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Solidarity in the village – are we losing something valuable?

by Stephan Laube, local councillor in Felben-Wellhausen (TG)

(27 March 2026) Many of us still remember it: in the village, help was taken for granted. Anyone coming home late from work knew their children could have a meal at a neighbour’s. People would lend each other ladders, tools or cars, without a receipt and without discussion. If someone fell ill or there was a death in the family, a handful of people would turn up at the door – with some soup, time and a listening ear.

Germany

Debanking of an independent journalist

Ulrich Heyden’s account frozen after more than 30 years

(27 March 2026) (CH-S) Ulrich Heyden is one of the few independent German journalists reporting from Russia. His stance is independent and therefore critical. He has been working in Russia for many decades and, thanks to his language skills, personal connections, experience and extensive knowledge of the country and its people, is able to present high-quality reports, features and analyses to his readers in the German-speaking world (https://ulrich-heyden.de). This is one of the reasons why Ulrich Heyden is also a welcome contributor to “Swiss Standpoint”.

“Deprived of all rights”

Hannes Hofbauer presents his new book

by Marita Brune-Koch*

(27 March 2026) Have you ever heard the name Jacques Baud? Well, surely you have; after all, you are reading “Swiss Standpoint”, a publication that has reported extensively on him and about him. You will find hardly anything about him in the mainstream media. It was precisely this question – “Do you know Jacques Baud?” – that Hannes Hofbauer, author and publisher, put to a group of bookstore clerks. The answer: no one had ever heard the name. That is symptomatic.

Is Swiss neutrality immoral?

by Wolf Linder, Bern*

(20 March 2026) Voters will soon have to decide on the neutrality initiative: Should neutrality be enshrined in the Constitution? Should Switzerland support economic sanctions? Should peace efforts be strengthened? Does Switzerland want more neutrality or more NATO? Or should everything stay the same?

Swiss farmer at the helm of Russia’s largest dairy farm

by Marita Brune-Koch*

(20 March 2026) (January 2026) In the middle of the Moscow winter, a tour group from Switzerland sets off to visit “EkoNiva”, Russia’s largest dairy farm. It is snowing incessantly, and the coach struggles its way through the vast city. Despite the masses of snow, there is no chaos, though progress is very slow. The group is welcomed by Ramon Schenk, one of the farm’s two managers. He greets the visitors in familiar Swiss German: he comes from Herrliberg on Lake Zurich. He has been living and working in Russia for 17 years. Today, he is taking the time to tell his guests about the farm.

Widening hostilities across Middle East putting civilian lives in grave danger

The following is a statement from ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric:

(20 March 2026) Geneva (ICRC) – “Widening hostilities across the Middle East are putting civilian lives in grave danger. The scale of major military operations flaring across the Middle East risks embroiling the region – and beyond – into another large-scale armed conflict that will overwhelm any humanitarian response. Without urgent steps to de-escalate the situation and respect the rules of war, further civilian lives will be lost.