Mexico leader to end daylight saving, keep “God’s clock”

Category: Top Stories

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. recommendable / ˌrɛ kəˈmɛn də bəl / (adj.) – worth doing or trying
    Example:

    This restaurant has highly recommendable steak dishes.


  2. standard time / ˈstæn dərd taɪm / (n.) – official time used in a country or certain regions
    Example:

    Let’s follow the Philippine Standard Time when setting meetings with our business partners.


  3. coincide / ˌkoʊ ɪnˈsaɪd / (v.) – to happen at the same place or time as something else
    Example:

    Some of my students won’t be able to join the parade. The school celebration coincides with a Math competition in another city.


  4. presumably / prɪˈzu mə bli / (adv.) – used to say that something has a high chance of happening
    Example:

    Only a few people attended the meeting, presumably because of the heavy rain.


  5. wary / ˈwɛər i / (adj.) – being very careful because of a lack of trust in someone or something
    Example:

    The boy’s mother told him to be wary of strangers.


Article

Read the text below.

Mexico’s president submitted a bill to end daylight saving time, putting an end to the practice of changing clocks twice a year.


Health Secretary Jorge Alcocer said Mexico should return to “God’s clock,” or standard time, arguing that setting clocks back or forward damages people’s health.


That would mean darkness falling an hour earlier on summer afternoons.


“The recommendable thing is to return to standard time, which is when the solar clock coincides with the people’s clock, the clock of God,” Alcocer argued.


Mexicans set their clocks ahead this year on April 3, and are scheduled to set them back on Oct. 30. The changes, if approved, would presumably apply to next year.


The change would mean central Mexican time, which covers most of the country, potentially could be permanently two hours behind the east coast of the United States; it is now one hour behind for most of the year. The U.S. Senate in March passed a bill to make daylight saving permanent, though the measure has not passed the House of Representatives.


Economists argue that, while the energy savings are minimal, going back to standard time might cause trouble for financial markets in Mexico by putting U.S. east coast markets so far ahead.


President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has said he is considering keeping daylight saving time for some northern border states.


And businesses like restaurants that have become accustomed to staying open later may have to close earlier as many crime-wary Mexicans often try to be off the streets after dark.


Nearly a dozen states across the U.S. have already standardized daylight saving time.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • According to Health Secretary Alcocer, setting clocks back or forward damages health. On the other hand, economists said removing DST might cause trouble for the economy. In your opinion, should DST be removed or retained? Discuss.
  • If DST is removed, Mexican time could be permanently two hours behind the east coast of the United States. What do you think are the challenges of transacting with businesses in different time zones? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • DST is practiced in many countries and is reported to have both pros and cons for many businesses. What business practice in your country do you think is harmful and should be stopped (ex. requiring a formal dress code, drinking after work)? Discuss.
  • What business practices in other countries do you think should be adopted in your country? Discuss.