Tag Archives: Switzerland

Europe – a bureaucratic oxymoron?

Posted on June 2, 2016 by blaubear

Last year I wrote about the bureaucratic struggles involved in a marriage with a foreign national in Vietnam. One year later, my wife and I are getting acquainted with the devastating bureaucracy that is sickening humans in Europe. Having lived … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bureaucracy, citizens, citizenship, EU, EU law, Europe, human rights, Human Rights Convention, humanity, Marriage, Max Frisch, Oprah Winfrey, Politics, racism, residence, Schengen, Swiss banks, Swiss federalism, Swiss law, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Vietnam, Visa rule | 1 Comment

Is international development doing the right thing?

Posted on February 14, 2016 by blaubear

‘Working in international development is often associated with ‘doing good’. A closer look at what international cooperation has achieved in Vietnam suggests that doing good requires more than simply working in a developing country. Although I was aware of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged corruption, Development, equity, Forest, French Indochina, FSC, Ho Chi Minh, Ho Chi Minh City, human rights, Inequality, International Cooperation, International development, Politics, Spain, Sustainable development, Switzerland, transparency, Transparency international, UNREDD, Vietnam, Vietnam War, world bank | 2 Comments

2016 – an outlook into a fragile future.

Posted on December 26, 2015 by blaubear

2015 has been a year heavily laden with major global events. According to how one of the most recent ones—the climate conference in Paris—has been celebrated, 2016 promises either the best or worst to come. True, the past year didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2015, 2016, climate action, climate change, enviroment, equity, Politics, Public participation, society, Switzerland, terrorism, Vietnam, war, world | Leave a comment

Why don’t you trade your political career against one in banking, Mr Obama?

Posted on October 28, 2015 by blaubear

In an act of revenge on Swiss banks facilitating tax crimes of US citizens, US president Obama reaches out to foreign governments, not realizing that all they do is punishing innocent individuals who have so little in common with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged banking, Banking in Switzerland, FACTA, Politics, Switzerland, tax, tax crimes, tax evasion, UBS, USA | 1 Comment

Why the intention to ban burkas in Switzerland is more than just right-wing politician rhetoric.

Posted on October 3, 2015 by blaubear

Switzerland has made a name for its prohibition of minarets. Although a new initiative is widely criticized for being right-wing populism, the topic deserves some more attention. Burkas don’t just cause discussions, they are indeed extremely unattractive, not to say … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Burka, Islam, Politics, religion, schweiz, society, Switzerland, terrorism, Veil | 1 Comment

Switzerland in the 21st century: democracy and equal access or patriotism and isolation?

Posted on September 12, 2015 by blaubear

While Europe is struggling to cope with one of the biggest mass migrations in recent history, Switzerland is preparing for the upcoming elections. It does that by looking backwards but ignoring the fact that throughout history, thousands of Swiss have … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged corruption, democracy, Politics, Politik, schweiz, SVP, SVP video, Switzerland, Wahlen 2015 | 1 Comment

From the horrors of a marriage with a foreigner

Posted on August 14, 2015 by blaubear

Haven’t we all heard of how marriages between members of different nationalities can result in rather shocking experiences? Well, here is a live reportage of how horrific it really can be! Vietnam is a country with good experience in marrying … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged corruption, Diplomacy, Environmental law, human rights, Marriage, Marriage law Vietnam, rents, Switzerland, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Swiss politics through the lens of Anthony Downs’ analysis of an “An economic theory of political action in a democracy“

Posted on July 25, 2015 by blaubear

A report submitted to CeDEP, SOAS, University of London in July 2014 as part of a written assignment for the course “Political Economy of Public Policy”. In his work “An economic theory of political action in a democracy” Downs (1957) … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged lobbying, Politics, Politik, schweiz, Switzerland | 2 Comments

The most dangerous invasive species of present times!

Posted on May 12, 2015 by blaubear

Worldwide environmentalist and conservation groups are fighting invasive species. However, the most dangerous of invasive species can only be controlled with the support of all citizens around the world. Invasive species are organisms that are non-native to an area and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bureaucracy, democracy, environment, EU, Europe, freedom, governance, Greece, Hannah Arendt, invasive species, Politics, society, Switzerland, tax, Vietnam, World Heritage Site | Leave a comment

Overcoming capitalism: by treason or collaborating for a better life?

Posted on March 12, 2015 by blaubear

Various economies are facing the long expected end of growth. While the potential consequences are dominated by fear, various people look for different ways out – some more elegant than others. Whereas most of us[1] have benefited from the strength … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bill Gates, Capitalism, climate change, economic growth, Economic inequality, employment, Gates Foundation, Germany, Greece, growth, SIKA, Switzerland, unemployment, United States, Vietnam | 1 Comment