An exceptional programme for the 2009 Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s Award Ceremony

On Saturday 10^th October 2009, starting at 19:30, The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is organizing its second award ceremony.

 

 

The first awards, on 21^st February 2008, attracted significant global attention and this second ceremony promises to be exceptional. The highlight of the evening at the Grimaldi Forum on Saturday 10th October will be the presentation by H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco of his Foundation’s 2009 Awards. “I wanted to create these Awards to lend my support to the exceptional women and men who have made a personal commitment to save our planet.” as explained by H.S.H. Prince Albert II at the time of the first edition of the award ceremony.

H.S.H. Prince Albert II will therefore be presenting awards to three new key figures for their exemplary action in favour of the environment and safeguarding the planet in each of the his Foundation’s three priority areas: climate change, preservation of biodiversity and access to water and the fight against desertification. Similarly to the 2008 winners, Alain Hubert, Dr Jane Goodall and Sunita Narain, the three new 2009 award winners will receive international accolade and each be presented with a trophy created specifically for the occasion.

 

The evening will end up with a dinner for 400 guests, during which the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation will honour the work of young researchers.

 

 

 

The 2009 Award Ceremony will be preceded by the world première of the film Ωceans, the new opus by Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud, to which 1500 guests have been invited.

 

A true technological and scientific adventure, Ωceans is the breathtaking result of three years of shooting in the oceans of the globe. The film is not only a moving account of the wonders of nature but also an alarming report on the dangers that threaten it. “The secrets of the ocean have fascinated explorers but they have also awakened longings.” Points out Jacques Perrin.  “We have never discovered so much; we have never violated so much. And yet, the sea is still an immense wild territory. The natural history of the species hidden in the sea is a wonderful tale of the living world.”

 

 

 

 

 

The award ceremony will be preceded by an auction of Bonelli eagle sculptures organized by Eco-Art Parade at 5.30pm in the Grimaldi Forum. These works of art, that were displayed over the summer in the Principality, will be auctioned for the benefit of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

 

On the occasion of the Award Ceremony, the Board of Directors of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation will meet on the morning of Saturday 10^th October at the palace under the presidency of H.S.H. Prince Albert II.

 

The meeting will enable the Board of Directors to review the progress of the projects in which the Foundation is involved and to provide overall strategic guidance on the running of the Foundation, particularly on its expansion around the world.

 

This meeting will decide on funding a dozen new projects previously accepted by the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Foundation.

 

Following the meeting of the board of directors, the Memorandum of Understanding for the “Water Think Tank” will be signed at 3:00 pm in the Palace.

 

The Water Think Tank is an innovative partnership between the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, UNITAR, Veolia Environnement and Plan Bleu to analyse integrated and sustainable water resource management in the Mediterranean region and design tools and methodologies for Local Authorities in the region, particularly to overcome challenges due to Climate Change.

 

Signing the MoU will be:

-       Mr. Dominique Heron, Director of the Partnerships (Veolia Environnement)

-       Mr. Lucien Chabason, President of Plan Bleu

-       Mr. Carlos Lopez,  Executive Director of UNITAR and

-       H.E. Bernard Fautrier, Vice-President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

 

 

 

Preceding these events, on Friday 9^th October at 15:30 there will be a Press Conference at Hotel Fairmont Monte-Carlo with attendance of the team of the film Ωceans, of the team of Eco-Art Parade and of Johnson Controls Inc., partner of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for the Award Ceremony.

Following this press conference, at 16:30 in Fairmont,Johnson Controls Inc. will give a presentation on « The impact of buildings on Climate Change ».

 

 

 

 

The proceedings of Friday 9^th October will end with the inauguration of the exhibition about the making of the film Ωceans in the Galerie des Pêcheurs at 18:30.