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I believe I was told at some point in time why we have Daylight Savings Time (DST), but I can't remember. Lately, I've been advocating for its demise, but I wondered if that is really the right way to go. Perhaps there are good reasons why we still do it?
Some Things about DST
Sources
Announcement
There won't be a post this Friday unless I finish my short story before then. I need to get it done and submitted for an anthology, so I can get back to editing The Page & The Magician.
I believe I was told at some point in time why we have Daylight Savings Time (DST), but I can't remember. Lately, I've been advocating for its demise, but I wondered if that is really the right way to go. Perhaps there are good reasons why we still do it?
Some Things about DST
- Its purpose is to provide more daylight during the summer months.
- Countries near the equator don't do it.
- It can save energy depending on use of things like air conditioning or heat.
- Early morning accidents increase slightly, but are offset by fewer late night accidents.
- Incidents involving pedestrians increase during the fall.
- It potentially boosts the economy because people want to go out more and shop when it's brighter out.
- In its beginnings it was a gradual change of 20 minutes on four Sundays in April and September, for a total change of 80 minutes.
- Its inventor was Ben Franklin.
- Since its inception people have been confused, though with the invention of smart devices that has reduced.
- It's original name was Summer Time.
- It disrupts sleep for many people.
- It reduces productivity.
- It disrupts the farming community and its animals.
- It interferes with some religious practices.
- Some countries shift their time by less than one hour.
- Only 35% of the countries in the world change their time.
- The switch to November leaves more daylight for Halloween.
- It may increase risk of serious health conditions such as stroke, blood clots, and heart attacks.
- 2016 marks its 100th anniversary!
Sources
- http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/c.html
- http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/30/living/daylight-saving-time-feat/
- http://www.nbc26.com/news/national/why-do-we-still-observe-daylight-saving-time
- http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/off-island-gazette/greg-duncan-is-it-time-to-put-an-end-to-daylight-savings-time
- http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/forum-daylight-saving-time-1.3489495
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time
Announcement
There won't be a post this Friday unless I finish my short story before then. I need to get it done and submitted for an anthology, so I can get back to editing The Page & The Magician.