Ecopop.... EcoFlop!; Petitioners Plead for Law to End Swiss Pet Eating; Swiss Witch Doctor Sentenced; Free German Courses Mandated for Immigrants; Passenger on TGV experiences massive luggage-fail

The final tally from Sunday nights referendum dubbed Ecopop was 74.1 percent against with the usual level of approximately half of the eligible Swiss voters casting ballots.  The initiative, as you may have heard by now was famous, or rather infamous depending on your point of view for proposing to put a hard cap on the number of annual immigrants, all in the name of reducing urban and population growth.  For supporters, the resounding loss was as much a surprise given last years European immigration quota initiate which narrowly passed - that initiative managed throw Switzerland's relationship with other EU member nations into turmoil over economic, educational and cultural bilateral trade-agreements.  Opponents had slammed the proposal as xenophobic and rejoiced in the clear mandate indicated by the vote.   ********************************************************   Most people are aware that horse meat is popular among some swiss gourmets, but a little known fact is that up to 3% of the Alpine country's inhabitants eat dogs and cats also.  Tomi Tomek, founder and president of the animal protection group SOS Chats Noiraigue told the news organization AFP that they've submitted a petition with 16,000 signatures to the Swiss Federal Parliament demanding a new law to ban the consumption of domestic animals in Switzerland.  In case you haven't noticed Christmas Cat fricassee on your local menu, the dish is apparently popular during the holiday season in the regions of Berne, Lucerne, Appenzell and Jura.  While lawmakers appear to be generally sympathetic to the notion of a ban, as are the many pet owning Swiss citizens, the issue is not without controversy - For many Swiss the issue is one of freedom to practice traditional eating habits and self reliance for ones' food sources.   ********************************************************************************************

A 77 year old man who has spent the last 30 years practicing medicine illegally in Lugano has this week been convicted of putting patients at risk. A court this week convicted the man when it was found that he had no official medical training. The prosecution also revealed that the man had been arrested 3 decades ago illegally practicing medicine in Serbia. Since then the phoney doctor has been happily offering his services in Savosa, a town in the Ticino Canton – where he was known to favour non-conventional treatments. The court heard that at least one patient suffered blood poisoning as a result of his malpractice. The would be doctor has been sentenced to six months jail, combined with a 22 month suspended sentence.

 

*********************************************************************************************   Another important referendum considered by Basel Stadt was an initiative by the SVP party of compulsory integration for immigrants.  While the referendum as it stood failed to pass, primarily on the issue of compulsory German language and cultural integration, a counter proposal was adopted which now offers Free german lessons in the form of City- issued coupons for immigrants to Basel Stadt.  A first for switzerland, the program will allow those in their first year of residency to take their coupons to any of the language schools and get a free Basic level German course.  Basel-Stadt president Guy Morin believes the new program which is expected to cost 3.5mm francs per year, to provide sufficient incentive to improve integration. He also pointed out that the city already has the power to revoke residency permits from unintegrated immigrants in the case of delinquency or dependence on social assistance.   ***********************************************************************************************

An Italian art collector was more frantic than most when he visited the lost and found office at Geneva Train Station recently. Francesco Plateroti, a Franco-Italian art enthusiast, made the unlikely mistake of leaving a 13th century Chinese scroll on the Geneva bound TGV. The scroll, entitled “Le banquet des immortels à la terrasse de Jade” has an estimated market value of around $1.25 million. Plateroti realized his mistake upon alighting the train at Bellegarde-sur-Valseri and immediately alerted the authorities. Despite exhaustive attempts to find it, the scroll is yet to be located, Though Plateroit lives in hope. You have to be optimistic,” he said, "A positive attitude can overcome many obstacles.”