Disenchantment hurts

Dear Reader

Between the two years of the Covid pandemic and the onset of war in Ukraine, we had just a few days to breathe easily. Like Milosevic 30 years ago, Putin has robbed countless young people of the belief that humanity could forever rely on non-violent forms of conflict resolution. 

Unfortunately, the UN's role as peacemaker has once again proved to be an illusion. Unlike villages and countries, yodelling societies and football clubs, our planet hurtles through the universe with no one at the helm. For the umpteenth time, the all-powerful UN Security Council has prevented the end of a war because it directly involves one of its five members with a right of veto.

Unfortunately, the Ukraine war has also tarnished Switzerland’s political reputation. The veneer of Swiss neutrality had already started to peel off in the light of Nazi gold and apartheid. And now even more so, thanks to country’s reluctance to sanction Russian oligarchs. Finally, Switzerland's humanitarian tradition has again fallen into disrepute. White, Christian female refugees from Ukraine were immediately granted Status-S protection in this country, permitted to look for gainful employment from day one and allowed to bring their families and pets with them. Compare this with the way their Islamic male counterparts from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea and Algeria were treated. After 80 years, Swiss refugee policy has once again revealed its ultimately racist character.

Nevertheless, there are positive sides to disenchantment. They nourish the hope that we will not mourn the demise of illusions and dreams but look to the future, with a view to developing solidarity as a core value in the preamble to our constitution.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a peaceful and restful summer. And hope that we will soon all be able to breathe a long, collective sigh of relief.

Lukas Niederberger, Managing Director SSCG

1st August Celebration on the Rütli

The “bad guys” are coming! Registration for the National Day celebration on the Rütli now open

For the first time in history, the Rütli will host Swiss-style wrestling. After a two-year delay, the SSCG is jointly organizing this year’s National Day celebration on 1 August with the Swiss Wrestling Federation. Secure one of the much-coveted seats at the celebration and register now.

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Agenda 2022

9 June 2022: Meeting of the Swiss nonprofit network, 9 am – 1 pm at the Kursaal Bern
9-10 June 2022: SSCG meeting in Bern and Burgdorf
1 August 2022: National Day celebrations on the Rütli

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