The Principality has a new unofficial anthem: Love the Ocean, created by local Monegasque talent Olivia Dorato and produced by Oceanoscientific. It’s hoped the song will help mobilise today’s youth to save the planet’s precious resource.
Monaco’s connection to the ocean goes back to Prince Albert I, who devoted much of his life to oceanography, exploration and science in the early 20th century.
Today, Prince Albert II of Monaco not only continues in his great-great-grandfather’s footsteps, he has forged a very significant legacy of his own.
To celebrate Monaco’s deep commitment to the ocean, and to encourage a new generation to do the same, a new song titled ‘Love the Ocean’ has been released by Monegasque singer and rising star Olivia Dorato.
The song was produced by the Monegasque association Oceanoscientific, based on an idea by Yvan Griboval and Cécile d’Estais-Griboval. They entrusted the concept to 20-year-old Olivia Dorato, who wrote the lyrics, composed the music and sang the song, with art direction by Creativ Mess.
Didier Favre scored the philharmonic arrangement for the recording by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo (OPMC), conducted by Peter Szüts.
The anthem begins with an orchestral introduction before launching into the upbeat pop that Olivia is known for.
It is clear that the song is targeted to the people who will determine the future of the oceans – today’s youth.
“Did you know it’s up to you, to change the world if you want to. The power’s in your hands… Together, take the helm,” sings Olivia.
Love the Ocean was broadcasted for the first time on 29th October when Olivia Dorato presented the anthem to the Sovereign Prince for the arrival of the OceanoScientific Mediterranean Contaminants Expedition 2020 at the Yacht Club of Monaco.
It is now available on streaming platforms: https://fanlink.to/OdLTO
Listen to Love the Ocean here:
Minister of State Pierre Dartout has revealed during a National Council assembly that the public can expect the first of three Covid vaccines to be rolled out in Monaco next month.
The Covid pandemic topped the agenda of the National Council meeting on Thursday, and of particular interest was Covid inoculations. The Minister of State, Pierre Dartout, laid out the plan noting that the availability of the jabs will be different according to the maker.
He estimates the first rollout will be in January and February, using the Pzifer-BioNTech vaccine, then in March and April with Astra Zeneca, and by year’s end, the Sanofi Pastuer vaccine will be added to the arsenal.
“We are positioned to have all types of vaccines when they benefit from the authorisations of the health authorities. We have also ordered the essential equipment for their storage,” Dartout assured the Council. “The participation subscribed for this summer provides for the pre-purchase of 15,600 doses (two per person) for 7,800 people corresponding to 20% of the national and resident population. This is a first step.”
With regard to concerns over supply and administration, he confirmed that, “We have logistical and supply support from our French partner within the framework of the Franco-Monegasque health assistance agreement.”
The vaccines will be free of charge to residents, the Minister assured the assembled group.
Other health news showed a sunnier picture than in previous weeks, with Dartout laying out the latest statistics. “30 positive cases have been detected in Monaco during the past week against 120 during the first week of November. The incidence rate, that is, the number of positive cases per 100,000 population over seven days, is 78.95. It was 315.79 in the first week of November. The number of patients in intensive care at the CHPG is three compared to six at the beginning of November.”
The Council requested that a large-scale testing programme be implemented at the end of the holiday period to help keep the virus in check, as well as the continuation of curfews and obligatory mask wearing.
Dartout indicated that a free screening without medical prescription will be offered at the Espace Léo Ferréupon appointment from 15th December to students returning to the Principality, for teachers of school children,and residents during and upon return from Christmas holidays. Over 20,000 tests have been bought by the government in anticipation.
Self-isolation solutions were also discussed for those who are not infected, but have a person in their household who is, and the Novotel has agreed to house them at preferential rates, the cost of which will be borne by the state.
The government is still encouraging working from home when possible and has assured the Council that economic measures to support those financially impacted by the crisis will continue.
Amongst other topics on the table were a maritime shuttle plan between Cap d’Ail and Nice for summer 2021, a parent educational plan to alert them to the signs of addiction in their children, gender equality in the administration and the 2021 budget.
Photo: Minister of State Pierre Dartout and National Council President Stéphane Valeri, courtesy the National Council of Monaco
The 2020 Peace and Sport Awards will be given out from 14th to 18th December, only this year, all the action will be online.
The Peace and Sport Awards are a much-anticipated annual event in Monaco, but organisers have had to change their format this year due to the ongoing health situation. So, they have decided to hold their ceremonies digitally over four days.
This temporary new format does not mean less excitement for the recipients and those interested, as fans can follow along to see the nominees and winners announced on social media as well as on the organisation’s website.
The five categories for nominees are the April6 Initiative of the Year, the Sport for Development and Peace Program of the Year, the Innovative Action of the Year, the Special Jury Prize, and the Champion for Peace of the Year, and the winners of each category will be revealed on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn from 14th to 18th December.
“In these challenging times, sport remains a universal language,” said Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport. “Its role is vital to promote essential values such as respect, diversity and inclusion. The peace-through-sport community must stay active and connected in order to share best practices contributing to peace, dialogue and social change across the world with innovative ways.”
The jury is made up of South African rugby player Siya Kolisi, who is also Jury President. He will be joined by President of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation Kerrith Borwn, Advisor of Sport and Development for the Agence Française de Développement Laetitia Habchi, Columbia’s Minister of Sport Ernesto Lucena, CEO of My Coach Cedric Messina, Chairperson of CIGEPS Rosa Rakotozafy, and President of the Hellenic Community of Monaco and Director of Brooks Brothers Monaco Sophia Vaharis-Tsouvelekakis, who draws strong links between her sporting achievements and success as a businesswoman.
“In Greece we have a saying: a healthy mind in a healthy body,” Sophia Vaharis-Tsouvelekakis told Monaco Life. “Sport allows you to measure your strengths and your limitations; to put in place goals that you can surpass; to collaborate with your team – as I did when racing at Les 24h Chamonix sur Glace – and to respect others. It allows you to learn from losing and understand why you lost; to congratulate the winner and be humble when you win. I think all of these apply to sport as well as to business.”
Peace and Sport was founded in 2007 by Modern Pentathlon Olympic Medallist and World Champion Joël Bouzou. It is a Monaco-based independent association that promotes peace by introducing sports programmes to those in the world affected most by poverty, war and instability, the idea being that friendly competition builds bonds and communities.
The Peace and Sport Awards “reward organisations and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to peace, dialogue and social change in the world through sport.” The nominees for the April6 Initiative Award are:
• International Judo Federation.
• Kosovo National Olympic Committee.
• Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Georgia.
• Palestine: Sports for Life.
• Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, within the Ministry of Education of Portugal. The nominees for Sport for Development and Peace Programme of the Year are:
• Football for Change Outreach Project – Indochina Starfish Cambodia (ISF) Cambodia.
• Free football-for-youth-development programs – America SCORES.
• Volleyball4Life program – Dutch Volleyball Federation-Nevobo. Nominees for Innovative Action of the Year are:
• FLAG21@Home campaign – FLAG21.
• Online SAMBO Cup – International Sambo Federation.
• Sa7ti Friyadti project (Empowerment through sport) – TIBU Maroc For the Special Jury Prize, the nominees are:
• ERC Cyprus rally 2019 – International Automobile Federation.
• The Olympic Day Workout social media digital campaign – Olympic Channel.
• Together against Covid-19 – Olympique Lyonnais Foundation
The Champion for Peace of the Year is announced at the awards ceremony on the 18th and all the winners will be celebrated throughout the four days.
Monaco police now have a new tool in their arsenal against driving whilst under the influence. In addition to alcohol controls, they have a new saliva swab that can be used to detect the presence of a variety of drugs in a person’s system.
With the single use mouth swab, officers can see if a person has taken any drugs, such as cannabis, opiates, methamphetamines or ecstasy, in a matter of minutes.
If there are traces of any narcotic substances on the driver’s swab, a more formal procedure then takes place, starting with the transfer of the driver to the Princess Grace Hospital where they will receive a blood test. The blood sample will be sent to Nice for analysis to further confirm the earlier result and after this, a formal charge can be brought if drugs are indeed detected.
Screenings such as this can be legally carried out by police who note certain tell-tale signs in a driver, such as bloodshot eyes, incoherent speech or dangerous or erratic driving.
The protocol is adapted to ensure safety for both police and driver under current health statutes.
“This is identical to the blood alcohol control procedure,” Commander Fabien Vachetta, head of the Division of Events and Preservation of the Living Environment told Monaco Matin. “The officers are masked and gloved, and the sample is taken with outstretched arms, while respecting the physical distancing necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.”
Since the implementation of a new Monegasque law in November 2019, judges have been given the freedom to “personalise” sentences for those who come before them. This does not mean that judges can arbitrarily hand out inconsistent sentencing for the same crime, but it means that first-time offenders, for example, could receive a different sentence than repeat offenders.
The law on drugs in the Principality are fairly strict and clear cut though, stating the perpetrator “is punished by imprisonment from one to six months and a fine provided for in paragraph 2 of article 26 [from €2,250 to €9,000] or one of these two penalties only, the one who will have driven a vehicle while using substances or plants classified as narcotics.”
In addition to the above, it is also possible that offenders can lose their driving privileges for two or more years or lose their licenses outright, without the possibility to reapply for five years. For unlicenced drivers, they may not be able to apply for one for a period of five years at most, and for foreign drivers, a ban on driving in the Principality which can last up to five years. Drivers with suspended licenses can count on an additional five year extension to the suspension.
It is also possible that a convicted person’s car can be impounded for up to six months.
Clearly, Monaco is heavily discouraging driving under the influence within its borders with the new test. Drug users would do well to take heed.
Photo source: Pixabay
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