Latest news with #MarieCurie
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
New euro banknotes spark Franco-Polish dispute over Marie Curie's name
A new euro banknote design has reignited a long-running controversy between France and Poland over the legacy of the Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie (née Skłodowska). Born in Warsaw in 1867, Skłodowska-Curie later moved to France, where she became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, when she was honoured with the much-coveted award in 1903 for physics with her husband Pierre. The acclaimed scientist also received the Nobel Prize for chemistry eight years later, making her the only person to win Nobels in two separate scientific fields. She herself used different versions of her surname over the years — during her husband's lifetime, she signed her name as Skłodowska-Curie, but later increasingly as M. Curie. Her personal history has been brought to the fore once again, following the European Central Bank's (ECB) plans to introduce a new series of banknotes, which could feature Skłodowska-Curie on the €20 note. People in Poland have criticised the ECB for the way her name appears on its designs, with her Polish maiden name consigned to a bracket. A contested name In Poland, the decision has caused a wave of discontent. For many Polish citizens, the omission of the Nobel Prize winner's maiden name — or the replacement of the Polish name by its French version — is not just a formal issue, but a symbolic one. It is a reminder of the underestimation of Poland's contribution to European history, they feel. The political dimension of the dispute became apparent when Polish media and commentators noted that other historical figures — including Miguel de Cervantes or Ludwig van Beethoven — retained their original names in each language version. In response to complaints, the ECB has stressed that it is taking into account the complexity of the issue. "We are consulting various historical and linguistic sources to determine the most appropriate notation," a spokesperson for the institution said. The working form 'Marie Curie (née Skłodowska)' is intended to reflect the dual identity of the Nobel Prize winner, he added. Exchanging old for new The ECB Governing Council announced in January that the two final themes for the planned banknotes were "Rivers and Birds" and "European Culture". The design theme that receives the most support from the public and the jury will be put into circulation. If the "European Culture" theme wins, then the Skłodowska-Curie design, which currently shows her lecturing in a room full of books, could become a reality. However, the ECB Governing Council will select the best designs in 2026. After this decision, it will take several more years before the new banknotes can be put into circulation. The current euro banknotes will not immediately expire when the new ones are introduced.
South Wales Argus
11 hours ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Marie Curie calling on Newport and Cwmbran residents
The UK's leading end-of-life charity is encouraging residents in Newport and Cwmbran to take part in its Paint it Yellow fundraiser by volunteering for collections at their local Morrisons stores this August. Tori Williams, Marie Curie's community fundraiser, said: "We believe everyone deserves expert end-of-life care and support. "Getting involved in the Paint it Yellow fundraiser and collecting at your local Morrisons is a brilliant and fun way to give back to our local community here in Newport and Cwmbran whilst also helping us provide a vital service to those in the final chapter of their lives." The collections will take place at Morrisons stores from August 14 to 17 and August 21 to 24. Marie Curie says every five minutes, someone dies without the care they need. A typical two-hour collection shift raises around £85, which can fund nearly four hours of nursing care or five calls to the Marie Curie Support Line. The money raised also helps to fund the charity's free support line and webchat, which offers practical and emotional support to individuals and families facing terminal illness.
Daily Record
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Couple host wild West Lothian garden shindig in memory of their neighbour
It was transformed into the Saddle Up Saloon for last weekend's hoedown A big-hearted Bathgate couple who threw a shindig in the garden of their home raised over £2,750 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Angie and Gordon Raeburn, who live in the town's Mill Road, know only too well how cancer can affect anyone at any time. Angie, 60, recovered from bowel cancer 12 years ago, and recently a much-loved neighbour of theirs, Ian Baynham, passed away after a period of illness. The couple's garden was transformed into the Saddle Up Saloon complete with swing doors for last weekend's hoedown. It's the fourth charity fundraising day they've held at their home since Angie's illness. Unbeknown to Angie at the time, her niece put her name forward for a mention in the Scottish Parliament a few years ago, in recognition of her fundraising efforts. They were encouraged to go for the wild west theme this time around by their two daughters, who are aged 34 and 30. Angie said: 'My neighbour Iain just passed away and was only buried six weeks ago. We held it in our garden last Saturday. It's our fourth one in 12 years. I had bowel cancer and it kind of inspired us to have our first one. 'We had around 80 people here and raised a total of £2,761 in the one afternoon. It was an amazing amount. 'The only things outwith the afternoon were raffles tickets which we sold at work, but everything else was raised in-house in the garden. 'It was a western theme, which came from my daughters as it's part of a big thing with the young pop stars now. 'We happened to tell the DJ from the local pub, Nick Gallagher, that we were having this and he came and done it for free and my husband made up a playlist. Nick also done the quiz, he's a fabulous man. "The only thing he asked for was some flavoured tea bags and we didn't have any, so I'm going to take him some up to his quiz night at the pub.' Gordon, 62, said: 'When our neighbour Ian had his cancer and he was dying, the Marie Curie nurses came in to care for him and comfort him. So that's why we chose them.' 'It was all very quickly put together,' Angie added. 'He was only buried six weeks ago after passing away.' The couple thanked local businesses; Present Time, Niche, Boghall Butchers, and the Bay Leaf Indian Restaurant for their kind donations and support.
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Michael Palin issues sad update on end-of-life preparations after wife's death
Sir Michael Palin said he has made end-of-life preparations as he opened up about the death of his wife, Helen Gibbins. Speaking to On the Couch with Marie Curie, a charity from which Gibbins received care, the Monty Python star, 82, revealed he has made a will and his children "know where to find what they need to find should I die." The podcast aims to encourage conversations around death and dying. Gibbons, who was married to Sir Michael for 57 years, died in May 2023. They had three children together. In the episode released on Wednesday (30 July), the actor said: "I kind of kid myself that I'm gonna be all right, you know, just go on and on. And yet I know that I won't because you feel tired at certain times and... you are slightly unsteady as you get out of bed."
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sir Michael Palin, 82, confesses he is preparing for the end of his life and has finalised his will following the devastating death of his wife Helen, 80
Sir Michael Palin has revealed he is preparing for the end of his life after the death of his beloved wife left him contemplating his own mortality. The Monty Python star, 82, was married to Helen Gibbins for 57 years before her death two years ago from chronic kidney disease. Her passing has, he now says, helped the whole family to speak more openly about death and he has now finalised his will and handed over his passwords. Speaking on the On the Marie Curie Couch podcast he admitted: 'I do think about death and the family are rather wonderful about it: "Have you made a will? Can I be in your will?" 'I've made my will and all that. My family, my children, know where to find what they need to find should I die.' The actor, writer and broadcaster has three children with Helen, Thomas, 56, William, 54, and Rachel, 50 , and said he's passed on all his passwords to them 'in case I get run over by a bus. 'However fit you are, anything might happen. But I don't dwell on mortality. I dwell on life.' Michael and Helen met when they were just 16 on a summer holiday in Suffolk, and he said her death made him more aware of his own physical state. 'I'm 82 now, which is longer than any Palin male has lived for 200 years,' he said. 'I keep fit and I'm working, fortunately, and doing some quite difficult stuff, filming and all that. 'I kid myself that I'm going to be alright, and yet I know that I won't because you feel tired at certain times. You're slightly unsteady as you get out of bed, and you think, what's happening? Well, the old car's getting a bit rusty.' Michael underwent open heart surgery in 2019 to repair a valve, an experience that made him more conscious of the body's frailty. 'That saved my life, really,' he said. 'And so I've been through that, which I think is quite important - to know that your body is vulnerable. And the older you get, the more vulnerable it is.' He added that Helen's death had prompted the entire family to confront death more directly. 'I feel really glad that all my grandchildren were able to participate and see and understand right up to the last minute that this is what happens: you get ill, and eventually your body just stops working, and that's it. 'And they know about that, and they can ask any questions. I really encouraged this afterwards - if they wanted to know about her illness or about grandpa: "When will you die?" That sort of thing. And that's fine. Really good. I really enjoy having those conversations.' Michael added that following Helen's death, he struggled to imagine how he would survive. 'There was a time when I didn't think it was going to get better,' he said. 'I thought, gosh, it's just going to be poignant days. I'm going to break into tears every now and then. 'It does get better and it does adjust. And after two years now I feel I could think of Helen. I'm surrounded by her anyway. I've got photos. 'I haven't got rid of anything to do with her. The family embody what she was to them and that's all made it much, much easier. 'But… even in the most careful circumstances where you say, "I'm going to deal with that, I know what to do" - you don't at all. 'You absolutely don't know. It's absolutely a sucker punch. You just don't know what's going to happen or how you're going to feel or how you're going to react.' Asked how he'd like to be remembered, Michael replied: 'I don't want to feel that I've been exalted on any sort of pinnacle in any shape or form. 'Helen was very strong on that… She was obviously pleased that I had been successful at certain things, but didn't go on about it a lot. She was far more interested in whether I was going to be able to mend the tyre on the car.' He recalled one moment, while filming in Tibet, when he managed to reach her by phone from 12,000 feet up. 'I remember ringing up from the middle of the Tibetan Plateau. 'And I'm saying, "Guess where I am?" She says, "Well, I don't care where you are. Where's the plumber's number? The bathroom boiler's gone and it's making a terrible hissing noise." 'By the end of the phone call, I hadn't told her anything about the magnificent landscape… So there we are. That's sort of what life is, and I think that's what death is as well.'
