„Women in Stone“ (WIS) is the name of a new work group within the Marble Institute of America (MIA). Its aim is to solicit more women for the trade. Similar initiatives already exist in Italy (Le Donne del Marmo) or in Italy’s wine branch (Le Donne del Vino) (1, 2, 3).

Drystone walls in New England at the US-East coast are described in a report in the magazine „Earth“ (June 2014). Another article in that issue has Croatia and its limestones as topic.

Kengo Kuma has pleaded for the use of natural stone for buildings to accommodate the 2020 Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo. With this natural material, visitors can feel the spirit of Japan, is the architect’s idea. Also, concrete is no-longer a modern building material. In a lecture on invitation of Marmomacc he generally favoured the use of natural building materials (Italian).

Products for animal protection by Denk Company of Germany include a bird-bath made of Granicium, a stone-meal composite material made of granite and a bee-hive in lava-ceramic.

An overview of quarries in the White Mountains behind Carrara is posted on a webpage.

Great Britain’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has published a webpage on health issues regarding working with natural stone.

Video of the month: a pillar of water spouts forth twice whenever a stone is thrown into water as slow-motion-takes show (1, 2, 3).

(17.06.2014, USA: 06.17.2014)