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Day: 17 March 2021

Grace Kelly, the influencer

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/03/2021

More than 40 years after her death, Princess Grace is being recognised as an influencer of the 21st century through a new global initiative backed by Prince Albert called ‘Grace Influential’.

The Princely Family and the Princess Grace Foundation officially announced the launch of Grace Influential on Wednesday, a global initiative recognising and celebrating the ongoing influence and impact of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the launch of Grace Influential – a global initiative where new generations can engage in and be inspired by the living legacy of Princess Grace,” said Prince Albert in a statement. “I’m mindful every day of my mother’s extraordinary impact on me, my sisters, and the Principality. A determined champion of women’s empowerment, child welfare, the arts, and equal rights, she instilled in us a determination to have a positive influence on the world. It’s my most passionate wish that her iconic legacy endures for future generations so that young people today can be as inspired as we were by her life, style, and philanthropy.”

According to the Foundation, Grace Influential is uniting established luminaries as well as new generations around fashion, philanthropy, luxury, and modern Monaco. Grace Influential invites followers to engage in a variety of global initiatives including graceinfluential.com, a digital lifestyle platform, social media @graceinfluential, global partnerships with major luxury brands and heritage partners, amplification of Monaco-related activations around the world, events focused on fashion, culture, and philanthropy, and podcasts, film, TV and other media.

“I am deeply honoured to be ushering Princess Grace’s inspiring and iconic legacy into a new era, on behalf of the Princely Family of Monaco,” said Brisa Carleton, CEO of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA and Grace Influential.

“The passions and purpose of Princess Grace are increasingly relevant in the modern world. Not only is her iconic fashion being referenced on runways and red carpets from Chanel to Saint Laurent, but her commitment to equality, fairness, and empowerment has become increasingly important to today’s global citizen. We are delighted to be engaging with partners from around the world who join us, and the Principality, in our efforts to captivate new generations in Princess Grace’s iconic legacy.”

Grace Influential is operated by the Princess Grace Foundation-USA a not-for-profit arts Foundation.

Photo: Grace Kelly posing for Life magazine wearing the Edith Head gown that she wore to the 1955 Academy Awards, by PHILIPPE HALSMAN/MAGNUM PHOTOS.

Vaccine passport possible before summer

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/03/2021

The European Commission is proposing a ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to kickstart travel inside the EU during the pandemic. It will include vaccination, test and antibody information.
The pass would serve as an assurance that a traveller has been vaccinated against Covid-19, received a negative test result or has recovered from the virus. It will be available, free of charge, in digital via a QR code or in paper format.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the plan publicly in Brussels on Wednesday.
The vaccination certificates will be based on inoculations approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), however members states will be able to decide if they will accept vaccines that haven’t been given the green light by the EMA, such as the Sputnik V from Russia.
The pass will be valid in all EU countries and will be open for Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It will be issued to EU citizens and their family members, regardless of their nationality.
Additionally, non-EU nationals who reside in the bloc and visitors who have the right to travel to other member states will also be allowed to apply for the certificate.
The pass will be displayed in two languages: the official language of the issuing member state as well as English.
Vaccine passports have faced opposition from some EU member states over concerns they might be discriminatory against young people who are not considered a priority for inoculation. There is also no clear evidence that vaccines fully prevent a person from carrying or passing on the virus.
However, the implementation of an EU-wide certificate is eagerly awaited by tourism-reliant countries like Spain, Greece and Italy, which need a summer rebound to kick start their badly damaged economies.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday welcomed the planned certificate, which he said would “significantly facilitate the movement of citizens and will help boost tourism and the economies that rely heavily on it”.
In order for the pass to be ready in time for summer, it will have to go through a faster-than-usual adoption process in the European Parliament and the Council.
The Commission said the digital pass is only a temporary measure and will be suspended once the World Health Organsation (WHO) declares an end to the global health emergency.
 
Photo by Matthew Smith on Unsplash
 
 

Princess saddened at loss of Zulu King

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/03/2021

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II are in mourning after learning of the death of their great friend, Goodwill Zwelithini, King of the Zulu nation, who died aged 72.
The Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini passed away on 12th March in South Africa, prompting an outpouring of grief from the Princess.
“King Zwelithini was an honourable man with a pure heart,” Princess Charlene said of her friend on social media. “We shared many special moments over the years which I will forever hold dear to me. I will miss my friend and pray that the Zulu Royal Family find solace and comfort during this time.”
The King had been ill for some time with diabetes and succumbed to issues relating to the disease in hospital. He was 72.

Known for being an influential and traditional ruler, he presided over South Africa’s largest ethnic group, the Zulus, for almost half a century. Despite having no real power, he was the moral and spiritual compass for his people.
He advocated for preserving cultural identity and revived nearly-lost cultural practices by giving them a modern twist. One example is the Umhlanga, or Reed Dance Ceremony, which celebrated virginity amongst girls and raised awareness about HIV/AIDS in a part of the world which sees some of the globe’s highest infection rates.
King Goodwill was also a supporter of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation over the years. The organisation took to Twitter saying, “Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco are saddened to learn of the death of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini. Beyond the collaboration with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, King Zwelithini was a close friend of Princess Charlene.”
Leading figures from around the world offered public condolences, including former US ambassador to South Africa Lana Marks, who said, “I’m saddened to hear of the passing of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini Kabhekuzulu. In 2019, I had the honour of visiting his home in Kwazulu-natal, where we discussed his leadership towards HIV epidemic control. May his memory be a blessing to the entire Amazulu nation.”
Australian High Commissioner Gita Kamath also had kind words, saying, “My condolences to the Zulu people on the passing of King Goodwill Zwelithini. Just last weekend I visited the epic Zulu war battlefields in Kwazulu, place of heaven, which helped put the courage and pride of the Zulu nation on the global map. May his Majesty rest in peace.”
 
 

Celebrate Forest Day with a hike

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/03/2021

International Day of the Forests is being commemorated on Sunday in Monaco with events including a free organised walk covering the loop from Mont-Gros to Roquebrune Cap-Martin.

Sunday 21st March is International Day of the Forests, and to celebrate the Urban Planning Department and the National Forestry Office (ONF) are organising events related to forestry and trees.

The highlight is guided tours from Mont-Gros to Roquebrune Cap-Martin, a two hour hike of approximately 3.7 kilometres, with a rise to a summit of 1.7 kilometres above sea level.

The tours will give visitors a chance to discover the new changes recently made to this natural site by the ONF and the Principality, such as an insect hotel, a water mirror, and an arboretum.

There are two opportunities to join. The walks take place at 9:30am and 4:30pm, are free, but space is limited and reservations are required.

Additionally, there will be a workshop to explain the latest actions undertaken by Monaco and the ONF. They will be held at the entry to the Jardins Saint-Martin in Monaco Ville. The public is invited to be a part of activities related to forest and tree heritage, and these too are free and open to all.

The International Day of the Forest is a yearly event sponsored by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations. Since 2012, the day is meant to celebrate the importance of forests as integral parts of our ecosystems. Nations are encouraged to “undertake local, national and international efforts” involving forests and trees, such as tree-planting campaigns and public awareness events.

Themes are chosen each year and in 2021 the theme is ‘Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being’.

Sustainable forest management helps combat climate change and contributes to prosperity through job creation, as well as producing goods and services for sustainable development. Roughly 1.6 billion people depend on forests for food, shelter, energy, income and medicines, and 80% of the world’s land-living organisms reside in forests.

At present, the world loses 10 million hectares of forest each year, equal to the size of Iceland, accounting for 12% to 20% of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Deforestation has also degraded about two billion hectares of land, an area larger than South America.

For those unable to attend the local events, other ways to participate can be found at http://www.fao.org/international-day-of-forests/en/

 

Photo source: Pixabay

 

Monaco Boost making progress

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/03/2021

Monaco Boost is now on its way to becoming a reality, with the allocation of space within the incubator to Monegasque entrepreneurs.

Minister of Finance and the Economy Jean Castellini and President of the National Council Stéphane Valeri met on Tuesday to allocate offices and stations to those interested in Monaco Boost, the Principality’s new collaborative workspace centre and business incubator for Monegasque nationals.

The site, located in Fontvieille, features furnished work areas, private meeting rooms and offices, an outdoor terrace, a “chill space” and a collective cafeteria corner.

It is “a bright and spacious working environment, creator of synergy and conducive to the development of new business,” boasts the website.

Amongst the candidates, it was fairly evenly split between new companies and start-ups. A full 48% are in the process of being created, whilst 52% are already established. The companies come from a variety of sectors and “a large part” of the applicants are looking to benefit from the offices to be able to recruit staff in the short or medium term.  

The first businesses are expected to move into the springboard facility in April and are expected to be an integral part of the Principality’s economic recovery.

 

Photo by Manuel Vitali / Government Communication Department 

 
 

A 2021 Monaco podium finish for Leclerc?

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/03/2021

After a series of “unlucky” races in the Principality, Formula One driver Charles Leclerc is hoping the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix will deliver the hometown podium finish that he has always dreamed of.
The rising Formula One star gave a virtual press conference on Tuesday and, when questioned by Monaco Life about the prospect of winning his first top three position at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, responded: “It will mean the world to me to finally have such a great result in front of my home crowd, in front of my family and friends, and my teachers who are watching the GP and will maybe now understand why I was missing so much school when I was younger. But it means a lot. More than anywhere else.”
It will be the perfect evolution of a dream for the 23-year-old Monegasque, which began many years before in the Principality.
“My first memories were when I was four or five years old and I was watching Formula One from the balcony of my best friend’s house, and I remember dreaming of being one of those drivers. Now I finally have the opportunity (…) to realise my dream as part of the Scuderia Ferrari team.”
And he has every chance of turning the dream of a Monaco podium finish into reality this year with Ferrari’s new SF21, together with new team mate Carlos Sainz whom Leclerc says he has already bonded well with.
“I don’t think I have spent as much time with any other team mate as I have with Carlos,” said Leclerc. “We have spent a lot of time in Maranello since the beginning of the season trying to understand where we can improve and what areas we need to push in… so it has been very interesting. But apart from that, we also get on very well. We have similar ages, similar interests, and we’ve had a lot of good laughs already.”
While early tests in the SF21 have proven positive, Leclerc says only time will tell if the car manages to turn the team’s fortunes around after a disastrous 2020 season which pushed Ferrari to sixth in the championship – their worst finish since 1980.
“The car felt good in Bahrain, but again a car that feels good doesn’t mean it is necessarily fast. So, I will wait before making any further judgements.
“But the first test went well, we did all the kilometres that we wanted to do, which was the most important thing for us, gathering as much data as possible before the first race. Now I am just really looking forward to the first race to finally see where we are compared to the others.”
 
Relate stories:

Ferrari reveals Leclerc’s new wheels

Government: Monaco Grand Prix is a go

 
Photo @Scuderia Ferrari