Die SRF-Wirtschaftsredaktion verschließt die Augen vor der Klima- und Umweltkrise

Urs P. Gasche / 20.08.2023  «Tagesschau» and «SRF-Börse» think it’s great when consumers buy, throw away, and fly around the world as much as possible. The economic editorial team of Swiss television does not report objectively, soberly, and critically on the latest figures from the economy. Instead, they hammer us almost daily that it is always good news when sales and profits increase significantly. Not a word about the fact that excessive profits mean a failure of the market economy because there is obviously not enough competition in the affected industry. More worrying, however: not a word about whether the increase in sales was socially desirable and useful. According to the outdated motto: „No matter what grows, as long as it grows.“ The more disposable products, the better for growth. The more heavy off-roaders instead of smaller cars, the better. The more environmental damage that can be repaired, the better. The more inhabitants Switzerland has, the better for sales and profits. Companies can achieve higher sales and profits if more consumers dispose of their clothes, shoes, furniture, cell phones, or televisions more frequently and buy new ones faster; if they replace their cars with new ones earlier; or if they travel on vacation more frequently by airplanes – which are massively subsidized. Such consumer behavior contrasts with the global climate and environmental crisis. It exploits poor countries. It endangers our future and burdens future generations. But the SRF economic editorial team ignores all of this. They primarily inform from the perspective of individual companies. One small example among many was provided by the Tagesschau on August 18th. The airline „Swiss“ is „on a good path“ with passenger numbers: „The airline is almost carrying as many passengers as before the pandemic!“ The Tagesschau did not simply inform: „Swiss has increased its capacity.“ Instead, it formulates it positively from the company’s point of view: „Swiss was able to increase its capacity.“ The only guest allowed to present Swiss’s business policy in the best light was a Swiss manager. At the end of the report, Tagesschau presenter Cornelia Boesch summed up: „Swiss is on a good path with its capacity.“ From the perspective of the Tagesschau, the Lufthansa subsidiary would probably be on a „very good path“ if even more people were to board an airplane than before Corona. The world would even be on a „fantastic path“ if the airlines could acquire countless new aircraft and build new runways and even larger airports for them. The information program „SRF Börse“ also contributes to the one-sided corporate reporting. It is sponsored (paid) by the Zürcher Kantonalbank, which is involved in stock trading. This program also spreads the impression: Whatever increases sales, profits, and stock prices is for the benefit of all. This view of the program „SRF Börse“ is often adopted by the subsequent Tagesschau when it reports on the economy. A complaint from „Infosperber“ in 2016 that „SRF Börse“ violated its license was rejected by the Independent Complaints Authority. In 35 years twice as much – in 70 years four times as much „Almost four billion people in China, India, and Africa want to live like us. This is only possible if we in the industrialized countries slim down. But by all means, they want to tempt us to gain more weight. Representatives of the economy and politics do everything to ensure that our economy grows by at least two percent every year. Then we would have twice as much money, consume twice as much, build twice as much, and fly twice as much in 35 years as we do today. And four times as much in 70 years. Is that possible? Certainly not. Not for us, let alone for the people in China, India, and Africa who want to live like us.“ From the foreword of the book „Schluss mit dem Wachstumswahn – Plädoyer für eine Umkehr“ by Urs P. Gasche and Hanspeter Guggenbühl. Rüegger-Verlag, 2010, 16.80 CHF; 15.50 Euro (Kindle)

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Die SRF-Wirtschaftsredaktion ignoriert Klima- und Umweltkrise

Urs P. Gasche / 20.08.2023  «Tagesschau» und «SRF-Börse» finden es toll, wenn die Konsumenten möglichst viel kaufen, wegwerfen und in der Welt herumfliegen. Die Wirtschaftsredaktion des Schweizer Fernsehens berichtet nicht sachlich, nüchtern und kritisch über neuste Zahlen aus der Wirtschaft. Vielmehr hämmert sie uns fast täglich ein, dass es stets eine erfreuliche Nachricht sei, wenn Umsätze und Gewinne stark steigen. Kein Wort darüber, dass zu hohe Gewinne ein Versagen der Marktwirtschaft bedeuten, weil in der betroffenen Branche offensichtlich zu wenig Wettbewerb herrscht. Bedenklicher jedoch: Kein Wort darüber, ob die Umsatzsteigerungen gesellschaftlich wünschbar und nützlich waren. Ganz nach dem verstaubten Motto: «Egal, was wächst, wenn es nur wächst». Je mehr Wegwerfprodukte, desto besser für das Wachstum. Je mehr schwere Offroader statt

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