Archive – Science

Swiss feel secure at home

This content was published on Aug 18, 2003 But the results of a survey also show that the Swiss have become more concerned about personal safety since the September 11 attacks. The annual study by the Centre of Security Studies at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich assesses the population’s security concerns. Over 80 per cent of participants in the survey characterised…

Valley of Light shines as model of sustainability

This content was published on Aug 18, 2003 The communities in Val Lumnezia are among several Swiss villages committed to implementing the treaty designed to protect the Alps. There are about a dozen villages and hamlets in canton Graubünden’s Val Lumnezia, or Valley of Light, one of many side valleys leading south from the Upper Rhine. Besides plenty of sunshine, the valley has…

Swiss environmental record criticised

This content was published on Aug 14, 2003 While they welcomed developments in climate, energy and transport policy, they said little actual progress was being made. The groups – including Greenpeace, Pro Natura, WWF and the Swiss Transport and Environment Association – delivered their assessment at a news conference in Bern on Thursday. “Government policies have largely failed over the past decade,” Kaspar…

Huge fire rages near alpine resort

This content was published on Aug 14, 2003 Dry conditions and winds of around 45kmh fuelled the blaze near the spa resort of Leukerbad. Some 125 soldiers were mobilised to help firefighters tackle the blaze which ravaged 450 hectares of forest in canton Valais. Seven helicopters – including two army Superpumas – and more than 300 firefighters were drafted in to contain the…

Forest fire blazes in southern Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 14, 2003 Fire fighters are bracing themselves for 45kmh winds that could fuel the blaze further. On Thursday morning, only a few pockets of fire were still blazing and cantonal police declared the situation under control. “But the problem is that we are expecting winds that could be very dangerous,” local journalist, Gabi Nanzer, told swissinfo. Adding…

Pontresina becomes village of the dammed

This content was published on Aug 13, 2003 Since the 19th century, they have erected dry stonewalls and an elaborate network of fences to protect their homes and their lives. Anchored to the slopes above the village are 16 kilometres of steel fences costing at least SFr1,500 ($1,102) per metre. On August 13, when the community officially takes possession of an SFr7 million…

Heat becomes a burning issue for the Swiss

This content was published on Aug 13, 2003 The move comes after temperatures in Locarno, canton Ticino, reached a record-breaking high of 37.9°C on Monday. The normal speed limit on Swiss motorways is 120kmh. The authorities said the speed limit would remain in place for a maximum of eight days and urged residents to leave their cars at home and either use public…

Couples face fight for fertility treatments

This content was published on Aug 12, 2003 The current system means doctors are restricted as to what treatments they can offer patients who have difficulty conceiving naturally. The study by the Swiss National Science Foundation analysed how policy has been shaped in a number of countries over the past two decades. Eleven countries in total were considered, including France, Spain, Italy, Belgium,…

Zurich takes aim at history of bow and arrow

This content was published on Aug 9, 2003 It traces the history of the bow with examples dating back to about 3000 BC and even gives visitors the chance to handle replicas. A tour of the exhibition begins with modern day bows and ends with weapons from the Neolithic age. Among the revelations are that the basic design has hardly changed and that…

Mountain cantons hit by student brain drain

This content was published on Aug 9, 2003 A recent study revealed that students who leave their home canton to study rarely return after graduation, representing a huge loss in terms of investment and future taxes. The report by the Swiss Group for Mountain Regions found that in one area – Prättigau in canton Graubünden – 83 per cent of people who left…

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Archive – Science

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Swiss feel secure at home

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Valley of Light shines as model of sustainability

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Swiss environmental record criticised

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Huge fire rages near alpine resort

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Forest fire blazes in southern Switzerland

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Pontresina becomes village of the dammed

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Heat becomes a burning issue for the Swiss

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Couples face fight for fertility treatments

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Zurich takes aim at history of bow and arrow

More

Mountain cantons hit by student brain drain

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