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S U B S C R I B E
WRS Debate
Wednesdays at 8:30 am (repeats Saturdays at 7 pm)
A weekly pro and con debate on the most divisive issues facing this country, with WRS National Affairs Correspondent Jordan Davis.
Abortion reimbursement under basic health coverage challenged
Wednesday, 3 February, 2010
Wednesday, 3 February, 2010
Currently in Switzerland, if a woman has an abortion, her basic health insurance will reimburse the costs. Last year, the cost to health insurance companies for some 11,000 abortions ranged between 15 and 20 million francs—an expense which the Federal Cabinet has said is perfectly justified.
But a newly launched initiative is challenging the practice. A committee composed of MPs of the Swiss People’s Party, Christian Democrats and the Federal Democratic Union says abortion is a private matter and that women should get supplemental insurance to cover the cost.
To bring us both sides of the debate, WRS’s Carla Drysdale called on MPs Oskar Freysinger of the Swiss People’s Party and Adèle Thorens Goumaz from the Green Party:
Should sex education be compulsory in Switzerland?
Wednesday, 9 December, 2009Jordan Davis debates the question of whether sex education should be compulsory in Swiss schools, and at what age it should begin with Fausta Borsani from the Swiss Foundation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Daniel Suter, president of the Zurich section of the right-wing Federal Democratic Union.
Wednesday, 9 December, 2009Jordan Davis debates the question of whether sex education should be compulsory in Swiss schools, and at what age it should begin with Fausta Borsani from the Swiss Foundation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Daniel Suter, president of the Zurich section of the right-wing Federal Democratic Union.
Do Switzerland's animals need lawyers?
Wednesday, 2 December, 2009A perennial issue in animal-loving Switzerland has resurfaced, following an initiative by the Swiss Animal Protection Association calling for attorneys for animals, assigned by canton. Earlier this year the cabinet and parliament voted not to implement such a system at federal level, but the Swiss public will have the final say in a referendum in March.
Wednesday, 2 December, 2009A perennial issue in animal-loving Switzerland has resurfaced, following an initiative by the Swiss Animal Protection Association calling for attorneys for animals, assigned by canton. Earlier this year the cabinet and parliament voted not to implement such a system at federal level, but the Swiss public will have the final say in a referendum in March.
A twist in the wolf's tale
Wednesday, 25 November, 2009Look into his eyes, and you’ll either see a terrible wild beast waiting in the long grass to pounce for his next killing spree, or a cute furry hound, genetically not far removed from man’s best friend, the domestic dog. The status of the wolf has hit the headlines recently as there have been calls to declassify its protection - under the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats - from ’strictly protected’ to ’protected’.
Wednesday, 25 November, 2009Look into his eyes, and you’ll either see a terrible wild beast waiting in the long grass to pounce for his next killing spree, or a cute furry hound, genetically not far removed from man’s best friend, the domestic dog. The status of the wolf has hit the headlines recently as there have been calls to declassify its protection - under the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats - from ’strictly protected’ to ’protected’.
WRS Debate: Swiss arms exports
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009It’s not just the infamous minarets bill that’s generating heated debate ahead of this month’s nationwide ballot; a ban on Swiss arms exports is also likely to split public opinion. To discuss the issue Michele Mischler spoke with Thomas Hurter, parliamentarian and member of the right wing Swiss People’s party, and Tobia Schnebli from the Group for Switzerland without an Army.
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009It’s not just the infamous minarets bill that’s generating heated debate ahead of this month’s nationwide ballot; a ban on Swiss arms exports is also likely to split public opinion. To discuss the issue Michele Mischler spoke with Thomas Hurter, parliamentarian and member of the right wing Swiss People’s party, and Tobia Schnebli from the Group for Switzerland without an Army.
WRS Debate: Where should English rank in schools?
Wednesday, 4 November, 2009Should English be the first foreign language taught in Swiss schools? Mark Butcher and Michèle Mischler get opposing points of view from Guy Mettan, politican and member of the group Défense du Francais, and Dr. Daniel Stotz, a professor in the language department of the University of Zurich.
Wednesday, 4 November, 2009Should English be the first foreign language taught in Swiss schools? Mark Butcher and Michèle Mischler get opposing points of view from Guy Mettan, politican and member of the group Défense du Francais, and Dr. Daniel Stotz, a professor in the language department of the University of Zurich.
WRS Debate: Is the H1N1 vaccine safe?
Wednesday, 21 October, 2009Michele Mischler and guests discuss a key question dividing the medical community currently concerning the vaccine against the H1N1 flu virus. The vaccine will be available in Switzerland within the next few weeks and despite Federal Office of Health’s recommendations in favour of the vaccine, some physicians are still hesitant. The issues brought forward are the short time in which the vaccine was developed, certain properties which have been known to cause auto-immune diseases and the question of a limited number of trials.
Wednesday, 21 October, 2009Michele Mischler and guests discuss a key question dividing the medical community currently concerning the vaccine against the H1N1 flu virus. The vaccine will be available in Switzerland within the next few weeks and despite Federal Office of Health’s recommendations in favour of the vaccine, some physicians are still hesitant. The issues brought forward are the short time in which the vaccine was developed, certain properties which have been known to cause auto-immune diseases and the question of a limited number of trials.
WRS Debate: Cross-border workers
Wednesday, 14 October, 2009The populist Geneva Citizen’s Movement party won nearly 15 percent of votes in the cantonal election this past weekend, mainly on the basis of its campaign against cross-border workers. That’s riled tempers on both sides of the issue—and the border. To discuss the implications of these frontaliers and the campaign against them, WRS’s Michèle Mischler has invited to the table Citizens Movement of Geneva President Eric Stauffer, RSR correspondent Nicole della Pietra and former politician and economist Ralph Lewin.
Wednesday, 14 October, 2009The populist Geneva Citizen’s Movement party won nearly 15 percent of votes in the cantonal election this past weekend, mainly on the basis of its campaign against cross-border workers. That’s riled tempers on both sides of the issue—and the border. To discuss the implications of these frontaliers and the campaign against them, WRS’s Michèle Mischler has invited to the table Citizens Movement of Geneva President Eric Stauffer, RSR correspondent Nicole della Pietra and former politician and economist Ralph Lewin.
WRS Debate: Is Switzerland’s health care system sustainable?
Wednesday, 7 October, 2009This past week has cast a spotlight on the state of social health insurance in Switzerland. On Thursday, the Federal Office of Public Health unveiled next year’s premiums, which topped current rates by more than 8 percent on average. Then on Monday, some insurers said they’d likely have to take the extraordinary step of raising their premiums midway through next year on top of the previously announced hikes. Is Switzerland’s system of health care simply unsustainable? WRS’s Jordan Davis puts that question up for this week’s debate with Felix Schneuwly and Dr Jacques de Haller.
Wednesday, 7 October, 2009This past week has cast a spotlight on the state of social health insurance in Switzerland. On Thursday, the Federal Office of Public Health unveiled next year’s premiums, which topped current rates by more than 8 percent on average. Then on Monday, some insurers said they’d likely have to take the extraordinary step of raising their premiums midway through next year on top of the previously announced hikes. Is Switzerland’s system of health care simply unsustainable? WRS’s Jordan Davis puts that question up for this week’s debate with Felix Schneuwly and Dr Jacques de Haller.
WRS Debate: Schlüer and Tunger-Zanetti on minarets
Wednesday, 30 September, 2009Jordan Davis hosts a debate on the hot topic of the upcoming vote to ban the construction of minarets, with Ulrich Schlüer from the campaign group in favour of the ban, and Andreas Tunger-Zanetti from Lucerne University’s Religion Research Centre.
Wednesday, 30 September, 2009Jordan Davis hosts a debate on the hot topic of the upcoming vote to ban the construction of minarets, with Ulrich Schlüer from the campaign group in favour of the ban, and Andreas Tunger-Zanetti from Lucerne University’s Religion Research Centre.
