Editorial : Short stone news – Thoughtful reactions to share
Decisions, events, creations, celebrations, projects… Our societies are full of measures and facts that include or call on dry-stone construction. We can’t take it all in and analyse it, but when we do, we share our thoughts with all of you who love, practise and study dry-stone construction. It’s up to you to reciprocate …
- 17 June 2024: The European Union definitively adopts the objective of “restoring nature” … It almost failed by one vote! … So, the target of 30% of ecosystems restored by 2030 was definitively adopted, with a target of 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. It is estimated that 80% of European ecosystems are degraded. It may be a vote in principle, but it’s a wake-up call all the same…
- 5 June 2024: World Environment Day has just passed … without a bang!
In 1972, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated 5 June as World Environment Day (WED). The first celebration, under the slogan “One Planet Earth”, took place in 1973. Over the years, WED has become a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on pressing challenges such as marine pollution, global warming, sustainable consumption and acts of violence against wildlife. Millions of people have taken part over the years and have helped to change our lifestyles, as well as national and international environmental policies. The theme for 2024, “Soil restoration, desertification and drought resilience”, challenges us all and commits SPS to strengthening its action.
Host country: Saudi Arabia – Celebrations and activities in the first week of June at Geneva and elsewhere.
The 28th April 1997, an informal reflection group constituted during the 5th international congress on dry stone held at Imperia, Italy, in October 1996, held a meeting at Le Val (Provence, France) and created the: “Société scientifique internationale pour l’étude pluridisciplinaire de la Pierre Sèche”.
On August 2nd 1997, the Society was officially declared in the government journal of France (according to laws of 1901 and 1941 : no incidence of the nationality for the quality of partner or member of the board)
Since then, the SPS keeps the links alive … among researchers, craftsmen, societies and particulars.
On November the 28th, 2018. The Unesco decided the inscription of the Art of dry stone walling, knowledge and techniques on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. You can see here the decision and the official convention.
