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Health reforms get short shrift

This content was published on May 18, 2003 The initiative, backed by the Social Democrats, would have brought the Swiss system into line with the rest of Europe. Nearly three-quarters of voters rejected the initiative, which would have pushed up considerably premiums for the wealthy. Social Democrat parliamentarian Franco Cavalli – who supported the initiative – said the current system was flawed because…

Voters throw out nuclear ban

This content was published on May 18, 2003 Voters rejected one initiative to extend the existing moratorium on building new plants and another to close down the industry altogether. Two-thirds voted against the anti-nuclear proposal “Strom ohne Atom”, which called for the complete closure of the country’s nuclear power stations by 2014. Almost 60 per cent rejected the “MoratoriumPlus” initiative, which sought an…

Bank rules slammed for costs to developing world

This content was published on May 18, 2003 Non-governmental organisations are urging the government to crackdown on tax evasion and ensure revenue is returned to developing countries. The campaign, involving 50 charities and NGOs from 20 countries, aims to raise awareness of the wider impact of the existence of “tax havens”. Campaigners accuse banking centres such as Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Channel Islands…

Swiss voters deluged with decisions

This content was published on May 18, 2003 The nuclear power, health costs and disabled rights proposals are likely to produce the closest results. The number of proposals is the highest to be voted on at a national level in one day since 1866. Seven of the proposals are people’s initiatives and will need the double majority of the popular vote and the…

Thousands of bikers converge on Bern

This content was published on May 17, 2003 The country’s biggest motorcyclist association, Pro Moto, has organised a mass demonstration outside the government building. Although the demonstration took place without bikes, the procession of bikers, making their way into Bern – at 80kmh – brought traffic around the city to a standstill. It was reported that over 35,000 motorcyclists came from all over…

Switzerland’s nuclear family

This content was published on May 17, 2003 swissinfo’s Faryal Mirza went to meet a family in northern Switzerland who have a nuclear power plant on their doorstep. The village of Full in canton Aargau sits neatly on the banks of the river Rhine near the border with Germany. It’s here that the Meier-Ulrich family have their organic farm, Bio-Meier, which has produced…

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Swiss scientists to unlock Costa Rica’s potential

This content was published on May 17, 2003 They say the fair set-up of the project should counter criticism that western experts are plundering the biological resources of developing countries. Zurich’s Federal Institute of Technology says the partnership with Costa Rica’s National Institute of Biodiversity (INBio) – a non-governmental organisation – places both parties on an equal footing and seeks to redress the…

New tunnel to ease motorway black spot

This content was published on May 16, 2003 The third Baregg tunnel will be accessible to drivers from mid-June, but tailbacks are not expected to improve before 2004. The Baregg is on the busiest stretch of motorway in Switzerland, which runs between Bern and Zurich. Traffic jams are an everyday fact of life. When the first tunnels were opened in 1970, only 15,000…

GM row puts pressure on Switzerland

This content was published on May 16, 2003 The environmental group says a US complaint over the EU’s ban on GM imports sends a clear signal to other countries not to impose similar restrictions. Earlier this week, the US filed a case at the World Trade Organization (WTO), threatening trade sanctions against the EU unless it quickly lifts its ban on GM produce,…

Nuclear debate reaches critical point

This content was published on May 16, 2003 They face two proposals – one to extend the ban on building new plants and another to close down the industry altogether. Nuclear power currently provides around 40 per cent of Switzerland’s electricity production – the remaining 60 per cent comes from hydropower. But Greenpeace, which is one of the environmental groups spearheading the campaign…

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Health reforms get short shrift

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Voters throw out nuclear ban

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Bank rules slammed for costs to developing world

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Swiss voters deluged with decisions

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Thousands of bikers converge on Bern

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Switzerland’s nuclear family

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Swiss scientists to unlock Costa Rica’s potential

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New tunnel to ease motorway black spot

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GM row puts pressure on Switzerland

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Nuclear debate reaches critical point

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