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Day: 21 November 2024

Monaco rewards distinguished citizens with medals for exceptional service

by: Niki Borisova
21/11/2024

In line with Monaco’s National Day celebrations earlier this week, more than 1,200 medals recognising exceptional service and contributions to the Principality over the past year have been awarded to individuals working in sectors such as the civil service, healthcare, law enforcement, and the arts.

In the days leading up to and following Monaco’s National Day on Tuesday 19th November, some 1,230 medals and special distinctions were handed out to Monaco citizens for their service and achievements over the last 12 months.

Some recipients are more well-known, such as Charlotte Casiraghi, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover, who was elevated to the rank of Chevalier in the Order of Cultural Merit for her role as President of the Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco, and Robert Calcagno, the Director General of the Oceanographic Institute, who was honoured with the National Order of Agricultural Merit. Others are more behind-the-scenes, such as the many Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace employees and law enforcement officials who were rewarded for their efforts with a medal or special honour.

Minister of State Didier Guillaume, accompanied by Christophe Robino, Minister of Social Affairs and Health; Caroline Rougaignon-Vernin, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Princess Grace Hospital Centre (CHPG); and Benoîte de Sevelinges, Director of the CHPG, is pictured with the CHPG workers who received a medal or special distinction this year. Photo credit: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department

A system of recognition 

Monaco’s honours system is designed to reward acts of courage, professional dedication, and significant contributions to the state and its people. The decorations, which include both civil and military awards, have a rich history, reflecting the Principality’s values and its recognition of exemplary service.

Among the most prominent orders is the Order of Saint-Charles, established in 1858 by Prince Charles III. This honour is granted to individuals—both civilians and military personnel—who have rendered significant services to the state or the Prince. Another is the Order of Grimaldi, introduced in 1954, which similarly acknowledges exceptional merit and service.

Other decorations include the Medal of Honour, first established in 1894. This award, one of the oldest in Monaco’s system, is presented to those who demonstrate dedication or perform exceptional acts of service. The Medal for Physical and Sporting Education, created in 1939, rewards remarkable contributions to sports and physical education in the Principality, whether through performance or teaching. There is also a Medal of National Merit for Blood Donation, introduced in 1993, which recognises the efforts of individuals who have contributed significantly to blood donation campaigns. 45 individuals were honoured with this medal in 2024, including Benoîte Rousseau de Sevelinges, the Director of the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace.

The full list of 2024 recipients is available here.

 

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Main photo: Charlotte Casiraghi is pictured to the right of Prince Albert II of Monaco and surrounded by members of her family during the medal ceremony. Photo credit: Michael Alesi / Palais Princier de Monaco

Menton Tattoo Expo: a celebration of ink and art

by: Stephanie Horsman
21/11/2024

The creative world of body art will take centre stage at the Menton Tattoo Expo next weekend. This three-day event will bring together some of the best—and best-known—tattoo artists from across Europe for an unforgettable celebration of self-expression and artistry.

The Menton Tattoo Expo, which will take place at the Palais de l’Europe from 29th November to 1st December, will feature 66 booths and over 100 tattoo artists from across the continent, offering attendees a unique chance to witness live tattooing and the intricate artistry involved in the process.

For those feeling inspired, there will also be opportunities to get a new custom-made tattoo—or to correct a past attempt—by one of the many professionals on hand.

Visitors will be treated to an immersive experience filled with art and entertainment. An expert jury will award prizes to the best tattoos created during the event, with categories designed to highlight a range of styles and techniques.

Live performances and piercing workshops will add a layer of fun to the festivities, offering something for both tattoo enthusiasts and those curious about body art. Food and drink options will also be available, with a bar on-site and plenty of nearby restaurants providing refreshments for attendees.

A special highlight of the expo will be the Belin Mentounasque competition on 29th November. Participants with small tattoos (up to 10x10cm) that they wish to transform can register at the jury office before 5pm. The winning tattoo artist of the day will create a custom cover-up tattoo for one lucky participant, turning a past regret into a personalised masterpiece.

NO LONGER ON THE FRINGES

Tattooing, once a niche form of expression, has grown into a widely respected art form. Originating as an ancient practice, tattoos have evolved from symbols of rebellion to mainstream cultural phenomena.

Since a rise in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s, tattooing has transitioned from a rebellious gesture to a mainstream cultural trend. Today, with over 20% of the French population sporting tattoos and the number of tattoo artists increasing by 50% in the last decade, the art form continues to thrive.

For those looking to immerse themselves fully in the experience, a special three-day pass and student rates are available. Tickets can be purchased online here.

Read related:

Japanese cuisine and culture in the spotlight at the Marché de la Condamine

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

 

Photo credit: Benjamin Lehman, Unsplash

COP29: Monaco calls for more collective action in face of climate change

by: Elsa Carpenter
21/11/2024

Against a backdrop of global voices, Monaco has made its own position on climate action clear at COP29, with the Principality’s Céline Caron-Dagioni speaking out on the need for increased collective action if the goals set by the Paris Agreement are to be met.

A Monaco delegation, led by Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development Céline Caron-Dagioni, has travelled to Baku in Azerbaijan to participate in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, better known as COP29.

The event, which began on 11th November and will continue until 22nd November, has shone a spotlight on several pressing issues, from the need to set up a new financing framework to support developing nations in their climate mitigation and adaptation efforts to the finalising of carbon market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement—a crucial step towards enabling global cooperation in reducing emissions.

Speaking publicly at COP29, Caron-Dagioni emphasised Monaco’s robust measures to combat climate change at home, including aggressive targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. She also issued a rallying call for collective action, stressing that all nations must strengthen and adhere to their commitments to keep global warming below the critical 1.5°C threshold, and highlighted the importance of decarbonising cities. To this end, she noted the role of innovative urban planning in adapting to and mitigating climate change impacts.

See more: Revolutionary design and green technology define Monaco’s A Fighera housing project

Caron-Dagioni was joined at COP29 between 18th and 20th November by Jérémie Carles, Laetitia Rebaudengo and Céline Gindre from Monaco’s Environment Department, as well as Carl Dudek from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

OTHER COP29 ACHIEVEMENTS

Beyond Monaco’s contributions, COP29 witnessed a number of pivotal developments, including preliminary agreements to establish a $100 billion annual fund for developing nations. The fund will be designed to scale renewable energy projects and build climate-resilient infrastructure.

There were also talks on loss and damage financing, the aligning of health priorities with climate action and the increase in the inception of national-level Cooling Action Plans that integrate sustainable cooling solutions into urban planning agendas, as well as the hot topic of climate equity.

Read related:

French climate minister withdraws from COP29 amid tensions with Azerbaijan

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

 

Photo source: Les Restos du Cœur

Les Restos du Cœur prioritises women and children as poverty rates climb

by: Niki Borisova
21/11/2024
Les Restos du Cœur

With poverty rates rising across France, Les Restos du Cœur’s current campaign is focused on providing vulnerable women and children, as well as single parent families, with vital support during the cold winter months.

For its 40th annual campaign, Les Restos du Cœur, a nationwide French charity founded in 1985 by the late comedian Coluche, will put all its efforts into supporting mothers, single-parent families and children.

Last year, the charity distributed 163 million meals to 1.3 million people. Among them were more than 128,000 children under the age of three who received assistance in some form – food, hygiene products such as diapers, and the like – from Les Restos du Cœur.

“Our goal is to tackle precariousness at its root—starting with early childhood,” said François Chantrait, the president of Restos du Cœur’s branch in the Alpes-Maritimes, in an interview with France 3.

A specific target of the campaign is mothers, who are often at the forefront of caring for families and are among those most impacted by economic hardship. Many thousands in the region rely on Les Restos du Cœur for essential support as they navigate financial insecurity and fight to ensure that their families have access to basic necessities.

Rising living costs have significantly increased the demand for assistance from Les Restos du Cœur, and the organisation anticipates a further rise this year as more people in France fall below the poverty line. According to the latest figures from INSEE, over nine million people in France live on less than €1,216 per month – 14.4% of the population.

On a positive note, the charity’s ability to build its programmes and initiatives has been bolstered by widespread public and private support in recent months and years. A recent appeal for donations raised €32 million, including a €10 million donation from the family of Bernard Arnault, the owner of luxury group LVMH, and €8 million from the French government.

For more information about Les Restos du Cœur, click here.

Read related:

Monaco’s church communities come together for Ecumenical Fair

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

 

Photo source: Les Restos du Cœur

France braces for cold snap, heavy snowfall and high winds forecast for Southern Alps

by: Elsa Carpenter
21/11/2024

A polar air mass is looming over France, and temperatures have tumbled to midwinter levels across the country. Forecasts of fierce winds and heavy snowfall have led Météo-France to activate orange weather alerts for 58 departments, including those in the southeast.

The strong winds experienced by much of the Riviera on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th November are set to continue over the coming days as Storm Caetano sweeps across France.

Gusts of up to 150 km/h are expected on Alpine summits in the Alpes du Sud and Hautes-Alpes on Thursday 21st November, along with snowfall ranging from 30 cm to 70 cm in areas above 1,500 m.

See more: When are local ski resorts opening for the winter season?

Further to the north, snow is falling at much lower altitudes, and large swathes of France’s north are set to receive snow on Thursday 21st November.

With the arrival of the first snow episode of the season for much of France, temperatures have plummeted across the country. In some areas, daytime temperatures are not likely to rise above 3 to 5°C, levels more comparable to January averages than those of November.

These conditions are early but not unprecedented, according to Météo-France.

“More notable events have occurred in the past, such as in 2010 and 2013,” reads a statement published on the national forecaster’s website. “Lesser snowfalls have also been recorded in recent Novembers, including 2017, 2018, and 2019.”

The Alpes du Sud are already tipped with white after snowfall earlier in the month, and with the winter skiing season now just weeks away for many resorts in the region, many will be hoping that the cold snap heralds a good winter for mountain sports and activities.

Read related:

France: New winter tyre rules come into force for the 2024/25 season

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

 

Photo credit: Sydney Rae, Unsplash

Monaco’s church communities come together for Ecumenical Fair

by: Niki Borisova
21/11/2024

Monaco’s Christian community will come together to host the 54th Ecumenical Fair – the Kermesse Œcuménique for French speakers – in early December. The charitable event will raise funds for several parishes and associations in the Principality.

Monaco’s long-standing Ecumenical Fair will return to the Chapiteau de Fontvieille on Saturday 7th December.

Established in 1969, the annual event is now held under the presidency of Princess Caroline and serves as a key fundraising initiative for several parishes and associations in Monaco.

The Fair is organised by local groups such as the Paroisse Saint-Nicolas, the Société Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Monaco, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Association de l’Église Réformée de Monaco, St Paul’s Anglican Church congregation and the British Association of Monaco. The proceeds from the event will go towards supporting their numerous charitable activities.

The Kermesse Œcuménique will run from 10am to 6pm and offer a wide variety of items for sale, including clothing, toys, household goods, books in multiple languages, Christmas decorations and food. Donations of items to be sold at the event can be dropped off at the venue on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th December between 12pm and 6pm.

A tombola will be held at the end of the day.

The Ecumenical Fair has long been regarded as a staple of the Principality’s Christmastime calendar and unites the local community each year for a day of charitable giving.

Read related:

Heritage sites in Monaco that are well worth a visit

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

 

Photo credit: Robert Bagramov, Unsplash