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Month: April 2020

Earth Day attracting big names for 50th anniversary

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/04/2020

Earth Day 2020 is bringing together some serious heavy hitters to show support via digital means for the event’s half century mark, including – not surprisingly – Prince Albert II of Monaco.
This year’s Earth Day celebration on 22nd April will be marked with a collection of videos put out by celebrities, politicians, personalities, environmentalists and even royals. Monaco’s HSH Prince Albert II, well-known as a staunch protector of the environment, will be airing his own message in defence of the planet this week along with the likes of Zac Efron, Al Gore, John Kerry, Kyra Sedgwick and Anil Kapoor, amongst many others.
The makers of these videos will provide live messages, talks, teach-ins and performances during a 15-hour period on the Earth Day Network at www.earthday.org and on Twitter (#EarthDay2020) as part of the celebrations. Starting at 12pm CET, an incredible line-up of personages will present personal videos for the public to watch throughout the day.
“This unprecedented time has stopped us all in our tracks,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network. “As each of us ensures that those around us are safe and well, it is in a momentous opportunity to examine our individual and collective relationship with the natural world and how our activities impact the planet. The way forward is hopeful, and we have an opportunity to forever change how we interact with the environment in our own backyard and our community at large.”
Earth Day 2020’s goal is to trigger interest in individuals to help the planet in responsible ways. This is especially important during our current time of crisis, where we have seen scientific proof that making small adjustments to daily life have shown huge rewards to the environment. Air pollution levels have improved in some of the world’s worst polluted places such New Delhi, which has seen an incredible 71% drop in air pollution since lockdown.
These extraordinary improvements are heartening for many, but as yet, no one is looking beyond lockdown to keep up the good work or to create long-term solutions to stop the return of old ways.
As such, individuals are being asked to participate in the Earth Challenge 2020. This “global citizen science initiative” aims to build a fully accessible database on air quality and plastic pollution using a mobile phone app found on both the App Store and Google Play. Data collection widgets will be rolled out throughout the year, and the data collected will assist in promoting better policies the world over.
“Despite that amazing success and decades of environmental progress, we find ourselves facing an even more dire, almost existential, set of global environmental challenges, from loss of biodiversity to climate change to plastic pollution, that call for action at all levels of government,” said Denis Hayes, the organiser of the first Earth Day in 1970 and Earth Day Network’s Board Chair Emeritus.
“Progress has slowed, climate change impacts grow, and our adversaries have become better financed,” said Earth Day Network president Kathleen Rogers. “We find ourselves today in a world facing global threats that demand a unified global response. For Earth Day 2020, we will build a new generation of environmentalist activists, engaging millions of people worldwide.
Earth Day is observed in 190 countries with nearly a billion people taking part in activities each year, making it the largest civil observance in the world.
 
Photo: Pixabay
 
 

Slight population decline in Principality in 2019

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/04/2020

As of the end of 2019, the official population of Monaco stood at 38,100 inhabitants, a 0.5% decrease over 2018, representing 200 fewer people.

The small drop in overall population, though, does not change the fact that the Principality is the most densely populated country on the planet with 48,466 people per square mile. As Monaco is less than a square mile, 0.780, it is the second smallest country by area in the world. Only Vatican City is smaller.   

According to the latest figures from IMSEE, the basic facts of the Principality’s people remain largely the same as the previous year. French is still the official language, though other languages are commonly spoken, the most prevalent of which are English, Italian and Occitan. Most residents are Christian, with Catholicism being the top religion.

Fun fact about the Principality is that the native Monegasques represent a minority of the total population. French nationals are the largest ethnic group, making up a quarter of the total.

The Monegasque GDP is the world’s second highest and the country’s unemployment rate is amongst the lowest. Monaco boasts the lowest poverty level in the world, as well as the most billionaires and millionaires per capita. A full 30% of the population are at least millionaires. 

The largest administrative area by population is Monte Carlo. This quartier is home to 15,200 inhabitants. The rest are spread quite evenly amongst the other areas.

 
 

Leclerc wins back-to-back Virtual GPs

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/04/2020

Charles Leclerc is on fire! The Monegasque champion has shown again that he has what it takes with a second Virtual Grand Prix win in a row during a hard-fought race against Alex Albon on Sunday.
The Virtual Chinese Grand Prix was held Sunday and the world’s best online racers competed on the Shanghai circuit for top spots. Monaco’s own Charles Leclerc, racing for Ferrari, came out victorious, giving him his second win against stiff competition.
Red Bull’s Alex Albon put Leclerc through his paces and ended up with the number two spot, his first time on the virtual podium. Formula Two driver for Renault and winner of the first Virtual Grand Prix on the Bahrain track, Guanyu Zhou, took third place.
Leclerc took to Twitter after his win, saying, “I’m actually enjoying very much playing, and streaming. And I enjoy it even more when I win. But the post-race celebrations are somehow feeling a bit different. Switching off the computer to go cook white pasta is a bit less glamour than spraying champagne on the podium.”
This is the third race of the Virtual Grand Prix “season” and this time there were seven actual Formula One drivers partaking in the race, joined by some of the world’s top gamers and celebrities. McLaren’s Carlos Sainz is the latest to make the leap from vehicle to virtual and join Leclerc, Albon, George Russell, Nicholas Latifi and Antonio Giovinazzi, along with a handful of Formula Two hopefuls. Sadly, Brit Lando Norris was again absent from the race due to connection issues for the third time. These ongoing technical difficulties are proving highly frustrating for both pilot and fans.
Footballers made a decent showing this time as well. Real Madrid goalie Thibault Courtois and Lazio striker Ciro Immobile took to the virtual streets and came in 15th and 17th respectively. Not bad for debutantes.
The 28-lap race was a nail-biting duel between Thai-Brit Albon and Leclerc, making for an exciting race for spectators, hungry for excitement while life stands still during the period of confinement. The races are held every other Sunday and are becoming a real boon to those missing the sport.
Meanwhile, the Race for the World series set up by Leclerc and other racing drivers has concluded and raised €70,000 so far for the World Health Organisation’s Covid-19 Solidarity Relief Fund.

The drivers had set a fundraising target of €100,000 and are still accepting donations towards the fund.
The Leclerc and Albon families locked out the top four places in the points standings. Charles Leclerc won the championship which began last Saturday, scoring 90 points over the six races.
Luca Albon finished second on 71 points, two places ahead of older brother Alex, the pair split by Leclerc’s brother Arthur on 58 points. Renault junior driver Christian Lundgaard claimed fifth.
Lando Norris, George Russell, Antonio Giovinazzi and Nicholas Latifi also took part in the series.
 
 

Monaco business supporting local entrepreneurs

by: Staff Writer
20/04/2020

As people across the globe adjust to new levels of isolation dictated by the Covid-19 pandemic, Equilibre Monaco is kicking off a new initiative to help local businesses stay afloat through these turbulent times.
The way we conduct our affairs has changed almost overnight, and the question of how business will continue throughout and after this crisis has become increasingly pertinent to all our livelihoods. Equilibre is doing its part to support the community, shifting their focus to offer a completely complimentary service of consultation and auditing companies’ existing digital platforms, aimed at helping them achieve the advanced level of digitalisation vital to staying connected in this socially-distanced era.
“The unfortunate truth is that a lot of companies do not even realise that they are not fulfilling their potential,” says Equilibre founding partner Ediz Erguc. “Digital influence has long been an important factor in marketing and communications, but now with people all over the world confined to their homes, they are turning to online options wherever they can.”
Reasons for underperformance in this field are varied, ranging from complacency, to a lack of understanding of the digital world, to simply not having the time or manpower to dedicate to digital marketing while endeavouring to deliver a high standard of products and services. It may have been easier to justify in the distant past by saying that face-to-face interactions and personal relationships are a better way to do business.
However, in our newly isolationist society, online communication has suddenly leapt from being merely advisable to absolutely essential. And those who think they are off the hook because of last Friday’s absentminded social media post, think again. “It can be a little more complicated than some people realise,” adds Quinn Pendleton, “but that is where we are hoping to help. If we can give our local businesses the tools they need, they can come out of this period stronger. In the end that benefits everyone.”
Equilibre offers a Google Prime partner service with an extensive team of Google-certified engineers and developers at their disposal. Combined with an award-winning creative team that focuses on helping companies with the right message and visuals, Mrs. Pendleton says it justifies the company’s name as truly encompassing the “Balance between creativity and technology”.
Equilibre’s interactive audit form, available on their website, walks users through a series of questions designed to prompt a deeper consideration of a company’s current status, ramping up from how they are performing in Google search results, to how they are tracking and segmenting the audience for email campaigns, to whether or not tag implementation is being correctly utilised to track online sales conversions.
And not to worry; if the answer is ever, “I don’t know,” the Equilibre team will be right there to spell it out and help guide you through it. “We actually hope there are a lot of ‘I don’t know’ replies” continues Mrs. Pendleton, “that means our help will prove to be even more valuable and educational.”
The information gleaned from this process will allow them to provide a customised consultation based on their years of experience growing the businesses of their clients in Monaco and abroad. They will be able to identify whether or not a company is utilising the available tools such as Google and social media platforms, assess a website’s traffic generation and engagement with potential customers, help to set realistic goals regarding sales, leads, and brand awareness, and make an action plan for the business to move forward.
“Following trends will never measure up to setting them,” continues Mr. Erguc. “For better or for worse, the world will be a different place once we come through this crisis. Our daily habits will have evolved, and in many regards, there will be no reason to go back.”
As consumers adapt and settle into a new, more digital way of life, it is the companies who are already there to meet them who will thrive.
For further information, visit the website: www.equilibremonaco.com
 
Photo: Pixabay
 
 

Construction resumes at Monaco entrance

by: Cassandra Tanti
19/04/2020

Work is resuming on Monday at the Boulevard du Jardin Exotique private construction site.
Building will continue on block A between the hours of 7.30am and 7.30pm from Monday 20th April, as well as the assembly of prefabricated elements for the Propylée structure, composed of a set of columns and a cover.
Given the current curfew, this second lot of works, initially scheduled to take place at night, will be undertaken between 7.30am and 10pm – a time extension which will in effect reduce the duration of the works.
As a result, Boulevard du Jardin Exotique will be closed and traffic modified between construction hours, from Monday to Friday. Incoming vehicles will be diverted to the Albert II tunnel or will be able to access Monaco via the Moyenne Corniche and Avenue Hector Otto. Outgoing vehicles will be able to reach the Moyenne Corniche by taking Avenue Hector Otto.
In announcing the re-opening of the private construction site, the government said it will be carried out in accordance with “strict sanitary measures, with the absolute priority of preserving the health of all stakeholders.”
As it does with all construction sites currently in operation throughout the Principality, authorities will carry out regular inspections of the Boulevard du Jardin Exotique site.
 
Photo: Pixabay
 

Mask distribution is underway

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/04/2020

Monaco has begun distributing 10,000 masks free of charge to residents in Monaco aged over 65 years.

Minister of State Serge Telle, Minister of Health Didier Gamerdinger National Council Mayor Stéphane Valeri and Mayor Georges Marsan were all present for the rollout of masks, which began on Friday 17th April.

Starting with those over 65 years of age, each person will receive two washable and reusable masks good for one month, free of charge, from teams from the Monaco City Council. These teams are the ones already handling the home meals programmes and are familiar with protocols surrounding distribution during the crisis.

Other residents will see their free masks arriving by post. Monegasque companies that have registered requests for employees will be able to purchase disposable surgical masks at cost. They will be available for pick-up at Stade Louis II. Single-use masks will also be sold in pharmacies and authorised shops at a state regulated price of €2.50. FPP2 masks will be sold for €7.50.   

A video tutorial on how to best maintain and wear the masks will be broadcast regularly on the Monaco Info channel as well as posted on the website www.covid19.mc.

 Many of the masks will have been manufactured in the Principality. Swimwear company Banana Moon has made 800 masks to be distributed and fashion house Bettina are cranking them out at a rate of 1,000 per day, soon to be double that amount for a total of 80,000. To fill in the gaps, two Italian firms have been commissioned to supply 120,000 extra masks.

In addition to news about the masks, the minister has also weighed in on screening tests and digital tracing.  

Monaco is currently performing 10 to 50 rhino-pharyngal tests, called PCRs, every day. Health authorities are checking standard conformity on the first of the serological tests coming from sources in Germany and China. As soon as they have been deemed safe and reliable, they will be used on residents and employees symptomatic or not to determine the number of carriers, those recovered and those as yet untouched by the virus.

Digital tracing via mobile phone apps are being explored. Experiments in Singapore, Germany and France are currently underway, and the Principality will follow their progress to determine effectiveness. Tracing would not be compulsory, but would be helpful for health officials in terms of epidemiological investigations.

 

Photos: © Communication Department / Manuel Vitali