Swiss Identity

A Swiss National Yodeling Festival

This content was published on Sep 1, 2003 The Swiss Yodeling Association (Eidgenössischer Jodlerverband) was founded 1910 in Bern. Its various activities – instructions, courses, publications – include the organisation of national competitions for yodeling, alphorn playing and flag throwing.The first official National Yodeling Festival was held in Basel in 1924, at which 31 groups participated. 72 years later, not less than 549…

Culture

Cartoonist sparks controversy in the classroom

This content was published on Sep 1, 2003 However, schools in other cantons have distributed copies of the same book to their pupils – complete with the controversial graphics. The French-based illustrator Thierry Barrigue has been providing illustrations for maths books that have been used in Swiss classes for nearly 20 years. But this year was different. During early summer, education authorities in…

Education

Swiss education system

This content was published on Sep 1, 2003 Compulsory schooling lasts nine years. The school year may not be of fewer than 38 weeks’ duration, and must begin in August or September. To gain the school leaving diploma (Matura), children must have attended school for at least 12 years, but not more than 13. For the nine years of compulsory schooling, public education…

A Swiss abroad represents El Salvador overseas

This content was published on Aug 31, 2003 swissinfo caught up with de Ávila – a diplomat with dual nationality – at the 81st Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Crans Montana. De Ávila says she is counting on her distant homeland to support the development of the Central American country which she represents abroad. swissinfo: As the foreign minister of El Salvador,…

Demographics

High-altitude research targets mountain sickness

This content was published on Aug 30, 2003 The group’s common interest is high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) – a life threatening condition that can occur when people ascend a mountain too quickly. The condition causes fluid retention in the lungs, with victims suffering from shortness of breath, extreme tiredness and coughing up blood. As the symptoms worsen, unconsciousness or coma and death…

Education

Swiss struggle for harmony in the classroom

This content was published on Aug 30, 2003 However, efforts are being made to harmonise the Swiss education system in a way that will nevertheless respect the individual character of each canton. The Federal Constitution lays down the right to education and the obligation to attend school, but it is the cantons that are responsible for schooling. That is why each canton takes…

Culture

Swingin’ round Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 29, 2003 Jazz in Switzerland Jazz attracted enthusiastic fans and followers relatively early in Switzerland. The cities in particular were fertile breeding ground for the many groups that sprang up in clubs and dance halls across the country. In addition, the past few decades have seen the launching of a number of festivals (Zurich, Montreux, Willisau, Berne),…

Swiss immigrants to be remembered in New York

This content was published on Aug 29, 2003 The task of preparing the exhibition has been handed to a Swiss cultural organisation that is currently seeking to set up its own migration museum in Switzerland. Formerly a gateway for some 12 million immigrants, Ellis Island was converted into a museum in 1990. Its permanent collection of artefacts and immigrant accounts along with its…

Demographics

Del Ponte loses Rwanda mandate

This content was published on Aug 28, 2003 Del Ponte will retain her mandate as chief prosecutor for the war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, based in The Hague. For the past four years Del Ponte has been chief prosecutor for both the Rwanda court – set up to prosecute those involved in the 1994 genocide – and the war crimes tribunal…

Demographics

Geneva bids farewell to human rights crusader

This content was published on Aug 28, 2003 Vieira de Mello was killed in last week’s bomb attack on the UN’s headquarters in Baghdad, along with 22 other people. An estimated 500 people attended the service at Geneva’s Saint Paul’s church, including family members, friends, colleagues and high-ranking UN and city officials. The service was opened by Vieira de Mello’s sons, Adrien and…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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A Swiss National Yodeling Festival

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Cartoonist sparks controversy in the classroom

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Swiss education system

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A Swiss abroad represents El Salvador overseas

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High-altitude research targets mountain sickness

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Swiss struggle for harmony in the classroom

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Swingin’ round Switzerland

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Swiss immigrants to be remembered in New York

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Del Ponte loses Rwanda mandate

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Geneva bids farewell to human rights crusader

Popular Stories

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