You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Ban on Daylight Savings Time Leaves Iranians Irritable
2006-04-11
EFL
A decision by the Iranian government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad not to move the clocks ahead at the beginning of spring this year has caused immense problems and irritation for Iranians.

For the first time in 15 years, the government unexpectedly announced that it was not changing to daylight saving time. The reason, said a government spokesman, Gholamhossein Elham, was that the cabinet had concluded that making the change had not led to energy savings in past years.

But to hedge its bets, the government decided that schools and government offices would start their day at 7 a.m. instead of the usual 8 a.m.

Energy experts dispute the cabinet's conclusion, predicting that the decision is going to cost the government $3.3 billion in extra energy costs, the ISNA state press agency reported.

The decision has also caused widespread inconvenience and anger. Many people traveling abroad have missed their flights, confused about what time the planes were actually leaving. Government employees have showed up late at work. Businessmen who work with foreign companies must try to recalculate the time difference. Many parents are having a hard time adjusting their working hours to their children's new school time.

"I used to drop my son at school, go to work, and pick him up at 1:30 when I left my office," said Nassim Aradalan, a dentist and the mother of a 9-year-old. "Our schedule is a mess now. I go to the office one hour early, but I cannot leave an hour early to pick him up at 12:30."

Saeed Leylaz, an economist and political analyst, said the energy cost of not making the change, which the government has brushed off as insignificant, was equal to three days of Iranian oil revenues. "Ahmadinejad just wants to do something different and does not care about its costs and consequences," he said.
The populace is getting a clue. Stalin used to do similar things to assert his power.
The public welfare minister, Parviz Kazemi, said the government had in mind the 20 million Iranian farmers when it decided not to move to daylight saving time.

"They usually start their work with the daylight, and changing the time does not affect their lives," the daily newspaper Shargh quoted him as saying. But opponents of the decision have contended that the government has ignored the benefits of the change for 18 million students and others.
Quite the contrary - this is a hostile move against the urban population who are most likely to oppose Ahmadinejad.
Posted by:lotp

#4  In other news....Indiana follows Ahmadinejad's lead:

Effective April 2, 2006, Indiana will no longer be counted as one of three states which do not Spring ahead from "standard" to "daylight saving" time or Fall back from daylight to standard six months later. The Indiana Legislature voted to approve Daylight Saving Time for Indiana and to petition the US Department of Transporation to hold hearings to determine the location of the dividing line between the Eastern and Central time zones, relative to Indiana.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-04-11 11:56  

#3  "...schools and government offices would start their day at 7 a.m. instead of the usual 8 a.m."

Don't underestimate Ahmadinejad's wisdom. DST is clearly a Crusader and Zionist plot to attack Islam. Hah...he just changes the schedules to accomodate his decision. He is one crafty SOB!
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-04-11 09:55  

#2  What's next? A 25-hour day?
Posted by: Perfesser   2006-04-11 09:19  

#1  Never fear, Persians. All is according to Allan's plan.
Posted by: Seafarious   2006-04-11 00:23  

00:00