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Day: 15 March 2021

New video wall for hybrid events

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/03/2021

On the back of the successful launch of its new television studio in September, the Grimaldi Forum has now added a giant LED TV screen to its services, diversifying its offerings in light of the pandemic.
The giant 30 square metre screen is one of the largest available in southern Europe and can be used by Grimaldi Forum clients to broadcast their events and view content live.
The new generation design means that presenters or speakers standing in front of the screen do not have to worry about the normal ‘green screen’ issues and can actually see what is being broadcast behind them.
“Thanks to the axes of real cameras, the view of the set is modified with each change of shot, without virtual special effects,” said the Grimaldi Forum.

Photo of the new LED television wall at the Grimaldi Forum

This new ‘premium’ version has been offered by the Grimaldi Forum for more than six months, in addition to the centre’s ‘standard’ version. With a green background, the standard screen makes it possible to create numerous sets ranging from urban to maritime. It can also create backgrounds of Monaco in real time, thanks to a live camera delivering a 360° view.
The TV studio was developed in the midst of the health crisis to diversify the Grimaldi Forum’s capabilities for webinars and videoconferences, thereby overcoming the problem of physical meetings.
For clients, it means that they can now organise virtual or hybrid events safely, even in the future when the health crisis eases.
 
Photos by the Grimaldi Forum Monaco
 
 

“The threats to the ocean remain despite the pandemic”

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/03/2021

One of Monaco’s flagship sustainable events, Ocean Week, is taking place at the end of March to unite the main international players in ocean protection and push for change.
Ocean Week is organised each year by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation together with the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, the Scientific Centre of Monaco and the Yacht Club of Monaco, with the support of the Prince’s Government.
The 2021 edition will take place from 22nd to 28th March, in a hybrid format, mixing virtual with face-to-face presentations.
Opened by the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI), Ocean Week will bring together scientists, experts, NGOs and representatives of civil society to discuss major topics including plastic pollution, ocean acidification, coral reefs, and scientific research.
Monaco Blue Initiative: a new development model for the ocean
Ocean Week will kick off on Monday 22nd March with the 12th Monaco Blue Initiative, which will bring together various decision-makers in the sustainable management and conservation of the ocean around the blue economy.
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco will give the welcome address for the event, which will this year focus on three forward-looking themes:
The role of international negotiations for better ocean governance; integration of ocean issues and sustainable development objectives into Corporate Social Responsibility; and the involvement of the financial sector in the management of risks related to biodiversity loss and in the sustainable blue economy
Workshops dedicated to innovation serving the oceans
“The major issues in the conservation of the marine environment are now widely identified and call for creativity and innovation,” said the organisers of Ocean Week, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. “Acidification of the oceans, plastic pollution, endangered fauna, collapse of coral reefs … So many issues that must mobilise the greatest number.”
As part of this event, issues to be presented include artificial reefs made with 3D printers, start-ups that implement solutions against plastic pollution, the potential of algae to regenerate the ocean, and the impacts of new modes of motorisation in the yachting sector.
Workshops around plastic pollution
Every year, eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans. Plastic pollution is one of the most visible and serious ecological problems. Global pollution resulting from their production and incineration is a major contributor to global warming.
Among the topics to be examined by Ocean Week participants is an inventory of existing legal instruments, current developments and proposed solutions in the fight against plastic pollution of the oceans in international, European and comparative law; a review of the latest figures for plastic pollution in the Mediterranean; the BeMed 2021 winners, who will present their respective projects; and 15 proposals by NGO The German Ocean Foundation to solve the plastic crisis.
Preserve marine ecosystems and improve knowledge
“Faced with the overexploitation of marine resources, it is essential today to initiate discussions and joint national and international actions to raise awareness and protect marine ecosystems,” say the organisers.
Among the actions that Monaco Ocean Week will highlight are the International Coral Reef Initiative, of which Monaco has co-chaired alongside Australia and Indonesia since 2018; the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, a blended finance mechanism that uses public and philanthropic funds to catalyse private investments for coral reef conservation and restoration; the Monk Seal Alliance, which works for the conservation of one of the most endangered species: the Mediterranean monk seal; Sphyrna Odyssey, who will review the results of the Quiet Sea mission that listened to the marine environment during Covid lockdown; and skipper Boris Herrmann who installed an on-board laboratory on his IMOCA to measure CO2 emissions during the last Vendée Globe and will talk about the state of the sea.
 
 

Subsidy offered to green leaning businesses

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/03/2021

The government is offering a grant of up to €6,000 for businesses who undertake upgrades using eco-friendly materials, in support of the environment and the country’s economic recovery plan.

A new subsidy is being offered to the 80 environmentally-minded businesses and restaurants who are part of the Committed Commerce and Committed Restaurant scheme started in 2017 by the government’s Environmental Department and the organisation, Ecoscience Provence.

Launched in 2017 and relaunched in 2020, the Monaco Environmental Department and Ecoscience Provence, the Committed Commerce and Committed Restaurants programmes have seen some 80 establishments join the ranks of enterprises committed to reducing waste, saving energy and water, and promoting sustainable mobility.

In order to support those already involved, as well as to entice those considering joining the scheme, and as part of the economic recovery plan, the government is now offering assistance ranging from €3,000 to €6,000 to members in order to help decrease the costs associated with making upgrades and paying for new eco-friendly materials.

To date, a variety of businesses have joined the programme, ranging from florists, hairdressers and barbers, food shops and clothing retailers to bars, restaurants and bakeries.

Personalised advice is available to those who are part of the scheme to help get the word out about their environmental commitments as well as to help them advertise the fact through window stickers, virtual logos, vehicle stickers, posters and internet referencing on the Committed Commerce and YourMonaco.mc websites.

In order to be considered for the scheme, establishments must follow several obligatory guidelines, recently updated, including waste reduction and sorting, discontinuation of single-use items, reuse and recycling when possible, supporting local dynamics, actively reducing energy and water consumption and customer awareness.

In order to benefit from the proposed aid package, a request must be submitted by 31st May 2021. For general information visit the government website at environment@gouv.mc.

 

 
 

10th Jeep Elite win for Roca team

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/03/2021

The Roca team chalked up another victory Friday night when they beat ESSM Le Portel Côte d’Opale 81 to 71 on ESSM’s home turf.

It was an inauspicious start for AS Monaco Basketball when they faced off against ESSM Le Portel Côte d’Opale, giving the home team a 10 to two leg up in the first two minutes of play.

Fortunately, the Roca boys stepped it up a pace, and two short minutes later they had nearly evened up the score and hadn’t relinquished another point. This was just the beginning. Monaco took off like a shot from this point, taking the lead for the rest of the first half and not letting go.

When the buzzer went off, they went into the locker room with a comfortable 41-35 lead.

After half time, the team seemed to be suffering from heavy leg syndrome. Their Porteloises opponents took advantage, almost evening up the match. They got a bit over-eager though and with back-to-back fouls on their team’s leading scorer, Wojciechowski who was promptly shown off the court, the Roca team was able to take advantage and widen the lead once more.

In the end, Monaco dominated Le Portel by 10 points, giving them two wins on the week after their Euro Cup victory last Tuesday against Unicaja.

Monaco made 27 shots out of 59, 10 out of 26 in three-point range. They chalked up 33 rebounds, had 21 assists, 13 steals and picked up 17 stray balls.

Captian Dee Bost was high scorer on the night with 20 points. Mathias Lessort had 17, and Damien Inglis, nine.

“It’s never an easy game on this floor at Portel,” said Assistant Coach Mirko Ocokoljic. “They have good defence, switch a lot and give us problems. The important thing was to win, the job was done. Dee Bost has been in great shape for a few weeks now and he loves playing these matches. The two newcomers (Faye and Frazier) used their few minutes well.”

The Roca team preserved their first place standing and will have double trouble when they face off against Cholet Monday night at 7pm at home at Gaston Médecin and then again on Saturday at 6:30pm in Maine-en-Loire.

 
 
Monaco Life with AS Monaco Basketball press release, photo by AS Monaco Basketball
 
 

Call it a draw: ASM and Lille end scoreless

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/03/2021

AS Monaco put a crimp in Lille’s total domination by holding their own against the powerhouse in a scoreless match on Sunday at Stade Louis II, putting an end to the top spot team’s winning streak on the road.
One record continued and another was broken after Sunday’s match between AS Monaco and Lille saw a nil to nil draw. The Red and Whites remained unbeaten after six home games at Stade Louis II whilst Lille’s seven game streak of wins on the road was broken.
“I think it was a challenging match, said Monaco Coach Niko Kovac. “Both teams displayed a good tactical level. It was hard to break down the Lille lines. I am happy with the performance of my team. We only conceded one shot on target.”
The game got off to a slow start, with the first possibility of a shot on goal not coming until 12 minutes in when LOSC’s Timothy Weah was blocked by Monaco goalie Benjamin Lecomte. Ten minutes later it was Monaco’s turn. Wissam Ben Yedder had a too-close-to-call play that required VAR intervention that decided in the end the goal was a disappointing no-go.
The first half went on like this with a series of near hits, but not conversions. Both sides went into the locker room without a single point scored.
After half time, despite Monaco having primary possession of the ball, neither team ever gained the upper hand. The game was not entirely without excitement, but it definitely was without a goal. It ended in a 0-0 tie, and gave the Red and Whites one more point, extending their lead over fifth place Marseille by 11.
“Lille were there to play for draw and hurt us on the counterattack. We were focused. Lille are in first but Paris can take the lead tonight with a win. Marseille are coming back as well, so we must keep our distance from the fifth. We’ll talk about it again in a month, we’ll see where we stand,” the ever-cautious Coach Kovac said after the game.
Monaco plays one last match before the international break. They will face off against Saint Etienne on Friday way at Stade Geoffroy Guichard at 9pm.
 
Monaco Life with AS Monaco press release