[Annotated] Why the EU wants to stop moving the clocks forwards and back

The practice gives a micro dose of jet lag, and can even be harmful

Sometimes the decision to change a country's time zone can be political. Despite its vastness, all of China runs on Beijing time - a decision taken by Mao Zedong in 1949 to instil unity. (Pity the poor people of Xianjang province in China's far west, where sometimes the sun does not rise until 10am, and lunch is taken as the shadows lengthen^[각주:1].) For almost three years recently North Korea existed in its very own time zone, half an hour behind its southern neighbour, in keeping with its hermit tendencies. But more often countries fiddle with the time of day^[각주:2] for practical reasons. Some 70 countries, mostly in the Americas and Europe, apply Daylight Savings Time during the summer months^[각주:3]. Europe's clock will spring forward once again this weekend^[각주:4]. Yet last week the European Union voted to end this long-established practice from 2021^[각주:5].

In the 18th century Benjamin Franklin mooted the idea of^[각주:6] moving the clocks forward in the summer. But the practice really took hold during the first world war^[각주:7]. Germany, France and Britain calculated that by adding an extra hour's daylight in the evening, a saving could be made on coal. This, in turn^[각주:8], would help the war effort^[각주:9]. Later, other benefits suggested themselves. It might increase consumer spending^[각주:10], as shoppers are encouraged to stay out later into the evening. It might even reduce crime. As the ne'er do well^[각주:11]'s adage might go^[각주:12]: "the longer the daylight, the less I do wrong."

For all that^[각주:13], clock-changing is unpopular. When the European Union ran a poll among its citizens, it garnered nearly 5m responses^[각주:14]. Over 80% wanted time-alternating scrapped^[각주:15], and for good reason. Although it has not been proven conclusively^[각주:16], many scientists think that changing the clocks messes with^[각주:17] humans' circadian rhythms^[각주:18]. It is, says one, akin to^[각주:19] injecting a micro dose of^[각주:20] jet lag^[각주:21]. This may increase the chances of heart attacks and strokes^[각주:22]. It could also be that car accidents increase, as drivers used to commuting in the daylight, for example, suddenly have to do so in the dark (or vice versa). Productivity may go down, too. Perhaps most inconvenient for businesses is the fact that countries may change their clocks at different times. America's went forward three weeks ago. Any European working to an American deadline has had to reschedule their labour to finish an hour earlier than usual - and from Monday has to forget that process to go back to the old routine. 

So, will Europeans opt to^[각주:23] stick with winter or summer time? This has not been decided. It could be that each country will choose for itself, though each is likely to take careful note of neighbours' decisions. The benefit, it seems, is felt not so much in deciding how long the evening is, or how dark the morning. It is in keeping it consistent throughout the year^[각주:24]. 

1. lengthen ; [자동사] 1. 길어지다, 늘어나다(grow longer) ;; 2. (…으로) 변해가다, 되다(pass)(into) [본문으로]
2. time of day ; 1. 시계가 가리키는 시각 [본문으로]
3. apply ; 3. <규칙을> 적용하다, <원리를> 응용하다; [컴퓨터] <설정 등을> (…에) 적용하다 ((to)) [본문으로]
4. spring forward ; “Spring Forward – Fall Back” This term is meant to trigger your memory to set your clocks forward 1 hour in the spring at the start of DST, and 1 hour back in the fall when DST ends. [본문으로]
5. long-established ; [Adjective] that has been in existence for a long time [본문으로]
6. moot ; [타동사][VN] [주로 수동태로] (격식) (의견 등을) 제기하다 ; 유의어 propose, put forward ;; [VERB] If a plan, idea, or subject is mooted, it is suggested or introduced for discussion. [본문으로]
7. take (a) hold ; (…을) 장악하다[사로잡다]; 대단히 강력해지다 ;; begin to have complete control over somebody/something; become very strong ;; grasp, seize [본문으로]
8. in turn ; 2. 결국[결과적으로] [본문으로]
9. the war effort ; 전쟁물자 ;; 전쟁에 기울이는 총력. [본문으로]
10. consumer spending ; [명사] (경제) 개인 소비 (지출) ;; 소비자의 지출. [본문으로]
11. ne'er do well ; [명사, 형용사] (구식) 아무 짝에도 쓸모없는 놈 ;; 쓸모없는 사람(의), 식충이(의)(good-for-nothing) [본문으로]
12. adage ; [명사] 속담, 격언 ; 유의어 saying ;; 미국∙영국 [ˈædɪdʒ] [본문으로]
13. for all that ; …에도 불구하고 ;; 그렇다 하더라도 [본문으로]
14. garner ; [타동사][VN] (격식) (정보·지지 등을) 얻다[모으다] ; 유의어 gather, acquire ;; [VERB] If someone has garnered something useful or valuable, they have gained it or collected it. [본문으로]
15. scrap ; 1. [타동사][VN] [흔히 수동태로] 폐기하다, 버리다 ;; [VERB] If you scrap something, you get rid of it or cancel it. [본문으로]
16. conclusively ; [부사] 확정적으로 ; 단연코. ;; 결정적으로 [본문으로]
17. mess with ; …을 방해하다. [본문으로]
18. circadian rhythm ; (생물) 24시간 주기 리듬 [본문으로]
19. be akin to sth ; ~과 같은 , ~과 흡사한 [본문으로]
20. microdose ; [Noun] (medicine) A very low dose (especially of radiation therapy). [본문으로]
21. jet lag ; [U] 시차증(비행기를 이용한 장거리 여행 시 시차로 인한 피로감) ;; [NOUN] If you are suffering from jet lag, you feel tired and slightly confused after a long journey by aeroplane, especially after travelling between places that have a time difference of several hours. [본문으로]
22. stroke ; 10. 뇌졸중 [본문으로]
23. opt to do ; ~하기로 선택하다 [본문으로]
24. throughout the year ; 일년 내내 [본문으로]