Month: August 2021

Communal Councilman Henri Doria, who served seven terms spanning 28 years, has died at the age of 83.

Elected in 1991, Henri Doria was known as a man of many passions. He loved the arts, music in particular, and was fervently active in upholding the traditions and heritage of the Principality. The love of his country was what made him turn to public service and in that role, he served for nearly three decades non-stop.

In his capacity as Communal Councilman, he was given the reins as person in charge of Cultural Affairs, Festivities and Animation, the Rainier III Academy, the Department of Civil Status and Nationality and Heritage and Traditions. Additionally, from 2007 to 2011, he became Deputy Mayor under Mayor Georges Marsan.

From 1995 to 2011, he was entrusted as the delegate for the Rainier III Academy. During his time, and since, the academy has blossomed, recruiting new teachers, strengthening its early music department, and developing the teaching of writing electroacoustic music. Under his leadership, the school also relaunched the popular violin making workshop, created back in 1977 by Prince Rainier III, offering early professional training in the craft of bowed instrument making as well as opening a drama class aimed at those looking to get into theatre.

In 2011, he was put in charge of the Department of Civil Status and Nationality. This gave him a chance to preside over marriages, allowing him to personalise each union, which he did with gusto.

He was a champion of the Monegasque language and was a key player in the Monegasque language competition, where he was master of ceremonies from 1991 until 2018. He was known for injecting the right amount of seriousness mixed with humour in this and on many other occasions.

He will long be remembered for arriving on a bicycle the year of the Tour de France start in Monaco and for his singing talents during the bicentenary celebrations of the Prince’s Carabiniers.

Daria’s contributions did not go unnoticed, and in his time he was awarded Commander of the Order of Saint-Charles, an officer of the Order of Cultural Merit and holder of the vermeil medal for Physical Education and Sports.

Mayor Georges Marsan will make a tribute to the life of Henri Doria at the next Communal Council meeting on 17^th August, a fitting gesture for a man who dedicated so much to his country.

 
 
Photo provided by Mairie de Monaco 
 
 

Vaccinating kids between 12 and 16 in France has become a source of contention as a new law will soon only require the consent of one parent, causing rifts in households and amongst parents with differing views.
On 28^th July, French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said that from the start of this school year, a positive Covid test in a classroom would lead to a week-long “eviction” of any unvaccinated students who had been in contact with the infected child.
Meanwhile, the government approved the use of Covid vaccinations on children starting from 12 years of age on 15th June, subject to the approval of both parents.
The new law, which comes into effect on 9th August, allows for just one parent’s approval “unless otherwise stated by a doctor.”
“Vaccinations will take part in this movement of herd immunity that will enable us – we hope – to limit the closure of classrooms, junior high schools or high schools when school resumes in September, to protect teens who can sometimes develop symptomatic diseases. This is quite common in the fight against epidemics to vaccinate young teenagers,” the Health Minister said in defence of the decision.
The idea was to make it easier for teens to get jabbed, but it has turned into a controversy, pitting parents against each other based on their own personal philosophies.
Online testimonials collected by France Info show a deep divide. One man said that during an argument over the subject of childhood immunizations, his wife, who opposes them, called him a “collaborator”.
“Vaccination in general is a source of conflict, our discussions went very far,” said the husband. “Finally, my wife understood that she had exceeded the limits and especially that I would not bend on this subject for our [two] children. It was that or she could walk out the door, no matter if the divorce cost me everything.”
Another father of two teens said he felt helpless against his ex-wife’s refusal to immunise his kids.
“Personally, I am in no rush to vaccinate children, but I am aware of the important role it has. If it has to be done, I will do it,” he wrote. He says their mother “went so far as to write a notice against the vaccine in the children’s health book, to have some evidence in case I did it behind her back, probably.”
With the new amendment, the mother’s request could be ignored if the father chose to take the children to be vaccinated.
How this will play out is yet to be determined, but it is almost certain that it won’t be a pretty sight.
 
 
 
Photo: CDC on Unsplash