My best friend, the forest
Richard Jakob-Hoff, New Zealand
Thank you for sharing this article. My love and spiritual connection with forests began in my early childhood in Switzerland. In the forests in and around my birthplace, Wengen, and later Visp. I find them a place of solace wherever I am in the world and am alarmed and dismayed at the disrespect shown by my species to these guardians of global health and human welfare. I was not aware that Switzerland had banned deforestation well over a century ago. This is something that should be more widely known as an example to others.
Lotti Mohar, Aurora, CANADA
Reading the report on forests really warmed my heart. Lovely memories come flooding back from 30 years ago. How many times did I accompany my father to the Dählhölzli forest, all the way down to the River Aare, where we also dropped by to see the zoo animals? I will never forget those special moments from my childhood.
Maria Chand, Parksville, Canada
A law dating back to 1876 that is still protecting forests today. What a gift for the planet and all the species on it.
Elena Lacroix Jaeggy, FRANCE/SWITZERLAND
Mountain bikes on forest paths and motorbikes everywhere have become a scourge all over Switzerland. An enormous amount of information and awareness-raising work is required, including bans when necessary, to bring an end to this problem. They pose an ongoing danger for all animals and biodiversity in general, not to mention causing an ecological catastrophe and constant noise. It is absolutely imperative that we stop this devastating trend, which offers no actual benefits at all.
Ban on Nazi symbols in Switzerland
Ralf Weyeneth, LOWER SAXONY, GERMANY
It is incomprehensible to me that there are still incorrigible people around today who have learned nothing from the past. The symbols and salutes used during the Nazi era should really be punishable by law. We only need to look at the USA to see where such practices can lead, but unfortunately they are on the way to becoming the norm in Europe as well these days.
Sergio Paini, Australia
How much longer do we have to "educate" people about what was done to the Jewish population during the Second World War? There is no place anywhere for anti-Semitism.
A warm welcome for Ukrainian refugees
Arye-Isaac Ophir, Israel
There are good reasons to welcome the Ukrainian refugees. On the one hand, because our own humanity demands it of us, and on the other because it also offers us an opportunity to introduce them to the norms of western civilisation, in the hope of positively influencing the future development of Ukraine.
A new look for “Swiss Review”
Katrin BONNOFSKY, Seattle, USA
Your redesigned magazine is terrific. Much better organised. Everything clear and coherent. Thank you. I wish you continued success.
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