Economist.com Cities Guide: Zurich Briefing - February 2006

News this month

Deadly dust

Switzerland’s reputation for clean, alpine air has come under scrutiny recently. In January the country’s environmental agency published figures showing a marked increase in air pollution, with high levels of potentially carcinogenic dust particles recorded in several cities. Emission levels in Zurich were more than double the permitted limit. The agency also warned that up to 3,700 Swiss were dying each year as a result of dust-related respiratory illnesses. As in the European Union, Swiss rules permit 50 micrograms of fine dust particles per cubic metre.

The recent surge in January's pollution levels was exacerbated by a high-pressure weather front, which brought smog to urban areas. The environmental agency warned that long-term measures were needed to prevent such a surge from happening again. Moritz Leuenberger, minister of the environment, has called on cabinet colleagues to back nine new proposals aimed at reducing particle levels, including more filters on vehicle exhausts and tighter regulations on wood burning.

Strong language

The teaching of foreign languages in Zurich’s schools is once again the subject of debate. The city came under fire in 2000 when its education department chose to teach English before French in the canton’s primary schools. Opponents argued that this would make it harder for youngsters from Switzerland’s different regions to communicate with each other. But in 2004 Switzerland’s cantonal education ministers ruled that cantons should be able to make such language decisions for themselves.

Now the issue is set to go before Switzerland’s federal parliament, after a national education commission voted 24 to five in favour of putting national languages first. Supporters of early English classes, who say that the global importance of English should take priority over nationalist sensitivities, have threatened to take the argument to a referendum if parliament follows the commission’s recommendation.

Web tussle

A Zurich businessman is caught up in a row with the federal government over the ownership of three highly desirable internet domain names. Stefan Frei has owned the right to www.schweiz.ch, www.suisse.ch and www.svizzera.ch (the names for Switzerland in German, French and Italian) since 1995. But the government is claiming an automatic right to the domains, citing precedents in which the federal court awarded the communities of Luzern and Montana the rights to www.luzern.ch and www.montana.ch

Mr Frei, who uses the sites to provide information about Switzerland—and to sell Swiss-related products—argues that these precedents do not apply in his case, as he is using the domain names legitimately and without any danger of confusion to web users. The government must now decide whether or not to take the case to court.

Dog gone?

The Swiss government looks set to approve a ban on pit bull terriers after a six-year-old Zurich boy was mauled to death in December. The federal veterinary office recommended in January that the breed be phased out, with tighter regulations for 13 other dog breeds. Pit bulls already living in Switzerland would have to be neutered and registered with the authorities. Importing the dogs from abroad would be banned and visitors to the country would not be allowed to bring pet pit bulls with them.

Not everyone is impressed by the plan. The Swiss Canine Association has said that greater controls should instead be placed on dog breeders. And the Cantonal Veterinarians’ Association argued that the measures would have little effect on the number of dog attacks in Switzerland, claiming that only 10% can be attributed to breeds on the government list.

Swiss role model

Peter Sauber, the former owner of a Formula One motor-racing team, was named “Swiss of the Year” in January. After 13 years in the sport, he sold his Zurich-based outfit to BMW in 2005, though he retains a consultancy role. Praised for his skill in surviving the financially sapping world of Formula One as the owner of a small, private team, the 62-year-old was also named the “Swiss Business Personality of the Year”.

The awards, which follow a vote by television viewers, have seen an eclectic array of winners in the past, including the founder of an Ivory Coast Aids hospice, a doctor who set up children’s hospitals in Cambodia, and Switzerland’s reigning world tennis number one, Roger Federer.

Catch if you can

February 2006

“La Finta Giardiniera”

February 12th-March 18th 2006

Zurich’s opera house joins in the worldwide celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, staging one of the composer’s lesser-known operas. Under the direction of Tobias Moretti, “La Finta Giardiniera” (“The Pretend Gardener”) will make its first appearance at the opera house on February 12th. It is a darkly comic tale of a young marchioness who disguises herself as a gardener in an attempt to win back her former lover—despite his decision to end their relationship by stabbing her.

Other Mozart highlights in the city include reprisals throughout February and March of “Così fan tutte”, “The Magic Flute” and “The Magic Flute for children”. Looking ahead, “Don Giovanni” will premiere on May 7th.

Zurich Opera House, Falkenstrasse 1, 8008 Zurich. Ticket hotline: +41 (0)44 268 66 66 (Mon-Sat 11.30am-6pm). Tickets: SFr35-270. For further details and performance times see the opera house website.

More from the Zurich cultural calendar