----- Original Message ----- From: "Joseph B. Reid" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, 2003-10-26 13:14 Subject: [USMA:27296] Re: Measurement schizophrenia creates havoc
> In USMA 27292 it was stated: > > > The only other nations still > > holding out with an archaic measurement system are Liberia and Myanmar; > > > > Myanmar (then Burma) made the use of the metric system optional in > 1920. Travellers in Myanmar report that the road from Rangoon (now > Yangon) to its airport has distance signs in kilometres. It is likely > that small traders use their old Burmese measures rather than > inch/pound. Burma and Liberia have nade no "official" conversion to metric. But, in both cases, practical conversion has taken place. The instruments used to measure things, like scales, petrol pumps, and even automobiles for driving are imported into these countries. These countries are too poor to be fussy about having the instruments in imperial. They could not afford the cost of having instruments specially made to imperial for their market.and have to settle for the metric instruments also sold in their neighbouring countries. But, seeing that these two countries are virtually living a stone age existence, I doubt it matters what system is used. Imperial would fit in quite nicely with their stone age culture.
