Pubdate: Mon, 09 Aug 2004
Source: Swissinfo / SRI (Switzerland Web)
Copyright: 2004 Swissinfo SRI Swiss Radio International
Contact: Giacomettistrasse 1 CH-3000, Bern 15, Switzerland
Website: http://www.swissinfo.org/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2897

HOT MUSIC DRAWS THOUSANDS TO STREET PARADE

Nearly a million techno music fans have attended Zurich's 13th annual 
Street Parade, almost breaking last year's record crowd numbers. 	 	

Over 30 "love mobiles" wound their way through the city streets, pumping 
out electronic music for mostly young spectators.

This year, groups from Russia, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy and 
Belgium, as well as Switzerland and Germany were manning the love mobiles.

Besides exotic rhythms, this year's parade also offered spectators a chance 
for the first time to quench their thirst with alcohol.

Makeshift bars along the parade route were given permission to sell beer to 
participants and spectators.

The Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Addiction had 
earlier criticised the move.

"When the weather is hot, alcohol increases the risk of heart attacks, 
accidents and violence," the institute said in a statement.

But Street Parade organisers countered, saying participants had always 
consumed alcohol, which they either brought from home or purchased in the 
city's restaurants.

One partygoer died at an evening event at Zurich's main station. Police 
said they did not know what caused the death of the 25-year-old Italian.

Main Event

As in previous years, Swiss Federal Railways organised extra trains to take 
ravers to Zurich from all over the country.

Spokesman Stefan Epli said the annual parade was as popular as ever with 
techno fans of all ages.

"There have always been young and old participants, but most of the diehard 
fans are between 18 and 35," he told swissinfo.

This year's parade was dubbed "Elements of culture", said Epli, because 
"techno music has earned its place on the cultural scene."

"This parade honours the artists who brought us this form of music. 
Electronic music is now a recognised form of expression."

Humble Beginnings

The first Street Parade was staged in 1992 and attracted 1,500 people. But 
over the past decade it has grown to become one of the biggest outdoor 
parties in Europe.

For the first time, a so-called "solar float" travelled along the length of 
the parade. The float was part of a campaign for renewable energy organised 
by the environmental organisation, Greenpeace.

The festivities did not end with the parade itself at 10pm. Many clubs in 
the city pounded to the techno beat throughout the weekend.

A group of ten bars and clubs in Zurich offered partygoers free water, ear 
protection and condoms as part of a new "Safer Clubbing" campaign.

Staff in these clubs were trained by specialists in the prevention of drug 
addiction and Aids.

The initiative was developed in collaboration with experts from the 
Zurich-based drug prevention project, Streetwork.

According to Streetwork, drugs commonly consumed during and after the 
parade include ecstasy, cannabis and cocaine.

Staff were on hand inside the clubs to help ravers check the content of 
their pills, while the Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug 
Addiction ran a telephone hotline to answer drug-related questions.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake