In his PhD thesis, (https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpqdtopen.proquest.com%2Fdoc%2F924487292.html&data=04%7C01%7Cusma%40lists.colostate.edu%7C2078cf871a104f92314208d8d74df236%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C637496077061519029%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=79fKPtNagS4718C5v4vln4oCPwcj4HDBPzVhGp4h%2FMw%3D&reserved=0) Hector Vera identified seven countries where he could not find legialstion that made the metric system their official default system of units. The countries were the United States, Liberia, Myanmar(Burma), Samoa, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
Myanmar announced a change-over to the metric system in about 2013 and has made considerable progress Liberia made a similar announcement in 2018 in order to harmonise trade relations with its neighbours, but is mired in civil war so no-one knows what progress they have made. My view is that (https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liberianobserver.com%2Fbusiness%2Fgovt-pledges-commitment-to-adopt-&data=04%7C01%7Cusma%40lists.colostate.edu%7C2078cf871a104f92314208d8d74df236%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C637496077061519029%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Q92JxSJvRdPSIe%2BMPWRGiOVa7LpDjFOoU%2F2dI4i14Vs%3D&reserved=0 metric-system/). Progress in Samoa (population 202k) is unknown, though an announcement of a changeover was made in 2014 (See https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pireport.org%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F27%2Fproposed-switch-metric-system-sa&data=04%7C01%7Cusma%40lists.colostate.edu%7C2078cf871a104f92314208d8d74df236%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C637496077061519029%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2F4y25DtFPjzpv0hAP48Z%2F8%2BJoZLN7LndbTgNO2OjuX4%3D&reserved=0 moa-sparks-angry-debate). I cannot find anything about metrication in either the Marshall Islands (population 58k), the Federated States of Micronesia (population 104k) or Palau (population 17k). They were part of the German Empire from 1885 to 1920 and then became a League of Nations mandated territory administered by the US until 1973. My assessment is that Myanmar and Liberia are moving towards metrication, progress in Samoa i sunknown, but they appear to be aligning themselves more and more closely to New Zealand while the three Pacific Island nations (total population about 180,000) are probably closely aligned with the US and will follow the US lead in respect of units of measurement. Martin Vlietstra From: USMA <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Ressel, Howard R (DOT) Sent: 22 February 2021 13:50 To: 'USMA List Server' <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA 1691] Re: Organizing for change? When can we start officially calling the US the ONLY country that has not converted to metric. I keep on hearing about Libera and Burma converting or they have converted but when can we make this official? Howard From: USMA <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > On Behalf Of [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2021 2:06 PM To: 'J McClellan' <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; 'USMA List Server' <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > Subject: [USMA 1685] Re: Organizing for change? ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Under US law, would requests to government departments made under freedom of information classify as political activism? In particular, I was thinking of a FoI request to the CIA concerning the section on Weights and Measures in the CIA World Factbook. (https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cia.gov%2Fthe-world-factbook%2Freferences%2Fweights-and-measures%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cusma%40lists.colostate.edu%7C2078cf871a104f92314208d8d74df236%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C637496077061519029%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Q9Jjy%2BYwJvc%2FyGJ0O6780zra5%2FQN0LDRPBEUMYRig0Q%3D&reserved=0) In particular, Burma appears to have adopted or are adopting the metric system in many parts of their national life. Likewise, Liberia has announced that it will be moving over to the metric system in order to harmonise their system of units with those that their neighbours use. Martin Vlietstra United Kingdom From: USMA <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > On Behalf Of J McClellan Sent: 20 February 2021 18:02 To: USMA List Server <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > Subject: [USMA 1684] Organizing for change? I don't know, maybe it's me but it seems advocates for metric change in the US tend to share the common personality trait of being wallflowers. There's probably good reason for that, as we're so quickly ridiculed and brow-beaten into submission by the torch and pitchfork wielding masses. I joined the USMA in the hopes of showing my support for an organization that effects change but apparently due to their 501c3 status the USMA is prohibited from political activism, and that does make sense. I am still glad to be part of a community of like-minded people who understand the importance of the SI. I personally wouldn't know how to go about it but it perhaps if some of us connected outside of the USMA, we could assemble for political change? I can share my contact info with anyone who would be interested in going forward. I already have a name (and it's a doozie) - Americans for Metric System Reform United for Progress - Or "A Measure Up" for short. :) Who's with me? GO METRIC, AMERICA! "Our current system is unworthy of an intelligent nation" - Andrew Carnegie
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