Day: 13 December 2016

HSH Prince Albert has turned again to the urgency of global warming, this time in an address to the American Geophysical Union at its autumn meeting in San Francisco.

Giving the Presidential Forum speech on Monday, Prince Albert referred back to his dogsled expedition to the North Pole in 2005, a trip that convinced him of the urgency of taking action on climate change. He said that a number of Arctic glaciers had retreated by more than six kilometres since photos were taken by his great-great grandfather, Prince Albert I, in the early 1900s.

The Prince told a briefing on Monday that he is hoping to speak to President-elect Donald Trump, who has famously described climate change as a Chinese hoax, “to try to have him understand what the issues are and what a reasonable way forward would be, not only for the US but as an example to other countries as well.”

“The urgencies of yesterday are still the urgencies of today,” Prince Albert said. Underlining his message, he added: “I really don’t understand why there are still so many people out there that want to deny the changes that are happening.

“We have to come to terms with the fact that we are facing some severe challenges ahead if we don’t move toward a low-carbon economy.”

READ ALSO: Prince recognises “true ambassador” of ocean protection

The Syndicat Monégasque des Professionnels de la Communication (SYCOM) has held its Ordinary General Assembly, during which it welcomed Geneviève Berti, Director of the Communications Department, who spoke informally about the role, missions, objectives and modalities of this new Directorate.

The Assembly then took stock of the previous year and agreed that the companies Tapis Rouge Monaco, Pierre Dick and Polo Grafico MC be admitted to membership, bringing the number of members to 33.

The session continued with the election of the executive committee for the fiscal year 2016-2017. The members elected the following: Francesco Caroli, Chairman (Promocom Group), Sophie Bourdillon, Vice-President (Media Partners), Roberto Testa, Secretary General (Latin American Reports) Eric Battaglia and Treasurer (Princesse de Nuit Production).

The Assembly also reviewed the main aims of SYCOM. “To enhance Monegasque economic activity and offer clients and advertisers the guarantee of 100 percent national know-how on products and services provided by its members. SYCOM has created its own collective brand,” said President Francesco Caroli.

Early in 2017, SYCOM will publish the fourth edition of its Official Agenda. The President explained: “Everything must be done to make Monaco more aware of the diversity of the communication professions represented within SYCOM – consulting, public relations, publishing, media, advertising, posters, events, marketing, photo creation, training, routing –  and to enhance the know-how of member companies”.

Among its other projects, SYCOM will organise meetings with external speakers on topics of general interest or in connection with communication. In order to strengthen exchanges and synergies within the union, a new format for inter-member meetings will also be inaugurated in 2017.

READ ALSO: Minister of Finance chairs anniversary meeting

The Social Payments Office has announced new teleservices that have been developed in recent months and made available to its policyholders, including the application “C.S.M.” for tablets and smartphones.

The aim is to facilitate the lives of employees and employers with eighty-five percent of them now sending their salary declarations via teleservice at the end of 2016.

By downloading the application “C.S.M.”, a whole range of services is offered to the insured, the Office says: Access to his/her registration card; Provision of information needed by health professionals to transmit care sheets to the Payments Office; Installing the F.S.E. card on a smartphone. Spouses and children can also benefit from the same services during their medical appointments.

The Director of Social Payments in Monaco, Jean-Jacques Campana, also presented the functionalities offered to individuals and employers of household staff, including declaring wages, setting up and printing online wage bulletins and consulting statements of contributions. All these advances save time and increase productivity within the Social Payments Office.