HSH Prince Albert II has pleaded for everyone to do their part to protect the Earth and the environment in his annual New Year’s Eve address to the people of Monaco, reminding of the “enormous responsibility we carry for our children and future generations.”
The Sovereign Prince, a well-known environmentalist, reiterated his personal feeling that leaders around the world have a responsibility to their people to safeguard them and give them a strong economy, balance in the justice system, long-term peace, and above all, eco-friendly practices to stop global warming and other such disasters from impacting lives.
He made clear that many of this century’s biggest challenges are environmental and pointed out how even in the Principality and its environs, the effects of climate change were made apparent by the destructive storms and massive floods that struck the region in December.
He also reminded us that the holidays are a time of peace and how important it is to use this time to take a break from our busy lives and hit the reset button to realign ourselves with our goals.
The Prince praised Monaco as a country of “peace and prosperity” made up of people whose generous support and altruism have helped the less fortunate and those suffering through a sense that the population “knows of its privileges” and doesn’t take them for granted.
He called on the people to continue their efforts so that children can realise their dreams and the elderly can live serenely and he challenged himself by pledging his determination to follow in the footsteps of his family to maintain stability, prosperity and justice in the Principality, whilst working toward global solidarity through compassion.
Princess Charlene joined her husband at the end of the speech and offered her warm wishes for the year ahead. The Prince concluded by offering the same in both French and Monegasque.
If there was one thing my expedition to Antarctica’s Pole of Inaccessibility taught me, it’s that a real adventure pushes the limits of your mind and body. Facing the profound silence and isolation of the planet’s southernmost point was an exercise for my brain as much as it was for my legs.
Recently at Cookson Adventures, we’ve been thinking a lot about how adventure enriches our lives as a form of ‘wellness’. The term and trend spread at lightning speed across the globe, so you would be forgiven for thinking its definition is now a little vague.
The concept of a ‘wellness retreat’ was born as far back as the Romans, where groups congregated in public baths and pools to reap a number of health benefits. Today, spas in the likes of Switzerland or Germany, where beautiful high-end facilities have been carved into the mountains, allow a slightly more affluent clientele to avoid the crowds and enjoy a taste of exclusivity.
But the wellness retreat is missing a crucial part of its offering – that of complete personalisation. So, this year, we have developed innovative new concepts around the world. A rustic stone hiking path goes under an old cedar tree in the moss covered forest of Yakushima Island
Named Breathe, our new exploration-led programme elevates the wellness elements of a retreat such as yoga, healthy eating, meditation and mindfulness, by challenging guests to engage their body and mind in some of the most isolated and idyllic locations on Earth. We take them away from civilisation and spa resorts, to offer them wellness with a sense of adventure. Autumn Forest onsen lake at Jigoku Numa, Hakkoda Aomori Tohoku Japan
Yakushima, a rarely visited island off the southern tip of Japan, is the location we have scouted out for Breathe Zen, which explores martial arts techniques that delve into the body’s energy fields. We will arrange for a Renshinkan Karate Master to guide you through the principles of the ‘bushido’ code (the Samurai Warrior code) in a specially built dojo, and teach you the concept of ‘hara’. According to Zen monks, this breathing technique that focuses on drawing energy from the lower abdomen, is key to controlling your movement, unlocking power and maximizing awareness. What’s more, the mountainous, forested interior of this island provides the perfect setting for ‘shinrin-yoku’ (forest bathing), a scientifically proven restorative process of spending time in nature. Snow monkeys (Japanese macaque) relaxing in a hot spring pool (onsen), Hakodate, Japan. Breathe Deep invokes the liberating sensation of exploring the vast expanses of our oceans, whilst experiencing an unrivalled sense of freedom and peace under the water. Based on a private island, guests will receive one-to-one tutorship in the skill of freediving, using techniques from yoga and meditation. Learning to lower your heart rate and restrict blood flow, whilst mastering breathing techniques, unlocks the mammalian dive reflex, allowing for extended periods of submersion. Meanwhile, guests can appreciate some of nature’s most beautiful and graceful creatures, swimming alongside whale sharks, and even team up with conservationists to help restore local coral reefs. Freediver descending along the vivid reef wall. Red Sea, Egypt
In Norway, Breathe Ice is a regenerative regime that will help guests reap the health benefits of exposure to the cold, which include fat loss, muscle recovery and a fortified immune system. Core to this exhilarating concept is the Wim Hof Method, a discipline that heightens oxygen in the blood to improve endurance. Based out of a private camp, taking inspiration from the indigenous Sámi people, guests will be led by a Wim Hof Method instructor, learning the discipline’s three core pillars of cold therapy, breathing and meditation. Guests can complement this experience with snowmobiling, sea kayaking, nights under the Northern Lights, and many other activities. Diver swimming along an iceberg in crystal clear water holding a video camera with lights on, Tasiilaq Fjord, East-Greenland.
Our wellness adventures are designed to be deeply personal and, for this very reason, we take time to understand our clients’ interests, ambitions and curiosities. Each one is then meticulously crafted alongside dieticians, personal trainers, chefs, yogis, mindfulness coaches and the experts that specialise in their chosen activities.
As we say – adventure never came from standing still, neither does wellness. Aurora borealis Lofoten islands, Norway. Henry Cookson is the Founder of Cookson Adventures. For more information or to enquire about expedition possibilities, visit: https://cooksonadventures.com.
The Tango Fire Company of Buenos Aires will be heating up the stage of the Salle des Princes this March with their world-famous show.
Tango Fire has achieved multiple sell-out performances across the globe over the past 12 years and a YouTube audience in excess of 20 million people worldwide.
German Cornejo’s choreography and vision defines all that is Argentine Tango – dancing which sizzles with sensuality, and energetic music by the great Tango masters including Piazzolla, Pugliese and Gardel.
“As one of the world’s most popular dance forms, this exhilarating show combines the rawness and sophistication, seductive and sultry side of Tango, evoking the intoxicating passion of late-night Buenos Aires,” say its creators.
German Cornejo and his partner Gisela Galeassi are joined by an outstanding cast including World Tango Champions and the very best dancers from the greatest Tango houses in Buenos Aires Argentina. This is a fiery and explosive journey through the history of authentic Argentine tango.
Tango Fire will be on show from 6th to 7th March at the Salle des Princes.
French President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Tuesday to push through an overhaul of the pension system, after weeks of nationwide strikes by trade unions.
Macron said in a traditional New Year’s Eve address he expected his government to quickly find a compromise with unions on the reform, but without departing from the principles laid out by ministers.
Unions are trying to force the former investment banker to abandon his overhaul of France’s pension system with nationwide strikes since 5th December that have crippled public transport.
“The retirement reform that I’ve committed myself to before you will be carried through because it is a project of social justice and progress,” Macron said in the prime-time televised address to the nation.
Macron wants to replace France’s current system of 42 different sector-specific pension schemes with a points-based system for all, which his government says would be fairer and more transparent.
While Macron’s government has rejected union calls to drop the reform altogether, it has offered concessions to a growing list of sectors as it seeks to defuse tensions.
“We will take into account difficult tasks so that those who do them can leave earlier,” Macron said.
Macron has so far refused to back down on plans to encourage people to work until they are 64 instead of the legal retirement age of 62, a key union demand.
Under his plans, workers would receive reduced pension rights if they retire before 64, unless they benefit from special exemptions due to their profession, like police officers or soldiers.
Far left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said on Twitter that Macron’s words were “a declaration of war on those who reject the reform”.
Photo: Screenshot of President Emmanuel Macron’s televised address Source: Reuters
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