Donnerstag, September 29, 2011

Make love, not war - e.g. in the Mobile Business



swissinfo.ch released new apps for both Android and iPhone today, along with a short clip stating our neutrality on the subject... and a message of hope for world peace and more understanding among fans. Enjoy.

Dienstag, Juli 05, 2011

Climber John Harlin continues Swiss border adventure


The American climber and writer John Harlin III begins the third and final chapter of his attempt to travel the entire 2,000km Swiss border. After paddling and cycling along the northern and western borders, this summer he will climb the thin, and often dangerous, alpine line that separates Switzerland from its southern neighbours. Follow John's adventure through his multimedia Border Stories, live on swissinfo.ch, Facebook and Twitter. (Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch)

Dienstag, Mai 10, 2011

Jetman over Grand Canyon



Swiss pilot and engineer Yves Rossy made his first US appearance with a flight across the Grand Canyon. He used the same jet-powered wing that carried him across Lake Geneva and the English Channel. (Breitling/swissinfo.ch)

Donnerstag, April 21, 2011

Classical music is seeking ways to win younger audiences

The audience of classic concerts is aging faster than the general population. If the trend continues, many musicians will soon be left without jobs. The industry is looking into new ways of performing classics to appeal to a younger audience. (SF/swissinfo.ch)

First Swiss sign language video dictionary goes online

In April 2011 the Swiss Deaf Federation is launching an online sign language dictionary. Expressions can be called up in German, French and Italian sign language. (SF/swissinfo.ch)

Dienstag, April 05, 2011

The SBC tower in Geneva - der SRG- Turm in Genf

In 2004, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation launched an international architecture competition to renovate the iconic building that serves as a headquarters for the French speaking national television station, TSR. The imposing renovated structure on the banks of the river Arve is an important landmark and symbol of communications for the whole region. It was in 1968 that Geneva architect, Arthur Bugna drew up plans for one of the first-ever high-rise office blocks in Switzerland. The tower now has a new look.

Samstag, April 02, 2011

Building Switzerland: The lighthouse

Leutschenbach School is located in Schwamendingen in the north of Zurich. An area caught between post-war romanticism, dense new development and industry, it’s no easy location for a school. To overcome this challenge, everything is under one roof: gym, hall and classrooms. With a thousand tonnes of steel, ten thousand tonnes of concrete, four thousand square metres of glass, this radical steel structure with its pure glass façade is one of a kind.

Mittwoch, März 30, 2011

Hounds trained to help the deaf.

For hundreds of years, dogs have been indispensible helpers for the blind. Now they're being trained to help deaf people as well. Leika is about to become one of the nation's first ever 'signal dogs'. Swiss TV filmed her taking her final exams. (SF/swissinfo)

Samstag, März 26, 2011

Open-air museum Ballenberg shows Switzerland as it used to be

In mid-April the open-air museum of Ballenberg near Brienz will open its doors to the public for the 34th time. But before visitors can dive into rural life as it used to be, the staff still have a lot of work to do. In order to make the travel back in time perfect, the old houses have to be refurbished, traditional gardens planted and indigenous cattle trained for farm work. (Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch)

Freitag, März 25, 2011

Building Switzerland: The Temporary Chapel

An amazing modern building has appeared at the foot of the Jura hills in canton Vaud, in the heart of a religious community where time seems to have stood still. The St Loup wooden chapel is a revolutionary design, inspired by the Japanese art of origami. This audacious building, in a region steeped in tradition, has a very simple history.

Donnerstag, März 24, 2011

Building Switzerland: The High-Tech Hut

The new Monte Rosa Hut is located at 2,883 metres above sea level in a barren wasteland of rock and ice, facing one of Switzerland’s most famous mountains, the Matterhorn. A joint effort by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) and the Swiss Alpine Club, it is a shining example of hands-on teaching with the lofty goal of being sustainable.

Dienstag, März 22, 2011

Safe clean drinking water for Kosovo, thanks to the Swiss



To mark World Water Day (March 22), a special report from Kosovo on how the Swiss are helping to provide safe clean drinking water and new sewage systems to homes all over the state. It's thanks to a major investment programme by the Swiss Cooperation Office in Pristina. (Julie Hunt in Kosovo, swissinfo.ch)

Sonntag, März 20, 2011

New questions raised about Switzerland’s energy strategy



Switzerland has three nuclear power plants that are showing their age. Following the nuclear accident in Japan, experts have been given about a year to come up with a new risk analysis, that will be used as the basis for political decisions on the future of nuclear energy. (SF/swissinfoch)

Mittwoch, März 16, 2011

Urban climbing - Going up the wall in Geneva



Three years ago a group of young men introduced urban climbing to the city of Geneva. Now they’ve released the first film on this trend sport, showing them conquering their favourite monuments. (TSR/swissinfo.ch)

Montag, März 14, 2011

Ground beans and Swiss machines



Two products in the coffee-maker business are experiencing the biggest growth: capsule makers and fully automatic machines with fresh ground beans. A success the Swiss are very happy to be a part of. (Raffaella Rossello, swissinfo.ch)

Mittwoch, März 09, 2011

Bern University provides new hope for liver cancer patients



Patients suffering from liver cancer have a better chance of survival, thanks to a new tool developed by Bern University and MeVis Fraunhofer in Bremen, Germany. The system combines navigation technology with a 3D surgery plan, computed from tomography images, allowing surgeons to accurately locate and remove abnormal tissue or lesions in the liver. (Julie Hunt/Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch)

Depuis presque 50 ans, Bruno Spoerri triture les sons électroniques



Saxophoniste, jazzman, compositeur de musiques de films et de jingles pour la pub ou la télévision, Bruno Spoerri est tout cela à la fois. Dès 1965, le Bâlois a été l’un premiers en Suisse à produire de la musique avec des appareils électriques. Ce pionnier, connu pour son perfectionnisme, a reçu swissinfo.ch dans son studio de Zurich. Il y évoque ses 50 ans d’expérience.

Montag, März 07, 2011

The best sommelier



To be a master of anything, even wine tasting, you have to work hard, no matter how much talent you’ve got. To keep his nose and his taste buds as finely tuned as possible, the Swiss sommelier trains constantly, and also leads a very healthy lifestyle. (SF-swissinfo.ch

Samstag, März 05, 2011

Race-winning electric motorbike at Geneva motor show



Electric cars have pride of place at this year’s Geneva motor show, with 24 world premieres and 11 European premieres. But the prize winning two-seater electric motorbike, the Zerotracer, stands out, having just won the world’s toughest ever environmental road race. Julie Hunt reports from the motor show. (Julie Hunt in Geneva, swissinfo.ch)

Sonntag, Februar 27, 2011

Talented young climbers learn their ropes in a special three year course



Maybe they’ll follow in the path of Ueli Steck, one of the best extreme solo climbers in the world. But maybe they’ll just become professional climbing and mountaineering tour organizers, and they’ll still have fulfilled their dream. (SF-swissinfo.ch)

Samstag, Februar 26, 2011

How the Swiss put the brakes on national debt



The Swiss debt brake: this is what Switzerland applies to try to keep the federal budget under control. In a series of roundtables Swiss authorities presented their views on it to audiences in the United States. (SF-Eco – swissinfo)

Donnerstag, Februar 17, 2011

Night skiing gives promising athletes more time to train



Young competitive skiers have to overcome many hurdles on their way to success. A big obstacle is reconciling school and time to train. Being able to ski at night on flood-lit slopes helps. (TSR-swissinfo.ch)

Mittwoch, Februar 16, 2011

Neuentdeckung von Hans Steiner

Tagesschau vom 15.02.2011

Er war der Hof-Fotograf von General Guisan und portraitierte andere Grössen der 1930er - und 40er-Jahre, wie Winston Churchill. Das Musée de l'Elysee in Lausanne widmet dem Berner Foto-Reporter Hans Steiner jetzt eine Retrospektive.

Dienstag, Februar 15, 2011

City waste discovered as new source for raw materials



Waste separation is no longer left to the private individual alone. Recycling experts have discovered a business in recovering raw materials from sewage sludge, building rubble, old electric devices or heating pipes. (SF/swissinfo.ch)

Sonntag, Februar 13, 2011

The art of making string instruments



The Swiss school of violin making in Brienz is the only school in Switzerland specialised in manufacturing string instruments. The style, design and construction taught here are strongly influenced by the work of the great baroque, classical and modern violinmakers. (swissinfo, Michele Andina)

Donnerstag, Februar 10, 2011

Hans Steiner - Fotoreporter und Werbefotograf

Kulturplatz vom 09.02.2011

Hans Steiner ist der grosse Vergessene der Schweizer Fotografiegeschichte. In den 30er und 40er Jahren gehörte er mit seinen Reportagefotos für die «Schweizer Illustrierte» und «Sie + Er» zu den Bedeutenden seiner Zeit. Nach seinem frühen Tod verschwand sein Name aus dem Gedächtnis – dabei hat er mit seinem Porträt von General Guisan eine fotografische Ikone erschaffen. Das «Musée de l’Elysée» in Lausanne hat Steiners Nachlass 1989 von einem Käsehändler erworben und ehrt den Fotografen jetzt mit einer umfassenden Werkschau. (SF Kulturplatz)

Radio-Bericht
Hier gehts zur DRS-Rezension: http://www.drs2.ch/www/de/drs2/sendungen/drs2aktuell/2643.bt10168054.html "Gesellschaft aus modernistischer Perspektive" (Martin Heule)

Ausstellungs-Daten
«Hans Steiner. Chronique de la Vie Moderne», Musée de l'Elysée Lausanne, 9. Februar bis 15. Mai 2011, anschliessend in der Fotostiftung Winterthur, 28. Mai bis 9. Oktober 2011

«Alles wird besser – Fotografien von Hans Steiner», erschienen im Limmat-Verlag

Mittwoch, Februar 09, 2011

Cows which eat grass instead of soya and cereal fodder produce healthier milk



The environmental organisation Greenpeace has revealed that more and more soya is being fed to cows, which is bad for milk quality, the environment and consumers. (SF Kassensturz – swissinfo.ch)

Dienstag, Februar 08, 2011

A nursery and preschool held mainly in the woods



Children don’t usually attend full-time child care in Switzerland. That’s also the case for the children in the Waldkita in Bern, “The forest day care”. But when they’re there, they’re outdoors the whole day, in any kind of weather. (Raffaella Rossello, swissinfo.ch)

Montag, Februar 07, 2011

Roger Schawinski zurück bei SF

Giacobbo / Müller vom 06.02.2011

Ab August wird Roger Schawinski jeden Montagabend hochkarätige Persönlichkeiten aus Politik und Wirtschaft zu einem Gespräch einladen. Damit gibt SRF dem besten Talker der Schweiz einen festen Platz im Programm von SF 1. (Parodie von Giacobbo / Müller)

People vote on new nuclear plant near Bern



A nuclear power plant has been producing electricity in Mühleberg near Bern since 1972. Voters are to decide on February 13 whether it should be replaced by a new and much more powerful one. The cantonal vote is non-biding, but it will signal what kind of energy people want in future, ahead of the nationwide vote in 2013. (SF-swissinfo.ch)

Samstag, Februar 05, 2011

Stepping up at the 39th Prix de Lausanne ballet competition



The Prix de Lausanne is an international dance competition for young dancers aged 15 to 18. Unlike other competitions, it rewards potential rather than present accomplishment. This makes it the most important event of its kind. (Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch)

Freitag, Februar 04, 2011

En Suisse, on fabrique des produits chimiques depuis la fin du XVIIIe siècle



Tout a commencé avec l’industrie textile, consommatrice de produits peu sympathiques comme l’acide sulfurique ou la soude caustique. En Suisse, on est rapidement passé aux colorants, puis aux médicaments, aux herbicides, insecticides, arômes et autres parfums. Aujourd’hui, la chimie fabrique des milliers de produits, promet des merveilles pour l’avenir et fait lentement sa révolution verte, histoire de tourner la page des pollutions et des catastrophes d’un passé récent.

Die Gesichter Haitis zu den Worten der Dichterin Yanick Lahens



Ein Jahr nach dem verheerenden Erdbeben ist Thomas Kern, Fotograf bei swissinfo.ch und ein Kenner Haitis, auf die Karibikinsel gereist. In Fort National, einem armen und überbevölkerten Quartier der Hauptstadt Port-au-Prince, hat er Gesichter fotografiert. Die Worte der haitianischen Schriftstellerin Yanick Lahens begleiten sie.

Donnerstag, Februar 03, 2011

Artist Chantal Michel created her enchanted world inside an abandoned mansion



Kiesen castle, in the Bernese Oberland, had been abandoned for twenty five years when artist Chantal Michel moved in, three years ago. She created her own living museum, where visitors could have dinner and spend the night. But the fairy tale is about to end. A new buyer was found and she has to move out. (Raffaella Rossello, swissinfo.ch)

Dienstag, Februar 01, 2011

New ski lifts are expensive: advertising helps pay the bill



Advertisements can be seen pretty much in every ski resort at ski lifts. A luxury watch brand has even gone as far as reserving its own chairlift in Crans Montana. Not everyone agrees with this commercial development, but some skiers don’t care, as long as they get modern installations. (TSR/swissinfo.ch)

Montag, Januar 31, 2011

In praise of biodiversity



Professor Martine Rahier recently became the rector of Neuchâtel University, the first woman in western Switzerland to hold such a position. The Belgian born professor's research into the behaviour of the leaf beetle has won her international recognition.

Sonntag, Januar 30, 2011

WEF: where leaders try saving the world during coffee breaks



Davos, the famous Swiss mountain resort, was known in the past for its clinics, where rich patients went to cure tuberculosis. In times of crisis the World Economic Forum (WEF) is a bit like a sanatorium for the sick economy. (SF-swissinfo.ch)

Samstag, Januar 29, 2011

How Swiss francs are made and how to stop forgeries



Even though credit and cash cards are widely used, coins and notes have not lost their popularity. swissinfo investigates how and where Swiss francs are made and how to stop forgeries. (Julie Hunt, swissinfo.ch/SF/SNB)

Seeing the sound of Switzerland's audio heritage



The Swiss National Sound Archives is the official depository of audio records in Switzerland. Its mission is the preservation of the country's audio heritage.
(Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch 2005)

Freitag, Januar 28, 2011

The mountain village of Kandersteg revives its Belle Epoque



Tourists discovered Kandersteg in the early 1900s. It was the era of the Belle Epoque, hotels for the high society were built and winter sports established. Now, a hundred years later, Kandersteg is traveling back in time. (Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch)

Donnerstag, Januar 27, 2011

Scientific Aids-Video - From Death to Life



Bernard Hirschel is head of the HIV/Aids Unit of the University Hospitals of Geneva. His reorganization of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, a follow-up of more than 14,000 patients, created a database that is acclaimed worldwide for the information it can supply for assessing HIV/Aids treatments.

Hirschel is controversial for claiming that Aids patients who have been receiving effective anti-retroviral treatment for at least six months need no longer use condoms, as they cannot transmit the virus through sex.

Mittwoch, Januar 26, 2011

Some think that army-issue firearms should continue to be kept at home, some want them locked away in arsenals

Swiss people are voting whether army guns should be stored at home or not. Among them are a woman whose sister was shot dead by a man on drugs and hobby shooters. Their view on Swiss gun laws couldn’t be further apart. (Raffaella Rossello, swissinfo.ch)

Samstag, Januar 22, 2011

Swiss inventor creates sky high moon bar



Swiss inventor and engineer Andreas Reinhard plans to build a moon-like helium filled viewing platform and bar at 1,500 metres above sea level, reachable by cable car. Oil sheiks on the Persian Gulf have expressed a serious interest. The Skylift could be one of the attractions offered by Qatar in 2022, when it hosts the football World Cup. (SF 10 vor 10/swissinfo.ch)

Freitag, Januar 21, 2011

Nude hiker now feels it in the pocket



A court in Appenzell Outer-Rhodes has deemed that a man caught hiking in the nude more than a year ago was indeed indecent.
On Thursday he was found guilty of gross violation of morality and decency. He now faces a SFr100 ($103) fine plus procedural costs amounting to SFr3,300.

The story began in October 2009, when a woman reported the sight of a naked man wandering near a picnic area and a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts. The authorities fined him SFr100, but the 46-year-old naturist refused to pay.

The matter first came to court in May 2010; the man admitted that he had been hiking in the nude for two years, but insisted that he had not been behaving indecently. He was acquitted, so the prosecution decided to take the case to a higher court – which concluded that it was the duty of the local authorities to uphold public morality.

Following a wave of naturist hikers in recent years, canton Appenzell Inner-Rhodes was the first canton to ban naked rambling. The official fine for the practice is SFr200. Two cases are currently pending there.

Donnerstag, Januar 20, 2011

What makes Switzerland a good place for art



Switzerland is a popular place for trading expensive art. Apart from offering discretion and security, there is also a lot of money. Swiss television took a glimpse at the country’s private collections. (SF/swissinfo.ch)

Dienstag, Januar 18, 2011

A portrait of Swiss artist Mona Caron



Mona Caron, a native of Ticino, now works as a muralist in California, creating large-scale paintings on walls. She's the daughter of Swiss theatre and opera set designer Peter Bissegger, and attended the San Francisco Academy of Art in Illustration. Filmmaker Kate Stilley Steiner caught up with the artist in San Francisco. (Kate Stilley Steiner, swissinfo.ch)

Sonntag, Januar 16, 2011

Phone technology to reduce ski accidents on Swiss slopes



The Swiss accident insurer, Suva, has launched a free iPhone application, as part of a ski accident prevention campaign. Slope Track allows users to measure their speed, the steepness of the slope, and the distance covered. (TSR/swissinfo.ch)

Donnerstag, Januar 13, 2011

The River Thur is freed from its straightjacket



Canton Zurich has been carrying out pioneering work, restoring the canalised River Thur to its natural state and reducing the risk of flooding in the area, as well as creating new habitats for wildlife. The project inspired the federal government to change the law. Developers carrying out work affecting Swiss rivers now have to follow canton Zurich's example and try to renaturalise water courses, thus promoting biodiversity. (Julie Hunt,swissinfo.ch)

Mittwoch, Januar 12, 2011

Stories of deportation: two cases of people who grew up in Switzerland



The Swiss have voted to automatically expel foreigners who commit certain crimes - including welfare fraud and theft – with no right of appeal. Deporting foreign criminals is possible under current laws, but is decided on a case by case basis. Two stories of men who grew up in Switzerland but were forced to leave. One is now in Germany. (TSR Mise au Point – swissinfo.ch)

Montag, Januar 10, 2011

How to protect your smartphone from beeing hacked



Millions of smart phones have been sold in the world. They can make life easier, but they can also be easy prey for hackers. Private emails and calls can be pirated but even worse: bank accounts are vulnerable. Banks are doing what they can to protect their clients. (TSR-swissinfo.ch)

Toy collector brings old masterpiece back to life



Hanspeter Kyburz is passionate about mechanical toys and musical boxes. At this year’s collector’s fair in Zurich the dealer presented a very special piece: a wooden village that had travelled a long way. (SF/swissinfo.ch)

Samstag, Januar 08, 2011

What the Swiss think about moves to limit access to army weapons



The Swiss are about to vote on a proposal aimed at limiting access to guns. Members of the militia army keep their personal army-issue rifles at home - in many cases even after the completion of mandatory service. But after a series of attacks and family killings involving military weapons, an anti-gun initiative was launched. Swiss TV carried out its own survey to find out how ordinary people will vote. (SF/swissinfo.ch)

Mittwoch, Januar 05, 2011

Recycling in Indien mit Schweizer Hilfe



Alte Computer, Telefone und Fernsehgeräte erhalten in den Vororten der indischen Hauptstadt Neu Delhi ein zweites Leben. Ein grosser Teil des elektrischen und elektronischen Schrotts (E-Waste) muss aber mit Hilfe von gefährlichen Verfahren rezykliert werden. Mit Hilfe der Schweiz sind lokale Nichtregierungs-Organisationen, wie zum Beispiel Toxicx Link, daran, Lösungen zu finden, die für Mensch und Umwelt weniger gefährlich sind. (Luigi Jorio, swissinfo.ch)

Dienstag, Januar 04, 2011

Masked rituals in northwestern Switzerland

Hallwil in northwestern Switzerland celebrates the New Year with a ritual involving masked wild looking characters. The brown group symbolises winter and death, the green one spring and life. The wild men run around the village hugging as many people as they can, especially women. (SF–swissinfo.ch)