The APEM, Association of Parents of Pupils in Monaco, is the latest establishment to sign up to the National Pact for the Energy Transition.
The non-profit association was created in 1965 and brings together more than 600 families, representing public and private schools in the Principality. Its aim is to represent the interest of the parents of pupils within the establishments that their children attend as well as defending the interests of their members before institutions and public authorities.
On Wednesday 8th January at Casa d’i Soci, Martine Ackermann, President of APEM, signed the National Pact for the Energy Transition in the presence of Annabelle Jeager-Seydoux, Director of the Mission for the Energy Transition (MTE).
“The APEM is undertaking a commitment to follow an approach aimed at changing our consumption patterns and our habits for a more ecological and eco-responsible approach,” said Ms Ackermann.
“And we invite our members and families to follow the same approach: we prefer walking or taking the bus, in terms of waste the Apem has already dematerialised the membership cards, the membership forms are made from recycled paper, during our events we use glass decanters, during school parties we use biodegradable or reusable glasses and plates. We invite the parents of students to also follow this approach personally in their daily lives and to sign the Pact with the MTE.”
This is possible by visiting the government wesite: http://transition-energetique.gouv.mc/
Month: January 2020
Record year for the Grimaldi Forum
AS Monaco Basketball faces rare loss
After an exciting first half, the Roca Team fell apart in the second against Galatasaray, losing at Gaston Medecin 73-85 on Wednesday.
The Turks dominated the game leaving Monaco a bit shell shocked and perhaps a bit humbled after a rare defeat suffered by the team. This unfortunate start to the EuroCup Top 16 may be a wake up call for the usually unstoppable Roca Team. It is also far from meaning they are out of the running.
The game began well enough, with Norris Cole scoring a whopping eight points in the first quarter. Zach Auguste, Galatasaray’s superstar, was on brilliant form, scoring 10 points in the first half with seven rebounds.
The two teams were neck and neck most of the first half, trading the lead and staying in close proximity points-wise. At the half-time break, the score was almost even at 39-38.
This is when things went wrong. Having made a few rookie mistakes in the first half, Roca Team just couldńt get their mojo for the second. Despite gallant efforts by Yak Ouattara and Norris Cole, the team simply wasn’t gelling, whilst the Turkish team was on fire.
At one point Galatasasray had a massive 22 point lead, but with the fans, including Prince Albert II, cheering them on, they closed the gap, though were unable to retake the advantage. In the end, the score reflected the play and the Turks walked away victorious winning 73-85.
Coach Sasa Obradovic was disappointed and conceded that the Turkish team dominated and deserved the win.
“It’s just one match,” he said after the game, “I hope it will serve us. We have failed mentally and in play, we have forgotten the principles that make us strong. You have to be able to show something else.”
Eric Buckner, equally crushed, went on to say, “We lost by forgetting what makes our attitude… defense and rebounds. It’s a big disappointment. We will have to react as a team.”
The Roca Team play again on 11th January against Strasbourg in a Jeep Elite match.
Government outlines main objectives of 2020
Minister of State Serge Telle has revealed that an unprecedented amount of the government’s budget will be put toward the digital transition of the Principality in a speech to government officials and civil servants.
Government agents gathered on Wednesday 8th January at the Grimaldi Forum to hear Mr Telle’s annual well-wishing and speech.
“I am very pleased to see you all here today, and I want to emphasise ALL of you […] because this is not possible in any other country in the world. And this is far from anecdotal,” he said.
The minister used the opportunity to outline the three major projects that the administration is charged with carrying out in 2020. Firstly, public finance and the establishment of budgetary accounts, “which will allow us to know in detail and to the nearest euro what public policy will cost”; the digital transition, “to which unprecedented resources will be devoted in 2020”; and “the course of careers which must accompany changes in the world and encourage the nurturing and development of talents”.
“Thus,” said Mr Telle, “we will be able to meet the clear and ambitious objectives set by H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince […] and look to the future with serenity.”
Commuters to receive December refund
Amid record-breaking strike action, train operator SNCF has announced that it will refund commuters with pre-paid subscriptions for the month of December.
Frank Lacroix, CEO of TER SNCF, announced on Twitter on Wednesday night: “In response to the difficulties experienced by our customers, I proposed today to the regions that SNCF proceeds with the full refund of December TER subscriptions, whether annual, monthly or weekly. The terms will be available on TER sites by January 15.”
Commuters across France and Monaco have suffered through one of the worst transport strike periods on record.
It is reportedly up to each regional department to accept or decline the gesture.
“The strike has caused significant disruptions in December, a period of leave and holidays. It seemed necessary to make a strong gesture vis-à-vis our customers,” said John Francçois Trestard, Director of SNCF communications for the south region, to Monaco Matin.
While the terms are still to be specified, subscribers will likely have to complete an online request, indicating their subscription number. “This may not be necessary for annual subscribers who are already known,” said Jean-François Trestard.
According to Mr Trestard, SNCF is currently assessing the overall cost of the strike and this refund. The daily loss is already estimated at €20 million.
The refund announcement came amid a new wave of demonstrations organised on Thursday in France, the 36th day of strike action against pension reform in France.
2020 vision
As we enter a new decade, we all have our own vision of what the 2020s should look like. Here are the hopes and ambitions of some of Monaco’s personalities.
Fabrice Marquet, Cofounder and Managing Partner at Monaco Foundry
- What are your goals for the ‘20s?
My main goal is to bridge the gap between fundamental research and business development. My partners and I want to help deep tech companies thrive and scale internationally. Those companies are harder to develop because they are more capital intensive and require a longer time to market. But there is, on one hand, a great need for true innovation to tackle societal issues we are facing.
On the other hand, we need to escape the Ponzi scheme that venture capital has become by building sustainable businesses instead of selling huge exit promises to investors focusing solely on exponential growth.
- What are your wishes for the ‘20s?
I wish that more of today’s leaders don’t get vision and tools mixed up. As a consequence, they end up buying into fads that use a lot of buzzwords but have no real strategy. Digital transformation is one perfect example as digital technologies are just tools. As powerful as they may be, they do not add any value intrinsically. Tools are not clever, only the way we use them might be.
- What are your predictions for the ‘20s?
Humans are historically terrible at making predictions because we have many biases and we cannot process a lot of data. For instance, Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman said in 1998: “By 2005, it will become clear that the Internet’s impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machine’s.”
So, hard pass on being that wrong, retrospectively. I would rather buy into Abraham Lincoln’s view on the matter: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” This implies a much more active and empowering process.
Konrad Bergström, President and Founder of XShore
- What are your goals for the ‘20s?
To make XShore 100% electric craft the world’s leading boat brand and inspire other companies to become sustainable.
- What are your wishes for the ‘20s?
I wish for us all to start to working as one team in order to make humanity work again in harmony with Mother Earth.
- What are your predictions for the ‘20s?
We are in a very difficult situation where the world is facing climate, political and religious challenges. We all need to step up and start collaborating in order to survive.
Johan Pizzardini, Communications and Media Manager, Monaco Yacht Show
- What are your goals for the ‘20s?
To connect to people. Really. I’ll do my best to go deeper into human relationships and go beyond the simple (superficial) social codes. Really meaning what we think and what we ask, taking time to really listen to the other. Society is going too fast, we’re bombarded with thousands of news stories every two minutes, kidnapped by social media; we have a family to care for, a career to manage, etc… We feel a general need to slow down the pace and really assess what is a priority, what is important and what is nonsense. So, my goals are to sit on a bench, open a box of chocolates and to better consider life.
- What are your wishes for the ‘20s?
I hope we will all give more sense to every single thing we do, being more aware of our current world. I consider myself a privileged person. This privilege gives me responsibilities. What to do with it? We are millions of privileged people on Earth. This may sound naïve but naivety allows us to express a good energy and reflect it around us, whether it is to your neighbour or on the other side of the world in Australia. The more you are aware of your world, the more you are connected to it. For the ‘20s, I wish that empathy and real comprehension will bring more people together.
- What are your predictions for the ‘20s?
Technology will develop to support good causes: science, environment, health, society. Technology will help us raise up and not enslave us. Which may be the contrary yet.
Alberto Vitale, Founder and President, Vitale 1913
- What are your goals for the ‘20s?
Personally, undertaking more prayer, meditation and sport; finding more new people for my company; to expand some services; and to start dealing through an online platform for very rare stones.
- What are your wishes for the ‘20s?
No new wars or attacks, even cyber-attacks which are increasingly dangerous. I also wish for the young generation to take more responsibility of the urgent need to save our planet, and for the people in power to understand the gravity of the situation.
- What are your predictions for the ‘20s?
In business, we will see new services from banks and from family offices in Monaco. I even see a new big bank in the city and one of the oldest will change its skin. With regards to diamonds, we will see more deals in natural, fancy coloured big diamonds due to the fact that customers and investors will read a lot of news about the rarity of some colours, starting with pink diamonds.
Gold will stay in high demand thanks to certain watch brands: Rolex and Patek. But in the same sentence, some new brands will start to disrupt their position in the investment market.
Sophia Vaharis Tsouvelekakis, President of the Hellenic Community of Monaco and owner of Brooks Brothers Monaco
- What are your goals for the ‘20s?
One of my goals is to unite the associations of all countries in Monaco so we can all understand more about the culture and customs of one another. Personally, I would like to help more people in need. This, unfortunately, is an endless goal.
- What are your wishes for the ‘20s?
Luck, health and jobs for everyone so that they can afford a big family and a happy life, because children are our future.
- What are your predictions for the ‘20s?
I try to be positive. I hope that whoever occupies an important position or title will use his or her power to make a better world and leaves a legacy as a pioneer of positive change.