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Chavez Hands Nation New Time Zone

Setting clocks back 30 minutes will 'condition brains'

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 24, 2007 4:45 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez plans to bump clocks in his nation back half an hour next month to add daylight to citizens' lives and create "a more fair distribution of the sunrise," Reuters reports. The change will particularly help poor children who wake up before dawn to go to school, explained Chavez' science and technology minister.

The change, switching Venezuela  to Greenwich Mean Time minus 4.5 hours, would also provide unspecified brain benefits. "It's about the metabolic effect, where the human brain is conditioned by sunlight," Chavez said in a rambling seven-hour talk on his weekly radio program. Other measures will soon be introduced to "make more effective use of time," he promised.  

In this image released by Venezuela's Miraflores Press Office, President Hugo Chavez speaks during his weekly radio and television program in Caracas, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Chavez announced the acquisition of Russian sniper rifles. (AP Photo/HO/ MirafloresPress)
In this image released by Venezuela's Miraflores Press Office, President Hugo Chavez speaks during his weekly radio and television program in Caracas, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Chavez announced the acquisition...   (Associated Press)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez smiles prior to delivering a speech to the National Assembly in Caracas, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Chavez was presenting his blueprint for sweeping constitutional changes expected to allow him to be re-elected indefinitely, a move his critics call a threat to democracy. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez smiles prior to delivering a speech to the National Assembly in Caracas, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Chavez was presenting his blueprint for sweeping constitutional changes...   (Associated Press)
A general view of the Venezuela's National Assembly is seen as Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez delivers a speech at the National Assembly in Caracas, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Chavez presented his blueprint for sweeping constitutional changes expected to allow him to be re-elected indefinitely, a move his critics call a...
A general view of the Venezuela's National Assembly is seen as Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez delivers a speech at the National Assembly in Caracas, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Chavez presented his...   (Associated Press)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez greets prior to deliver a speech at the National Assembly in Caracas, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Venezuela's Congress gave initial approval to President Hugo Chavez's constitutional reforms. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez greets prior to deliver a speech at the National Assembly in Caracas, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Venezuela's Congress gave initial approval to President Hugo Chavez's...   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, greets Colombian Yolanda Pulecio, mother of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. Relatives of hostages held for years by Colombian rebels visited Caracas hoping that President Chavez might be...
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, greets Colombian Yolanda Pulecio, mother of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, at Miraflores...   (Associated Press)
In this image released by Venezuela's Miraflores Press Office, Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona is seen on a T.V. monitor while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaks during his weekly radio and television program in Caracas Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Maradona was Chavez's TV program main guest. (AP Photo/HO/...
In this image released by Venezuela's Miraflores Press Office, Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona is seen on a T.V. monitor while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaks during his weekly...   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
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Maybe the half-hour thing isn't as silly as it seems
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The change will benefit citizens 'in their jobs and studies'
Caribbean Net News

 
Venezuela • sunlight • time zones • Greenwich Mean Time • Hugo Chávez

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