Switzerland

"Swiss" redirects here. For other uses, see Swiss (disambiguation) and Switzerland (disambiguation).

Swiss Confederation [Confoederatio Helvetica] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) [Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) [Confédération suisse] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) [Confederazione Svizzera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) [Confederaziun svizra] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: [Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (Latin) (traditional) "One for all, all for one"
Anthem: Swiss Psalm
Location of Switzerland (orange) in Europe (white)
Capital	Berne (federal capital)
Largest city	Zürich
Official languages	German, French, Italian, Romansh
Government	Direct democracy Federal republic
• Federal Council	M. Leuenberger P. Couchepin (VP 07) S. Schmid M. Calmy-Rey (Pres. 07) C. Blocher H.-R. Merz D. Leuthard
Independence
• Foundation date	1 August 1291
• de facto	22 September 1499
• Recognised	24 October 1648
• Restored	7 August 1815
• Federal state	12 September 1848
• Water (%)	4.2
Population
• 2007 estimate	7,508,338 (94th)
• 2000 census	7,288,010
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
• Total	$264.1 billion (39th)
• Per capita	$32,300 (10th)
GDP (nominal)	2005 estimate
• Total	$367.5 billion (18th)
• Per capita	$50,532 (6th)
Gini (2000)	33.7 medium inequality
HDI (2006)	0.947  (9th)
Currency	Swiss franc (CHF)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Calling code	41
ISO 3166 code	CH
Internet TLD	.ch

Switzerland (German: die Schweiz, French: Suisse, Italian: Svizzera, Template:Lang-rm), officially the Swiss Confederation (Confoederatio Helvetica in Latin and when abbreviated, ch, the ISO country code of Switzerland), is a landlocked nation of 7.5 million people in Western Europe. It is bordered almost entirely by European Union nations Germany, France, Italy, Austria, the exception being the tiny principality of Liechtenstein with which Switzerland has had customs and open border agreement since the 1920s. Switzerland is quadrilingual, the four official languages being German, French, Italian and Romansh also called Rhaeto-Romanic or Rumantsch Grischun. Many Swiss speak a Swiss-German dialect or a local dialect of some sort which can vary greatly from region to region.

Switzerland is divided administratively into 26 cantons, six of which are sometimes referred to as 'semi-cantons', or half-cantons since they stemmed from the division of three cantons each into two smaller administrative units and have, as a consequence only a single representative in the Council of States. Nevertheless car number plates have separate codes for these smaller 'half-cantons' - BS for example for Basel City whilst BL is used for the Basel Countryside canton (Basel Land in German). Switzerland has had a long history of being neutral during war and peace-time (it has not been in a foreign war since 1815) and as such hosts various international organisations, such as the United Nations, which, though headquartered in New York City, has many departments in Switzerland, particularly in and around Geneva.

The titles commonly used to name Switzerland in French ([Confédération suisse] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)), Italian ([Confederazione Svizzera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) and Romansh ([Confederaziun svizra] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) translate as "Swiss Confederation". Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft is the German term and appears on official documents. Its Latin name "Confoederatio Helvetica" (Helvetic Confederation) and its country code "ch" for internet and car-stickers are related to the Helvetii, an ancient Celtic people who inhabited the Alps. It dates its independence to 1st August 1291; historically it was a confederation, and it has been a federation since 1848. 1st August is a national holiday on which both banks and Post Offices as well as the public administration offices are closed.

History

Main article: History of Switzerland

Old Swiss Confederacy

Main article: Old Swiss Confederacy

Early august 1291, the three forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden signed the Federal Charter. The charter united the signatories in the struggle against Habsburg rule, the family then possessing the Duchy of Austria in the Holy Roman Empire. At the Battle of Morgarten on 15 November 1315, the Swiss defeated the Habsburg army and secured the existence of the Swiss Confederation within the Holy Roman Empire.

1548 view of Zug

By 1353 the three original cantons had been joined by the cantons of Glarus and Zug and the city states of Lucerne, Zürich and Berne, forming the "Old Confederacy" of eight states that persisted during much of the 15th century and led to a significant increase of power and wealth of the federation, in particular due to the victories over Charles the Bold of Burgundy during the 1470s, and the success of the Swiss mercenaries. The Swiss victory in the Swabian War against the Swabian League of emperor Maximilian I in 1499 amounted to de facto independence from the Holy Roman Empire.

The expansion of the federation, and the reputation of being invincible acquired during the earlier wars, suffered a first setback in 1515 with the Swiss defeat in the Battle of Marignano. The success of Zwingli's (a Swiss Protestant Reformist) Reformation in some cantons led to inter-cantonal wars in 1529 and 1531 (Kappeler Kriege). Under the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, European countries recognised Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire and its neutrality ([ancient régime] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)). In Early Modern Switzerland, the conflict between Catholic and Protestant cantons persisted, erupting in further violence at the battles of Villmergen in 1656 and 1712, and the growing authoritarianism of the patriciate families combined with a financial crisis in the wake of the Thirty Years' War led to the Swiss peasant war of 1653.

Napoleonic era

Mediation act, made by the first Consul of the French Republic, between parties which divide Switzerland

In 1798 the armies of the French Revolution conquered Switzerland and imposed a new unified constitution. This centralised the government of the country and effectively abolished the cantons. The new regime, known as the Helvetic Republic, was highly unpopular. It had been imposed by a foreign invading army and destroyed centuries of tradition, including the right to worship, and made Switzerland nothing more than a French satellite state. The fierce French suppression of the Nidwalden Revolt in September of 1798 is an example of the suppressing presence of the French army and the local population's resistance to the occupation.

When war broke out between France and other countries, Switzerland found itself being invaded by other outside forces from Austria and Russia. In 1803 Napoleon organized a meeting of the leading Swiss politicians from both sides in Paris. The result was the Act of Mediation which largely restored Swiss autonomy and introduced a Confederation of 19 cantons. Henceforth much of Swiss politics would concern balancing the cantons' tradition of self-rule with the need for a central government.

In 1815 the Congress of Vienna fully re-established Swiss independence and the European powers agreed to permanently recognize Swiss neutrality. The treaty marked the last time - as of July 2007 - that Switzerland fought in an International Conflict. The treaty also allowed Switzerland to increase its territory, with the admission of the cantons of Valais, Neuchâtel and Geneva - this was also the last time Switzerland's territory expanded.

Federal state

The restoration of the power to the patriciate was only temporary. After a period of unrest with repeated violent clashes such as the Züriputsch of 1839, civil war broke out between the Catholic and the Protestant cantons in 1845 (the Sonderbundskrieg). The war lasted for less than a month, causing fewer than 100 casualties; most of which were through friendly fire. However minor the Sonderbundskrieg seems to be when compared with other European riots and wars in the 19th century, it nevertheless had a major impact on both the psychology, as well as the society of the Swiss and Switzerland. The war made all Swiss understand the need for unity and strength towards its European neighbours. Swiss people from all strata of society, whether Catholic, Protestant, or from the liberal or conservative current, realized that the cantons would profit more if their economic and religious interest were merged. Credit to those who favored the power of the cantons (the Sonerbund Kantone), the national assembly was divided among Ständerat (similar to a Senate), and the Nationarat (similar to a House of Commons). Thus, the interests of the Federationalists was given account for. Switzerland adopted the use of referenda and a federal constitution in 1848. This constitution provided for a central authority while leaving the cantons the right to self-government on local issues. The constitution was amended extensively in 1874 in order to take into account the rise in population, the Industrial Revolution and the settling of a single currency. It also established federal responsibility for defence, trade, and legal matters.

In 1893, the constitution was revised with unusually strong elements of direct democracy, which remains unique even today. Since then, continued political, economic, and social improvement has characterised Swiss history.

Modern history

Main article: Switzerland during the World Wars

Main article: Modern history of Switzerland

Zmutt Valley with Mischabelhörner group, Valais, photochrom postcard of 1890

File:ZurichNight.jpg

The Grossmünster cathedral & waterfront in modern day Zürich

Switzerland was not invaded during either of the World Wars. During World War I, Switzerland was home to Vladimir Lenin and he remained there until 1917 In 1920, Switzerland joined the League of Nations, and in 1963 the Council of Europe.

During World War II, detailed invasion plans were drawn up by the Germans, but Switzerland was never attacked. Switzerland was able to remain independent through a combination of military deterrence, economic concessions to Germany, and good fortune as larger events during the war delayed an invasion. Attempts by Switzerland's small Nazi party to cause an Anschluss with Germany failed miserably. The Swiss press vigorously criticized the Third Reich, often infuriating its leadership. Under General Henri Guisan, a massive mobilization of militia forces was ordered. The Swiss military strategy was changed from one of static defence at the borders to protect the economic heartland, to a strategy of organized long-term attrition and withdrawal to strong, well-stockpiled positions high in the Alps known as the Réduit. Switzerland was an important base for espionage by both sides in the conflict and often mediated communications between the Axis and Allied powers.

Switzerland's trade was blockaded by both the Allies and by the Axis. Economic cooperation and extension of credit to the Third Reich varied according to the perceived likelihood of invasion, and the availability of other trading partners. Concessions reached their zenith after a crucial rail link through Vichy France was severed in 1942, leaving Switzerland completely surrounded by the Axis. Over the course of the war, Switzerland interned over 300,000 refugees, 104,000 of which were foreign troops, interned according to the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers outlined in the Hague Conventions. 60,000 of the refugees were civilians escaping persecution by the Nazis. Of these, 26,000 to 27,000 were Jews.

Women were granted the right to vote in the first Swiss cantons in 1959, at the federal level in 1971, and after resistance, in the last canton Appenzell Innerrhoden in 1990. After suffrage at the federal level women quickly rose in political significance, with the first woman on the seven member high council being Elisabeth Kopp from 1984-1989. The first female president was Ruth Dreifuss, elected in 1998 to become president during 1999. (The Swiss president is elected every year from those among the seven member high council). The second female president currently holds the 2007 Swiss high office, Micheline Calmy-Rey. She is originally from the French-speaking western area of canton Valais (Wallis in Swiss German). She is presently joined on the seven member cabinet/high council by a second woman, Doris Leuthard, from the canton Aargau. In 1979 areas from inside the previous borders in the canton of Bern attained independence from the Bernese, forming the new canton of Jura. On 18 April 1999 the Swiss population and the cantons voted in favour of a completely revised federal constitution.

In 2002 Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations, leaving the Vatican as the last widely recognised state without full UN membership. Switzerland is a founding member of the EFTA, but is not a member of the European Economic Area. An application for membership in the European Union was sent in May 1992, but not advanced since the EEA was rejected in December 1992 when Switzerland was the only country to launch a referendum on the EEA. There have since been several referenda on the EU issue, with a mixed reaction to these from the population, the membership application has been frozen. Nonetheless, Swiss law is gradually being adjusted to conform with that of the EU and the government has signed a number of bilateral agreements with the European Union. Switzerland, together with Liechtenstein, has been completely surrounded by the EU since Austria's membership in 1995. On 5 June 2005, Swiss voters agreed by a 55% majority to join the Schengen treaty, a result that was regarded by EU commentators as a sign of support by Switzerland, a country that is traditionally perceived as independent, neutral, or isolationist.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Switzerland

Federal Palace in Bern, Seat of the Swiss government

The Federal Constitution adopted in 1848 is the legal foundation of the Federation. It ensures the rights of individuals and citizen participation in public affairs, divides the powers between the Confederation and the cantons and defines federal jurisdictions. Under the Federal Constitution, there are three main governing bodies: the bicameral parliament (legislative), the Federal Council (executive) and the Federal Court (judicial).

The parliament consists of two houses: the Council of States which has 46 representatives (two from each canton and one from each half-canton) who are elected under a system determined by each canton, and the National Council, which consists of 200 members who are elected under a system of proportional representation. Members of both houses serve for 4 years. When both houses are in joint session, they are known collectively as the United Federal Assembly. Through referenda, citizens may challenge any law passed by parliament and through initiatives, introduce amendments to the federal constitution, making Switzerland a direct democracy.

Under the 1999 constitution, cantons hold all powers not specifically delegated to the federation.

The top executive body and collective Head of State is the Federal Council, a collegial body of seven members. Although the constitution provides that the Assembly elects and supervises the members of the Council for a four-year mandate, the latter (and its administration) has gradually assumed a pre-eminent role in directing the legislative process as well as executing federal laws. The President of the Confederation is elected from the seven to assume special representative functions for a one-year term, yet also maintains the role of his cabinet position.

From 1959 to December 2003, the four major parties were represented in the Federal Council according to the "magic formula", proportional to their representation in federal parliament: 2 Christian Democrats (CVP/PDC), 2 from the Social Democrats (SPS/PSS), 2 Liberal Democrats (FDP/PRD), and 1 from the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC). This traditional distribution of seats, however, is not backed up by any law, and in the 2003 elections to the Federal Council the CVP/PDC lost their second seat to the SVP/UDC, which became the strongest party in Switzerland's legislative the same year.

The function of the Federal Supreme Court is to hear appeals of cantonal courts or the administrative rulings of the federal administration. The judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for six-year terms.

A recent study found one in ten Swiss held anti-Semitic views and fifty percent of the Swiss population are xenophobic. A different study conducted by the University of Geneva with the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation found that 23 per cent admitted to being anti-Semitic and "seven per cent find rightwing behaviour attractive, while 90 per cent reject it." . The federal government installed a commission to fight racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and rightwing extremism in 1995. Political extremism is not a widespread phenomenon in Switzerland, although far-right extremism, together with overall delinquency, has increased slightly during the 2000s.

See also: International relations of Switzerland and Voting in Switzerland

The Zytglogge clock tower in the capital Berne

Direct democracy

Swiss citizens are subject to three legal jurisdictions: the commune, canton and federal levels. The 1848 federal constitution defines a system of direct democracy (sometimes called half-direct democracy since it is complemented by the more commonplace institutions of a parliamentary democracy.) The instruments of Swiss direct democracy at the federal level, known as civil rights (droits civiques, Volksrechte), include the right to submit a constitutional initiative and a referendum, both of which may overturn parliamentary decisions.

By calling a federal referendum a group of citizens may challenge a law that has been passed by Parliament, if they can gather 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days. If so, a national vote is scheduled where voters decide by a simple majority whether to accept or reject the law. Eight cantons together can also call a referendum on a federal law.

Similarly, the federal constitutional initiative allows citizens to put a constitutional amendment to a national vote, if they can get 100,000 voters to sign the proposed amendment within 18 months. Parliament can complement the proposed amendment with a counter-proposal, with voters having to indicate a preference on the ballot in case both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether introduced by initiative or in Parliament, must be accepted by a double majority of both the national popular vote and a majority of the cantonal popular votes.

Cantons

Main article: Cantons of Switzerland

Valais

Ticino

Grisons

Geneva

Vaud

Neuchâtel

Jura

Bern

Thurgau

Zurich

Aargau

Lucerne

Solothurn

Basel-Landschaft

Schaffhausen

Uri

Schwyz

Glarus

St. Gallen

Appenzell Innerrhoden

Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Obwalden

Nidwalden

Zug

Fribourg

Basel-Stadt

France

Italy

Liechten-
stein

Austria

Germany

The canton of Schwyz in the centre of Switzerland

The Swiss National Park in canton Graubünden

The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons:

Aargau Appenzell Innerrhoden* Appenzell Ausserrhoden* Basel-Stadt* Basel-Landschaft* Bern Fribourg Geneva Glarus Graubünden Jura Lucerne Neuchâtel

Nidwalden* Obwalden* Schaffhausen Schwyz Solothurn St. Gallen Thurgau Ticino Uri Valais Vaud Zug Zürich

Distribution of Languages in Switzerland

*These cantons are represented by only one councillor in the Council of States.

Their populations vary between 15,000 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) and 1,253,500 (Zürich), and their area between 37 km² (Basel-Stadt) and 7,105 km² (Graubünden). The Cantons comprise a total of 2,889 municipalities. Within Switzerland there are two enclaves: Büsingen belongs to Germany, Campione d'Italia belongs to Italy.

In a referendum held in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg on 11 May 1919 over 80% of those voting supported a proposal that the state should join the Swiss Confederation. However, this was prevented by the opposition of the Austrian Government, the Allies, Swiss liberals, the Swiss-Italians (persons of Swiss nationality who live in Italian Switzerland - see map) and the Romands (Swiss nationals living in the French-speaking regions of Switzerland - see map).

International institutions in Switzerland

An unusual number of international institutions have their seats in Switzerland, in part due to its policy of neutrality. The Red Cross was founded there in 1863 and still has its institutional centre in the country. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union; the Swiss people rejected membership in a referendum in the early 1990s. Switzerland was one of the last countries to join the United Nations, in 2002, even though Geneva is the second biggest centre for the United Nations after New York, and Switzerland was a founding member of the League of Nations.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Switzerland

Wintertime view of Sent

Map of Switzerland (detailed)

With an area of 41,285 square kilometres (15,940 sq mi), Switzerland is a relatively small country. The population is a whisker over 7.5 million at the last count, resulting in an average population density of 182 people per square kilometre (472/sq mi). However the more mountainous southern half of the country is far more sparsely populated than this statistic shows. The northern half has a somewhat greater density than the statistic shows, as it comprises more hospitable hilly terrain, partly forested and partly cleared, as well as several large lakes.

Switzerland comprises three basic topographical areas: the Swiss Alps, the Swiss plateau or "middleland", and the Jura mountains along the northwest border with France. The Alps are a high mountain range running across the central-south of the country. Among the high peaks of the Swiss Alps, the highest of which is the Dufourspitze at 4,634 metres (15,203 Template:Ft), are found countless valleys, many with waterfalls and glaciers. From these the headwaters of several major European rivers such as the Rhine, Rhône, Inn, Aare, and Ticino flow finally into the largest Swiss lakes such as Lake Geneva (Lac Leman), Lake Zürich, Lake Neuchâtel, and Lake Constance. The smaller lakes near the mountains tend to be a brilliant turquoise color, especially in the summer.

The most famous mountain is the Matterhorn (4478 m) in Kanton Wallis and Pennine Alps bordering Italy. The highest mountain, the Dufourspitze or Monte Rosa,is very close to the Matterhorn. The section of the Bernese Alps above the deep glacial Lauterbrunnen Valley containing 72 waterfalls is also well known for the Jungfrau (4,158 m), Mönch, Eiger group of peaks, and the many picturesque valleys in the region. In the southeast the long Engadin Valley, encompassing the St Moritz area in canton Graubünden, is also quite known and the highest peak here is the Piz Bernina (4,049 m).

Morcote in warmer southern Ticino

The northern section and more populous part of the country is called the Middle Land. It has greater open and hilly landscapes, partly forested, partly open meadow, usually with grazing herds, or vegetables and fruits growing, but it can still be somewhat mountainous. There are large lakes found here and the biggest Swiss cities are in this area of the country. This section, particularly the west, is also referred to as the "Seeland" (the land of lakes) and the largest lake is Lake Geneva (Lac Léman in French), at the westernmost of Switzerland. The Rhone River is the main tributary to Lac Léman.

The Swiss climate is generally temperate, but can vary greatly between the localities, from glacial conditions on the mountain tops to the often pleasant Mediterranean climate at Switzerland's southern tip. Summer tends to be warm and humid at times with periodic rain so it is ideal for pastures and grazing. The winters in the mountains alternate with sun and snow, while the lower lands tend to be more cloudy and foggy in winter. A weather phenomenon known as the Föhn can occur at all times of the year, even in winter, and is characterized by a wind with warm Mediterranean air. The driest conditions persist in the southern valleys of the Wallis/Valais above which valuable saffron is harvested and many grapes are grown, Graubünden also tends to be drier in climate and slightly colder, yet with plentiful snow in winter. The wettest conditions persist in the high Alps and in the Ticino which has much sun yet heavy bursts of rain from time to time. The east tends to be colder than the west of Switzerland, yet anywhere up high in the mountains can experience a cold spell at any time of the year. Precipitation tends to be spread moderately throughout the year, with minor variations across the seasons depending on locale. Autumn frequently tends to be the driest season, yet the weather patterns in Switzerland can be highly variable from year to year, and very difficult to predict.

general map of Switzerland

Switzerland's eco-systems can be particularly vulnerable, due to the many delicate valleys separated by high mountains, often forming unique ecologies. The mountainous regions themselves are also vulnerable, with a rich range of plants not found at other altitudes, and experience some pressure from visitors and grazing. The treeline in the mountains of Switzerland has retreated down 1000 ft over the years, largely due to herding and grazing pressures.

See also: Swisstopo topographical survey, List of lakes of Switzerland, List of rivers of Switzerland, List of mountain passes in Switzerland.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Switzerland

Tourism is important in the Engadin valley above St. Moritz

Winemaking near Lake Biel

Cheese making and dairying is an important Swiss industry

Switzerland has a prosperous and stable modern market economy, with a nominal per capita GDP that is higher than those of the big western European economies, United States and Japan, though on a PPP basis, it ranks tenth. The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report currently ranks Switzerland's economy as the most competitive in the world. For much of the 20th century, Switzerland was the wealthiest country in Europe by a considerable margin.

Several of the world's largest companies are headquartered in Switzerland. Notable among these are Nestle, UBS AG, Credit Suisse, Novartis, ABB, and Swatch. Switzerland is ranked under the sixth most powerful economical countries in the world.

Banking, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals are very important industries in Switzerland. The manufacture of precision instruments for engineering is important, as is watchmaking, and the biological sciences industries as well enjoy a high place in the Swiss economy. The many international organizations in Switzerland contribute to the Swiss economy and labor market. Switzerland has nearly zero unemployment.

Switzerland and Europe

In recent years, the Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with those of the European Union in many ways, in an effort to enhance their international competitiveness. The economy has been growing most recently at around 3% per year. Full EU membership is a long-term objective of some in the Swiss government, but there is considerable popular sentiment against this supported by the conservative SVP party. The western French-speaking areas tend to be more pro-EU.

The government has established an Integration Office under the Department of Foreign and Economic Affairs. To minimise the negative consequences of Switzerland's isolation from the rest of Europe, Bern and Brussels signed seven agreements, called bilateral agreements, to further liberalise trade ties. These agreements were signed in 1999 and took effect in 2001. This first series of bilateral agreements included the free movement of persons. A second series covering nine areas was signed in 2004 and has since been ratified. The second series includes the Schengen treaty and the Dublin Convention. They continue to discuss further areas for cooperation. Switzerland most recently (2006) approved a billion francs supportative investment in the poorer eastern European countries in support of cooperation and positive ties to the EU as a whole. A futher referendum will be needed to approve 300 million francs to support Romania and Bulgaria and their recent admission to the ever growing EU club. The Swiss have also been under EU and sometimes international pressure to open up their bank secrecy and to raise their tax rates into compliance with the EU. Preparatory discussions are being opened on four new areas: opening up the electricity market, participation in the European GPS system Galileo, cooperating with the European centre for disease prevention and recognising certificates of origin for food products. Switzerland voted against membership in the European Economic Area in December 1992 and has since maintained and developed its relationships with the European Union and European countries through bilateral agreements. Any internal debate on the subject has been suspended since March 2001, when the Swiss people refused in a popular vote to start accession negotiations with the EU. Both Switzerland and Norway have consistently voted against EU membership, although the votes have been very close.

See also: List of Swiss companies, Swiss bank, and Merchant Marine of Switzerland

Energy

See also: Nuclear power in Switzerland

Electricity generated in Switzerland is 40% from nuclear and 60% from hydroelectricity.

On 18 May, 2003, a popular initiative named Moratorium Plus asked about an extension of an existing law forbidding the building of new nuclear power plants. Both were turned down: Moratorium Plus by a margin of 41.6% for and 58.4% opposed, and Electricity Without Nuclear by a margin of 33.7% for and 66.3% opposed. The former ten-year moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants was the result of a citizens' initiative voted on in 1990 which had passed with 54.5% Yes vs. 45.5% No votes. There is currently talk of a new nuclear plant in the Canton of Bern.

The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is the office responsible for all questions relating to energy supply and energy use within the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC).See also SwissEnergy.

Recycling Waste & Environmental Concern

Switzerland is heavily active in recycling and anti-littering initiatives and is one of the top recyclers in the world with roughly 76% according to new 2007 statistics released by the Confederation of all recyclable items being recycled - in fact this has narrowly beaten the 75% target meaning that for the time being there will be no introduction of a recycling tax on glass bottles and jars, nor on clothes and textiles, plastic bottles, home-use batteries, light bulbs or paperware and card. In many places in Switzerland, household rubbish disposal and collection thereof is charged for. Household refuse (except dangerous and cumbersome items, batteries, sofas, electrical appliances etc.) in theory, is only to be collected if it is in bags which either have a payment sticker attached, or in official bags with the surcharge paid when the bags are purchased. However in practice, this is difficult to enforce, for hygiene reasons and the like. However it is a financial incentive to recycle as much as possible, for recycling is usually free of charge or cheaper, albeit not always operated through a door-to-door collection. [17] [2]. Swiss municipal officials sometimes open up garbage for which the disposal charge has not been paid if they consistently find refuse in non-official sacks dumped along the roadside. They search for evidence such as old bills which connect the bag to the household/person they originated from. Fines for not paying the disposal fee can range from CHF 100 to a staggering CHF 10'000.-- (82 to 8'245 US dollars by August '07 rates) in some municipalities. http://www.tio.ch/aa_pagine_comuni/articolo_interna.asp?idarticolo=338210&idtipo=3 Again many people are now aware of this and remove their names and details from any documentation disposed of illegally before trashing it, therefore rendering it impossible and futile for health officials to identify where the rubbish is coming from. In fact in some areas the cost of the payment stickers or official rubbish sacks has fallen slightly. However, where this has occured, an annual taxation on refuse collection has been introduced or reintroduced as it were. In some cases, a handful of municipalites have introduced refuse weighing machines and electronic chip-cards which need to be 'topped up' with money, thus enforcing payment for refuse elimination by weight and not volume. Again causing problems for elderly residents who would have to somehow get to the nearest refuse disposal point, possibly having to walk uphill or a significant distance. All such methods are proving unpopular Switzerland-wide, especially, as said, amongst the many ageing Swiss nationals who often find it difficult to come to grips with the ever-imposing technological and modern era in this small, but extremely rich, central European country.

[[Image:Map Languages CH.png|thumb|Main languages in Switzerland: from French), from similar term in another language (Italian azione used not as act but as discount from German Aktion). Learning one of the other national languages at school is obligatory for all Swiss, so most Swiss are supposed to be at least bilingual (in reality, many Swiss are more fluent in English than in their own country's other languages, particularly the German-speaking Swiss).

Resident foreigners and temporary foreign workers make around 20.4% currently (2007 figures). Most of these are from European Union countries (Italians being the largest group, at 4.9%), with people from the various nations of former Yugoslavia making up (4.75%), with ethnic Albanians as the largest group among them, as well as Turks (1.2%). The country has seen growing immigration of various nationalities, as well as from The Carribbean and South America. Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka are the most prominent group of people of Asian origin. The members of foreign communities and national minorities have expressed, often with great emotion, how they experience on a daily basis racism, discrimination, a xenophobic atmosphere, a feeling of loneliness within the population and fear of certain institutions, notably the police.

Further information: List of Swiss people

Religion

Main article: Religion in Switzerland

The Notre Dame de Valere

Switzerland has no country-wide state religion, though most of the cantons (except for Geneva and Neuchâtel) recognize official churches, in all cases including the Catholic Church and the Swiss Reformed Church. These churches, and in some cantons also the Old Catholic Church and Jewish congregations, are financed by official taxation of adherents.

Christianity is the predominant religion of Switzerland, divided between the Catholic Church (41.8% of the population) and various Protestant denominations (40%). Immigration has brought Islam (4.3%) and Eastern Orthodoxy (1.8%) as sizeable minority religions. The 2005 Eurobarometer poll found 48% to be theist, 39% expressing belief in "a spirit or life force", 9% atheist and 4% agnostic. Jehovah's Witnesses are present in all 26 Cantons, now with over 17,000 baptized publishers operating across the country in 11 languages including French, German, Italian, Serbo-Croat, English and Portguese. Some of their publications have even been translated into two of the five Romansch dialects.

A church tax still exists today in many Catholic and Protestant parishes across Switzerland. The tax is collected by the municipality in most cases. The tax is compulsary for residents of parishes in which the charge applies. It can occur that some residents of a municipality must pay whilst others do not have to insofar as they live in different parishes within the same municipality's territory. Holders of residence permits F, S, B, L, N and G are not subject to Church Tax in Switzerland and are not billed. Holders of foreign residence permit C (including permit Ci) are charged, as are resident Swiss citizens. To avoid paying the charge, a letter of opposition must be sent by recorded delivery post to the municipality's collection office in question. The letter must be signed and state that the sender is not a member of the local religion which receives the income from this tax. The notification of charges (i.e. Church Tax) arrives as a bill and must be paid promptly.

At the last count there were around 340 different religions in the city of Zurich alone.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Switzerland

The culture of Switzerland is influenced by its neighbours and its international sentiment, but over the years a distinctive culture with some regional differences and an independent streak has developed. In particular, French-speaking regions have tended to orient themselves slightly more on French culture and tend to be more pro EU. In general, the Swiss are known for their long standing humanitarian tradition as Switzerland is the birth place of the Red Cross Movement and hosts the United Nations Human Rights Council. Swiss German speaking areas may perhaps be seen more oriented on German culture and can be more traditionalist and neutralist, and Italian-speaking areas can have more of an Italian culture. A region may be in some ways strongly culturally connected to the neighbouring country that shares its language. The linguistically isolated yet also scattered Rhaeto-Romanic culture in the eastern mountains of Switzerland is also robust and strives to maintain its very rare linguistic tradition. Defying predictions made around 1900 that by 1950 it would be extinct, Romansh or Romansch still lives on into the 21st Century with modern era applications beig translated and indeed utilized in this extraordinary language. A version of Windows has been produced in the unified version of Romansch. This Grisons-wide version (Rumantsch Grischun formed from the 5 eparate dialects) was created in the 70's and promulgated in 1982. Interestlingly, Switzerland's 1989 entry to the Eurovision Song Contest was in Romansh, sung by the group Furbaz ('Viver Senza Tai' or Living Without You finished mid-table) - see Wikipedia's pages on the Eurovision Song Contest 1988 and 1989. In 1989 Switzerland hosted the contest after Celine Dion had won it for the alpine nation (despite being of Canadian origin) the previous year with 'Ne partez pas sans moi' in a strong Quebec accent beating the United Kingdom's Scott Fitzgerald by just 1 point in the closest ever finish in the history of the contest - the result was only known when the Ljubliana announcer read the last vote from that year's final jury the former Yugoslavia.

Many mountain areas have a strong highly energetic ski-town culture throughout the cold winter months, and a hiking/rambling culture in summer. Some areas throughout the year have a recreational culture that caters to tourism, yet the quieter seasons are spring and autumn when there are fewer visitors and a higher ratio of Swiss. A traditional farmer and herder culture also predominates in many areas, and this connection to the land and agriculture is a strong glue holding all the Swiss together. Even though most no longer actually farm themselves, the small farms are omnipresent outside the cities, and as well many Swiss at least have a small garden plot or many window boxes with geraniums and other flowers.

See also: Music of Switzerland, Swiss cuisine, and SRG SSR idée suisse

Sport

[[Image:Catching_the_hornuss.jpg|thumb|250px|A game of Hornussen]] Like many European nations the Swiss are big fans of football (soccer) and the national team or 'Nati' is widely supported. Swiss wrestling or "Schwingen" is an old tradition from the rural central cantons and considered the national sport. Hornussen is another indigenous Swiss sport, which is like a cross between baseball and golf. Steinstossen is the Swiss variant of stone put, a competition in throwing a heavy stone. Practiced among the alpine population since prehistoric times, it is recorded to have taken place in Basel in the 13th century. It is also central to the Unspunnenfest, first held in 1805, with its symbol the 83.5 kg Unspunnenstein. Motorsport race courses were banned in Switzerland following the 1955 Le Mans disaster. The floorball in Switzerland is a newcoming sports that grows for every year. A main factor is the professional league called NLA that draws many famous players from other countries. Over the last years also Swiss tennis players, like Roger Federer and Martina Hingis, have been multiple Grand Slam singles champions.

Switzerland is also the homeland of the currently most successfull saling team Alinghi. There are other type of sports where the Swiss Sportsman are very strong and succesfull such as Fencing (Marcel Fischer), Withewater Slalom (Ronnie Dürrenmatt - canoe, Mathias Röthenmund - kayak), Ice hockey (Swiss National League), Beach Volleyball (Heyer-Egger, Brother Lacigas), Skiing (Bernhard Russi, Primin Zurbriggen, Didie Cuche)

Crime

Switzerland has traditionally always had a very low crime rate. In recent years there has been an increase in the crime rate among foreigners. Two thirds of all prisoners in Swizerland are resident or non resident foreigners.

See also

• 2004 in Switzerland, 2005 in Switzerland
• Switzerland and the European Union
• Enlargement of the European Union - Switzerland
• Foreign relations of Switzerland
• List of cities in Switzerland
• List of Swiss people
• Swiss citizenship
• Swiss National Day
• Communications in Switzerland
• Data codes for Switzerland
• Education in Switzerland
• Military of Switzerland
• Public holidays in Switzerland
• Transport in Switzerland
• List of Swiss companies
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
• List of Switzerland-related topics
• Waste Management in Switzerland
• Swiss folklore

References

• Clive H. Church (2004) The Politics and Government of Switzerland. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-69277-2.
• Dieter Fahrni (2003) An Outline History of Switzerland. From the Origins to the Present Day. 8th enlarged edition. Pro Helvetia, Zürich. ISBN 3-908102-61-8
• Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (2002-). Published electronically and in print simultaneously in three national languages of Switzerland.
• The Economist, "A special case: A survey of Switzerland". 14 February 2004.
• Swiss Statistics, official website of the Swiss Federal Statistical Office.
• CIA World Factbook - Switzerland

External links

Official

• The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation
• Your Gateway to Switzerland
• Maps from the Federal Office of Topography

History

• History of Switzerland: Primary Documents
• Historical Dictionary of Switzerland in German, French and Italian
• history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch

References

• Online Map
• The official Telephone Directory

Media

• Neue Zürcher Zeitung, a Swiss daily newspaper in German
• Le Temps, a Swiss daily newspaper in French
• Corriere Del Ticino, a Swiss daily newspaper in Italian
• swissinfo - News + Infos in 9 languages

Tourism

• Switzerland Tourism, a national tourism organization
• List of Swiss municipalities, all about Swiss municipalities

Energy

• SwissEnergy

Education

• educa.ch The Swiss Education Server
• swissuniversity.ch Universities in Switzerland

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