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Harrison Ford: “Damn it, it’s not alright”

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/09/2021

Prince Albert has joined Hollywood actor Harrison Ford and other high-profile personalities and world leaders in raising their voices to drive action for the preservation of the planet at a major conservation congress in Marseille.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress is being hosted in the south of France from 3rd to 11th September. This year’s congress is a key environmental milestone ahead of the United Nations conference on biodiversity and climate, to be held in Kunming and Glasgow, in the coming months.
It brings together several thousand leaders and decision makers, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Prince Albert of Monaco, as well as nonprofit, Indigenous and civil society members from more than 170 nations with the goal of conserving the environment and promoting nature-based solutions to global challenges.
These congresses are held every four years, but the focus of this one in particular is how to achieve a nature-based recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework currently being negotiated under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
On Tuesday 7th September, Prince Albert of Monaco opened the session on oceans, highlighting the essential role that the ocean plays in human health and livelihoods, and the blue economy’s potential to restore ocean health, transition to clean energy, and create jobs.
The IUCN’s Minna Epps ended the session highlighting the key outcomes that included supporting the call for achieving the 30-by-30 target, protecting at least 30% of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas and other conservation measures by the year 2030; and adopting a legally binding instrument on marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Restoring ocean health was just one of a number of themes to be explored during the nine-day high-level congress. Others include conserving freshwater to sustain life, leveraging economic and financial systems for sustainability, and managing landscapes for nature and people.


 
The One Planet Summit also formed part of proceedings, the aim of which is to offer a new, pragmatic and effective framework for action.
One of the most high-profile speakers at the congress was Hollywood acting legend Harrison Ford, who evoked plenty of emotion in his speech, saying: “It’s hard to devote yourself to a cause that is so urgent and not be able to get the traction needed to make the change that is absolutely necessary. It’s hard to read the headlines: floods, fires, famines, plagues, and tell your children that everything’s alright. It’s not alright. Damn it, it’s not alright. We’ve got to make things happen; we’ve got to make it happen now. Come on everybody, let’s get to work.”
 
 
Top photos sourced from the IUCN
 
 

New pairings announced for Monaco’s ‘Festival of Stars’

by: Stephanie Horsman
08/09/2021

SBM’s Festival des Etoilés, a unique event pairing local and international Michelin-starred chefs, will continue well into autumn with new collaborations between September and November.
The new round of pairings kick off on 9th September at the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel with a decidedly feminine pairing at Elsa Restaurant. Chef Manon Fleury welcomes L’Argine a Vencò’s award winning Italian chef Antonia Klugmann.
This is followed up by the exquisite pairing of the legendary Alain Ducasse with three-starred chef Michel Guerard from les Prés d’Eugénie, where they will offer both a lunch and a dinner at Louis XV-Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris.
The final duo puts Marcel Ravin of Blue Bay together with Argentinian chef, and former Ducasse disciple, Mauro Colagreco, of the three-starred worlds-best restaurant 2019 – Mirazur on 5th November as a pre-holiday treat.
Two collaborations have already taken place, during which Franck Cerutti and Marcel Ravin respectively welcomed Riccardo Camanini of Lido 84 and Michel Sarran of the Restaurant Michel Sarran in their kitchens to prepare meals to the delight of foodie guests in the Principality.
The grand finale of the Festival is one for the history books, as all of SBM’s Michelin-starred chefs gather together for one night only in the Salle Médecin of the Casino for a gala evening on 27th November.
On this occasion, Manon Fleury, Marcel Ravin, Franck Cerutti, Dominique Lory and Yannick Alléno will together create a dinner comprising of their signature dishes. The six-course menu will be a journey through the world of the Société des Bains de Mer, where guests will be able to watch the dishes being made directly in the room thanks to a “live pass”.
Singer Nicole Magolie will entertain the crowd of roughly one hundred guests with soul and jazz tunes accompanied by a quartet.
The Festival des Etoilés, which has been going on since May, is potentially going to be a yearly offering by SBM.
 
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Manon Fleury: “This is the future of gastronomy”

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Photo: Marcel Ravin, Dominique Lory, Alain Ducasse, Franck Cerutti, Yannick Alléno Mauro Colagreco, Michel Guérard, Manon Fleury, Antonia Klugmann. Source: Monte-Carlo SBM
 
 
 

Masters Padel Tournament coming to Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/09/2021

The APT Padel Tour has chosen Monaco as the latest location to host a leg on their international tournament schedule and fans of the wildly popular sport will get a chance to get in on the action.

The APT Hublot Monaco Masters Padel Tournament is coming to the Principality from 13th to 19th September at the Terrasses du Soleil at the Monte-Carlo Casino, in collaboration with the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), featuring exciting padel action and top seeded players.

The event is organised by Monte-Carlo International Sports with the support of the Federation Sportive de Padel, who will be offering prizes to winners totalling €60,000.

Though centre court will be set up at the Casino, additional qualifying matches will be played at the Tennis Padel Soleil in Beausoleil, giving fans the chance to visit two venues.

“I would like to thank H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Mr Biamonti, President of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, for helping us to make history by hosting the Hublot Monaco Masters in one of the most iconic places in the world,” said Fabrice Pastor, APT President.” Thank you to everyone including the sponsors for helping us in such difficult times.”

Games played from Wednesday 15th September will be broadcasted live on the APT Padel Tour YouTube channel. The schedule will be announced on the APT website prior to the opening of the competition.

But the fun isn’t limited to the players only. This year, fans are also invited to play on centre court like the pros from 7th to 12th September. For €100, participants will be offered a one-and-a-half-hour session including use of rackets and balls. Reservations can be made online at https://tennispadelsoleil.matchpoint.com.es/Login.aspx.

Padel, also known as paddle tennis, is an increasingly popular sport worldwide. Usually played in doubles on courts roughly one quarter smaller than regular tennis courts, it is fast-paced and exciting. The balls have slightly less pressure than their tennis counterparts and scoring is the same.

 

 

Prince donates €1 million to Ireland’s Old Library during visit

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/09/2021

Prince Albert took his children on their first official visit to Ireland last week, where he met with Irish President Michael Higgins and was recognised for his generous donation to the historic Old Library at Trinity College.

Sixty years after his parents’ visit and a decade after his own first State visit with Princess Charlene, Prince Albert II returned to his ancestral homeland on Friday with Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella by his side.

The tour began with a trip to UCD Michael Smurfit university, accompanied by Sir Michael Smurfit, Honorary Consul of Ireland in Monaco and Dean of the prestigious university.

Along with Ambassador of Ireland in Monaco Patricia O’Brien, the Prince was also taken on a guided tour of a museum dedicated to Irish literature before being welcomed for lunch at the official residence of Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Sabrina Coyne. There, the Prince was shown photos of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace’s official visit to Ireland in 1961.

Photo of Prince Albert with Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabrina Coyne, by Eric Mathon / Prince’s Palace

In the early afternoon, Prince Albert and his children, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, went to the Old Library at Trinity College where he was shown the Book of Kells, a 9th century Irish medieval manuscript famous around the world. This national treasure has been on display in the Old Library since the 1800s.

But the Princely family’s trip was more than just a cultural visit. Prince Albert was at Trinity College for the official unveiling of two friezes in his name. One, in the dining hall, sets in stone the name of himself and his wife Princess Charlene. The other, in the Old Library of the university, recognises his donation of €1 million towards the €90 million restoration of the library, which will see the removal of all 750,000 of its books into storage.

Photo of the frieze recognising HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco in the Old Library at Trinity College, by Eric Mathon / Prince’s Palace

“It is with great pleasure that through this donation I follow in the footsteps of my mother who had a deep affection for Ireland and signals the link to Princess Charlene’s forebears who were instrumental to the founding of Trinity,” said Prince Albert during the ceremony. “It is a great privilege for me − with this benefaction – to be part of this ambitious programme to conserve the 18th century Old Library building, creating a sustainable protective environment for the many extraordinary treasures it holds for Ireland and the world.”

During his visit, the Prince was also given a special viewing of the library’s collections related to the work of his grandfather Prince Albert 1, who was a keen oceanographer and explorer.

Photos by Éric Mathon, Prince’s Palace

Monaco backs global agreement to tackle marine plastic pollution

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/09/2021

With the volume of plastics flowing into the ocean set to triple by 2040 unless drastic action is taken, Monaco is among a number of countries calling for an international convention to control the making and disposal of plastics.
Monaco joined a long-list of countries participating in the Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution, initiated by the governments of Germany, Ecuador, Ghana and Vietnam, on 1st and 2nd September. With support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), its aim was to “create momentum and political will to advance a coherent global strategy to end marine litter and plastic pollution with an aim to ensuring a future with clean seas.”
It also prepared the ground for the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly on this subject, to be held between 28th February and 2nd March 2022.
In his speech to the conference, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said: “The forthcoming UNEP report, from Pollution to Solution, shows that marine litter is inescapable. Unless we take drastic action, by 2040, the volume of plastics flowing into the ocean will triple. Micro and nano plastics are pervasive. The pandemic is compounding the problem.”
Inger Andersen also highlighted new research which found that 80 per cent of plastic waste comes to the sea through 1,000 rivers. Scientists used to think 20 rivers at most carried the majority of plastic into the oceans, but now they know that it’s far more, complicating potential solutions.
“Humans generate almost 1.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste every year,” he said. “Yet many major cities lack adequate solid waste infrastructure. Poor waste management adds to the overall health cost of plastics in the environment.”
The UNEP Executive Director pointed to another new report from the Plastic Waste Makers Index, which has revealed the 20 companies that are responsible for producing more than half of all single-use plastic waste in the world, fuelling the climate crisis and creating environmental catastrophe. Among the global businesses are ExonMobil, Dow – the largest chemicals company in the world based in the US, and China’s oil and gas enterprise Sinopec.
“Climate change. Nature and biodiversity loss. Pollution. Plastics are wrapped up in all of them,” said Andersen. “The conclusion is obvious. Marine litter is best addressed by rethinking how we design, use and dispose of plastics. We need to revisit and inform the entire supply chain. And if we do this, we can make our economies, societies and planet greener and healthier.”
Monaco, in line with most participating countries, agreed on the need for an international convention dealing with the production, recycling, recovery and disposal of single-use plastic and plastic waste.
 
 
 
Photo of waterway pollution in Guatemala by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash
 
 
 

Roca team takes “friendly” win in Athens

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/09/2021

AS Monaco Basketball, playing in Athens for the Bwin Tournament Against Covid-19, had a last-minute substation for opponents, but were clearly up for the challenge, beating Peristeri 90 to 78.

When the Roca team arrived in Athens to play a friendly match, they had thought they would be up against Maccabi-TelAviv, but due to the Israeli team’s withdrawal, ironically due to Covid, they ended up in a game against local faves Peristeri.

The game saw the debut of two new players to the AS Monaco roster, Jerry Boutsiele and Brock Motum, though they were forced to play with Rob Gray and Léo Westermann who are both out with injuries.

The injuries allowed newbie Alpha Diallo to be part of the starting line-up and it turns out he was a fantastic choice. Almost immediately he intercepted the ball and converted it into a points-making slam dunk. This was soon followed up by three long-distance beauties from Motum, Yak Ouattara and Danilo Andjusic.

The Greeks were no slouches though and kept pace, ending the first quarter only one point behind Monaco at 23 to 22.

This spurred on the Roca team who used their fire to pull way so that by the halftime break they were comfortably ahead 53 to 40.

Peristeri picked up the pace after returning from the locker room, and whilst never surpassing Monaco, they pulled closer to even at several points during the second half, notably with only three minutes left on the clock where they came within one point of the Roca team.

In the end, AS Monaco pulled off the win, 90 to 78, taking them to the final round of the tournament where they will face off against Olympiakos Monday night at 7:30pm.

“This is only our second friendly match, and our first victory,” said Coach Zvezdan Mitrovic. “It’s a little too early to analyse this meeting but there have been efforts on the part of the players. We had good times, but also bad times during this game.”

Monaco made 28 shots out of 58 attempts, with seven out of 21 in three-point range. They had 20 assists, made six steals and picked up 15 stray balls. Andjusic was high scorer with 23 points, followed by Diallo with 19.

 

 

 

 

Monaco Life with AS Monaco Basketball press release, photo source AS Monaco Basketball