Month: January 2017

Since mid-2016, disposable plastic bags have been prohibited in the Principality. On January 1, 2017, this ban was extended to all plastic bags intended for packing goods in shops, including supermarkets, butchers, markets, pharmacies and other retail outlets.

Only biodegradable bags containing at least 30 percent bio-sourced material will remain authorised. This proportion will increase progressively to at least 40 percent on January 1, 2018, then 50 percent on January 1, 2020, and 60 percent on January 1, 2025. Compostable bags display the NF T51-800 standard or the “OK compost Home” label.

In practice, this prohibition concerns the packaging of bulk goods on the shelves of food shops or on market stands (weighing fruit and vegetables, packing fish, dried fruit, etc.). The move is a strong commitment that constitutes a new step in favour of more environmentally friendly trade. Its implementation rests on the commitment of the merchants and consumers of the Principality.

The Prince’s Government sent in September all residents a bag made of organic cotton, “A bag for life“, accompanied by a flyer, to raise awareness of the use of reusable bags.

During the campaign launch, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development, explained the need to reduce the use of plastic bags: “There are 250 billion plastics bags in the Mediterranean sea, and each bag takes 450 years to decompose.”

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This year’s strain of flu is particularly dangerous for the very elderly, according to health professionals in France. In one case, 13 residents of an old people’s home in Lyon have died from the infection since late December and a further six are still in hospital. Out of a total of 110 residents of the Korian Berthelot home, 72 contracted the flu.

Early results from a special inspection of the care home suggest that there was no negligence on the part of the staff, but that the victims died as a result of the virulence of the virus, which preys on the weakness caused by other ailments, such as heart problems and diabetes. The virus A(H3N2) is closely related to the strain that is estimated to have contributed to the deaths of 18,000 people in the winter of 2014/2015. Last winter’s Type B virus was considerably less dangerous.

According to the French health authorities, deaths from flu infection can be reduced by about 35 percent if elderly people are vaccinated. But it is also vital that others around them are also vaccinated, they say.

The government reminds Monaco residents that “health insurance organisations will reimburse the full cost of this vaccine to insured persons and their dependents”.

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As the events calendar slowly returns to pre-holiday pace, there are a few unique happenings worth checking out over the coming days.

Monaco’s town hall is organising a free event Sunday that the whole family can enjoy. From 8 am to noon, model car enthusiasts are invited to bring their radio controlled electric vehicle (models from 1:12 to 1:5) to the Stade Nautique Rainier III skating rink in the port. In partnership with the Monegasque Model Federation and MC Clic, it should be an entertaining morning, just remember to bundle up with the cooler temperatures this weekend. More information on +377 93 15 06 09

At Théâtre des Muses at 45 blvd du Jardin, there are still seats available for Sunday’s 4:30 pm performance of “Le Chaman et moi” with Sophie Forte, Didier Constant and Philippe Martz. Tickets (€29) can be booked online.

Sunday afternoon, Grimaldi Forum presents a Cine-Concert with the 3 pm screening of Disney’s “Fantasia” accompanied by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Kazuki Yamada. Music includes Beethoven’s No 5 and No 6 Symphonies, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Debussy’s Clair de Lune and Stravinsky’s Firebird. Held in the Salle des Princes, the one hour and forty-five minute show (including intermission) is supported by the Friends of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Looking ahead this week to Wednesday, January 11, Stars’n’Bars is holding its 2017 Gift Exchange from 6 pm on the StarDeck. The networking cocktail is a chance to discretely (or not!) exchange new or unwanted gifts. Organised by Click Monaco and Stars’n’Bars, those wishing to partake are asked to bring one or more gifts and to interact with other participants and actively exchange gifts.

Also on Wednesday, at 6:30 pm CREM’s Champagne Bar & Sparkling Cocktails is open to both members and non-members. As always, soft drinks are free to members but cocktails and other beverages will be offered at CREM prices. RSVP on info@crem.mc or +377 97 98 01 77. (Feature photo: waferboard)

A cold front coming in from Russia and Scandinavia will push down temperatures in much of France to at least five degrees below the January average on the weekend of January 7 and 8.

The cold belt will affect much of France, but largely avoid the southeast corner, including Monaco, where weekend temperatures are expected to be 9°C on Saturday and 13°C on Sunday although morning lows will drop to 2°C

In Strasbourg, on Saturday morning the overnight temperature is forecast to drop to 10°C. Heavy snowfalls are expected in the Pyrenees on Sunday, with snow also forecast for Burgundy and Alsace. Temperatures in Paris and Friday and Saturday will be between 3°C and -2°C degrees.

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The reconstruction of the private school Francois d’Assise Nicolas Barré (FANB), on avenue de Roqueville, and the construction of the Diocesan House, on rue Bellevue, close to the Victoria on blvd Princesse Charlotte, will continue in three phases in 2017 and involve a number of road closures and diversions.

Connecting the two buildings to the electricity, telephone and water networks will start on January 9, and the first phase, which will last until the beginning of March, will involve the complete closure of rue Paradis.

Traffic will be redirected through avenue Saint Michel, rue des Genêts and rue des Roses. From the beginning of March to the end of June 2017, phase “2a” will concern the rue de la Source, between rue des Roses and avenue de Roqueville.

In August, phase “2b” will cover the part between the avenue de Roqueville and the border with France and, at the same time, between rue de la Source and rue Bellevue. These two phases will involve a complete closure of the roads concerned and detailed plans for traffic diversions are being set up in coordination with the Commune of Beausoleil.

From the beginning of October to mid-November 2017, the last phase will concern rue Bellevue Street and avenue Princesse Charlotte.

The future FANB will bring together classes from the Rock’s middle school and those of its highschool to reach a total potential strength of 750 pupils. Its delivery is scheduled for the end of 2018, for a re-entry of students after the winter school holidays in early 2019. The future Diocesan House will be erected on the old “Villa Roma” 18, rue Bellevue. It will be built on five levels from rue Bel Respiro and will include Pastoral and Administrative Services. It may also host religious studies, ceremonies and other events.

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