Social issues

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.

“Life goes on even where it seems to have been shattered”

In honour of Guido A. Zäch

by Dr Sabine Vuilleumier-Koch*

(13 March 2026) Hundreds of people wished to pay their respects to the doctor and founder of the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation.1 Guido A. Zäch established this foundation in 1975 and, in 1978, the Association of Benefactors, which now has 2 million members. In 1980, he founded the Swiss Paraplegics Association as an organisation for people with spinal cord injuries, and in 1990 opened the “Swiss Paraplegics Centre” (SPC) and, in 2005, the Guido A. Zäch Institute. – He passed away at the age of 90 on 16 February 2026. Across the country, all interested parties were invited on 28 February and were able to attend the tribute ceremony in various buildings of the SPZ.

The “Epstein scandal” and its socio-psychological consequences

Legal action is urgently needed

by Robert Seidel*

(13 March 2026) At the end of January, the largest portion to date of the Epstein files (several million documents, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos) was published.1 The “Epstein case” offers a glimpse into a part of the international power structure that operates beyond governments, the UN, the WHO or the WEF, and beyond the rule of law. A full investigation and legal reckoning are required.

Who benefits from age verification on social media?

When child abusers want to protect children from TikTok, it’s probably about something else

by Norbert Häring*

(6 March 2026) A ban on social media for children and young people is being pushed worldwide, supposedly to protect them. It is being driven by a global “elite” that has abused and tormented young people and children for decades and continues to protect the perpetrators to this day. In reality, they want to put an end to unmonitored use of the internet.

Benefits, freedom, self-government

Peter Blickle analyses communalism in Switzerland and Europe

by Beat Kappeler*

(27 February 2026) (CH-S) Renowned journalist Beat Kappeler draws on the research of historian Peter Blickle to explore what makes Switzerland so unique. How did the Swiss manage to preserve so many rights and avoid organising their state in a hierarchical manner, unlike France, Germany or Italy? How did the independent and wealthy cities and municipalities of Europe come to submit to centralised power?