and form his work in his Zurich homeland. also insulated. (We should examine the Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It owes the rep- They thought he was incapable, if not causes of such isolation or of unconnect- utation to its achievements in the fields crazy. He had to go to the Bernese Aargau edness to the whole of the Swiss life one of medicine and technology. It owes it to and to Vaud. People from Basel, Berne day.) But in the Federal Constitution there outstanding musicians, such as Honegger, and foreigners looked after him. After are no minorities and no citizens of less Schoeck, Ansermet and others. All this is the death of such men, when their bones rights, but only equals in Switzerland, not always duly recognized and appreciat- bleach in the cemetery, their posthumous which is not egalitarianism following the ed in our own country. But you should be fame is often claimed by cities and coun- mediocre, but which includes the right to aware of the values that are really availa- tries. We Swiss must watch out against one’s own personality and one’s own ex- ble in the country and that are alone capa- envy and jealousy. Unfortunately, they pression. We are careful not to let exten- ble to provide charm. flourish quite well in our conditions. sive freedom, given to us by law and jus- There is a record on “His Masters It always takes the good will of eve- tice, be stunted by custom. Voice” with a dramatic poem by Denis de ryone, the consent to the just-so-and-no- We want to honestly contribute as Rougemont, whose sound track was writ- different features of Switzerland, if you teachers and educators that everyone can ten by Arthur Honegger. The topic is the want to preserve it and keep its sense and look forward to be Swiss and to be called story of the hermit in the Ranft, Niklaus its right to exist. This is more difficult in as such, and that the big-hearted approv- von Flüe, whose figure fascinated these cultural sphere than in all other areas, be- al, which Gottfried Keller was once able two artists who were so committed to the cause it repeatedly requires tolerance, i.e. to give to the newly designed alliance of French word and spirit in the thirties. It not only the acceptance of the difference, the Confederates, will also be made it easy is a rare and for the whole country val- but often also of the uncomfortable and of to achieve for the culturally creative art- uable example that a national topic from startling our mental inertia. Ours is a cer- ists of our days. We do not only have a one language area has produced an im- tain conformism, and it bothers us when wonderful home, but also a Swiss mental portant work of art in another language someone comes along who sees things heritage, and we should defend and main- area. It dates from the year 1939. The per- differently, or represents them differently tain both. We can, however, prepare the formance was recorded with the Parisi- from what pleases us. I want to ask: Has, ground for the receptiveness and the atten- an “Orchèstre du Conservatoire”, with a for example, a C.G. Jung found the rec- tion of the young, especially in teaching. French conductor. In German-speaking ognition in our country which he had in Not everyone is a cultural creator; actual- Switzerland this work remained almost the wide world for a long time? I do not ly only very few are. But we as teachers unknown. Even at international festivals know. It was certainly encouraging that are cultural mediators, and much depends that take place in Switzerland, we hide our this Swiss person, who is much honored on how we communicate the cultural her- light under a bushel; outstanding works of abroad, received his honorary doctorate on itage, in which spirit we do it, whether a our own composers can hardly be heard at the occasion of his 80th birthday for the broad and open-minded class of culture such international festivals. But we should first time by a university of our country. recipients will grow up in our country. • be warned that we do not spoil the high Self-isolation, influence abroad and final- Source: Schriften des S.L.V. No 30, Zurich 1955 spirit of our country’s creative artists by ly recognition if these men are old or have from: J. R. von Salis: “Schwierige Schweiz, Bei- indifference. Life was not rendered good died and people have taken due note of the träge zu einigen Gegenwartsfragen”, Zurich 1968, and easy for a Spitteler and a Ramuz by fact that they have done something signifi- pp. 107–122 their people, and they have – like many cant: This was and still is exactly the same other great thinkers in spirit and word – with not only a few great thinkers. (Translation Current Concerns) No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 13

The population depends on a healthy farming community Great cattle show in Kirchberg SG by Thomas Kaiser More and more people are entering in the café near the town’s main crossroads. The hour hand moves slowly toward eight o’clock, and the people here know only one topic at the moment: the arriving of the cows to the cattle show. It is shortly after eight o’clock and the just yet fully stocked café empties all of a sudden. The crowd is striving toward the main cross- roads between church and parish hall. No one wants to miss what is shown by the farmers from the surrounding area. A thrill of joy is in the air in Kirchberg on this unfortunately cloudy Saturday morn- ing. But nobody is actually interested in the weather; a much too important event is ahead. From far away you can hear the dull deep sound of large cow bells. The sound (picture thk) is coming closer and closer and you can already see a large herd, led by farm- assessment. It is an impressive experi- ing that discontent becomes too big and ers with their children, continually com- ence to watch the natural relationship be- turns into political resistance. The farm- ing towards the crossroads. The traffic tween man and animal. While one cow ing community of Switzerland is aware is stopped, for once the cows, bulls and can be led quietly and securely through of its true significance. They also know goats are the lords of the street. The color- the ring, the other remains stubborn and that they do not have a reliable partner in fully decorated animals have reached the self-willed and can hardly be held in line the Swiss government for which the wel- crossroads, the village is filled with the for the award ceremony. Of course, every fare of the farmers and hence the popu- vibrant sound of the bells, and the whole cow has its own character, and each farm- lation and ultimately the state is a major place seems to vibrate. The cows proud- er, too. “Today in the morning when I concern. Settling free trade agreements ly wear these magnificent bells and as a came into the barn with the bells my ani- and ruining the local agriculture still spectator one has the impression that they mals were totally excited. They knew ex- seems to be content and orientation of the enjoy being in the spotlight for once and actly that today it’s the cattle show and Federal Agricultural Policy, what kind of admired by the many audiences. Hardly they were hard to contain. They know agenda may ever be behind. Cattle shows the first herd has passed and the next one what is going on and they enjoy it proper- like the one here in Kirchberg can also appears. The proud animals arrive from ly.” The farmer embraces the strong neck be means to make the non-peasant pop- all four corners led by their no less proud of his favorite cow, a Swiss Brown cattle, ulation familiar with the importance and peasant families. The cows are decorat- with appropriate pride and raves about its beauty of rural work. Most people in this ed so affectionately and differently; they balanced character. “These are excellent country are highly convinced of a mean- seem to know that today it is their day. animals; they can be led calmly and are ingful and comprehensive agriculture and This is the proud Swiss farming pop- fully cooperative.” He hopes for a first food supply. The perpetual financial ar- ulation, trying to provide the popula- place in the ranking – and so does his gument why free trade is important for tion with good food, with great dedica- neighbor with which he had an amicable our country is much too short-sighted. tion despite the many changes in the last chat. A few meters further there is a dis- It does not only destroy the local agri- few years. Over an hour the magnificent cussion about the agricultural policy of culture as is shown in an interview with animals are passing parade, then traffic the Federal Council. It has little approval. Jakob Maute but leads to famines in the moves again unhindered, only a few cow- “It is not about us in this policy, this is a exporting countries. We humans are de- pats remember what an impressive spec- policy past the farmers.” So is the view of pendent on a healthy farming communi- tacle has just happened. the great majority. “What would be if we ty. Only thanks to their work we are pro- Nearly 840 animals gathered at the all were to stop? Where would the food vided with high-quality food products. Frohheim scene in the village of Kirch- come from then?”. “From the Ukraine”, They have a certain price and should be berg where now the competition and the one says boldly, “but we would look very paid well. Food security is a great asset show of the Miss contest start. The au- stupid then.” “They do not have enough and contributes to our state sovereignty. dience is large and there is a friendly at- for themselves.” “If we make us depend- It is natural that traditions such as cat- mosphere among the peasants, they know ent from abroad, we will lose our politi- tle shows and the cattle drive up to al- each other, exchange news and cultivate cal freedom of action; the Federal Coun- pine pasture and the descent are parts of their common interests. What about the cil must not undergo this risk.” This is a sound agriculture. It can only perform dear cattle? While one flock waits rest- what could be heard at various locations. its tasks if the agricultural policy both re- lessly and vigorously mooing for its ap- No, the cattle show in Kirchberg as fers to the concerns of the population as pearance, others are standing stoically in in many other places is not only folklore well as to those of the farmers and puts row until they are taken in the ring for that they may still cultivate, thus avoid- them into action. • No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 14 “We are a typical family business, where all of us play their part” “Free Trade Agreement deprive people in the affected countries of their livelihoods” Interview with farmer Jakob Maute, Schönau

Current Concerns: Was the cattle show in Congratulations! A farmer winning a fell. One is dead, one had a leg broken, Kirchberg successful? prize at a cattle show what does this mean two of them are injured but still alive. But Jacob Maute: In the morning our bull for him? it is still uncertain if the animal with the won the “Mister Kirchberg” trophy. It elates us, it fills us with some breeder broken leg will survive. There were some bulls in the qualifica- pride. You must know, breeding animals tion round, and of course I am pleased is a very cumbersome affair. It takes al- Do you know the cause? about the title. In the afternoon there were most two and a half years until a cow has It happened in broad daylight. A shep- five department victories for us. Plus the borne the first calf. Making progress in herd observed that the herd suddenly be- title of “Miss OB” and “Vice-Miss OB”. such a cumbersome and time-consuming came very excited because of a noise and The abbreviation means the old “Sch- affair and in doing so still being able to ran off. Most likely it has to do with the weizer Originalbraunvieh” (Swiss Orig- maintain the standard, this is already an wolf. At night, when no one is there, the inal Brown Cattle). That is the original art. And if you can maintain the standard wolves drive the animals on the alps and Swiss breed. it makes you proud, of course. thus teach their offspring to drive and rush the dear. For the farm animals in There were a lot of animals at the cattle What are important breeding criteria for the Alps, this is extremely problematic. show, almost 840. From this large num- you? We feel this till today. If something ex- ber how is a “Miss Kirchberg” or a “Mis- I attach great importance to a long-liv- ceptional happens, the animals are ex- ter Kirchberg”selected in the end ? ing, healthy cow. We had already four tremely frightened. The wolf chasing The experts are trained to judge the cows which yielded over 100,000 kilos of our animals about in the mountains is an cows. There are five main essential char- milk and lived more than 20 years. This impossible situation and when then they acteristics. This is the “format”, that is evidence of our success. Of course our fall and perish somewhere or die instant- means the whole cow, next the “founda- cow has to produce, but not at the limit, ly, this is very difficult for us. tion”, which are the legs, important for instead it is to remain healthy and grow old. To almost exclusively feed our cattle If you talk about the wolf, then you talk with roughage from our immediate envi- about the killed animals, nobody talks ronment is very important to me, and that about this consequences. is part of our fundamental philosophy. In Yes, the big animals have not been killed addition to roughage they get some feed up to now, but the young wolves are pellets, too. taught chasing and driving, and those are the effects then. The wildlife leaves the How big is your live stock right now? areas where the wolf is active, and the We have 30 cows and 40 young animals, wolf of course drives the animals that are 8 Franches Montagnes horses and 2 bulls. left over at the end. The wildlife searches for another habitat. The mountain wild- Do you also do suckler cow husbandry or life passes into the valley, which is also just pure dairy farming? not natural. So there are strong shifts that We also do suckler cow husbandry to sell are very questionable. Jakob Maute with “Vero – Mister a few animals, because they are in de- Kirchberg” (picture thk) mand. The “Schweizer Originalbraun- vieh” is part of the utility class 2. It is a fertility and birth is the “pelvis”, then useful cow in suckler cow husbandry. And continued on page 15 the “udder” and the “teats”. These are if someone is in- the items, and the jurors who must assess terested, I sell an this, are trained and have an eye in order animal. to identify which are the strong points of the cow and where. That is the way they Do your young assess them. cattle also go up to the mountains Then, only a small number is selected for during summer? the qualification round? Yes, I bring Exactly. For us Schönau people the fol- them up to an lowing is fantastic this year: In the catego- alp in the Enga- ry “Originalbraunvieh” we won the Miss dine. and the Vice Miss titles and my neighbor, Peter Truniger, won the Miss and Vice So your cat- Miss titles in the more modern breedc tle had a good ategory, the Swiss Brown. Now we have time? these titles here with us in Schönau. I am No, this year it delighted with that, and we are quite a bit was not so good. proud. Four animals (picture thk) No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 15

”’We are a typical family …’” agriculture as a whole. Agricultural policy While the price of milk is steadily falling, continued from page 14 would have to go in this direction. But, of the price for a liter of diesel has risen. course, that is in contrast to the efforts to Yes, that’s the way it is. If we look back I would like to come back to your state- buy everything cheaply on the world mar- in history, then you know that a fami- ment that you feed your animals with ket. The whole thing is altogether absurd. ly with one cow could survive the win- roughage from the environment. If goods are transported over thousands ter thanks to the milk it yielded. All peo- This is very important to me, although of kilometers into our country and still ple had enough milk, so you could get policy pulls in a different direction. They are cheaper than the ones produced here, by, a 10- to 15-member family could sur- talk of free trade agreements, because then something is wrong. On the one hand vive. With a calf you could meet the de- one wants to purchase products as cheap this is ecological nonsense, but also the mand for meat. This is unimaginable for as possible, and deprives the people in the production methods and the recompensa- us today. affected countries of their livelihoods, tion for the people in other continents and their basis of existence. While others are countries are far below our standard. This This is presumably a result of the fact starving, we, who actually have enough, way you cannot trade fairly because ulti- that people, especially in the cities, do not receive the products out of these coun- mately we must meet all requirements in know how things are all connected. tries, and everything has to be purchased our production here in Switzerland, and of That’s why we try to familiarize the peo- as cheaply as possible. Of course they do course that costs a lot of time and money. ple with the joy and the beauty of the advertising for regional products, but I farmer’s profession by cattle shows like often have the impression that this is just The argument of free trade is also com- the one on the penultimate Saturday. an excuse to sell the products. They con- pletely misplace here? Many visitors come, who can have lunch stantly talk of free trade agreements and As a farmer one is bound to one’s soil and there and experience the extraordinary, buy products, no matter how they were farm. You cannot infinitly use the soil, positive and joyful mood. This is also ad- produced. They make life difficult for us, otherwise you have nothing left in the vertising for us, of course. when the stable is one inch too small or end. We have excellent grass land here . If the cow has received a ray of sunshine too grain is now increasingly in demand, we Actually, this is still an easy way to get much. In transport, enormous require- cannot just plant wheat, that is impossible to know the rural culture for people who ments are imposed and one is punished with our soil, except we would use ferti- have no idea about agriculture, even if with a big fine if you do not comply. In lizor to an extreme degree, that would be the hard work that is associated with each other countries, the transport of the ani- utter nonsense and totally uneconomical. cow does not become visible, of course. mals is not monitored, but the goods are We cannot just change that. This must be Yes, that’s been the main reason why we brought into the country cheaply and that taken into account. When making screws have always taken children and school is completely incomprehensible to me. If or other industrial goods, you can buy classes on our farm. We had a lot of school you look at the world events, for example, raw materials of varying quality, but as a groups here with us. We have always told at the crisis in the Ukraine or whatever farmer we are bound to our soil, there is ourselves, that this is an opportunity for else is happening in the world, it has never no other way. The industry is flexible, we young people to learn something that they been as significant as today, that you at- are not. We must take care of our basis, won’t learn anywhere else. And those who tach the utmost importance to the supply everything else would be fatal. have taken something in will have it for with our own products. If self-subsistence their entire lives. Something will always would become a reasonable value again, How could you keep up your farm until be kept. ... we would have to deal much more care- today? fully with the ground in our country, be- We are a typical family enterprise in ... That’s right, I have experienced it my- cause then we would need the ground for which all of us contribute. Without the self. My aunt had a farm, although only food. Concreting over our farmland would support of the family members, we could agriculture and forestry, but as a child I stop. We would have to take a lot more never have managed our business to this learned and saw a lot about agriculture care to all these things, including the extent. That is what it takes. Food pric- there... next generation. We are not the only ones es are much too low. You could not col- It was very impressive when the children who want to live here. We have rented this lect apples and pears any more, if people came to us. Many of them were complete- earth only for a little while and then we did not work without payment in a sense. ly insecure and could hardly cope with the have to leave again. We imagine that we Therefore something is still left over need to be in control of everything during under the bottom line. It is like that in continued on page 16 that time. That is complete nonsense. Our various fields of ag- vocation to produce food for the people riculture, and that’s is something very beautiful, but it should not entirely fair. The be appreciated a little more. All the luxu- relationship between ry of our time, all the electronics, the ex- a liter of milk and a pensive cars, driving around on our roads, liter of petrol is still have such a high priority, but with food it completely absurd. has to be the cheapest, food is supposed One liter of miner- to cost less and less. This is indeed out of al water or a liter of proportion. cola is more expen- sive than a liter of What should be changed? milk. Milk is a high It would be desirable for the peasantry quality foodstuff that of course and would make the profession contains so many nu- more attractive if we farmers were recom- trients, but the price pensated for our hard work with reason- has dropped more able product prices. This would also ex- and more in recent press an appreciation, which would affect years. ... (picture thk) No 26 28 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 16

Statement of the “Schweizerischer Schafzüchterverband” (Swiss Sheep Breeders’ Association) Response of the “Schweizerischer conditions are met. Approximately 40% tors in the near future – or only to large Schafzüchterverband” to the statement of all sheep breeders and sheep farmers predators. of Swiss “Tierschutzverband” (Animal receive no contributions, but provide the Lamb: Should import have priority Protection, SAP) in the Coop Magazine same services and have the same amount over domestic production? from 23 September 2014 “Dear hikers: of effort! The study of the Summering Inform us about alp sheep that were left Grant Regulation is highly recommended What is grown or grows on our door- behind !” to every critic. step, does no longer seem to appeal to the consumer. The consumer has lost all After about 100 days of summering on Sheep farmers and breeders sense of time for seasonal products, eve- alp pastures, after numerous animal represented as indifferent, rything has to be available all year round and alp controls and a well-prepared callous, jaded and forgetful as cheaply as possible. Lamb’s loin, im- “Alpabfahrt” (transhumance) animals individuals ported from South America, England, are not just “accidentally left behind on During the winter months, most lambs Scotland, New Zealand and Australia, is the mountain”. Before the actual “Alp- are born to grow up, protected by their offered at prices that should make every abfahrt” the animals are herded by mothers, and have time to develop to be consumer think twice. What do we know their owners and kept overnight in a independent young animals until the be- about sheep farming in these countries? pen before they go back down to the ginning of June. Usually at mid-June, de- How long are the transport routes that valley, the next morning. Missing ani- pending on food availability, the sheep the animals have behind them before mals are searched until dusk and then are entrusted to the care of a shepherd slaughter? How long do they have to again at daybreak. We are speaking of or “Bergvogt” who is in charge of the ani- wait to be killed at the slaughterhouse? animals/ living creatures and not of a mals for approximately the next 100 days. Is the consumer really able to enjoy an piece of paper (that as well should not Depending on the location (topographical import lamb’s loin with so many ques- be left back). In case a sheep ran away and geographical) the flock is constantly tion marks? too far from the rest of the herd or has guarded by a shepherd with dog (constant Swiss lamb in contrast grows on our been injured or cannot be found due to shepherding), or the sheep are kept in a doorstep, at species-appropriate care, bad weather, the breeder does not yet rotating grazing system (paddocks). On on meadows, pastures and on the alps. give up. In the course of the next few those alps, where neither constant shep- Don’t forget the winter pasture (migra- days he goes back to the alp, even sev- herding nor rotational grazing is possible, tory herds) where a part of the lambs eral times, if necessary, together with the owners care intensely about the wel- stay until they are ready for slaughter. friends or family members, and search- fare of their animals. In all weathers, reg- The transport to the slaughterhouse is es the area. Sheep are not easily for- ular patrols across the entire grazing area short and the processing is usually done gotten, and they do not run away with- are part of their work as much as the con- in the same place. From the slaughter- out any reason! The SAP calls for sheep, trols on animal health and animal welfare. house to the retail store, the meat is to be reported immediately, if they are transported along the fastest route in noticed in the alps after 22 September. Should not the alps be modern refrigerated trucks. In Switzer- This call is an intrusion into the privacy utilized more? land, the traceability from farm to fork of sheep breeders and sheep farmers. is guaranteed, that is, the butcher/seller It is written nowhere that after 22 Sep- The alps have been used for hundreds is familiar with the place of origin. Swiss tember sheep are no longer allowed of years for the grazing of livestock. lamb is slightly more expensive than im- to be on the alps. Depending on the Thus the population is provided a living ported meat, but we can eat and enjoy weather and feed sheep still enjoy the recreation area. This tradition could be it with a clear conscience. late fall on the alps for a long time. preserved and kept alive for many years to come, if the work of farmers were Ladies and gentlemen of the Swiss Is the Federal Government appreciated and supported by the non- Animal Protection: Such public state- wasting tax francs for summer agricultural population. But as long as ments are unnecessary and counterpro- pasturing? the call for the existence of large car- ductive – our wish for the future is coop- Once again, sheep farming and subsidy is nivores (wolf, bear) has not died away eration instead of working against each thrown in a pot with taxpayers’ money. It and sheep farming is accused of squan- other. is true that sheep summering is granted dering taxpayers’ money for keeping Schweizerischer Schafzuchtverband payments in accordance with the ”Söm- sheep over and over again, we see dark (Swiss Sheep Breeders’ Association) meringsbeitragsverordnung, SR 910.133” clouds rising over the alps. Certain cir- German Schmutz, President (Summering Grant Regulation) within cles pursue the goal that the pastures the direct support scheme if the required are ceded to bikers and large preda- (Translation Current Concerns)

”’We are a typical family …’” they have made ​​the apprenticeshipand I have always told myself that the food continued from page 15 our daughter as well. Thus, the condi- question will preoccupy us in the future, tions are good that one of our children we as farmers will be needed in the fu- new impressions. When a cow shit, some will carry on with the farm. I am very ture, but we must be able to make a liv- of them even panicked and ran away. pleased of course, that they have learned ing from it. something from me and want to continue Will your farm continue to exist as a fam- the tradition. Even my great-grandfather, Mr Maute, thanks for the interview. • ily business? my grandfather and my father had a farm There is a good chance that it will con- business here. They see this as their fu- tinue. Both sons are skilled farmers, ture, and that is of course very positive. (Interview Thomas Kaiser)