SWISS REVIEW The magazine for the Swiss Abroad July 2017 World-class contour lines – Swiss cartography under the microscope The figures on security – what the crime statistics really reveal What next for “La Quotidiana”? – the Romansh paper faces closure Follow the Congress of the Swiss Abroad live! On 18 and 19 August 2017, the 95th Congress of the Swiss Abroad takes place in Basel. Follow the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad and the Congress conference which will be broadcasted live and streamed on SwissCommunity.org. All details will be available from 14 August 2017 on www.swisscommunity.org. SwissCommunity.org is a network set up by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) Tourismus © Basel Photo SwissCommunity-Partner: Contents Editorial 3 Accounts on the same terms 5 Mailbag It is an impossible situation and an incredibly frus­ trating issue for the diaspora – the Swiss Abroad to­ 6 Focus day have to overcome ever more hurdles in order to Swiss cartography open a bank account on reasonable terms in their former homeland. In some cases, they have to pay in­ 10 Politics credibly inflated charges, which are justified as being First step towards energy transition due to “regulatory measures”. For example, Post­ The referenda on 24 September Finance, which is wholly owned by federal govern­ BDP and GLP seeking a profile ment, recently almost doubled its account fees and also cancelled the credit cards of all Swiss Abroad. In other cases, Swiss Abroad approach banks which 14 Society flatly deny them the opportunity to open an account. An in­depth look at the crime figures The Swiss Abroad claim they are being discriminated against and feel as Portrait of the winemaker though they are being treated as second­class Swiss citizens. They do not Marie­Thérèse Chappaz intend to carry on putting up with this situation. In the spring, the Organi­ sation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) called upon Federal Councillor Doris 18 Media Leuthard to stipulate in the Postal Services Ordinance that PostFinance “La Quotidiana” faces closure cannot discriminate against the Swiss Abroad. In vain. Further proposals have nevertheless since been put forward at parlia­ 20 Culture mentary level. Roland Büchel, an SVP National Councillor and a member of Three Swiss conductors abroad the OSA Executive Board, submitted a motion calling for systemically impor­ tant Swiss banks to allow all Swiss citizens to open a bank account, includ­ 22 Literature series ing those abroad. It was narrowly defeated but has been followed by two Corinna Bille on the Mediterranean further proposals in the same vein. At the end of June, Filippo Lombardi, a CVP Council of States member and Vice­President of the OSA, presented a 23 OSA news motion once again requesting that all Swiss citizens be allowed to hold an account with systemically important banks. An initiative by the Foreign 26 news.admin.ch Affairs Committee at the beginning of July again targeted discrimination against the Swiss Abroad at PostFinance. 28 Images Both motions are still pending but illustrate that wheels are in motion. Swiss cuisine – past and present Perhaps it is just a matter of time before the diaspora can finally once again use Swiss bank accounts on reasonable terms. MARKO LEHTINEN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 30 Books Tim Krohn’s new novel 30 Sounds “Devil is Fine” by Zeal & Ardor 31 Top pick 31 Echo Cover photo: Swiss cartography enjoys global fame. Swiss Review / July 2017 / No. 4 International Health Insurance Based on Swiss standards Lifelong private medical treatment Worldwidefreechoiceofdoctorand clinic Furthermore: Internationaldisabilityinsurance Online Internationalpension fund Individual solutions for: International Swiss citizens abroad Expatriates of allnationalities Health Shorttermassignees /Localhire Insurance Contactus! Tel: +41 (0)43 399 89 89 www.swisscare.com www.asn.ch ASN,Advisory Services Network AG +41 26 309 20 40 Bederstrasse 51 CH-8027 Zürich [email protected] Mailbag 5 Work for undocumented immigrants. Old-age pension reform. Geneva model leads the way Before the referendum It is a brave and welcome initiative in a world I have lived outside Switzerland since I where the borders are re-closing. Having legal was five years old , came back to Switzer- status means much more than paying tax. Rec- land at the age of 21, worked there for six ognising and condemning the abusive practices months and went to the USA. What will of some employers is a logical step. As for the ar- happen to me if I want to go back to Swit- gument about “work for the people of Geneva”, zerland at the age of 65 and my pension I find it hard to believe that they would accept from the USA is not enough to survive in poorly paid jobs over unemployment benefits. Switzerland? Does the government have The conditions for obtaining this permit are well established a solution in this case? If not, it would mean that people and its one-year duration enables every case to be monitored like me couldn‘t ever go back because they wouldn‘t be and re-evaluated. Open your hearts and minds, and your life able to afford to live in Switzerland. I’ve wanted to pay AHV can only be better! Well done! There is no place for slavery in from abroad for a long time but never got an answer from modern society. LAURE MABILLARD, SWITZERLAND the AHV. HEINZ KUHNE, USA Large-scale panoramic paintings. Editorial. Renaissance of an object of fascination A dual identity I am European. My mother was Swiss, my father was Ital- ian, my husband is German, and our children are dual cit- izens. I speak six European languages and have relatives in It was some 60 years ago that I gazed at the Bourbaki panorama the UK. I firmly believe we must learn to think, live and act in amazement. It is a shame that these gigantic paintings re- as Europeans, without overlooking or forgetting the values ceive so little attention. ERNST RUETIMANN, THAILAND and principles of our respective countries of origin. Admit- tedly, diversity usually brings a need for great effort, empa- Calling the panoramas, as in this article, the first mass medium thy and patience as well as persuasive lines of argument, in history is rather wide of the mark. What about the Sacri determination and the willingness to compromise. Noth- Monti in northern Italy, for instance that of Varallo in Valsesia? ing can easily be pushed through or resolved once and for Between the Renaissance and Baroque periods, artists such as all. Diversity is nevertheless a rich asset offering great po- Gaudenzio Ferrari developed a multi-sensory experience tential, and is therefore key to prosperous development. which combined topography, architecture, sculpture and CLAUDIA STOCKBURGER-MARIDATI, GERMANY painting to produce a multi-media propaganda instrument of the Counter-Reformation which had mass impact. REINHARD MANZ, GERMANY MIET-PW, MIET-Camper, MIET-4x4 Ilgauto ag, 8500 Frauenfeld 200 Autos, 40 Modelle, ab Fr. 500.-/MT inkl. 2000Km 61 11 Tel. 0041 52 7203060 / www.ilgauto.ch Swiss Review / July 2017 / No. 4 6 Focus In the land of razor-sharp contours Few countries are as comprehensively and precisely measured and mapped as Switzer- public – and aesthetic – project. The land. The meticulously produced topographical maps make the mountainous and highly aim was to show how beautiful Swit- diverse country tangible. The shadows cast on the typical Swiss map also show that the zerland was and to depict it in its en- sun is always shining in Switzerland, albeit from an impossible cardinal direction. tirety. At that time there was no recrea- tional pursuit society demanding navigational assistance. The popular pastime of “Landeskenntnis” (knowl- MARC LETTAU curately mapping it, this year bears edge of the country) did not develop Perhaps there is a simple reason why the title of “European surveyor of the in bourgeois circles and crowded Switzerland has not really lost its year”. classrooms until the late 19th century. bearings for so long – its highly accu- Initially, it was primarily the politi- rate national maps. Every stone, Dufour set a very high standard cal elite of the Swiss Confederation every prominent linden tree, every who sought greater visibility for Swit- country lane and every rivulet are re- An honorary title 142 years after Du- zerland, which had been conceived as corded. Especially now during the four’s death? The tribute does not a republic, as a step towards national summer months, the painstakingly come too late, however. The many unity. The thinking was that maps of mapped country becomes a paradise years that have passed simply high- the country do not just reflect reality, for hikers. The notion that they all light the tremendous accuracy of the they also create it. They enable a com- wear red socks is a daft cliché. But first topographical maps of Switzer- mon territory to be envisaged. The what is not a cliché is the fact that hik- land, even from a current perspective. importance of the first maps of Swit- ing has become one of Switzerland’s Dufour set the bar very high very zerland in playing down differences most popular recreational activities. early on. This explains why Swiss car- and emphasising unity is illustrated The last major study on the topic in- tography continues to enjoy world not least by looking inside a wallet. dicated that 44% of the nation hike fame today. When the first national topographi- regularly. It is also true that the On the subject of world fame, At cal maps were printed, Switzerland throngs of people on Switzerland’s the “Exposition Universelle” – the did not even have a common cur- network of hiking trails – which 1855 world exhibition in Paris – Swit- rency.