Category: Uncategorized

DAVOS 07 under the snow

AFP reported that “The sudden wintry snap, which follows a period of unseasonably warm weather across Europe, was nevertheless welcome relief for ski resorts in the French and Swiss Alps, many of which had previously been unable to open for lack of snow. Up to 70 centimetres (28 inches) of snow fell in the Swiss mountains…Wintry weather left thousands of travellers stranded at airports in Britain, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. It even hindered powerbrokers seeking to reach the Swiss mountain resort of Davos to make their keynote speeches on the first day of the World Economic Forum. German Chancellor Angela Merkel embarked on the 150-kilometre (90-mile) road journey through the mountains from Zurich airport when the helicopters ferrying political and business leaders to Davos were grounded for the entire day. ‘People forget that sometimes it snows in winter’, said a spokeswoman for the airport, which cancelled 32 European flights and many long-haul ones on Wednesday morning…” http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070124/ts
_afp/europeweather_070124184605

The Tribune de Geneve reported that during the World Economic Forum, from 23 to 31 January, some 800 extra flights will in Zurich’s Kloten airport, carrying “selected” participants for the event — and some 350 private jets. “Starting today, 6000 persons will cross Switzerland, heading to Davos, and 50 million CHF are expected in revenues (mostly in hotels and transport).”

Some 800-1200 of the world’s top businessmen are “selected” to attend, 180 “selected” political leaders (out of 200 “selected” public figures), 400 “selected” (invited) journalists, 80 “selected” NGOs, 20 “selected” religious leaders/ clergy, and a handful of “selected” “artists”.

The Tribune de Geneve added that in 2005, there was a turn-over (“chiffres d’affaires”) of 104 million Swiss francs, with a profit of 2 million Swiss Francs. And in 2006, the Davos event cost 13 million Swiss francs — of which 8 million Swiss francs was for security. www.tdg.ch/tghome/toute_l_info_test/economie/wef__23_01_.html

Geneva under the snow

Attention au gel!
Publié le 24 janvier 2007
La police genevoise publie aujourd’hui une mise en garde contre le gel et les chutes d’arbres dues au poids de la neige tombée au cours de ces dernières heures. La police recommande au public d’éviter de se promener dans les parcs, promenades, forêts et zones boisées. Le sol étant très meuble à cause du redoux de ces derniers mois, les arbres peuvent très facilement être déracinés par le poids de la neige sur leurs branches. Les policiers recommandent également d’éviter les abords du lac et des cours d’eau, en raison du fort risque de gel cette nuit et demain.
www.tdg.ch