First two days of animal ethics study trip to Switzerland

Yesterday I travelled to Switzerland, flying to Zürich, from Stavanger via Copenhagen, to take part in the study trip of Norway´s Council for animal ethics, of which I am a member (representing animal protection NGOs). I then went to Tänikon by car to meet the others, and we then went by car to Wädensvil, where we visited ZHAW Wädenswil (a campus of Zurich University of Applied Sciences) to look at their aquaculture research. After this we went to Chur to stay the night.

Today we first went to Landquart, to be shown around at Plantahof, an agricultural knowledge center in the canton of Graubünden. In this canton as much as 60% of all farms are organic. Then we went to Domleschg where we visited an organic farm which practices slaughter of calves on-farm. Finally we went to Schwägalp to stay the night there.

Interviewed on whaling by Süddeutsche Zeitung

A feature story in Süddeutsche Zeitung on whaling, titled "Die letzten Jäger" and featuring an interview with me in capacity as Norwegian Green Party politician, was published in no. 167, 2017, Samstag/Sonntag 22./23. Juli. In the article I am referred to as "Tierschutz-Sprecher der Partei" (the animal protection spokesman of the party). The same article appears to have been published also by the Swiss newspaper Der Bund (July 27th), likely also Tagesanzeiger.

Conflicting obligations; not attending GiB17 nor 4th code biology conference

This year I will not be able to attend neither the 17th gathering in biosemiotics, to be held in Lausanne, Switzerland in June, nor the 4th code biology conference, to be held in May in Köszeg, Hungary, due to conflicting obligations at University of Stavanger (May) and Macedonia (June).

16th Gathering in Biosemiotics to be held in Prague

At the General Assembly of the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies a few days ago (see separate post), it was disclosed, suggested and decided that the 16th Gathering in Biosemiotics will take place in Prague, the Czech Republic, next summer - convened by Karel Kleisner. It has furthermore been indicated that the 17th gathering might be held in Lausanne, Switzerland (though a decision will only be made next summer).