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Month: December 2019

Plastic items make 2020 black list

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/12/2019

From 1st January 2020, a number of single use plastic products will be banned in Monaco, including cups and plates. It is the latest step in the government’s plan to have the Principality completely free of single-use plastics within a decade.

“The Principality is resolutely part of an approach to prohibit the use of all single-use plastics,” said Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister for Equipment, the Environment and Town Planning. “This is obvious in view of the impact that plastics have and the danger the pose to the environment, in particular for marine fauna, knowing that the vast majority of plastic micro-waste is discharged into the sea.”

The following items will no longer be available in Monaco in 2020: cotton swabs, plastic cups, plastic cutlery and disposable plastic plates. The move follows the banning of single-use plastic bags in 2016 and plastic straws and plastic mixers in January 2019.

“Fighting single-use plastics also means reducing the greenhouse gases that are generated by their manufacture, transport and disposal,” added Ms Gramaglia. “These concerns, combining biodiversity protection, climate change and improving the quality of life, are at the heart of the action of the Department of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning.”

In a concerted effort to change plastic consumption in Monaco, the Government established a ‘Monaco Waste Prevention and Management Plan’ in 2016, with the aim of meeting its ‘Zero single-use plastic waste by 2030’ policy.

The ambitious objective is in line with European policies and, according to the government, “can be achieved by implementing regulatory provisions and an action plan to support the various players involved and ensure everyone is supported in the transition process.”

The biggest entities to feel the impact of these changes – traders and restaurateurs – will have specific support from the government, including assistance in finding substitutions for prohibited items.

They will also receive a ‘Committed Commerce’ label or a ‘Committed Restaurant’ label if they achieve three objectives: a reduction in plastic tableware use and disposable packaging; a reduction in food waste; and compliance with local and ethical standards.

The government will also distribute information to businesses early in the shedding light on the authorised materials and recommended practices. These sheets will also include single-use items for which there are no restrictions yet, such as plastic bottles and food containers.

 

 

NYE festivities

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/12/2019

To mark the arrival of 2020, the Monaco City Council is organising an evening of musical entertainment on 31st December at Port Hercule, in addition to extended hours at the Christmas Village.

The Christmas Village and food stalls will be open until 11pm on New Year’s Eve, while midnight skating at the ice rink will be possible thanks to a 2am curfew.

To dance in the new year, there will be two DJs and two separate stages from 9pm to 3am. The stages will be located in the Christmas Village – one near the ice rink and a smaller one at the foot of the Big Wheel.

The highlight of the evening will be a midnight firework display at the Port of Monaco.

So far, the weather forecast for New Year’s Eve looks good: mainly clear skies with a high of 13°C and a low of 8°C.

We should also be able to kick off the new year with a lovely day full of sunshine and a high of 14°C on 1st January.

There are five entrances to the Christmas Village: three at the top of Boulevard Albert Ier, one at Darse Nord and one at Darse Sud. Special security measures will be in effect, so the council advises people carry small bags to make security checks easier.

Meanwhile, the walkway on Boulevard Albert Ier is closed to the public.

 

 

Prince’s foundation helps Bangladesh cope with climate change

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/12/2019

‘When the Rain Falls’ program, backed by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, is changing the lives of people in Bangladesh by empowering locals with the means to adapt to the climate emergency.  

In northwestern Bangladesh’s Kurigram district, more than half of the families live below the poverty line. While men work outside the home to earn an income, women must work in the fields in addition to their regular household chores. Their involvement in rural activities, especially rice cultivation, is vital to provide families with additional resources. Yet the persistence of traditional norms excludes women from decision-making, access to land and agricultural services.

In recent years, extreme weather events have become more frequent and have disrupted the daily lives of the inhabitants. Floods and droughts destroy crops and threaten the food security of the inhabitants.

Piloted by the international solidarity association CARE France, the ‘When the Rain Falls’ project aims to give 20 rural communities (6,500 beneficiaries) the means to adapt to the climate emergency, with an emphasis on the involvement of women.

As part of this project, farmers were grouped together in mixed working groups and worked together to set up new agricultural practices. Field trials were organised including 158 trial plots of flood-tolerant rice varieties, the introduction of mustard and vegetable gardens to provide alternative crops in case of poor rice yields, and the discovery of efficient and ecological methods for sowing rice, for fertilizing crops with compost, and for controlling insect pests.

The programme has involved public authorities at different levels to bring rural communities out of their isolation and to promote public policies to help them sustain the new practices. For example, local authorities have set up a seed bank system to secure farmers’ access to varieties adapted to local conditions.

At the same time, households have worked together to redefine workloads and change the place of women in family decisions and their access to the same opportunities as men.

Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and is also facing a growing population. To ensure the survival of rural communities and the protection of natural resources, programmes to transform agricultural practices are essential.

Photos: © Md. Anwar Hossen, ESDO

 

 

Legends of rally on show

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/12/2019

A collection of the finest rally cars from the past 60 years have gone on show for the first time ever at the car museum in Monaco.

Titled ‘The Legends of Rallies’, the exhibition is being hosted at the Cars Collection of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco museum until March and is the first of its kind in the world.

It features around 50 competition cars dating as far back as 1950, with many boasting an impressive prize list and which have entertained millions of fans throughout the years.

For three months, visitors will be able to discover and admire an exciting array of models including the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution 2 Group B, which won the Swedish rally in 1986 at the hands of Juha Kankkunen; the Lancia Delta HF 4WD Group B, which placed 3rd at the San Remo rally with Massimo Biason and 2nd at the RAC rally with Markku Alen in 1986; and the Citroën Xsara WRC which was driven by Sébastien Loeb and his co-driver Daniel Elena and totalled 32 victories and numerous world champion titles

The exhibition was inaugurated on 20th December by Prince Albert and runs until 15th March 2020.

© Photos: Axel Bastello / Palais Princier

 

 

Monaco’s women leading sustainable fashion

by: Staff Writer
27/12/2019

Monaco Life presents the story of the Principality’s intergenerational female-led fashion design community and its vision of merging sustainability with the runway.

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Monaco can look forward to more sustainable fashion design in the future, with the Monegasque Fashion Council (Chambre Monegasque de la Mode, CMM) supporting designers who promote sustainability in the Principality.

2019 has been filled with new innovations in sustainable fashion by young Monaco community members. Just last year, then-student Ines Bensala was named ‘Made in Monaco’ at Monaco Fashion Week, while she was in her final year at the International University of Monaco. Now, in a leadership position at the CMM, she has continued to grow her fashion line with sustainability in mind while inspiring a new generation of designers.

During European Week for Waste Reduction, consciousness fashion was at the centre of a collaboration and fashion show. With the encouragement of Kate Powers and Stars’N’Bars Eco Hub, Ms Bensala organised a ‘Zero Waste Fashion’ event, offering a space for young designers to collaborate. Run in partnership with IUM MBA student Lauren Coles, students from the International School of Monaco were invited to volunteer and learn more about fashion from CMM.

CMM President and designer Federica Spinetta preparing models for the sustainable fashion show

The event featured a sustainable fashion show supported by CMM President Federica Spinetta, a free ‘No Waste’ shop and up-cycling sewing lessons to educate the community about how to reduce waste and support sustainable fashion. Ms Spinetta and Ms Bensala also organised a runway show featuring the brands Inessa Creations and Beach and Cashmere, who featured uniquely upcycled fashions made from recycled materials. LAVACØPENHAGEN, a Monaco-Copenhagen based outerwear brand, launched its unique eco-capsule collection, called the Ocean Collection, with fabric made from recycled sea waste, sourced by award-winning startup LuxSeaTex.

ISM students were able to see how a fashion show is executed and learned about the elements of design from LAVACØPENHAGEN designer Katia Bessmertnaia. Monaco’s close-knit community provides a supportive network for the fashion industry in the Principality. This became more evident the following week, when ISM students had a sustainable fashion show of their own.

Katia Bessmertnaia and Lauren Coles in coats from the Save the Ocean Collection

On 29th November, the cafeteria space at the International School of Monaco was full of supporters, excited for the school’s first charity fashion show. Eleventh year students Marie-Lou Goeminne and Jacqueline Frederiksen waited nervously as parents, peers, and teachers filled the room to support their fashion show, raising money for the Mothers of Africa charity and Centre Maternelle charity. With the help of the school’s Philanthropy Club and SheCanHeCan, the girls and a group of peers organised a fashion show, a bake sale and live performances to entertain guests.

“We were supported by our teachers, Alex Lloy and Adrian Bax White, and head of the PTA Alexandra Likierman,” said Ms Goeminne.

The event was fully planned and staged by the group of 11th year students and exemplified a level of professionalism gained through the rigorous education offered from ISM. The student fashion show was edgy. Upcycle clothing reminisced of rock and roll, as the soundtrack relayed edgy music. A slideshow in the background showed a mix of photographs of the students’ planning and practicing for the fashion show. The audience watched as their vision to support charity with sustainable fashion became real.

Monaco can look forward to an exciting fashion season ahead. It will be a hard-working winter, as young designers in the Principality prepare for Monte-Carlo Fashion Week, held from 14th to 18th May 2020, under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco.

 

Top picture: Marie-Lou Goeminne (far right) and other 11th year ISM students after a successful sustainable fashion show

 

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Countdown to Circus Festival

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/12/2019

This year’s Monte Carlo International Circus Festival will honour horses, with some of the world’s finest specimens, including Arab horses and Spanish stallions, set to grace the Big Top in Fontvielle.

In just over two weeks, the Principality will once again become the circus capital of the world by hosting the 44th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival and the 9th New Generation Festival, the only event in the world reserved for young artists taking place on a real circus track.

Placed under the presidency of Princess Stephanie, these two events will award Golden Clowns and Golden Juniors to the best circus artists, who the public will have the chance to see under the famous Big Top in Fontvieille.

This year the festival will give a place of honour to “the most beautiful of man’s conquest”,  the Horse. Arab horses, Frisians, Spanish and Portuguese stallions will be presented by the Swiss National Circus Knie including the greatest Circassian families, Ivan Knie and Maicol as well as Wioris Errani.

Acrobatics, another pillar of traditional circus, will illuminate the marquee in Fontvieille as well as 16 young plate spinners, holding six canes in each hand and spinning plates while performing tricks with breathtaking balance.

Finally, Elastic, a Belgian clown from the theater world, will seduce the public with his many comic surprises.

The Monte Carlo International Circus Festival will be held from 16th to 26th January, and the New Generation Festival will be held on 1st and 2nd February. Tickets are on sale at www.montecarlofestival.mc, www.France-billet.com and www.fnac.com

 

This article was originally published on 14th November 2019