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Month: November 2023

All about the Manga from Monaco that is spotlighting online violence against women

by: Stephanie Horsman
22/11/2023

Monaco’s Women’s Rights Committee has enlisted the help of a popular local Manga creator to confront the issue of online abuse against women in a new awareness campaign aimed at young people.  

When many people think of violence against women, they think immediately of the physical kind. Whilst this is insidious and a problem throughout the world, there is also another type of abuse that women, and men, suffer from: online violence.  

To tackle this modern issue, Monaco Communications Department has teamed up with the Principality’s Women’s Rights Committee and the talented Cédric Biscay, the writer and producer of the popular chess Manga series Blitz, to approach the problem in an equally current way ahead of the United Nations-sponsored International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which will take place on 25th November.  

THE STORY 

Biscay has created a 25-page story centred on a group of friends, including the president of the high school chess club, Riko, and another girl called Louise.  

The group are taking fun and inoffensive photographs of each other when Louise sends one to a boy that she has a crush on. He pressures her to get racier images of Riko and, afraid of losing his affection, Louise convinces her friend to play up to the camera at a pyjama party before passing the intimate shots on to the boy.  

The boy then posts them online, humiliating Riko. When the role she has played in the deceptive act is discovered, Louise loses Riko’s friendship and trust.   

THE CAMPAIGN 

Under the slogan ‘Behind the screen, violence hits no less hard’, the story seeks to explain how online actions can have real-life consequences, and to highlight the destructiveness of digital bullying.  

The campaign was created specifically with young people in mind, with the goal of highlighting the psychological and emotional damage this type of online violence can have on victims, and demonstrating how important it is that they be considered violent despite their digital setting. 

“I firmly believe in the use of soft power to stimulate public interest in the major issues of our society,” said Biscay, who is also an Ambassador for Women’s Rights. “This collaboration with the government, via the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights, is the perfect illustration of this.” 

The sentiment is reaffirmed by Céline Cottalorda, Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights, who said at the press conference presenting the campaign, “This medium, very popular among adolescents and young adults, was chosen to raise awareness among young people of violence against women and girls through digital technology.”  

The Manga is already available to view and download online here, and will be released in a physical paper format from 25th November. 

Click here for more information about the campaign.  

 

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Photo credit: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department

The mighty Mareterra to become a reality sooner than expected

by: Cassandra Tanti
21/11/2023

Monaco’s future new district Mareterra will be delivered eight months ahead of schedule, the company behind the project has revealed.

The land extension project, launched in 2015, will add six hectares, or 3%, to the 2km2 total landmass of the Principality of Monaco.

On Monday, developer Anse du Portier revealed to AFP, in a statement also provided to Monaco Life, that the €2 billion project will beat its initial due date of 2025 by eight months. (more…)

In pictures: A look back at the 2023 Fête Nationale de Monaco

by: Elsa Carpenter
21/11/2023

With this year’s National Day of Monaco falling on a sunny Sunday, the occasion drew huge crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the ruling Grimaldi family, and they were not disappointed. Monaco Life looks back on some of the key moments of the 2023 Fête Nationale.  

Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco

^ Thousands of spectators assemble in the Place du Palais to witness the traditional military parade.

Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco

^ Forever a favourite moment of the day, Monaco’s Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella wave to the public from a balcony of the Palais Princier.

Photo credit: Conseil National de Monaco

^ Conseil National President Brigitte Boccone-Pagès (fifth from left) is joined by other National Council members and their families in the Place du Palais.

Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco

^ The Grimaldi family is pictured alongside Principality officials and the Carabiniers du Prince within the confines of the Palace grounds.

Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco

^ In full military regalia, Prince Albert walks towards a proud Princess Charlene and their eight-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.

Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco

^ With his mother and sister in matching royal blue and scarlet red coats, young Hereditary Prince Jacques is dressed in formal military attire for the important occasion.

Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco

^ The traditional Te Deum mass is held at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-Immaculée de Monaco following the public appearances at the Palace.

Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco

^ Prince Albert and Princess Charlene head down the steps of the cathedral arm-in-arm following the mass.

 

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Photo credits: Conseil National de Monaco / Éric Mathon / Frédéric Nebinger / Michael Alesi / Axel Bastello / Palais Princier de Monaco

The world is heading for a devastating 2.9°C temperature rise by 2100, warn experts in new report 

by: Elsa Carpenter
21/11/2023

Instead of meeting targets and cutting emissions, terrifying new record temperatures are being set and emissions are continuing to rise, says the United Nations’ latest Emissions Gap Report, which has forecast a dramatic global temperature rise of 2.9°C by the end of the century.  (more…)

EU economy predicted to see slow rebound in 2024

by: Elsa Carpenter
21/11/2023

The European Commission’s Autumn 2023 economic forecast is predicting a continued decline in inflation and modest gains in growth, while the labour market is expected to remain stable into 2024. 

It has been an unsettling year on the economic front for people in the European Union, with high inflation taking bigger and bigger chunks out of earnings and spending power, and high interest rates causing alarm in the real estate and other sectors.  

But there could be reason for hope – in moderation – if the latest economic forecast from the European Commission (EC) is anything to go by.  

IMPROVEMENTS 

According to the EC, a rebound in growth is anticipated in general, with gross domestic product (GDP) growth expected to improve by 1.3% in the EU and 1.2% in the euro zone.  

Inflation dropped to its lowest in two years this past October, to 2.9%. Against its peak of 10.6% a year ago, this fall is significant and suggests that the prices of food, manufactured goods and services should not be increasing as drastically as seen in recent times.

Inflation is “set to continue this downward trend in 2024”, says the EC.  

The labour market is looking good. Unemployment sits at a relatively stable 6% and is expected to remain at this level in 2024. Despite employment levels being strong, however, high interest rates have made borrowing unrealistic for many, thus slowing the housing market and the overall economy.  

FRANCE 

In France, the picture looks much like the global EU forecast. Inflation currently remains high, but is predicted to drop from 5.8% to 3% next year. Current financial conditions in France, as in the EU, are making growth sluggish. 

In 2024, France’s GDP growth is anticipated to rise from 1% in 2023 to 1.2% in 2024.   

Unemployment is expected to rise slightly from 7.2% to 7.4%, higher than the EU average, but still is an unalarming figure, especially considering employment hit record highs of 68.6% in the second quarter of 2023.  

The public deficit, which is about 4.8% of GDP in 2023, is predicted to fall to 4.4% next year. This will be spurred on by the withdrawal of energy-related measures taken at the height of the energy crisis.  

Public debt declined to 109.6% of GDP in 2023, and to is set to pick up again to 110% in 2025, with 2024 looking stable, also due to the still high primary deficit.  

 

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Photo source: Aron Skaya, Unsplash

Behind the brand with Monaco-based jeweller Charlotte Barbotin

by: Niki Borisova
21/11/2023

Ever since she was a little girl, Charlotte Barbotin has been fascinated by gems and jewellery. It is a passion that led her to combine her eye for detail with her innate creativity, and ultimately establish her very own brand: Charlotte.B. 

Originally from Bordeaux, 38-year-old Charlotte Barbotin moved to Monaco in 2013 with her husband, and it was here in the Principality that she would make another big transition. 

Charlotte was working as a sales assistant manager at Prada when she plucked up the courage to embrace a passion she had held since childhood; she became a jeweller. Now her creations are sold at the Ferret store on 27 Avenue de la Costa, through her own website and also at the Hôtel de Paris, thanks to a collaboration with Ferret. 

“If you understand Monaco in the right way and you don’t forget who you are, you will be successful,” says Charlotte Barbotin. Photo supplied

“I started with some small sapphires,” she tells Monaco Life. “I told my sister, I need to make a jewellery [piece] for you from these sapphires. It was the first design that I made.”  

Even today, all of the Charlotte.B designs come from a personal place, each inspired by her friends, family and the world going on around her. 

“First, design for yourself, then think about how you can improve the piece,” she says of her approach. 

She also finds inspiration in simply observing, whether that be other women, architecture and or fashion.  

“Watching women definitely is where I get my inspiration from, seeing the smallest details about them,” she reveals.

For Charlotte, it is about capturing the essence of a moment, its authenticity, and translating that into something real and tangible.  

Her design style is fluid, adapting to her mood, whether seeking romance or a hint of allure. Notably, she emphasises simplicity in adornment, advising against over-layering and advocating for a single statement piece to maintain balance. 

One statement piece can make a look, according to the Charlotte.B philosophy. Photo supplied

Gold is her material of choice. Valued for its versatility and ease of transformation, particularly in reworking vintage pieces, it also melds well with her philosophy of quality over mass production. Other signature elements and materials in her designs offer the same appeal, such as the seductive and distinctive red spinel.  

Made in Monaco

Charlotte says the key to success in the famously luxurious Principality – as a business, as an entrepreneur and as a jeweller in competition with countless other high-end brands – is understanding Monaco’s unique culture while staying true to oneself.  

“If you understand Monaco in the right way and you don’t forget who you are, you will be successful,” she says. “I put everything I had in me to set up everything as I had envisioned.”  

Thanks to a collaboration with Ferret, some of Charlotte Barbotin’s designs are on show at the Hôtel de Paris. Photo supplied

Looking ahead, Charlotte anticipates further collaborations, including one with Ferret. She also plans on focusing on gaining recognition as a designer and gemmologist. Her approach is gradual, prioritising learning and client relationships over rapid expansion. 

She is following a self-set mantra of artistic integrity and personal fulfilment, and Monaco makes perfect sense as the place to achieve those goals.  

Click here to view the Charlotte.B collections.

 

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All photos supplied by Charlotte.B