Cluster: Swiss Identity

English challenges multilingual Switzerland

This content was published on Jun 1, 2012 German-speaking cantonal governments have been responding to what they say is pressure from the globalised economy by gradually giving English priority over the national languages at school; English – not French – is taught as a second language in 14 of the 17 cantons. Coupled with that, large Swiss companies now tend to use English…

Demographics

Should Switzerland preserve its multilingualism?

This content was published on Jun 1, 2012 French has been relegated to a second foreign language in most German-speaking cantons, after English. And Italian is even worse off with only canton Ticino as a stronghold. Meanwhile English is being used more often in public and universities. Would it make sense to adopt English as the first foreign language taught in all Swiss…

Demographics

Rich or poor, Swiss are big fans of organic food

This content was published on May 31, 2012 But why are people ready to pay more for organically produced food? “We are investing in our health,” one young mother of three children told swissinfo.ch. She said she shopped regularly at one of the organic greengrocer’s stalls in the market in Bern’s old city, although she knows her purchases would cost barely half as…

Demographics

Dolphin ban has zoos worried

This content was published on May 30, 2012 When the issue was previously voted on in March, the House of Representatives opted for a ban on the keeping of dolphins in addition to the import ban. The chamber has now aligned itself with the more moderate Senate position. Veteran animal rights lawyer Antoine Goetschel welcomed the decision. “It’s a good starting point. In…

Wasserreservoirs

This content was published on May 30, 2012 Von aussen verrät ihre Existenz meist nur die Eingangstür zu einem Schacht. Silvio Maraini ist durch diese unscheinbare Tür getreten und hat «die Denkmäler der Zivilisation» dokumentiert: Wasserbehälter, die sich tief in der Erde verbergen, damit wir kühles Trinkwasser haben. Auf den Bildern fehlt allerdings das Wichtigste, der Zweck dieser Behälter – es fehlt das…

Syrian ambassador declared “persona non grata”

This content was published on May 29, 2012 The Syrian ambassador to Switzerland, Lamia Chakkour, is based in Paris. Earlier on Tuesday France announced it had expelled her in response to Friday’s killings in which scores of children and their parents were shot at close range in their homes. The foreign ministry said it had taken the action because of the “systematic” violation…

Culture

Cut it out: censorship à la Suisse

This content was published on May 29, 2012 In Switzerland, film ratings are left to the country’s 26 cantons, with the result that films can be banned in one canton but shown uncut just across the cantonal border. (Images: cinetext, AFP)

Culture

A behind-the-scenes look at the porn industry

This content was published on May 29, 2012 Take a woman, blonde, brunette or redhead – it doesn’t matter much. She smiles, groans, and yells. A man is engaged in intercourse with her – face-to-face, from behind, from the side. The video camera picks up every movement and records the encounter in the greatest detail. The scene is repeated. There is no plot,…

Culture

“Pornography is my profession”

This content was published on May 29, 2012 With dirty hands and an old film projector wedged under her arm, Stähli opens the door of her office, located in Zurich’s lively Kreis 4 district. She’s been busy emptying the office cellar, which resembles a dusty sex museum full of old films and other porn artefacts. Since the end of the 1970s it is…

Demographics

Crisis or no crisis, the world still needs cement

This content was published on May 28, 2012 Line up 12,000 Empire State Buildings in a row. That will you give you an idea of the quantity of cement produced in 2011: 3.4 billion tonnes, according to data from the United States Geological Survey. After two years of slowdown due to the financial crisis, world production of cement jumped again in 2010, up…

Cluster: Swiss Identity

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Cluster: Swiss Identity

More

English challenges multilingual Switzerland

More

Should Switzerland preserve its multilingualism?

More

Rich or poor, Swiss are big fans of organic food

More

Dolphin ban has zoos worried

More

Wasserreservoirs

More

Syrian ambassador declared “persona non grata”

More

Cut it out: censorship à la Suisse

More

A behind-the-scenes look at the porn industry

More

“Pornography is my profession”

More

Crisis or no crisis, the world still needs cement

Popular Stories

Most Discussed