Switzerland!

By Joy, Allison, and Julianne

Current Events! Cat-Hunting Scandal

• Cats = clothes + blankets

• Last western Euro. nation w/ legal cat-hunting

• 10 pelts = $1,700• EU banned

import/export of cats by 2008

• Advocacy group SOS Chats says tens of thousands killed

April 2008

Immigration, “Black Sheep”

• October 2007 • “To Create Security” (less crimes)

• right-wing nationalist Swiss People’s Party

• Keep out immigrants/refugees (Kosovo, Rwanda)

Swiss Nationalists Win (Oct. 2007)

• Swiss People’s Party (Christoph Blocher) win record # of votes

• Anti-immigration campaign • Criticized for being racist (Ricardo

Lumengo)

Vs.

German Tax-Evasion Scandal

• Foreigners go to Switzerland to avoid their own nat’l taxes

• Germany – wants Swiss to help

• Swiss banks fear for clients’ confidentiality

• Switzerland seen as “banking black hole”

Aging population=impending financial strain

• Baby boomers retiring; birth rate not expected to rise– Life expectancy rising– Public debt will grow• Insufficient pensions

Chocolate!

Teuscher Chocolates, Zurich