Tue, Jul 26th 2022
Why glaciers are melting more rapidly, five reasons not to move to Switzerland, and more in our roundup of Swiss news from July 22 – 26.
The scout event was scheduled for 2021, but was delayed to this summer in light of Covid restrictions.
Thousands of scouts from around the world convene in Switzerland
Nearly 30,000 children and adult scouts from around Europe and the United States are currently camping in the Swiss canton of Valais – a unique, two-week event that only happens every 14 years. To accommodate such a large group of scouts, Switzerland increased the number of trains and busses running, as well as donating about CHF 7 million in tents, blankets, cooking equipment and more. Scouts began rolling in over the weekend from the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Serbia, Finland, Britain, Belgium, Italy and the U.S. They will leave Switzerland on August 6. The next one is schedule for 2036. Read more.
Swiss glaciers melting more rapidly this summer
Switzerland’s freezing point has moved far up in altitude this summer – nearly 70 meters higher than the previous record set in 1995, meteorologists announced this week. The freezing point measurement, which is taken using weather balloons, was recorded at about 375 meters about Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc. The change causes freshwater glaciers to melt faster. “Glaciers in the Alps are so completely off from what we’ve seen before. I’m really alarmed by the situation,” tweeted Swiss glaciologist Matthias Huss. “The measurements collected at Griesgletscher today show that even with respect to the previous record in 2003 we’re one month ahead with melting. And no relief in sight.” Read more.
Five reasons not to move to Switzerland
The Local this week took a crack at one German newspaper, Südkurier’s recent report on “Five reasons not to work in Switzerland.” On a few points, The Local agrees, such as high child care costs: “The average Swiss family spends a massive 41 percent of their net income on childcare, three times the OECD average of 13 percent.” But the newspaper sticks up for Switzerland on most other points, such as working overtime, vacation days and the minimum a Swiss resident can pay in health insurance deductibles (as there are no deductibles in Germany). “Many of the best things about Switzerland are actually free – from clean air and high levels of safety to the wonderful scenery and the amazing network of public footpaths that allow you to explore the county at a walking pace.” Read more.
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