CENTRAL TIME COALITION
The
mission of the Central Time Coalition is to promote the allocation of available sunlight and darkness in a manner that provides the greatest health, safety and well-being to the citizens of Indiana.
CENTRAL TIME – INDIANA’S RIGHT TIME
In 2006 Hoosiers living in Indiana’s 80 Eastern
counties experienced a major shift in the sunlight schedule when
Eastern Daylight Time was adopted. Instead of sunrise at 7:15 in
November, it rises at 8:15. Instead of darkness by 9 pm in mid-summer,
it doesn’t get dark until 10 pm. How has this affected the health,
safety and well-being of Indiana’s citizens? (Click
here) To read a brief “fact sheet” summary, or continue to
read below for more in-depth examination of the issues. If these facts
concern you, please sign the petition.
ADULT ONLINE PETITION (for ages 18 and over)
Click on this link below and follow the directions, Click
Here
STUDENT ONLINE PETITIONS (for students under 18
years old) Click on this link and follow directions. Click
Here
WHAT FACTS WOULD A STUDY REVEAL?
- In today’s economy, financial
transactions are instantaneously transmitted worldwide through
e-technology. Being in the Eastern Time Zone is no longer a benefit,
however, the 3-hour time difference with the West Coast is a major
inconvenience in conducting direct communications and it causes
significant jet lag for business and pleasure travelers. California
is the 6th largest economy in the world.
- Does observing Daylight Saving Time benefit Indiana’s economy? Yes -
we think it does by eliminating the bi-annual confusion about what
time it is in Indiana - but it should be Central Daylight Time and
not Eastern Daylight Time.
- Hoosiers were recently rated the 8th most tired in the US. Is the
Eastern Time’s television schedule a culprit? In the Eastern Time
Zone, “prime time” programs, late news and nationally broadcast live
events (NFL, NCAA, World Series, Olympics, etc.), are broadcast one
hour later than they would be if Indiana was in its correct Central
Time Zone.
- Morning darkness is unsafe for students. (click here). On Central Time the latest sunrise would be 7:15 and the majority of
travel to and from school would occur in daylight. 51 Indiana school
boards have signed petitions in favor of restoring Indiana to its
correct Central Time Zone. (click here)
- School delays wasted millions of tax money in the Eastern Time
counties last year. (click here). On Central
Time, school delays in Indiana could be cut in half and some could
be eliminated.
- 55,000 Indiana students are chronic absentees every year, the
majority due to truancy. Excessive morning darkness encourages
truancy resulting in students falling behind and dropping out of
school. 630,000 adult Hoosiers do not have a high school degree or
its equivalent. (click here)
- Indiana’s teens have the 2nd highest suicide attempt rate in the US.
Eastern Time’s sunlight schedule promotes chronic sleep deprivation,
which leads to depression and discouragement. (click here)
- Late sunsets in summer diminishes darkness-dependent experiences
that have been part of our Hoosier heritage – July 4th fireworks,
evening concerts, campfires, youth and family camping, outdoor
movies, seeing the stars and lightning bugs. Late sunsets make
bedtime difficult
Geographically every square inch of Indiana belongs in the Central
Time Zone. (click
here)
SCHOOL SHOULDN’T START BEFORE 9:30 A.M. –
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) with membership of 62,000
pediatricians, released a policy statement in Aug. 2014 stating that
schools for teens should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. For Indiana’s
Eastern Time Zone school districts to meet AAP’s recommendation,
schools would need to start no earlier than 9:30 a.m. (Click
here)
INDIANA TIME ZONE WHITE PAPER - This thoroughly researched and
documented white paper examines the history of Indiana time decisions
and raises major questions about the processes. To access this report
go to:
http://sites.google.com/site/stjosephtimezone/
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