“Our natural capital is declining and our Ecological Footprint is increasing.”
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The message is stark: “Humanity’s demands exceed our planet’s capacity to sustain us. That is, we ask for more than what we have.” The implications are dire: food and water for all will happen only if we manage our resources much better. There is a solution, says the WWF, which Tuesday 15 May issued its annual report on the state of planet Earth: to “decouple human development from unsustainable consumption (moving away from material and energy-intensive commodities).”
The “Living Planet” report takes a look at the changes in just a little over half a century. In a first, the Gland-based organization launched its report from space with help from the European Space Agency and astronaut Andre Kuipers.
The new report points to two key problems, population growth and rising consumption trends in high-income groups around the world and in BRIICS countries. The Ecological Footprint Index, one part of the report, measure the biologically productive area people use in each country for their basic needs. The world’s resources are use inequally: “If all of humanity lived like an average resident of Indonesia, only two-thirds of the planet’s biocapacity would be used; if everyone lived like an average Argentinean, humanity would demand more than half an additional planet; and if everyone lived like an average resident of the USA, a total of four Earths would be required to regenerate
humanity’s annual demand on nature.”
“Human population dynamics are a major driving force behind environmental degradation. One aspect of this is the overall size of the global population, which has more than doubled since 1950 – to 7 billion in 2011 and is forecast to reach just over 9.3 billion people by 2050.”
Gland child rape suspect, police sketch
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – Canton Vaud police have dropped their extradition request for a French man held by police in Annemasse, over the border from Geneva, on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old in Gland 14 April 2011.
French police arrested the man 30 November, and he is still being held by them, but further investigations in Switzerland have failed to back up initial suspicions he could be the perpetrator of the sexual assault.
The man who accosted the girl inside her apartment building is still being sought by Vaud police, who say that a number of leads are being pursued actively.
The police drawing has been updated, but 1 December police said it is possible he has shaved his beard and made other changes to his appearance.
The man was European in look, with light-coloured eyes, white-blond hair and spoke French, possibly with a slight, indistinguishable accent. He was wearing wireframed glasses. Height 170-180cm, weight average although with a slight belly.
He was seen driving away from the scene of the crime in a turquoise (green or blue) car with Geneva plates.
A week later they issued samples of the colour of his car. These can be viewed on the web page devoted to the crime, which is a Vaud police priority case, along with that of missing six-year-old twins Alessia and Livia.
The public has responded strongly to the police request for help, the cantonal office says. Anyone with information is asked to contact the nearest police station or phone +41 21 644 4444.
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – Canton Vaud police are seeking the driver of a dark VW Golf following an accident at 09:00 Monday morning 9 January on the A1 autoroute between Rolle and Gland, in the direction of Geneva. A metallic gray Skoda was in the left lane, just before the La Côte layby, passing a truck, when the driver was surprised by the Golf, which suddenly moved towards the left lane. The two cars scraped their sides, but continued to the Gland exit, where the VW Golf driver continued without stopping or reporting the accident to police.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact them by phone at +41 21 644 4444 or to go to the nearest police station.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – A 14-year-old is in serious condition, but his life is not in danger, following an accident at the train station in Gland, canton Vaud, Thursday evening 22 December. Vaud police say that a goods train, going 100 kph, pulled the youth was pulled onto the tracks from the platform about 19:00. He and a group of friends, who were meeting up at the station, were standing on the platform and talking, according to local media.
Vaud police have not confirmed the details but say that the youth and one other friend, also 14, were both injured. The second boy sustained only light injuries and was treated and released from the Nyon hospital.
270 pointsetta plants were needed to create Schilliger's 3-metre high red Christmas tree in Gland
(Correction: Claudio Carollo below) GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – January sales are now on, but many people are still on holiday, so why not combine great prices and extra time with family and friends – and take along a special gift. We’re leaving some of our Christmas shopping suggestions here because special offers are making several of them more affordable.
Poinsettas
Just the thing for Granny or for the office. The spectacular 3 metre high poinsetta tree at Schilliger Garden Centre in Gland and the huge collection of multi-hued poinsettas, the traditional Christmas plant, won’t fail to inspire. Note: Schilliger is open one last Sunday before Christmas, 18 December, from 09:00-17:00. While you’re there – all clothes are 20 percent off right now and they have beautiful scarves, caps, gloves starting at CHF20, to put under your Christmas tree.
Chateau de Chillon all year, for kids
The castle, Switzerland’s most visited tourist attraction, has a children’s club, membership CHF20 and that includes free entry all year, a great way to stay focused on chivalry, dungeons and crenellations year-round.
Dipping into fitness, affordably
We aren’t going to think about the diet or getting in shape until after the holidays, are we? But how nice to then have a pass, 50 percent off, to a number of wellness and beauty centres in the Lake Geneva region, so you can sample them and decide what fits best. Body Pass works like the well-known restaurant passes and is a nice gift for anyone you know who is likely to have post-holiday panic (not just women, of course). Special offer: if you buy three you get CHF10 off, so maybe your staff would enjoy these. CHF80, valid from now until 31 December 2012.
Meanwhile, don’t forget the port and cheese
Jim’s British Market carries wonderful UK cheeses such as Stilton, in case you know someone who would enjoy a change from Swiss and French cheeses. Great news for Brits and other expats in the area: Jim’s is opening a shop soon in Gland; stay tuned to their web site for the date. This is also a good place to order Christmas hams and turkeys. Note: the shop closed Saturday 24 December at noon, for three weeks.
If you’re buying Stilton, there are two excellent choices to accompany it, and you can find both at Cave SA in Gland, one of the best high quality wine shops in the La Cote area, where you’ll get very good advice about what to buy. Try a bottle of Port (Graham’s 30-year-old Tawny is CHF102, Dow’s 10 year old is CHF32.20) or go one step further and buy the special 6-pack festive season “meditation” bottles, a mix of extraordinary wines, 10 percent off, CHF242.10. Maurice Zufferey’s Malvoisie Grain Noble, part of the box, is beautiful with stilton.
Extraordinary chocolate by anyone’s standards
A new chocolate boutique has opened at 39, Route de Saint-Cergue, Nyon, and even in the land of marvelous chocolate, it stands out as something special: Claudio Corallo, named after the Italian agronomist founder who lives with his family on the tiny volcanic archipelago of São Tomé e Príncipe where they raise extraordinary coffee beans and cocoa, using descendents of the first plants to arrive in Africa – but no point in spoiling the story for you. The shop is open limited hours, note. Lisa V, a GenevaLunch fan, contacted us to correct our text on the boutique: “This shop is a result of his passion for authentic, high quality chocolate and is only open part time because he also a regular daytime job.” Lisa, who read about his shop here, adds that “his chocolate is really good, unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before!” Phone or write first to ask when you can stop by (mostly evenings): +41 22 556 7686, suisse@claudiocorallo.com (Promeco Af S.a.r.l.).
Some serviced is back, but expect delays, disruptions for the morning
Lausanne-Geneva trains, including Brig-Geneva airport line, not running Tuesday morning
Update 09:15 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Trains are back on the track and running btween Lausanne and Geneva, after a 70-minute stop during rush hour on one of Switzerland’s most heavily travelled routes, says the CFF rail company. A signal box breakdown in Coppet was responsible for stopping the trains from 07:30 to 08:40. Repair work will continue until noon, but travellers should expect disruptions and delays for the morning, says the CFF.
Regional and RER trains were not affected, between Geneva and Coppet, and between Lausanne and Allaman, but the breakdown left the Intercity trains unable to make the Lausanne-Geneva connection.
The CFF announced the problem via loudspeakers on the quais and put a team of helpers out to guide people.
Updates in English from the CFF.
Here are details from the CFF, provided at 08:21:
Between Coppet and Gland on the Genève-Aéroport – Lausanne line, no train services are operating.
The Lancy-Pont-Rouge – Genève – Coppet S-Bahn trains are running on schedule.
Trains RE Genève – Lasanne are cancelled between Coppet and Gland.
Trains IR Genève-Aéroport – Lausanne – Brig are cancelled between Genève-Aéroport and Lausanne.
Trains IR Genève-Aéroport – Lausanne – Bern – Luzern are cancelled between Genève-Aéroport and Lausanne.
Trains ICN Genève-Aéroport – Morges – Biel/Bienne – Basel SBB / Zürich HB – St. Gallen are cancelled between Genève-Aéroport and Morges.
Intercity trains Genève-Aéroport – Lausanne – Bern – Zürich HB – St. Gallen are cancelled between Genève-Aéroport and Lausanne.
Passengers travelling from Coppet to Nyon or vice versa travel via BUS TPN11.
Reason: Signal box malfunction
Duration of disruption indefinite.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The federal highway office’s Truckinfo site for international truck drivers is warning caution on the A1 autoroute, in both directions, between Rolle and Gland, with animals on the road following an accident.
Details are not yet available. The site is updated every few minutes.
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – Police in Vaud have issued a sketch of the man, 55 to 60 years old, who sexually attacked a pre-teen in her apartment building in Gland 14 April, in an attempt to get more help from the public in finding him.
He was European in look, with light-coloured eyes, white-blond hair and spoke French, possibly with a slight, indistinguishable accent. He was wearing wireframed glasses. Height 170-180cm, weight average although with a slight belly.
He was seen driving away from the scene of the crime in a turquoise (green or blue) car with Geneva plates.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 021 644 4444 or contact the nearest police station.
The girl was accosted and lured inside by the man on a false pretext, then sexually molested in the apartment building.
Police seek information and witnesses on man seen in area
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Canton Vaud Police are seeking witnesses and information on a man who was seen driving a small turquoise car with Geneva plates, suspected of sexually abusing a pre-teen in her apartment building Thursday evening 14 April. He was reported by neighbours to have been seen loitering in the area in the afternoon and possibly also a week earlier, as if he were waiting for someone.
The girl was confronted by the man in front of her building on the Rue des Alpes at 17:30 Thursday and, on a pretext, he took her to a room in the building, where he sexually abused her. He was seen running out of the building and fleeing in the small model turquoise car at 18:00. The car appeared to have Geneva plates.
Police describe him as European in appearance, speaking French, age 50-60, height 175-180cm, average weight and build, blue eyes, short blond/white/gray hair with a beard the same colour. He was wearing glasses with wire-rim or other light frames. He wore black pants and a pink/red striped shirt or pullover.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at +41 21 644 4444 or to go to the nearest police station.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Gland-based WWF‘s Indonesian arm announced Monday that an “almost extinct species” has been caught on camera. The Javan rhinos “are breeding in Ujung Kulon,” says Eric Dinerstein, chief scientist at WWF in the US.
The video was released 28 February by WWF-Indonesia and Indonesia’s National Park Authority.
The footage was taken by a motion-activated video camera at the Ujung Kulon National Park.
It is “a huge boost to efforts to save this almost extinct species that is threatened by poaching, disease, and the possibility of a tsunami or volcanic eruption,” WWF-Indonesia notes in a written statement.
The Javan rhino may be one of the rarest mammals on the planet according to the WWF, with as few as 40 left. Once numerous throughout Southeast Asia, its population is now likely isolated to Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia.
Video of two families of Javan rhinos
To donate to their cause you can visit: www.javanrhinohope.org
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – New Year’s resolutions aside, some people are getting off to a positive start in 2011 and to help you do the same, here is a roundup of some bright spots from the news scene, from GenevaLunch editor Ellen Wallace:
Zurich marathon first to host burn fundraiser and racer Hinett’s
Karl Hinett, 23, former British soldier and marathon runner, 1 January in Zurich began the daunting self-assigned task of running one official marathon a week for a year, to raise money for Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital burns unit. Hinett “suffered 37 percent burns to his hands, legs, arms and face and had to learn to walk again and had multiple operations and skin grafts when he was injured in September 2005,” reports Express and Star. (Hinett’s sponsorship page)
There’s still room for change in business battledress
“Since the early 20th century the battledress of the executive has changed little, at least on the outside,” writes The Economist, in writing a brief history of the 150-year-old “lounge suit”. For those who fear that this represents unswerving conformity on a frightening scale, relax: the modern world, the author adds, “has transformed the suit’s interior” with tailors prepared to add such useful options as iPad pockets that might resemble the old “inside of field coats worn by country gents that will hold birds and rabbits felled with a shotgun”. A world of stuffy business types takes on new meaning.
Human babies and joeys: scientists finding that evolution plays a role in breast milk
IUCN, Gland, extension using new technologies for zero emissions concept (photo, Alain Bucher, Holcim)
Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – It’s time to shift from trying to simply save energy in our buildings to a “zero emission building” approach, the Zurich federal polytechnic institute, ETH, is arguing 19 November, presenting its concept to the public.
“People have been heating with the help of combustion processes ever since man discovered how to make fire, using wood and fossil fuels like coal or natural gas to keep their homes warm and snug. The CO2 problem and climate change, however, have put a major question mark over the method. The Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich is therefore urging a paradigm shift: not just away from combustion technologies and towards seasonal energy storage, but also from simple energy-saving towards zero emissions,” members of the department of architecture state in a press release.
One of its example of how this can work is the extension of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) building in Gland.
The zero emission concept suggests buildings that don’t need thick layers of insulation in the building shell unnecessary and that are thus free from standardized regulations.
A1 Gland-Rolle accident: one seriously injured; Epalinges, Gland and Gingins deaths
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Three people have died and one is in serious condition following four separate accidents in Vaud since Tuesday. A woman in her seventies died following an accident in Gingins Saturday morning. In another accident early Sunday a 20-year-old man was airlifted to the Chuv university hospitals in serious condition after he lost control of his car on the A1 autoroute between Gland and Rolle, heading in the direction of Lausanne.
The Gingins accident occurred when the woman failed to see a vehicle coming from her right.
Overturned truck on Swiss A1 autoroute, heading into Geneva
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The driver of a heavy truck was injured and taken to the hospital in Nyon after his rig overturned about 05:00 Wednesday morning 3 March on the A1 autoroute. The extent of his injuries has not been announced, but police say his life is not in danger. He is, however, being denounced to a judge. (GenevaLunch traffic alert from Wednesday morning)
The driver, in his 20s, had leaned down to pick up a CD that fell on the floor, according to Vaud police, shortly before the Gland exit on the A1 heading towards Geneva. His truck veered onto the shoulder of the road and when he tried to right it, it overturned.
Update 10:05 Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The A1 autoroute, in the direction of Geneva, is closed between Rolle and Gland due to an accident involving a large truck. Officials say the road will remain closed until at least 11:30 and traffic, which is badly backed up, is being diverted to the N1 (lake road).
Nyon, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The A1 autoroute will be closed between Nyon and Gland Wednesday night 17 February on the lake side of the road, heading towards Lausanne, from 21:00-05:00. Roadworks which have been going on since late January to repair a damaged bridge joint will be finished on the lake side by 18 February. The road will be closed again 25 February on the Jura side, heading towards Geneva, also from 21:00-05:00, to finish the roadworks and remove equipment.
Mugello, Italy (GenevaLunch) - Michael Schumacher, seven-time Formula 1 Champion has abandoned his comeback as replacement driver for Felipe Massa in the Ferrari team for the European Grand Prix to be held in Valencia, Spain.
Calanthe-yuksomnensis (image ©2009 Sudhizong Lucksom / WWF Nepal)
One of 12 new poppy species discoveries, Meconopsis tibetica (© 2009 Margaret Thome / WWF Nepal)
Gland, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The Eastern Himalayas, one of the richest and most bio-diverse areas of the world, is also one that is most threatened by global warming, according to a new report by The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), out 10 August.
Over the past 10 years, researchers have discovered an average of 35 new species a year in the region, which WWF says is on a par with other biological cauldrons such as Borneo. The Eastern Himalayas are home to a flying frog (Rhacophorus suffry), which uses its webbed feet to glide, and the world’s smallest species of deer. When first discovered, researchers thought the deer was the young of another species. It stands 60-80 cms tall and weighs 11 kg.
The region encompasses Nepal, Bhutan, northern Bengal and the three northeastern-most states of India, Assam, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as the extreme north of Burma (Myanmar).
Flying frog (image ©2009 Totul Bortamuli / WWF Nepal)
Pressures on the region include population growth, logging, mining activities and inappropriate infrastructure building, especially roads and dams.
Full report: “The Eastern Himalayas. Where worlds collide” (pdf)
Gland, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Seven-times world champion racing driver Michael Schumacher announced he would stand in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa in the upcoming race in Valencia, Spain 23 August. Schumacher, 40, who lives on the shores of Lake Geneva, retired from Formula 1 racing in 2006 but continued as a team advisor for the Ferrari team where he won five of his seven championships.
Schumacher home in Gland
Gland, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Formula 1′s former champion Michael Schumacher, had grandiose ideas about the dock he wants to install at his new lakefront estate on the shores of Lake Geneva in Gland, according to the Tribune de Geneve, quoting Michel Cosendai of the Vaud cantonal water service. The final solution, posted for public consultation until mid-August, will allow docking space two motor boats and the option of an offshore anchor for a sailboat. One group that is likely to oppose the new construction is the Association Rives Publiques, which has been fighting for open public access to the shores of Lake Geneva. According to the Tribune, the group plans to file its opposition.
Schumacher's new home in Gland (©E Wallace 2009)
The race driver's old home, now for rent (image: GetImage/Immostreet.ch)
Vufflens-le-Chateau, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Formula 1 superstar Michael Schumacher has put his house in the Vaud hills above Morges up for rent for a cool CHF29,000, which even in the Swiss housing market is on the high end. And that doesn’t include les charges, such as electricity, for which the amount is not given.
Here’s what you can rent for this price in Vaud:
Gland, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – A dozen police officers in Gland will be able to use bicycles to “get closer to the population,” starting 1 May and to more quickly and easily reach areas in town, by the lake and in the woods that surround much of Gland. Two all-terrain bikes will be shared.
Gland, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Swissquote, Switzerland’s leader in online stock market trading, saw its 2008 results hit hard by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers but its revenues for the year were up slightly over 2007, to CHF111.7 million, thanks to strong growth in its client base,
Moon over the Swiss Alps, Val d'Anniviers, 24 December 2008
(GenevaLunch) – Only today left and you haven’t started your shopping, or someone near and dear to you hasn’t and you’re a little worried about that?
If you’re desperate to make a nice, quick card, download from flickr the large view of the photo at left, the Swiss Alps the morning of 24 December (compliments of GL editor Ellen Wallace – Merry Christmas!).
Here are some suggestions for quick fixes to the shopping problem:
Read more…
Miserable, near Gland, Vaud
Ed. note: series of Lake Geneva area photos at end of article (click on images to view larger)
Lake Geneva region, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Snow is beautiful, if the weather and the altitude fit it, but when the white stuff falls too close to Lake Geneva the snow turns sloppy and slushy and damp, wrapping around us like an old chilly sheet.
In short: it’s not much fun.
Cars slip and slide, people without good treads on their feet do the same. Animals carry on grazing, but they look miserable.
Nyon, Vaud, Switzerland (24 Heures, Fre) – Residents of the Nyon and Gland area, which covers 22 communes, will have three-line cable access by July, allowing them to use one cable system to access the Internet, telephone and television. Rates for the new services are not yet available, reports 24 Heures.
