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Prince’s Foundation initiates new polar summit

by: Stephanie Horsman
31/01/2022

A new polar symposium will be held in February bringing together top scientists to talk about the effects of climate change on the polar regions and how those effects are changing the Earth as a whole.

The polar regions of the planet have been areas of concern for climatologists for years. In October 2021, scientists estimated that nearly 75% of Arctic sea ice has disappeared, while last summer, the Arctic ice area was the smallest it has been for a millennia. The Antarctic has a rosier picture, showing a stabilisation of ice thickness and area, but temperature rises there are making for an uncertain future.

In response to this situation, which of late has been overshadowed by the global pandemic, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, along with the Scientific Committee on Arctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), have joined with the Oceanographic Institute, the Prince Albert I Foundation and the UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development to create The Cold is Getting Hot!, a hybrid in-person and online symposium being held 24th and 25th February.

Leading scientific figures will discuss how fast and in what ways the polar region’s changes are affecting the Earth’s climate and living systems, as well as how it is a concern for the population-at-large.

The two-day event will feature talks from experts and key partners about the management, policies and actions being taken at international and regional levels and will spotlight how science’s role remains of the utmost importance.

In all, there will be four sessions. The scheduled talks are ‘Understanding changes in the poles’, ‘Contribution of polar changes to the global climate’, ‘Effects of polar changes upon global human societies and economies’, and ‘Management responses in the face of uncertainties’.

The Cold is Getting Hot! will take place at the Oceanographic Museum on 24th February from 9am to 16:30pm, and on the 25th from 8:30am to 4pm. A conference website will soon be launched for more information. Registration for the virtual event is not required, but for in-person spaces, email acarter@fpa2.org to book.

 

 

Photo by Danielle Barnes on Unsplash

 

 

 

Registration now open for Pink Ribbon Monaco Walk

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/01/2022

After being forced to cancel last year due to the pandemic, breast cancer awareness organisation Pink Ribbon Monaco is hosting its 10th Pink Ribbon Walk in February, encouraging participants to turn out in their pinkest kit to exercise for charity.

France had 58,083 new cases of breast cancer in 2020, making it the second most common cancer in the country behind prostate cancer. Worldwide, one in eight women will be affected by the disease in their lifetime.

Studies have shown that physical activity can reduce the risk of recurring cancer by as much as 25% and may improve survival rates by 30%.

Since 2011, Pink Ribbon Monaco, founded by Natasha Frost-Savio, has been putting the word out to raise awareness on early screening methods and prevention through a variety of campaigns and events. Their flagship event is the Pink Ribbon Walk.

The 5km fun walk takes participants from Port Hercule, past many iconic Monegasque buildings such as the Prince’s Palace, the Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum, and the terraces of the Monte-Carlo Casino.

Walkers will be asked to wear bibs with messages of support or tribute to those who have or had the disease rather than numbers. The event is not designed to be a competition, but more of a celebration, with the goal being to have as many active participants as possible showing their backing whilst getting out for a bit of exercise with friends.

The walk is also a show of solidarity for the women affected by breast cancer. Men are encouraged to join in, as well. As husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers of the woman battling the disease, they are affected too.

This year’s co-partners in the event are SBM Offshore and the Monegasque Athletics Federation (FMA).

The Pink Ribbon Walk starts at 10am on Sunday 13th February at Port Hercule. Pre-registration is open on 12th February from 10am to 5pm, and again before 10am on the 13th on the esplanade of the port. Alternatively, walkers can go online and register. The cost is €30 with all proceeds going to support breast cancer awareness.

Children are welcome and are free to enter under the age of 13. Those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs may need assistance in certain areas. Raffle tickets will be on sale for €10 for a book of five, and a t-shirt is being offered to all walkers courtesy of SBM Offshore.

For more information, or to register for the walk online, visit the website at www.pinkribbon.mc

SEE ALSO:

Jodie Foster headlines Pink Ribbon event in Monaco

 

 

Photo source: Pink Ribbon Monaco

 

 

 

 

Monaco Red Cross: year in review

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/01/2022

An overview of the Monaco Red Cross has shown that while the organisation was called upon heavily due to the health crisis in 2021, it still managed to revamp and modernise its founding texts and statutes with the aim of heading into a brighter future.

Last year was a tricky year for many associations, even ones as firmly entrenched as the Monaco Red Cross. Nonetheless, the organisation made great strides and imposed several changes, taking them into 2022 on strong footing.

In addition to updating their decrees, they renewed their Board of Directors for a three-year term. This included the additions of new members Princess Charlene as Vice-President, Camille Gottlieb as Head of Youth, and Director of Princess Grace Hospital Benoîte de Sevelinges as Head of Hospital Assistance.

The Monaco Red Cross sat on the front lines of the pandemic, raising €1.8 million in donations that was used to do their part. This included participation in screening and self-testing campaigns, personal protective equipment deliveries to caregivers, and manning call centre and home monitoring centre hotlines. In all, volunteers gave 3,040 hours of their time during the past year.

The Red Cross was also on the scene at many events, where they logged 365 first aid actions carried out over 17,700 hours of time given. They were present at major events in the Principality such as the Grand Prix, football and basketball games, the Herculis athletics event, on walking trails, and at the lifeguard stations on Larvotto last summer.

Covid didn’t prevent training programmes from being carried out and allowed for professionals and volunteers to be taught or given continued education in water safety and rescue, making it possible to assist lifeguards at pools and on the beaches.

A real source of pride this year comes from the fact that the Monaco Red Cross is attracting young volunteers. A third of the 623 volunteers are under 35 years of age.

“Of 92 new registrants in 2021, more than half are young people. The Covid crisis has made them want to find actions that make sense. We have always had more difficulty attracting young people. In order to maintain this momentum, we are planning more actions in line with what they expect to invite them to give their time, in particular on intergenerational missions,” said Frédéric Platini, Secretary General of the Monaco Red Cross.

 

Additionally, €800,000 was earmarked in 2021 for those in need. Financial assistance for rent, energy bills, school catering costs and food was doled out to 621 households in the Principality and the surrounding villages.

Now that 2021 is over, the association looks to the coming year to continue its work.

Notably, 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the Presidency of Prince Albert II at the Monaco Red Cross. As such, they are looking to incorporate his philosophies into the agenda, vowing to “strengthen its commitment to the environment” and “push actions on the theme of psychological distress” through a mental health plan developed with the government. They have also agreed to continued adherence to the Energy Transition Pact, of which they have been a part since 2019, as well as continuing to keep their carbon footprint low.

Though many have forgotten about the hardships endured in the Roya Valley after Storm Alex struck the area in October 2020, the Red Cross continues working to help them get life back to normal. In 2022, they have pledged to offer funds to help rebuild two bridges to reconnect families in Breil-sur-Roya to the world again.

Four new projects are being undertaken as well in 2022, including the taking on of sexual violence cases against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, another working with migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one more around issues of water, hygiene and food diversification in south-west Burkina Faso, and finally, the association is starting a regional first aid development project in partnership with the world first aid centre of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Monaco government in five countries, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.

On a lighter note, after the success of the Red Cross Ball summer concert, the organisation is considering a reprisal of the event this year. “We liked the format, and we are considering it again for the summer of 2022,” Mr Platini explained. The event is set to again take place on Casino Square.

 

 

Photo source: Monaco Red Cross

 

 

 

Photos: Spring/Summer Haute Couture show

by: Isabella Marino
28/01/2022

Monaco Life fashion contributor Isabella Marino takes us inside Paris Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2022 and shows us her favourite looks from Stéphane Rolland and Dior.

Stéphane Rolland haute couture show, Théâtre National de Chaillot 25th January

The French couturier this season looked to the abstract expressionism of emerging Italian-Spanish painter Viani for his deeply emotional art, expressing freedom, happiness and love-anger dichotomy.

He wanted to portray the woman as “free, beautiful, and sensual without being aggressive”, opening the show with a homage to French fashion designer Manfred Thierry Mugler, who died on 23rd January.

Stéphane Rolland haute couture show SS22

The couturier carried through a fabulous collection of mostly fluid and monochromatic outfits, with few adornments save for oversize crystals and glass pebbles, executed by French glassmaker Théophile Caillethat.

I was emotionally impressed by this show, not only by the beauty of each piece, but because Stéphane Rolland expressed the iconic woman I have in mind: mysterious, feminine, sensual, free and fluid. Airy tunics, kaftans, see-through skirts and immense draped hoods and head veils added some mystery to the feminine and elegant collection.

Nieves Álvarez walks the catwalk for Stéphane Rolland

Rolland’s muse, the Spanish model Nieves Álvarez, dominated the catwalk with her iconic beauty.

Voluptuousness is in season for this new summer collection.

My favourite: the black ballgowns.

Isabella Marino at the Dior SS22 fashion show, Musée Rodin Paris

Dior haute couture show, Musée Rodin 24th January

Dior’s collection featured large embroidered artworks from Indian artist couple Madhvi Parekh and Manu Parekh. The LVMH-owned fashion house collaborated with the Chanakya School of Craft based in Mumbai for some of the silhouettes, including a top embroidered with silver ribbons and crystal tassels matched with an a-line skirt. The designer Maria Grazia Chiuri wanted to highlight art and craft.

Dior

Rhinestone and pearl embroideries dominated the collection, shimmering tights paired with glitter bodysuits, sleeveless jackets and low-heel shoes.

Simplicity, embroideries and craftsmanship are in season for this new summer collection.

My favourite: a black total-look, shimmering tights paired with glitter bodysuits and low-heel shoes.

Click on the gallery below to see more photos from the fashion shows…

SEE ALSO:

Profile: Personal stylist StyleMeBella

 

 

All photos by Isabella Marino

 

 

 

 

Princess Charlene’s recovery will take “several more weeks”

by: Cassandra Tanti
27/01/2022

As the Princely family celebrated Monaco’s Patron Saint on Thursday, the Palace issued a statement confirming Princess Charlene’s absence this year, stating that the mother of two’s recovery is “very encouraging” and will continue for a number of weeks.

Prince Albert II was joined by members of his immediate family in the Cathedral on Thursday morning for the Pontifical Mass of Saint Devoté. Notably absent from the mass, and the traditional burning of the boat on the previous evening, was his wife Princess Charlene.

As the family and Monegasque officials prepared to take part in the procession to the Palace with a shrine containing the saint’s relics, the Palace released a press statement confirming that Princess Charlene was indeed absent from the celebrations due to her ongoing recovery, but that she was there in spirit.

“Princess Charlene’s convalescence is currently continuing in a satisfactory and very encouraging manner,” said the Palace. “Her recovery, as well as the follow-up of her dental care, should still take several weeks. The Princess will unfortunately not be able to attend the festivities of Saint Dévote this year.

“With her husband, Prince Albert II, she wholeheartedly joins forces with all Monegasques and residents on the occasion of these celebrations. As soon as her health permits, it will be with joy that the Princess will once again share moments of conviviality with them. During this period, the princely couple ask that their privacy and that of their children continue to be respected.”

After eight months in her native South Africa, where she underwent a series of procedures for a severe ear infection, Princess Charlene returned to the Principality on 8th November. One week later the Palace announced that the Princess was suspending her public duties and entering a treatment facility outside of Monaco for “a state of deep, general fatigue”.

Prince Albert’s sisters, Princess Stephanie and Caroline Princess of Hanover, have both stepped in to fill the official void left in Princess Charlene’s absence, often appearing alongside her children, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.

 

 

Photo by Eric Mathon / Prince’s Palace

 

 

 

 

Prince Albert I honoured as Constitution turns 110

by: Stephanie Horsman
27/01/2022

This year marks the 110th anniversary of the adoption of the Monegasque constitution and the subsequent creation of the National Council, the Principality’s elected legislative body. To mark the occasion, Prince Albert II, Stéphane Valeri and Professor Dominique Chagnollaud spoke at an assembled event to honour the institution and its founder, Prince Albert I.

The year was 1911 and Prince Albert I, at that time the Sovereign Prince, created the modern constitution of Monaco. As part of that historic text, he included the creation of an elected parliamentary body to give the people a voice in making laws and getting important issues heard, thus making Monaco a constitutional monarchy.

Constitutional monarchies were still something of a rarity in those days, and the progressive move was made even more so by the fact that Monaco’s sovereign was the head of an active and powerful political and social institution in its own right, though clearly not looking to be an absolute power.

This may seem normal in today’s parlance, but at the turn of the 20th century, it was quite remarkable.

It was not Monaco’s first stab at a constitution. In February 1848, an elective assembly was formed but was made invalid less than a week later when, on 2nd March, Roquebrune and Menton seceded from Monaco. This cut the territory of Monaco down from 25m2 to 1.5m2 and lowered the population to a manageable 1,200. This seemed, at the time, to eliminate a need for a formal elected body and was not revisited again until Prince Albert I.

In marking the National Council’s 110th anniversary on Tuesday 25th January, Council President Stéphane Valeri reminded the assembled council members that they share a special bond with the Princely family, and Prince Albert I specifically.

“Through this event, what will hold our attention today is the contribution of Prince Albert I to the Institutions of our country, through the granting of our first Constitution and therefore through the foundation of the National Council,” said the National Council president. “The attachment that we mentioned between Monegasques and their Princes was not born, as if by magic, from a constitutional text. Indeed, the symbiosis between Monegasques and their Sovereign has always been and will always be the strength of our country.”

Photo of National Council President Stéphane Valeri and Prince Albert I by Gaetan Luci, Prince’s Palace

 The Prince expanded on this theme, saying, “We celebrate, in effect, in a way, a common ancestor. In fact, and as everyone knows, Prince Albert I is my great-grandfather, but he is also, as you have just recalled, Mr. President, the founding father of your institution.”

This sentiment was given more credence by the words of Professor Dominique Chagnollaud, President of the Cercle des Constitutionnalistes and Professor at the University Panthéon-Assas in Paris, who said, “This monarchy, instituted by the free will of the Prince, is unlike any other as its principles are so inherent in what I call the Monegasque constitutional identity, in a country, as the national anthem reminds us, where Monegasques are always linked to their Princes by a personal union.”

Prince Albert then unveiled a large photographic portrait of his great-grandfather at the newly-named Prince Albert I Library, saying, “I am very touched by your proposal – for which I thank you – to baptise the library of the National Council with the name of my great-grandfather, he who had founded the municipal library and reorganised that of the Palace.”

 

 

Photo by Gaetan Luci, Prince’s Palace