03:58Switzerland: You cannot claim neutrality and still profit from war - Proponent of arms manufacturing finance ban
As Swiss citizens headed to the polls for a referendum on a ban on the funding of arms manufacturers, Julia Kung, co-president of the Young Greens in Switzerland, explained what the Initiative Against the War Trade hopes to achieve.
The Initiative, as the activists simply call it, wants to prevent the Swiss National Bank (SBN) and other financial institutions from keep on funding international companies which trade in war components.
Kung said that the campaigners oppose funding companies which manufacture materials designed to kill, and that Switzerland should take responsibility on that topic.
When asked about the criticism related to the losses for the economy, she argued that local and small companies would not be hurt by the ban, as banks' money is channelled toward the international giants of this industry.
She also suggested that funding these companies it's in contrast with the so called "Swiss neutrality."
"You cannot say that you are not involved in any kind of war, in any kind of conflict, and still make profit out of funding the war industry," Kung said.
Ruptly reached out to one Swiss manufacturer involved in the manufacture of aerospace and defense components, among several other industrial activities, Casram. In a written statement, their CEO Franco Puffi said it was his belief that if passed, the initiative would cause the country to "face an economic problem on the long run," as several businesses, including Casram, are involved in the defense market.
The initiative, along with another aimed at increasing businesses liability, both failed to pass in the referendum.
03:58As Swiss citizens headed to the polls for a referendum on a ban on the funding of arms manufacturers, Julia Kung, co-president of the Young Greens in Switzerland, explained what the Initiative Against the War Trade hopes to achieve.
The Initiative, as the activists simply call it, wants to prevent the Swiss National Bank (SBN) and other financial institutions from keep on funding international companies which trade in war components.
Kung said that the campaigners oppose funding companies which manufacture materials designed to kill, and that Switzerland should take responsibility on that topic.
When asked about the criticism related to the losses for the economy, she argued that local and small companies would not be hurt by the ban, as banks' money is channelled toward the international giants of this industry.
She also suggested that funding these companies it's in contrast with the so called "Swiss neutrality."
"You cannot say that you are not involved in any kind of war, in any kind of conflict, and still make profit out of funding the war industry," Kung said.
Ruptly reached out to one Swiss manufacturer involved in the manufacture of aerospace and defense components, among several other industrial activities, Casram. In a written statement, their CEO Franco Puffi said it was his belief that if passed, the initiative would cause the country to "face an economic problem on the long run," as several businesses, including Casram, are involved in the defense market.
The initiative, along with another aimed at increasing businesses liability, both failed to pass in the referendum.