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Month: July 2023

Love the Ocean blessed by Archbishop, Yvan Griboval set to embark on new species-saving adventure

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/07/2023

Monaco’s expedition catamaran Love the Ocean has been blessed by Archbishop Dominique-Marie David ahead of its departure in September. Skippered by explorer Yvan Griboval, the boat will embark on an eight-year mission to collect data on the little-known health benefits of sea sponges to help save them from extinction.

The catamaran Love the Ocean is part of the OceanoScientific family, a philanthropic association that organises sailing expeditions that have no CO2 emissions in regions of the seas that have seldom been explored, if at all, to increase knowledge of the oceans and of the causes and consequences of climate change and pollution.

One such location is the coral reefs of Juan de Nova, located in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and Africa, in the Indian Ocean.

As part of the OceanoScientific Expeditions 2023-2030, Yvan Griboval will depart on 21st September from the Yacht Club de Monaco for an adventure to the Eparses Islands onboard the Love The Ocean catamaran. The aim: to collect the genetic data of different species of sponges and help prove the economic value of keeping this ancient organism, which is facing accelerated extinction, alive.

Sponges are believed to be the oldest animals on the planet. Photo credit: Karl Callwood, Unsplash

The oldest animal of the sea

Relatives of the humble sea sponge have filtered Earth’s waters for 650 million years or more, long before the first plants took to land. Their simplicity has led scientists to suggest sponges were the earliest animals to arise on our planet.

Today, the descendants of these amazing organisms are under the severe threat of the Sixth Extinction due to human activity.

OceanoScientific is therefore on a mission to help safeguard their biological heritage and preserve it for future generations.

One way of achieving this is by identifying the value that their molecules can have on human health and future new therapies.

“Let’s stop piling up alarmist scientific findings, let’s consider the Ocean as the most gigantic resource of humanity and let’s demonstrate that ecology and economy can be effectively married,” says Griboval.

“By bioprospecting little-known sponges on little-explored reefs using an oceanographic sailboat, using only three to five centimetre samples analysed biologically and genetically according to innovative techniques, we are inventing a virtuous development of an as yet unknown underwater resources, for the benefit of the sites of origin of these organisms.”

Juan de Nova is a French-controlled tropical island in the narrowest part of the Mozambique Channel

Scientific objectives

The OceanoScientific Expeditions 2023-2030 are the first sailing oceanographic campaigns in the Eparses Islands to explore all facets of sponge biodiversity. The aim is to make an inventory of species in situ by molecular extraction onboard the Love The Ocean.

The result will be a genetic database of marine organisms in the service of science, health, wellbeing and the environment. It will be a reference collection of tissues and extracts that will then be the subject of an integrative and interdisciplinary study.

The aim is to provide chemists with methods that could reproduce these molecules by biomimicry.

More than DNA collection and analysis

​Every 10 seconds, the OceanoScientific System (OCS System) will be used to collect and automatically transmit every hour new data of the Air-Sea interface, feeding the international weather forecasting and operational oceanography centres and providing new information on climate in remote locations.

In addition to the oceanographic campaigns in the Eparses Islands, from May to July the explorer will also be studying the universe of sponges on the Mediterranean coasts, looking for new species, together with students.

As the future protectors of the ocean, children are a major focus of OceanoScientific. On Thursday, school children from local CM1 and CM2 classes were at the Yacht Club de Monaco to witness the blessing of Love The Ocean by Archbishop Dominique-Marie David and hear more about the expedition. Through education, the association is hoping to inspire this generation towards the New Maritime Professions in the Blue Economy, seeing the value that lies within the sea.

The blessing ceremony on Thursday ended with the singing of the ‘Anthem of the Ocean: Love the Ocean’, produced by the Oceanoscientific Monaco association and written and performed by Monegasque singe Olivia Dorato.

Prince Albert has been a supporter of Yvan Griboval and his environmental causes for many years. Photo source: YCM

Backed by Monaco and Prince Albert

On Saturday 24th June, Yvan Griboval presented the 2023-2030 major initiatives of the OceanoScientific association to Prince Albert II of Monaco, as the Sovereign made a special visit to the Love The Ocean catamaran, currently moored in the Yacht Club de Monaco’s berth spaces.

Among the topics discussed was the Mediterranean Of The Future operation, to which the Principality of Monaco is committed and whose colours the Love The Ocean bears.

 

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SEE ALSO:

OceanoScientific welcomed home

Featured image by Monaco Life

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Everything you need to know about the Monaco leg of the Ultra Trail Côte d’Azur Mercantour

by: Elsa Carpenter
04/07/2023
Ultra Trail Côte d’Azur Mercantour

Monaco is to be the start line of the Ultra Trail Côte d’Azur Mercantour, one of the world’s most gruelling cross-country running events in the world, this coming Friday. 

At 125 kilometres of hard and unforgiving terrain with elevation gains of up to 3,000 metres, it is no exaggeration to call the Ultra Trail Côte d’Azur Mercantour one of the toughest races of its kind in the world.  

The hardcore athletes taking part will assemble themselves on the Quai Albert Ier of Monaco’s Port Hercule on Friday 7th July in preparation for a 7pm start that evening. 

Upon leaving the harbour, the runners will traverse the steep, urban sprawl of Monaco on a route along the Rue Grimaldi, Rue de la Turbie, Boulevard Rainier III, Boulevard de Belgique, Boulevard du Jardin Exotique and Avenue Hector Otto. From there, it will be up on to the Moyenne Corniche in the direction of the Col de Turini.  

Drivers and pedestrians in Monaco alike are being asked to give the competitors 15 minutes of grace between 7pm and 7.15pm as they wind up to the French border. The affected roads and pavements will be reopened as soon as the last runner has passed through.  

This event will mark the ninth edition of the epic race. The finish line has been set for Saint Martin Vésubie on 9th July.  

 

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Photo credit: Monaco Communications Department

In the news: 2023/24 theatre season, diversions in Casino Square and changes to public buildings

by: Elsa Carpenter
04/07/2023
monaco life news

Monaco Life brings you the latest community and government news, including a top literary prize linked to Prince Pierre and the renaming of Monaco’s Lycée Technique et Hôtelier in honour of Prince Rainier III.

Théâtre Princesse Grace unveils 2023/24 programme 

At the end of June, the Théâtre Princesse Grace revealed a programme featuring more than 30 shows that begins on 26th September with Molière’s Le Misanthrope (also known as the Cantankerous Lover in English). While the vast majority of the performances will be in French, there will be a bilingual English-French one-man show by Paul Taylor on 6th December. In a second nod to the theatre’s foreign language patrons, an Italian production written by Margaret Mazzantini called Zorro: Un eremita sul marciapiede will take place on 13th April next year.  

Theatre subscriptions for the 2023/24 season will be available from 10th July. Individual seats can be reserved from 4th September. For more information on the theatre and its upcoming programme, please click here.   

The 2023/24 Théâtre Princesse Grace programme was released in late June. Photo credit: TPG

Discovery Grant shortlisted entries announced 

During an event held at the Médiathèque de Monaco on 29th June, the Literary Council of the Prince Pierre Foundation – the Conseil Littéraire de la Fondation Prince Pierre – presented the works it had selected as in the running for the 2023 Bourse de la Découverte. It is a prize that rewards a first-time-published French-speaking author. The list of novels shortlisted can be found here. 

Each of the authors is expected to attend an event at the multi-media library on 9th October ahead of the awards ceremony the following day at the Salle Garnier. Their novels can be found in libraries in Monaco and the surrounding area. 

The list of authors in the running for this year’s Bourse de la Découverte has been announced. Photo credit: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department

The Lycée Technique et Hôtelier renamed  

Monaco’s vocational and catering school, the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier, has been renamed in honour of Prince Rainier III as part of wider celebrations and commemorations that mark the centenary year of the birth of the late sovereign.  

A ceremony that was well-attended by the Monegasque Princely family and government officials was held on 1st July to officially unveil the new name of the establishment – Lycée Rainier III – as well as a bust of the Prince by sculptor Kees Verkade.  

The school, which welcomes aspiring young people from the Principality and neighbouring regions in France and Italy, was opened by Prince Albert II in 2013.  

Members of the Princely family and government officials gather in front of the newly renamed Lycée Rainier III. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Monaco Communications Department

Monaco’s Child and Family Services department has moved 

The Service Petite Enfance et Familles has moved into a new and dedicated space within the Foyer Sainte-Dévote on 3 Rue Philibert Florence. The family-focused department and its team are available in person from 8.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays. The email address and telephone numbers remain the same: +377 93 15 61 80 and spef@mairie.mc.  

Diversions due to F(ê)aites de la Danse from Thursday 

In light of the weekend-long F(ê)aites de la Danse festival that is set to take over Casino Square for 24 hours from 12pm on Saturday 8th July, there will be some disruptions to road traffic and parking in the central Monte-Carlo district.  

All parking and traffic will be prohibited along the Avenue de Monte-Carlo and in Casino Square from Thursday 6th at 8pm until Friday 7th July at 2am. Access will then be reopened until 8pm on the Friday evening, when it will close again until 2am on Saturday 8th July. From 3pm on the Saturday until 9am on the morning of Sunday 9th July, the same restrictions will be imposed on motorists. Those heading in the direction of the Casino from Avenue des Spéluges will be diverted via the Avenue de la Madone and vice versa. Those with a subscription to the Casino car park will be unaffected.  

Read more about the festival here. 

 

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Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Monaco Communications Department

Hydration for performance and well-being: the winning formula

by: Tristan Boetti
04/07/2023

Proper hydration is essential for maintaining optimal performance, especially during the hot summer months. As a sports nutritionist, understanding how hydration affects the body and performance is crucial.

Throughout the day, we lose water through various mechanisms such as breathing, sweating, and urination. This loss of water is called dehydration. And technically the state we are in when we are in a water deficit is called hypohydration. It happens when the amount of water lost from the body exceeds the amount of water taken in. Staying hydrated isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. We’re all unique individuals with different body sizes, fitness levels, and metabolisms. On top of that, factors like physical activity, weather conditions, and humidity levels play a role in how much water we need.

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WATER LOSS

The weather plays a significant role in determining our water loss. Hot and humid weather can make you sweat like a marathon runner in the desert, as your body tries to cool itself down. Moreover, if you find yourself in a high-altitude environment, you might be surprised to learn that your increased breathing rate can lead to more fluid loss through exhaling water vapour. And let’s not forget about cold environments, where your body works overtime to keep warm, potentially leaving you hypohydrated as your thirst sensation is reduced. Mother Nature sure knows how to keep us on our toes!

PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING DETRIMENTS OF HYPOHYDRATION

Let’s get serious for a moment and talk about the impact of hypohydration on your performance and overall well-being. Even mild dehydration, as low as 2% of your body weight, can put a damper on your active endeavour. It can lower your endurance, strength, and coordination faster than a tired toddler gives up on tying their shoelaces. One of the main culprits behind this is the decrease in blood volume, which means less oxygen makes its way to your hard-working muscles, leaving you feeling like you’ve just run a marathon without even leaving the couch. And let’s not forget about the buildup of metabolic waste products that tag along for the dehydrated ride.

If you thought I was done with the detrimental effects of hypohydration, there’s more! Impaired thermoregulation is another side effect. That means you’ll be more prone to overheating, potentially leading to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Trust me, you don’t want to experience either of those. And here’s a little bonus: hypohydration can mess with your concentration, alertness, and reaction times. Daily life won’t be a walk in the park if you’re not sipping on that water bottle regularly.

Photo source: Quino Al, Unsplash

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS

Now we’ll talk about practical solutions. To optimize your hydration, it is crucial to adopt a proactive approach. Here are some recommendations for staying hydrated and performing at your best.

Daily Hydration: Aim to consume an adequate amount of fluids throughout the day, even when you’re not exercising. The general guideline is to drink at least 1.5-2 L of water per day but remember, you’re a unique individual, so your needs may be different.

Pre-Exercise Hydration: Before engaging in physical activity, ensure you are adequately hydrated. Sip on approximately 500-600 mL of water or a sports drink 2-3 hours before you get going and an additional 250-300 mL 15-30 minutes before you start.

During Exercise Hydration: When you’re in the zone, sweating up a storm, aim to drink fluids regularly to replace some of the water lost. The general recommendation is to consume 100-250 mL of fluid every 15-20 minutes, depending on the intensity and duration of the activity, as well as the weather. For those longer or more intense workouts, sports drinks with electrolytes can be your trusty sidekick. They’ll give you a boost of carbohydrates to keep your energy levels up and replace those precious minerals lost through sweat.

Post-Exercise Hydration: You’ve conquered your workout, but your hydration journey isn’t over yet. It’s time to replenish those fluid and electrolyte losses. Aim to consume 1-1.5 L of fluid for every kilo of body weight lost during exercise. And here’s a pro tip: include sodium-containing foods or beverages to help restore that precious electrolyte balance.

IT’S NOW TIME TO APPLY ALL THE ADVICE IN YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

I hope that you now understand that proper hydration is vital for maintaining optimal performance and well-being in both daily life and sports settings, especially during the summer season. Understanding how water loss occurs, the impact of weather conditions, and the performance detriments of dehydration allows us to develop effective hydration strategies. And remember, if you want personalized advice and guidance, don’t hesitate to consult a nutritionist or dietician.

 

Tristan Boetti is a sports nutritionist. Through his company Performance & Bien-Être Monaco, he works with professional athletes as well as recreationally active individuals to help them achieve their goals through customised nutrition plans and expert advice.

 

SEE ALSO:

Unveiling the illusions: foods that aren’t as healthy as we think

 

Featured image source: Unsplash

Playpark and underground recycling point to be built on Avenue Hector Otto 

by: Elsa Carpenter
03/07/2023
hector otto

Redevelopment works have already begun on Avenue Hector Otto in the western reaches of the Principality of Monaco, and will continue on-and-off until the end of this year. 

The first phase of a two-part project to renovate the sector between No. 23 and No. 41 of Avenue Hector Otto commenced in late June with a series of repairs and upgrades to its roads and pavements that will last until 4th August.  

A second phase will take place from 18th September to 22nd December.  

Upon completion, local families with young children will be able to enjoy a neighbourhood playground while the community as a whole will be able to use a newly installed underground recycling system.  

Access for both pedestrians and drivers on Avenue Hector Otto will be ensured throughout the process, in order to limit any negative impacts and inconveniences to residents and workers in the area, but temporary lane closures and affiliated delays should be expected. 

 

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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

France “over optimistic” about new property form compliance

by: Cassandra Tanti
03/07/2023

The deadline to complete a new property declaration for all home owners in France, including holiday homes and investment properties, has been extended, with the government acknowledging that the process has not been well followed.

France’s Director General of Public Finances Jérôme Fournel appeared recently on BFMTV to admit that his government was “probably over optimistic on the level of awareness” of the obligation to declare real estate.

With “queues of unusual magnitude” and an “explosion” in physical contacts and telephone calls felt by the country’s tax offices, Fournel described a “nightmare” for tax staff who had to deal with anxious and sometimes aggressive taxpayers as the deadline approached, initially set for 30th June. It has now been postponed by a month.

He suggested that many had left it to the last minute to make the declaration, despite a widespread communication campaign initiated at the start of the year that included media and email warnings to property owners.

Some owners say they were only made aware of the obligation in reminder emails sent in mid-June, prompting nationwide panic.

Fournel said that he is confident that by the end of July, the tax authorities will have caught up with the wave, saying that “more than 63% of declarations have already been made”.

New obligation for property owners, regardless of residence status

The French government introduced the mandatory declaration of real estate in France after it abolished housing tax (taxe d’habitation) for main residences, but not for secondary residences. Apparently, “the Directorate General of Public Finance did not have the ability to distinguish what was a main residence and a secondary residence”, as it was put by Fournel.

Those who have not completed the property form now have until 31st July to do so.

It can be completed online on the tax website.

The new property tax form applies to all French homeowners, including second-home owners, landlords, and property investors. Homeowners need to fill out the Declaration d’Occupation form found on the impots.gouv.fr website and declare who is living in the property on 1st January 2023. Separate forms must be filld out for each property owned.

 

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Photo credit: Lottie Griffiths, Unsplash