The USMA works hard to attract the attention of US metric lovers, but I have an idea of how they can do more. It needs to develope an action plan to get all US metric lovers to take action with their consumer power. If action plans are posted on the USMA website, more US metric lovers will get excited about getting involved with USMA. For example here are some ideas:
Encourage metric lovers in the USA to do the following two months from now, and every two months thereafter: 1) When going to a grocery store or deli to buy food by the "weight" from a store clerk that will "weigh" the food for you, buy the food by kilogram instead of the pound. If they say their scale can not display in kg, then make them calculate the conversion to lbs. The idea is to get them tired of making the calculations, so that they get a dual scale and begin weighing by the kg when requested. 2) When buying automotive fuel (gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, ethonal, etc.) at fuel stations ask for the amount in liters. If they say their pumps can not display in L, then make them calculate the conversion to L. The idea is to get them tired of making the calculations, so that they get a dual pump and begin dispensing fuel by the L when requested. 3) When buying produce that you weigh yourself, speak to the store manager and ask that they provide at least one scale which "weighs" in kg and that their produce price signs include the price in $/kg. 4) When ordering shipping boxes for your business specify the size you want in mm or cm, and if they say all of their boxes are in inches only, then make them calculate the conversion to mm or cm. The idea is to get them tired of making the calculations, so that they start stamping their boxes with dual units and start printing their catalogs and price lists in dual units. 5) Do the same for other categories. As the months go buy, more and more people should be joining our coordinated efforts and the businesses will begin to take notice. The idea is for us to use some of the tactics of the environmental groups, but not their civil disobedience actions. We can also encourage each member to hand out metric flyers in their community on a given day of each month and tell them how they can get involved in the action plans. What do you think? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Price" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, 26 February, 2005 12:59 Subject: [USMA:32289] Re: New metric legislation introduced > The legislation is a step in the right direction. It would more clearly > define responsiblity for avoiding confusion over units. However, I > would like the legislation to go a step farther. There needs to be an > intention of phasing out old inch/gallon/pound units. The language is > not strong enough in this respect. An agency needs to be set up that > would coordinate all government agencies(state and local included) to a > transition to the metric system. The metric board of the late 70s > failed because Jimmy Carter appointed people who were not metric > friendly. The board need to understand the issues and have a vision of > an all-metric America. > I was wondering if there is a lobbying group out there that will do what > the USMA cannot do - lobby congress for stronger metric conversion > legislation. That would be a group I would be willing to support > financially. If only the USMA were more active in lobbying Congress, > but from what I understand, they cannot lobby. I have written letters > to senators and congressmen, and while their responses were positive, > Congress is still not taking a leading role in metric conversion. > Unless they take such a role I don't see much more change for the > better. We will continue with more of the same, where we celebrate when > we find a new product in metric units. Where road construction goes > metric only to switch back again. > > Jason Darfus wrote: > > >Rep. Ehlers of Michigan got the 109th Congress off to a nice start with H.R. 33 : > > > >********* > >SUMMARY AS OF: > >1/4/2005--Introduced. > > > >Amends the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 to require guidelines on government use of the metric system of measurement to require any Federal agency transaction providing for a person to perform scientific or engineering research with Federal funding to include provisions: (1) clearly identifying the extent to which such system or other systems of measurement will be used under the transaction and requiring such use; and (2) assigning such person the financial responsibility for failure to follow such requirements. > >********* > > > >As it related to federal funding, does anyone have any thoughts on the possibility of USMA receiving grants (either of U.S. or other national origin) to further promote SI to the American public? I would think Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, or China might see some economic benefit to this. > >Just to brainstorm a little : I'm thinking billboards, TV commercials and the like - along the lines of promoting national pride, scientific and economic competitiveness, international unity. Be Modern, Go Metric. Be progressive, not regressive -- Go Metric. > > > >As for FPLA, I did not find anything related to this. Any news on anticipated date of introduction to Congress? > > > > > > > > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.5.1 - Release Date: 2005-02-27
