This week, officials in both Nice and Menton made decisions to cancel beloved annual festivities in the name of public health.
It was a disappointing week for local merry-makers and visitors alike when decisions were made to cancel both the last day of Nice Carnival due to take place on Saturday and the Menton Lemon Festival, which sits on the border with Italy and attracts a huge number of Italian guests each year.
The Nice Carnival sees upward of 200,000 spectators each year and roughly 20% of them are of foreign origin. Mayor Christian Estrosi stresses the decision was made out of a desire to keep people safe, not to cause alarm. No cases of Covid-19 have been detected in the region and the move was purely precautionary.
The Lemon Festival, which traditionally celebrates the end of winter and arrival of spring, has been held since 1933, though its unofficial roots go back much further. The town’s link with Italy, in light of recent events, put authorities on high alert and the decision was made to put public safety before entertainment.
Needless to say, there is a huge amount of disappointment over the cancellations, though it is reported that locals are breathing small sighs of relief.
Both events are offering ticket refunds. Menton refunds can be made at the Tourism Office at 8 Avenue Boyer before 15th April, with appropriate documentation from ticket holders. The same can be done for the Nice Carnival. For tickets bought online, contact carnaval.remboursement@ville-nice.fr and for those who have paper tickets, send the tickets, along with name, address, bank address and bank information (SWIFT,IBAN, BIC, etc) to Mairie de Nice, Direction du Carnaval- Service des reservations, 06364 Nice Cedex 4.
James Wren, ZSL’s Executive Vice President of Global Resources, reveals the story behind the world’s first plant-powered selfie taken by a fern called Pete.
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Technology has rapidly become something we take for granted. We use technology to read books, order food, pay our bills and stay in touch with loved ones. Technology is part of our everyday lives, and here at ZSL we’re ensuring its part of everyday conservation.
At ZSL, our experts are working to develop innovative technology, or apply tech originally developed for another purpose to our global conservation efforts. Cleverly applied, technology can mean the difference between survival and extinction for some of the world’s most threatened species.
The 2018 Living Planet Index, created by ZSL, points to a 60% decline in global populations of vertebrate species in less than 50 years and the alarming growth of illegal wildlife trade is now recognised as one of the biggest causes of extinction.
Our world’s wildlife is in a precarious position. The Barbary ape is an endangered species
ZSL is at the forefront of using technology to improve conservation impact and tackle wildlife issues, from machine learning to capitalising on the emerging technologies transforming every aspect of our daily lives.
Camera trap technology is used to monitor wildlife, climate change and habitat loss. This technology has been used for decades to photograph passing wildlife in their habitats. But camera traps are traditionally heavy and clumsy using batteries to operate, which takes time to maintain and comes at a cost. ZSL experts have a solution.
Last year a fern called Pete, grown in ZSL London Zoo’s Rainforest Life exhibit, took the world’s first plant-powered selfie – the result of a scientific trial that could revolutionise field conservation. Plant selfie (c) ZSL
ZSL scientists based at ZSL London Zoo laid the groundwork for the technological feat by installing microbial fuel cells in the soil in order to power the plant to take its own picture. After spending the summer growing in strength, Pete – a maidenhair fern – begun taking his own selfies at an astonishing rate, heralding a resounding success for the trial.
Bacteria in the soil, which is created by the plants natural deposit, can help create energy which could be used for a wide range of conservation tools from sensors to monitoring platform. Pete the plant camera (c) ZSL
While most power sources have limits and batteries in traditional camera traps must be replaced, this new development means we have the potential to monitor remote locations to record data such as temperature, humidity, habitats changes and wildlife populations – all of which are crucial to the understanding of threats such as climate change, habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade.
The aim with this revolutionary technology is for plants like Pete to power conservation camera traps in the wild using the incredible microbial fuel cells that ZSL scientists and partners are currently working on. We’ve quite literally plugged in to nature to help protect the world’s wildlife. Plant selfie (c) ZSL
We’re proud to be the only zoo in the world to have a selfie-taking plant in residence and we continue to share Pete’s story with our visitors so they can learn more about how conservation and technology can work in harmony.
We can use an incredible amount of data captured across large areas of land to monitor key species which are of conservation concern, develop biodiversity surveys and understand the impact humans have to animal populations.
As technology for conservation continues to develop it will enable us to better support the wildlife populations endangered by illegal wildlife trade, habitat destruction and climate change.
Innovative technology can enhance the work of our conservationists and scientists who are working to create a world where wildlife thrives.
To find out how you can support us and donate to ZSL, please visit zsl.org to learn more.
Students and workers who have passed through coronavirus hotspots are being asked to self-quarantine by the Monaco government, but it says schools will reopen next week and events will also go ahead as planned.
Meanwhile, tests have shown that a person cared for by firefighters on Wednesday in Monaco does not have the Covid-19 virus. The Principality currently has no cases of coronavirus infections.
Nonetheless, the government has sent out a warning for people to remain vigilant yet pragmatic and flexible as the story continues to unfold.
It was decided earlier in the week that school will resume as normal after the half term break on Monday 2ndMarch, though preventative measures will be in place to ensure the student body is protected as much as possible.
The government is asking people to use common sense when considering whether to send children back to school. Those who have been travelling or passing through high risk areas are asked to wait two weeks before allowing their children to return to school. The regions carrying the biggest risks are China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Northern Italy, particularly Veneto, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna.
As for adults and their family members returning from risk areas or showing any signs of the Covid-19 virus, a visit to the medical inspectors must be taken. Once an interview and assessment has been made, doctors will issue certificates excusing absence from work or school. For employees working in the Principality, this certificate ensures that daily allowances will be paid by social security – for a maximum period of 14 days – with no waiting period. To clarify, this means no employee in this situation will lose wages and it extends to both public and private sector workers.
For those working in jobs of vital importance and who are asymptomatic, the possibility of returning to work may occur, but only if the employee will subject themselves to regular temperature readings and wear a mask throughout. If telecommuting is an option, it is recommended as the best solution.
The doctors in charge of issuing medical certificates are Doctor Eric Voiglio who can be reached on +377 98.98.48.50 or on evoiglio@gouv.mc and Doctor Julie Biga on +377 98.98.44.35 or jbiga@gouv.mc
Elderly patients in nursing home facilities will be asked to take the same precautionary measures as the public-at-large. Posters will be placed in the care homes and exceptional sanitary measures will be taken.
At the time of writing, the government does not think it necessary to cancel any events or conferences currently scheduled. This is subject to change at any time. For now, authorities have implemented certain precautions such as frequent cleaning of facilities, antiseptic wipes being made widely available and disallowing persons coming from infected areas to be invited to attend.
Finally, the government asks that citizens avoid travelling to the risk areas mentioned above. The list of risk areas will be updated regularly.
In case of symptoms, contact the fire brigade immediately. Do not go to your regular doctor or to emergency, as this may spread the contagion quickly and unnecessarily.
The Pictet Group has announced the opening of a banking branch in Monaco aimed at serving private wealth management clients living in the Principality.
The branch will be headed up by Alain Ucari, who was formerly Chairman of the Board at Julius Baer in Monaco. He will have a team of 10 senior private bankers to assist clients in their needs.
The Principality is the ideal location for a Pictet branch. The legal, regulatory and stability of the country makes it a perfect choice for high net worth players, entrepreneurs and families looking for a safe place to invest.
“Opening a banking branch in Monaco responds to the growing demand from an international private clientele present in Monaco,” Renaud de Planta, senior partner at Pictet said in a statement. “We believe that Monaco offers tremendous opportunities to establish long-term relationships with clients seeking tailored services, with a focus on the human touch and independent advice. A presence in Monaco will allow us to offer local access to the Pictet Group’s investment expertise, borne out by more than two centuries of experience.”
The office has been approved by the local authorities responsible for supervising these activities, the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution in Paris and the Commission de Contrôle des Activités Financières in Monaco.
An artistic view of Europe’s glaciers in the face of climate change
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation presents a photographic exhibition titled ‘Eagle Wings – Protecting the Alps’ by photographer Nomi Baumgartl at the Galerie des Pêcheurs.
The exhibition, to be held until 30th March, offers visitors a striking view from earth, sky and space of the melting glaciers in the Alps under the effects of climate change.
The exhibition provides a visual dialogue between the view from a human perspective – with photographer Nomi Baumgartl, the view through the eyes of an eagle – with its 360° camera, and the one of science – with images from the European Space Agency.
From the Earth, Nomi Baumgartl has immortalised incredible scenes from the Alpine region. Her photographs, charged with emotion and poetry, reveal the fragility of nature. From the sky, Victor – a white-tailed eagle equipped with a 360° camera, filmed the glaciers, showing through exceptional images the extent of ice melting in Europe.
From space, the satellites of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Earth Observation Centre (EOC) offer a more global reality of earth’s modifications linked to climate change.
‘The Eagle Wings – Protecting the Alps’ brings together five nature lovers: falconer Jacques-Olivier Travers, entrepreneur, activist and co-founder of Dreamscape Immersive Ronald Menzel, photographer Nomi Baumgartl, production manager Helmut Achatz, and Karl Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard. They came together to pay tribute to the planet, to document in an original way the impact of human activities on the environment, and to raise awareness of wildlife protection in order to inspire positive change.
“The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is pleased to present, in the Principality, this exhibition which opens our eyes to the complex links between man and nature and the need to act in the face of the climate crisis,” said the foundation in announcing the exhibition.
For more information on the Eagle Wings project : https://www.eaglewingsfoundation.org/fr/
The new Monaco-based cryptocurrency start-up Bitsa has expanded its prepaid debit card with the privacy-focused altcoin Monero (XMR).
Monero allows the Bitsa Card to make several different types of XMR card-based transactions in both brick and mortar establishments and online. Additionally, it offers card to card transfers and Monero conversions to euro automatically.
The Bitsa Card, which is one of the world’s first to be used in conjunction with Monero, was launched at the end of 2019 and can handle 12 different cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC).
Monero is interesting for many potential users as its transactions are untraceable, making it extremely privacy-oriented. This focus on privacy is what sets it apart from the other cryptocurrency transactions. These are verifiable and traceable by anyone, as they include both sender and receiver information. Monero does not have such trackability, nor are the amounts sent disclosed.
The Monaco-based Bitsa company offers both the card and fully electronic accounts, giving users the option to transfers money and pay for goods and services in the Single Euro Payments Area. Since inception, about 30,000 people have signed onto Bitsa, though the company predicts the number will jump steeply to 150,000 this year.
At present, there are no specific regulations or licenses for prepaid electronic accounts, though Bitsa has said they operate well within the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive as well as general European Union law.
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