Did P&G really come out and state their support for metric labeling? I was always under the impression that even the most obvioius metric supporters like them resorted to support by not opposing things like the FPLA amendment, but never actually endorsing any moves towards metric. P&G would certainly be putting their money where their mouth is: more and more of their prodcts are showing up in hard metric sizes.
Equating metric with making America competitive can go a long way towards promoting metrication here.
Remek
Seems like a simplistic view of things.
From what I see, corporations, especially those that operate globally, are for metrication and metric labeling. Companies like P&G have publicly stated so. The opposition seems to be from the food marketing industry which represents many smaller businesses. The FMI misperceives the effect of voluntary metric labeling. The truth is there would be no substantial change for their members.
For the most part, opposition to metrication does not come from the big boys, rather it comes from the small players who feel that it will cost well more than it is worth. The task of changing these perceptions is where our real work is. We need to get the message across that metrication is more than worth the cost of doing it and that if done right, the cost is minimal. Where the feds need to be proactive is in providing the economic incentives and assistance to help the businesses that can't afford to do it on their own. Remember, over 75% of the business in this country is small to medium-sized.
As far as Congress is concerned, metrication is a non-partisan issue. It does not matter what party is in power. There are supporters and opponents on both sides of the aisle. The key is to show support for members of Congress who support metrication regardless of party affiliation.
Never underestimate the power of being vocal. Remember, it was a small but vocal group who recently got Congress and the FCC to increase the fines for indecency by 10 times. Most people could care less about this issue. The same goes for metrication. I have not encountered anybody yet who was wholly opposed to it. However, most of the people who I encounter could care less either way. Their attitude is that metrication is good but if it happens, it happens, otherwise no big deal.
Phil
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Carleton MacDonald
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 9:14 PM
To: U.S. Metric AssociationSubject: [USMA:36960] RE: Seasonal unit
If the majority party in Congress changes in 2006 –
And if a President is elected in 2008 who has a real vision for the future, and actual scientific knowledge and expertise –
And if both of them decide that they are going to do something good and quit listening to the whiners and the corporate interests whose agenda is served by keeping things they way they are –
In other words, if everyone gets some BACKBONE and doesn't recoil in fear the first time anyone says "Don't change anything, we don't LIKE change, don't do this or we're gonna vote against you" –
And if they do a good job of explaining to everyone why metrication is a good idea and will benefit everyone financially and otherwise –
Then there could be hope.
But I'm pessimistic. Dwight Eisenhower was right about the power of corporations. Never more right than now.
Carleton
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Mike Millet
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 16:38
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:36957] RE: Seasonal unit
Much as I'd like to agree with you that 2010 will change everything here's my prediction on how this will all go down barring a miracle in the US. 2010 will come around and the US will "still" not have mandated metric package labeling, even voluntarily because no one in Congress would be brave enough to propose it despite some strong business and government support.
So, 2010 will roll around and the companies will suddenly find themselves saddled with obligations to do metric labelling without properly preparing before hand. They in their turn will whine to the government, who in typical American fashion, will collectively arm twist the entire EU until they get an exception again for another ten years. At which point America will continue to wrap itself up in it's "we're not metric" bubble for another ten years :).
Now hopefully before then we can all push in the same direction and get this ball rolling before then so we have a smooth transition. If I recall the manufacturers would need a minimum of 2 years to implement an SI only labelling system and so we do have a small amount of time if the deadline is 2010. Still, there's no time like the present to start. If the EU is firm and stays on this deadline then they will have to adapt, so that's also a possibility.
Maybe if we all push in the same direction we can meet in the middle.
MikeOn 6/20/06, Han Maenen < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
2010 will make a difference all right, because it involves all measuring
units on labels, in instructions and handbooks, etc. The Units Directive
means that all exports to the EU will have to be in SI only and it will be
the end of the antics of anti-metric industries which abuse the present
arrangement.
Radiators, central heating etc. use the kilowatt here, not this idiocy, and
so should air conditioners. And as you probably do not know, Stephen, the
watt is a metric unit of British origin.
The BTU/h is not a standard unit at all. Using it in metric countries is
sheer madness. It was utterly unknown here (we used the kcal/h and should go
to kilowatt throughout), until the American air conditioning industry
started to 'market' it here. There are manufacturers who do the right thing,
like the German company Bosch, who use the kilowatt. There is no need for
this miscreant called 'BTU' whatsoever. And the antics of that industry
forcing it on countries that never used it make my blood boil.
Han
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen Humphreys" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" < usma@colostate.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, 2006, June 20 9:53
Subject: [USMA:36951] RE: Seasonal unit
> In the UK radiators are sold that way too.
> In my local B&Q I was looking for a new towel warmer/radiator combination
> and it stated watts and BTH/hr.
> On a massive hoarding above the 'zone' it explained how to work out the
> BTU/hr needed and claimed that it was a "standard unit".
> I don't believe that 2010 will have any impact on this because you are not
> buying "numbers of btu/hr", ie they can't sell "by the btu/hr".
>
>
>>From: "Han Maenen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
>>Subject: [USMA:36945] Seasonal unit
>>Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:05:12 +0200
>>
>>When the temperature rises into the high twenties and then into the mid
>> >thirties a 'seasonal unit' rears its ugly head again. The BTU/h,
>>'marketed' world wide by the air conditioning industry. I saw an ad for an
>>air conditioner, with 8 000 BTU/h of cooling power.
One very valid reason for implementing the EU units directive in 2010. Then
such antics will come to an end.
Han
>>
>
>
>
>
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