Turkey reviews EU ruling on start of Summer time

Texas


Joined: 22/09/2009
Posts: 634

Message Posted:
01/04/2011 00:09

Turkey has been told it cannot delay the official start of Summer time. Last week, Turkey and the TRNC delayed by 24 hours the start of summer. The reasons stated by Turkey were that it would help students sitting exams on the Sunday.



The EU ruling came in record quick time. It mentioned that countries looking to join the EU cannot just do what they like. Thousands of passengers arrived “early” at Turkish airports and coach drivers complained that customers were angry at “delays” to their transfers.



The EU has been looking at abolishing not only the clocks going backwards and forwards, but also to do away with the extra day on leap year.



Their argument is very persuasive. Many countries do not change their clocks. These countries include Pakistan, China, Argentina and India. For a list of these countries see: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.co.uk/countries.htm



Continued.

Texas


Joined: 22/09/2009
Posts: 634

Message Posted:
01/04/2011 00:10

EU advisors have done some astonishing calculations. In summary one extra day in 4 years equals 1 in 1460. They went further and calculated the extra day in hours/minutes; 24 hours in 35,040 hours, 1,440 minutes in 2,102,400.



The advisors estimate that currently over 67% of EU business people travel outside of their own time zone at least one per year. They explained that these travellers had to alter their watches when they arrived at their destination and again on their return.



High-end watch manufacturers were also consulted. Out of the manufacturers that sold the most watches, they confirmed that 99.9% of their watches would lose, or gain at least 1 minute per month.



In summary we would need to gain 1 extra minute per day. The year 2020 was suggested as the year that “leap days” would end.



Business leaders across the EU were unanimously against the idea, but the Unions were solidly backing the call.



Continued.

Texas


Joined: 22/09/2009
Posts: 634

Message Posted:
01/04/2011 00:11

So, to do away with the extra day at leap year would not adversely affect many people. We pointed out what about those that are born on this day! Again, the scientists stated that these individuals celebrated their birthday on the 28th February or 1st March for 3 years in every 4.



“Leap seconds” have added time to atomic clocks for decades now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_second EU scientists argue that altering the time to abolish leap years is the next step. The earth will never orbit the sun in exactly 365 days, but by increasing a 24-hour day by only 1 minute would ensure that it did!



Every day that delays the inevitable start would mean all these minutes would have to be collectively taken off a day. New Years Eve 2019 has been suggested at the day that would be only 14 hours long!

paulc


Joined: 11/04/2009
Posts: 182

Message Posted:
01/04/2011 00:34

Nice one Steve, we would all be all right once the clocks go metric

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
01/04/2011 00:39

And there was me thinking you have some real problems.

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
01/04/2011 00:50

At least I know the date now!!



Chris

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
01/04/2011 01:48

Chris - yes, it's April 1st, is it not



Jean

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