Cluster: Swiss Identity

Switzerland gets foretaste of Expo 2000

This content was published on Mar 22, 2000 The organisers of Germany’s World Exposition have been in Zurich to launch the event’s promotional campaign in Switzerland. Expo 2000 opens in ten weeks’ time in Hanover and will continue until the end of October. It will bring together almost 200 countries and international organisations and expects to welcome 40 million visitors from all over…

Culture

Culture centre opens with music and talk

This content was published on Mar 22, 2000 The finance minister, Kaspar Villiger, has officially opened Lucerne’s acclaimed new Culture and Congress Centre. The centre opens its doors to the public this weekend with a programme which will see the whole building swing into action. Villiger said the centre was a symbol of success that would spread throughout the country. For three days,…

Demographics

Council of Europe highlights racism in Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 21, 2000 The Council of Europe says intolerance and xenophobia are common in Switzerland. A Council report published to mark International Day Against Racism, criticised Swiss naturalisation policy, which makes it tough to obtain the coveted red passport. “Although violent expressions of racism and intolerance remain sporadic in Switzerland, and a rise in antisemitism appears to have…

Demographics

Swiss balloonist Piccard gives hope to Noma children

This content was published on Mar 21, 2000 The Swiss balloonist, Bertrand Piccard, and his partner in their round-the-world flight, Brian Jones, have donated SFr 166,000 to fight the deadly Noma disease which primarily afflicts children. Their Swiss foundation, “Winds of Hope” made its first donation to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help African children facing the disfiguring and lethal disease. The…

Demographics

China under fire at UN human rights meeting

This content was published on Mar 20, 2000 The annual session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has opened in Geneva, with China expected to top the agenda. Several hundred members of the Falun Gong movement, which China banned last July, staged a silent protest in the city to mark the opening (picture). About 350 Falun Gong followers performed medidative exercises…

Demographics

Government wants to streamline naturalisation

This content was published on Mar 20, 2000 The Swiss government wants to ensure that the country’s naturalisation rules for foreigners do not lead to discrimination. The justice minister, Ruth Metzler (pictured), said measures were needed to avoid arbitrary decisions based on racial prejudice. Metzler’s comments come in response to a controversial case in the town of Emmen, in canton Lucerne. A total…

Culture

Zurich gets taste of Korean art

This content was published on Mar 20, 2000 Zurich’s Rietberg Museum will be full of eastern promise this year, with an exhibition on Korean art. It is not only one of the most significant Korean art shows ever sent abroad, but also the first major presentation of Korean art in Switzerland. The exhibition brings together almost 200 outstanding Korean art works of which…

Culture

Video art pioneer exhibits in Lausanne

This content was published on Mar 20, 2000 A series of videos of naked young women is capturing attention at the Fine Arts Museum in Lausanne. The show, entitled “Pudeurs”, or modesty, is the latest work of one of the pioneers of video art in Switzerland, Jean Otth. Since the end of the 1960s, Otth has kept up to date with technical innovations…

Demographics

China under fire at UN human rights meeting

This content was published on Mar 20, 2000 The annual session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which opened in Geneva on Monday, is expected to be exceptionally controversial, as the United States is expected to introduce a resolution criticising China. The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, will address the commission on Tuesday. Deiss will be one of many ministers to…

Culture

South Korea and Latin America honoured at Fribourg Film Festival

This content was published on Mar 19, 2000 The 14th International Fribourg Film Festival has wrapped up this weekend, with the top prize going to an entry from South Korea. The prize, worth SFr25,000, was given to Jeon Soo-il for his film “The Bird Which Stops in the Air,”which examines the relation between cinema and real-life. The other big winner of the festival…

Cluster: Swiss Identity

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Cluster: Swiss Identity

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Switzerland gets foretaste of Expo 2000

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Culture centre opens with music and talk

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Council of Europe highlights racism in Switzerland

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Swiss balloonist Piccard gives hope to Noma children

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China under fire at UN human rights meeting

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Government wants to streamline naturalisation

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Zurich gets taste of Korean art

More

Video art pioneer exhibits in Lausanne

More

China under fire at UN human rights meeting

More

South Korea and Latin America honoured at Fribourg Film Festival

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