Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Venezuela to begin new time zone Jan 1


Venezuela to have new time zone from January 2008
ABN 20/08/2007

Caracas, Distrito Capital
Caracas, Aug 20th (ABN).- From next January 1st, 2008, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will have a new time zone that will allow to improve the Venezuelans' performance on their daily activities.

The information was given by the Minister of People's Power for Science and Technology, Héctor Navarro, during President Chávez' weekly TV program Aló, Presidente (Hello President), held on Sunday at the cultural complex Teresa Carreño Theater, in Caracas.

He explained that 30 minutes will be added to the current hour. When the Venezuelans wake up, the sun's rays will be illuminating the day.

According to Navarro, «It is a metabolic effect in which the human brain is conditional on the sun's rays,» so the new time zone will improve the Venezuelans' performance in their activities.

"The new time zone will allow that the Venezuelans take advantage of 30 minutes of sun's rays. The children that go to school in the morning will not to have breakfast when the sun's rays are not illuminating the country," the Minister said.

He pointed out that the new time zone of Venezuela will be determined by meridian 66 (Río Chico meridian), which cross the national territory, passing through the half of the country.

Furthermore, Navarro said that it will be necessary to change the Meteorology Law, in which Venezuela has four hours ahead of the international hour established by the Greenwich Meridian (meridian 0) to change it 4,5 hours ahead [should read BEHIND - bt] of the Greenwich Mean Time.

Translated by Natalia González
http://www.abn.info.ve/go_news5.php?articulo=100918&lee=17
(Source: Bernard Trutenau, Lithuania via Cumbre DX)