But yea, I agree that we have to keep pressing until sellers realize there are folks out there who use those "foreign" units.
----- Jason D. Darfus Columbus.OH.US
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On Feb 28, 2005, at 15:46, Gavin Young - Renewable Electricity Solutions wrote:
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 clearlyH.R. 33 :
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 withgovernment use of the metric system of measurement to require any Federal
********* SUMMARY AS OF: 1/4/2005--Introduced.
Amends the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 to require guidelines on
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.possibility of USMA receiving grants (either of U.S. or other national*********
As it related to federal funding, does anyone have any thoughts on the
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.the like - along the lines of promoting national pride, scientific andJust to brainstorm a little : I'm thinking billboards, TV commercials and
economic competitiveness, international unity. Be Modern, Go Metric. Be
progressive, not regressive -- Go Metric.anticipated date of introduction to Congress?
As for FPLA, I did not find anything related to this. Any news on
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