See "Metric Today," May-June 2005, page 1, bottom, "Caribbean Countries Respond to EU Metric Directive," detailing the recent steps deemed necessary by members of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM ) to advance their metrication. There should be quite a few asterisks on the list of metric countries.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Stephen Humphreys" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 09:34 Subject: [USMA:35267] Re: liberia and myanmar then on to UK and Barbados > I agree (from a different perspective) with Phil here. > I'm always perplexed when some organisations claim that "only US, etc etc is > non-metric". > This would mean that the "m" on British roads means metres (as 'miles' don't > exist in officially metric countries). > However, don't stop at Britain! Most of the caribbean is still mixed or > imperial dominant. > I've just come back from Barbados where the mix is very strong. > Smaller shops use lb/oz measuring devices whereas large supermarkets use > metric at the counter but mixed at the loose stuff (likethe UK). > Unlike the UK the roads are 'meant' to be metric. However no town has a > distance sign (which is a right pain) and the site of km/h speed limits are > fairly rare. However - privately made signs are a mix of mile, yard, km and > m. My hire car was japanese and thus metric speedo and km milometer. > What was quite strange was talking to a taxi driver who, despite his speedo > being metric only (it was a japanese care), referred to all distances in > miles (inluding a calypso style even tthat happens in bridgetown in March). > I asked him how long he'd been a taxi driver - 6 yrs. As far as I know > Barbados roads have been 'metric' for ages. > > So in conclusion I have no idea why only 3 countries are quoted as being > non-metric. > > > >From: "Philip S Hall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > >Subject: [USMA:35241] Re: liberia and myanmar > >Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 12:41:45 -0000 > > > >Dear Amy > > > >It's the term *offcially* metric that is the key here. I'm English and live > >in the UK. My country is officially metric. However you might not think so > >if you lived here too. Our road signs are still imperial and there are no > >formal plans to change them (although there is a long term obligation do so > >as a member state of the European Union). The state owned broadcaster, the > >BBC, is very poor at consistent metric usage and have no policy on the > >issue. > > > >I wish you the very best of luck with your research project Amy, and as you > >have already begun to observe it isn't a simple matter. > > > >Regards > >Phil Hall > > > >----- Original Message ----- From: "Amy Wang" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > >Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005 3:02 AM > >Subject: [USMA:35236] liberia and myanmar > > > > > >>Hello, > >> > >>I am a graduate student researching the status of the metric system in > >>the U.S. for my thesis, and am hoping for some help. In many sources I've > >>seen the statistic that only three countries in the world are not yet > >>officially metric--the U.S., Liberia, and Myanmar. Yet when I looked > >>quickly on the Lonely Planet travel guide online, it seems there are > >>other spots that are not metric either, such as Aruba and Bermuda. > >>They're not considered countries, but neither are they part of > >>U.S./Liberia/Myanmar, so perhaps someone knows whether and where the > >>original statement can be verified? > >> > >>Thank you! > >>Amy. > >> > >> > > > >
