Kemerovo region votes against DST
RIA Novosti reported yesterday that the Kemerovo Region parliamant has voted to appeal to the Russian government to abolish DST, and Nikolai Gerasimenko, Russia's deputy chair of the State Duma's Health Protection Committee, agrees with them. See <http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070328/62754276.html>. The MPs claim that DST is harmful to human health, as it may lead to chronic diseases, harm the immune system, increase mortality rate and risks for hypertensive patients. None of these reported health problems have been investigated scientifically as far as I know. Russia's electricity monopoly said that in 2007 DST saved Russia 2 GWh of electricity, but Gersimenko says the overall economic advantage of DST isn't proven. This reminds me of the successful compaign to abolish DST in Kazakhstan, which was based on the harmful health effects due to clock changes, including "insomnia, spikes in blood pressure, endocrinal deviations and the exacerbation of chronic diseases" <http://www.kazsociety.org.uk/news/2005/03/30.htm>.
participants (1)
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Paul Eggert