swissjourno Member since January 26, 2008

In the last decade the Swiss army has undergone a major restructuring program. In 1995 it still numbered 400,000, today about 220,000. In spite of budget cuts, the packhorse soldiers have been spared, together with their sturdy and patient animals. (SF/swissinfo)

Risks of injury for construction workers, especially those employed temporarily, are too high in Switzerland. Every year one worker in five on a building site is victim of some kind of accident. The national accident insurer, Suva, has started a campaign to raise awareness of the problem. (SF/swissinfo 25.06.2009)

Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard has been dreaming for years of becoming the first pilot to circumnavigate the earth using solar energy alone. The dream has come one step nearer to reality with the unveiling of the Solar Impulse, the prototype of a plane that has taken six years to design and build. (Julie Hunt, SF1, swissinfo.ch.01.07.2009)

In 1859 Swiss businessman Henri Dunant witnessed the carnage and suffering of the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy. He organised volunteers to help treat wounded soldiers. His experience of the battle and ideas to alleviate the sufferings of war led to the creation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. (Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch)

Thousands of young Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are gathering in Solferino in northern Italy for the 3rd Red Cross and Red Crescent world youth meeting and events to mark the 150-year anniversary of the Battle of Solferino. swissinfo.ch follows a group from the Swiss Red Cross taking part in a disaster simulation exercise. (Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch)

Visperterminen in Swiss canton Valais has always been proud to lay claim to the highest vineyard in Europe, rising from 650 to 1150 metres above sea level. But ten years ago, the terraces were in a sorry state. Local winemaker, Pirmin Heinzmann, saved the vineyard by setting up a 'Zunft' or guild to repair the terraces and resume wine production. The grapes from this vineyard are now used to make the highly acclaimed 'Heida' wine. (Julie Hunt, swissinfo.ch)

An exclusive interview with Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, just after the unveiling of the Solar Impulse, the first aircraft designed to fly day and night on solar energy alone. It was round-the-world balloonist Piccard who spearheaded the project. (Isobel Leybold-Johnson and Julie Hunt, swissinfo.ch)

On the occasion of his 500th birthday, the city of Geneva is staging a special open-air play on the Protestant reformer John Calvin. swissinfo visited the rehearsals and asked the director and main actor about the influence of the historic character on today's society. (Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch)

Bike trial is a sport in which you ride over man-made and natural obstacles without letting your feet touch the ground. The Swiss love bicycles - of all kinds – and this sport, derived from motorcycle trials, has been attracting more and more followers. Watch the best Swiss in action. (SF/swissinfo.ch, 20.06.2009)