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Month: February 2020

Special holiday package at Oceanographic Museum

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/02/2020

For an entire month, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is offering a special deal where for each paying adult, one child gets in free.

As the school holidays approach, the question of what to do with the kids certainly is at the forefront of every parent’s mind. This year, the Oceanographic Museum can help solve that problem, at least for a day.

From 8th February to 8th March, for every adult who buys a full price €16 entry, an accompanying child gets in for free. The offer applies for kids aged 4 to17. 

Visitors will be able to enjoy the wonders of the sea in the museum’s main halls, plus join in on other activities. Children will be able to feed the fish, caress a real starfish or baby shark in the touch pool, watch a light show bringing alive the iconic skeletons of the whales and the narwhal suspended from the museum’s ceilings and get immersed in a virtual reality moment.

Photo courtesy Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

In addition, 6 to 12 year olds will also get to participate in the museum’s popular temporary exhibit, Odyssey of the Sea Turtle. This interactive experience guides kids through a route set up on the first floor where they will discover these amazing migratory animals, learning about their life spans, their habits and the threats that are being posed to their existence.

 Kids will search for “clues” to complete a series of missions, all the while being made aware of how to protect these sea creatures. At the end, a “turtle Guardian Diploma” will be handed out, validated by the museum’s team.

It is a fun day out as much for adults as for kids, so take advantage of the offer and learn about our amazing seas.

 
 

Newest Monegasques welcomed

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/02/2020

Monaco’s newest citizens have been welcomed in an official ceremony at the Mairie.
Each year, the Mayor of Monaco along with members of the Municipal Council gather every person who obtained Monegasque nationality from the previous year together to celebrate the occasion.
On Wednesday 5th February, 54 out of the 84 people who were granted citizenship in the Principality in 2019 were received at the Mairie for a heartfelt reception.
Mayor Georges Marsan, wished them all a warm “welcome to the great Monegasque family”.
“Acquiring a nationality, and in this case, Monegasque nationality, is not a simple administrative formality,” said the mayor. “It is not isn’t just a passport and benefits. To become Monegasque is to adhere to our culture, our traditions and our numerous particularities. It is to adhere to a community united around our Sovereign and his family, to which we are all very attached.” 
Mayor Marsan went on to detail the history of Monaco’s oldest institution, the Mairie, also called the House of Monegasques, as well as explain its function within the context of the state’s societal framework and its major functions.
The ceremony ended with the Monegasque Anthem being sung by choir students from the Rainier III Academy followed by a presentation to each new citizen of a selection of symbolic gifts, such as a reproduction of the anthem, a handwritten document written by poet Louis Notari, a lithograph and a CD of traditional Monegasque songs.
 
Photo: Mairie de Monaco
 
 

Log book: Irina, aka Ocean Amazon

by:
07/02/2020

Monaco’s Irina Peterson reports on her adventure of a lifetime to help save the Oceans. 

February 4th: Quito

Quito met the highest expectations! When I say “highest”, it is also because its at a 2,800m altitude. Arriving after a long journey from Monaco, my adjustment here was a bit difficult. I was gasping for air every few steps I took, but what an interesting place. The old colonial town is a beautiful architectural collection of churches, cathedrals and state buildings. I should have had more time to visit, take time and learn all the great history of this lovely part of Quito.

The highlight of my stay in Quito was a visit to San Francisco University (USFQ) and meeting the Dean of Scientific Programs, Research and External Affairs Diego Quiroga. He is also the Director of the Galapagos Campus, a four-year master program in Environment and Sustainability.

Stay tuned for my post on 14th of February from Galapagos and you will learn more about this project and the bridge we are creating with Monaco. Diego has many reasons to be proud of what USFQ has achieved in its three decades of existence. With a campus of over 8,000 students, it is truly one of the best universities in South America. Here are some pictures from my visit on the campus.

February 6: Discovering the Charles Darwin Foundation

It is a dream came true … arriving in Galapagos and being surrounded by all its incredibly rich nature! I made a few friends among the giant land tortoises – this one I named Sancho. He is huge and about 100 years old.
It was very exciting to finally arrive at the Charles Darwin Foundation, where I was met by Maria Jose – the Science Director, together with the fundraising team and Macarena, the scientist in charge of the joint project with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

I learned of the challenges experienced by the marine turtles due to the ever-increasing number of speed boats here that are responsible for most of their deaths. The two foundations have jointly created a program to track and study the behaviour of the turtles in order to limit the boat speeds and their course in specified areas. One more year of data is needed in order to establish a model which can then be implemented. Macarena’s eyes were lighting up as she was giving me all these details about the turtles behaviour.

It was then my turn to talk about my Ocean Amazon project, how I’m counting the days before meeting my SEAsters and boarding the eXXpedition boat, and how we are also contributing as “citizen scientists” to a better understanding of the plastic problem on the environment. The connection was real and words were flowing.
The day went by so quickly, far too quickly. Stay tuned, I’ll be bringing you more adventures tomorrow!

Prince Albert and stars celebrate TV fest in LA

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/02/2020

An incredible line-up of celebrities joined Prince Albert in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
A star-studded reception was held at the historic Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles, the first of many events to mark the 60th edition of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, which is set to take place from 19th to 23rd June 2020.
Among the A-list guests on Wednesday were Joan Collins, Linda Gray, Sophia Hutchins, Caitlyn Jenner, Denise Richards, Priscilla Presley, Jason Priestly and Billy Zane.

Vince Vaughn and Prince Albert II. Photo: Prince’s Palace of Monaco

As the Honorary President of the television festival, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was a key member of the celebration.“The choice of Los Angeles was natural to host this evening celebration as it represents the heart of an industry that shines around the world,” said Prince Albert. “Created in 1961 by my father, Prince Rainier III, the Monte-Carlo Television Festival celebrates excellence in international television production. Our American friends have always been faithful and present in Monaco and I am sure we will have the pleasure of welcoming them in large numbers in June.”
Jane Seymore, Prince Albert and Joan Collins. Photo: Monte-Carlo Television Festival

The venue for the event – the Sunset Tower Hotel, with its illustrious history as a landmark for Los Angeles nightlife and elegant Art Deco styling – is situated in the very heart of Sunset Boulevard, and has always served as an iconic meeting point for Hollywood’s greatest stars.
250 prestigious guests, actors, actresses, directors, producers, as well as former jury presidents, winners of the Honorary Golden Nymphs and Crystal Nymphs joined His Serene Highness for an evening of glamour and style in the very best of Hollywood traditions.
Dallas stars Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy. Photo courtesy: Monte-Carlo Television Festival

“The quality of our guests reinforces my conviction that the Monte-Carlo Television Festival has taken on a new dimension and has truly become a leading event in the audiovisual world,” said Laurent Puons, CEO of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.
 
 

Prince’s foundation joins call-out to leaders

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/02/2020

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has joined Rise Up’s ‘Blue Call to Action’, an initiative which calls on governments and businesses to start moving on “blue” economic models.

Launched by the Oceano Azul Foundation, Oak Foundation and Ocean Unite, Rise Up’s latest endeavour, ‘Blue Call to Action’, has just been officially endorsed by HSH Prince Albert II’s eponymous foundation to assist in the ongoing efforts to save our oceans for current and future generations.  

The call is being put out to business and governmental leaders to take the necessary actions required to stop the destruction of fragile oceanic ecosystems and to get what the United Nations calls the “lungs of the Earth” back on track again.

Rise Up was formed in May of 2019 as an urgent response to safeguard the seas. A cooperative of public citizens, indigenous peoples, fishermen and philanthropic organisations, this association will present their concerns at the next United Nations Conference being held in June of this year in Portugal. The focus will be to find agreement on topics such as common priorities, objectives, and target goals that will drive solid solutions to the threats plaguing the oceans today.

Source: Pixabay

With experts forewarning that mankind has perhaps only a decade to reverse damage and keep global warming in check before catastrophic damage is done, Rise Up is sanctioning radical changes to the world’s current economic model.  

Amongst the goals they have set out are to stop overfishing and create sustainable fisheries that protect the livelihoods of those who make their livings from the sea, whilst responsibly replenishing stock, an end to destructive fishing methods, awareness and educational programmes for fishing communities and total protection of endangered species and habitats.

They propose that businesses and governments stop passively supporting causes and act by investing more in transitioning to circular economies, including moving to sustainable and “blue” economic models.

The Prince Albert II Foundation supports a myriad of causes dedicated to protecting the environment, including activities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy, forestry practices and notably, the seas.

Read also:

Interview: Olivier Wenden, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Vice President

Students compete to protect the sea

 

Monaco Manga world premiere

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/02/2020

Manga fans, rejoice! The very first Monegasque Manga book, entitled Blitz, is being released to the public later this month at the Bibliothèque Louis Notari.

Blitz, based on an original idea by French entrepreneur and Japanophile Cédric Biscay, has been produced by Monegasque Shibuya Productions, known for video games Shenmue 3 and the animated series Astroboy Reboot. The book will be premiered on Thursday 13th February and will coincide with the world chess match taking place between Monaco and Japan that evening.

Shibuya Productions, owned by Mr Biscay, will be giving fans an opportunity to meet him, the animator Daitarô Nishihara, and the world-class chess players in attendance.

This meeting of the manga and chess worlds may at first glance seem an odd combination but makes perfect sense when revealed that the world’s most famous chess player, Garry Kasparov, sponsored and supervised the creation of the book and the plot revolves around the game.

The story centres on Tom, a schoolboy who has a crush on beautiful chess enthusiast Harmony. He joins the university chess club to get closer to her but hasn’t a clue how to play. He knows he hasn’t much time, so he starts intensive training, including learning the history of the game. He quickly learns of Garry Kasparov, and through the help of a virtual reality machine, is able to get into the mind of the master, leading to an unexpected event that takes Tom to the highest echelons of the chess world.

The evening stats at 6pm on 13th February at the Monaco Media Library. Admission is free. For more information visit www.mediatheque.mc