Archive – Science

Threatened mountains reveal their charm

This content was published on Sep 2, 2002 Guides led a group of prominent and not so prominent people to the summits of various peaks as the association’s contribution to International Year of Mountains. The goal of the mountain guides was to put their profession in the spotlight, but more importantly to raise awareness of the importance of mountain regions. To spread the…

Business parades green credentials at Earth summit

This content was published on Sep 2, 2002 But non-governmental organisations and civil society groups have criticised big business for attempting to turn the conference into a global trade fair. At a one-day event held close to the main summit site, corporate chairmen and CEOs from some of the biggest names in business explained why their companies were convinced of the need to…

Safeguarding Switzerland’s political system

This content was published on Aug 29, 2002 Switzerland has used the conference to present the Swiss model of federalism to the world and to reflect on its own political system. In his opening address the Swiss president, Kaspar Villiger, said although federalism could serve as an example for Europe and the rest of the world, the Swiss system should not be viewed…

Brain reveals merits of forgetfulness

This content was published on Aug 29, 2002 A Zurich scientist has discovered a protein molecule in the brain that not only makes learning more difficult but actively prompts the brain to forget things. Professor Isabelle Mansuy from the Institute of Cell Biology at Zurich’s Federal Institute of Technology discovered that by reducing the amount of the protein phosphatase 1 in the brains…

Global summit highlights need for local agenda

This content was published on Aug 27, 2002 A joint Swiss-South African project – unveiled as part of Switzerland’s programme in Johannesburg – is bringing two communities together to their mutual benefit. The Swiss city of Basel may be half a world away from the South African capital, Pretoria, but this has not stopped the two communities from forging an unusual alliance. The…

Mbeki opens Earth summit with call for action

This content was published on Aug 26, 2002 The host country’s president, Thabo Mbeki, used the official opening ceremony to call on world leaders not to leave the conference without reaching an accord. At the ceremony in Ubuntu Village – the summit’s main exhibition site and home to the Swiss information platform, “Sustainable Switzerland” – drummers welcomed delegates to Johannesburg, while Mbeki highlighted…

Swiss host 2002 International Conference on Federalism

This content was published on Aug 22, 2002 Switzerland is hosting the 2002 International Conference on Federalism, and swissinfo will be covering the meeting in depth. The conference is a joint project between the Swiss Confederation and the Swiss cantonal governments, who consider Switzerland – one of the oldest federal states in the world – an ideal place for an international forum on…

The US variety of federalism

This content was published on Aug 22, 2002 But although their structures are similar, the US has a different form of federalism. “Swiss federalism was borne out of cultural diversity and has to be seen and understood in this context,” Thomas Fleiner, the head of the federalism institute at the University of Freiburg, told swissinfo. He added that it was for this reason…

Fossil find uncovers new fish species

This content was published on Aug 20, 2002 The fossilized discovery – something of a fishy version of the missing link – was made in a rock formation above the resort of Davos in the canton of Graubünden. Switzerland’s National Science Foundation believes the discovery offers fresh clues about the evolution of fish. Annette Herzog, a Zurich University scientist, says the fish is…

More families falling into poverty

This content was published on Aug 20, 2002 The organisations are calling on the Swiss government to introduce a series of measures, costing SFr720 million annually, to help families. The call came from the Federal Commission on Family Policy together with leading non governmental organisations such as Pro Familia and Pro Juventute. President of the Commission Jürg Krummenacher said Swiss families were more…

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