The theme of Daylight Saving Time, which will be applied tonight, is a topic that is on everyone's lips when it comes to changing clocks and it generates all kinds of discussions.
Not a few personalities have spoken out against the measure due to the supposed repercussions on people's bodies by changing the number of hours they rest, the rhythms to which they have to adjust and even the availability of light in our day.
Among the people who have condemned this measure is the controversial deputy for the Labour Party (PT), Gerardo Fernández Noroña, who pointed out that it should be changed due to sleep disturbances and increase the punishment of fatigue it causes to people, as well as heart rhythm disturbances, irritability or mood swings.
However, he was not the only one to propose the measure, as President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) pointed out in 2020 its elimination but announced that it could not be carried out until appropriate studies were carried out, which would be carried out by Rocío Nahle, Secretary of Energy.
But it should be clarified that this is not the first time that the president has sought to eliminate this temporary change, since while serving as Head of Government from 2000 to 2005, he sought to promote a decree in the extinct Federal District.
AMLO tried to prevent the change from taking place during 2001 by issuing a decree. Although it was not endorsed by the federal government.
He argued that it should not be changed because of the negative effects on the health of the inhabitants of Mexico City, as well as nationally and internationally, and that it jeopardized the security and economy of society.
The now first president of the nation prepared a consultation among citizens by means of telephone calls. According to the results he presented on that occasion, about 300,000 citizens were consulted, of whom 75% responded that they did not agree with the time change and 15% in favor.
The results were presented to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) to dispute the decision of the federal executive noting that it did not consult the entities.
But this one didn't transcend. Daylight saving time was applied and the SCJN reaffirmed that the amendment depended on the legislators, so the head of government had to abide by it, although not ceasing to proclaim himself against him and arguing that it was an arbitrary measure that only responded to the interests of finance.
Daylight saving time began to be applied nationwide in 1996 during the PRI government Ernesto Zedillo, with the aim of saving electricity and taking advantage of natural light. At the same time, it would reduce the resources used for its production.
But it also served the purpose of maintaining some synchronization between economic activities with the US government, one of the country's main partners. In this way, activities in the border customs services and operation of border bridges would go hand in hand.
Although in recent days the United States also proposed the elimination of the time change to remain only in the summer, which will be discussed in 2023. This also explains that Mexico plans to follow this example.
The analysis proposed by the president on 23 March will assess whether the alteration of time zones has brought energy benefits, determining whether it will continue to be applied.
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