Daylight saving time in Samoa

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Daylight saving time (DST) was observed in the country of Samoa from 2010 to 2021 before being abolished.

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History of Samoa's time zone placement

On October 13, 1884, at the International Meridian Conference, a vote from 26 countries declared the 180th meridian or antimeridian to be located 180 degrees around the globe from the prime meridian. [1] [2] While this placed Samoa in the western hemisphere east of -180 degrees longitude, the islands remained west of a zigzagging International Date Line that veered from the antimeridian. In 1892, three years after Samoa gained an autonomous government, King Mālietoa Laupepa was persuaded by American traders to approve a readjustment in the International Date Line, its reconfiguration now passing west of the islands. [3] [4] [5] It was announced on June 16, 1892, that Monday, July 4, a symbolic date celebrated as Independence Day in the United States, would be observed on two consecutive days in Samoa to accommodate for the shift across the date line. [4] [5]

When Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) was first adopted in 1963, Samoa was part of the UTC-11:00 time zone, its time being 11 hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time as the country had been east of the International Date Line since 1892. [6] Daylight saving time was proposed by Samoan Parliament in 2007, but the measure was eventually dismissed. [7] However, in an effort to save energy, improve the economy, enhance leisure time, and support plantation farming, the proposal was reintroduced in 2009. [7] [8]

Samoa adopts Daylight Saving Time

With DST dating back to 1916 Germany, the practice was finally adopted by Samoa in late November of 2008 after approval from the nation’s Cabinet. [7] [9] [7] Moving clocks forward one hour was scheduled for midnight of Sunday, October 4, 2009, a few months before the official beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. [7] The DST period was scheduled to conclude nearly six months later at midnight on Sunday, March 28, 2010. [7] But after a tsunami struck the nation on September 29, 2009, five days before the implementation of DST, the planned introduction was postponed. [10] [11]

On Sunday, September 26, 2010, DST was finally instituted in Samoa when clocks were readjusted forward from midnight to 1:00 a.m., advancing the country from UTC-11:00 to UTC-10:00 for the next six months. [12] On Saturday, April 2, 2011, Samoa’s first DST period ended when clocks were moved backward from 4:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., reverting to the UTC-11:00 time zone. [13] The country’s Electric Power Corporation calculated that energy demand had indeed decreased significantly during DST, saving roughly 319,000 liters (84,271 gallons) of fuel in the span of three months possibly attributed to the new time change policy. [8]

Time zone change in 2011

Later in 2011, Samoa initiated its second period of DST at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 24. [13] Once again, clocks advanced to 4:00 a.m. (or UTC-10:00). [13] However, at the end of the day on Thursday, December 29, 2011, the International Date Line was moved back to the east of Samoa to better align its calendar with major trading partners like China, Australia, and New Zealand. [4] [14] Additionally, a large Samoan population inhabits New Zealand, and families were split across the old configuration of the International Date Line. [14]

The alteration advanced the time in Samoa by 24 hours, changing time zones from UTC-10:00 to UTC+14:00. [15] With much celebration and fanfare in the community at midnight to end December 29, the date instantly transitioned to the morning of Saturday, December 31, 2011, skipping December 30 altogether. [14] [4] All employees scheduled to work on what was now a nonexistent Friday were given a full day’s wage to compensate a lost day of work. [4] But an estimated 500 birthdays of Samoan citizens were lost in the process. [4] The International Date Line was shifted from approximately 84 kilometers (52 miles) west of Samoa to about 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of the islands. [16] [17] The New Zealand territory of Tokelau also made the move with Samoa. [14]

On January 1, 2012, Samoa now joined portions of the country of Kiribati as the first to reach the New Year, the only country in its entirety with that distinction. [18] [19] They maintained that status on an annual basis over the next nine years while DST was still observed in the country. [18] [19]

DST in Samoa from 2012 to 2021

On Sunday, April 1, 2012, Samoa’s second DST period ended, marked by 4:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of April for the remainder of its observation in Samoa. [19] This moved the country to its new primary time zone of UTC+13:00. [20] When their third DST period was initiated on Sunday, September 30, 2012, this would begin the practice of advancing forward one hour on the last Sunday of September at 3:00 a.m. for the remainder of DST's existence in Samoa. [18] [19] That changed the country's time to 4:00 a.m. (UTC+14:00) each year as DST began. [18] [19]

The abolition of daylight saving time in Samoa

As Samoa's ninth DST concluded on Sunday, April 7, 2019, news began circulating that Samoa might put an end to the practice. [21] Pulotu Lyndon Chu Long, the CEO of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, cited a survey indicating that the majority of citizens wanted to abolish DST. [21] The most common complaints included employees showing up late, lost productivity, and children being at greater risk while walking to school in the dark. [21] [8] The practice could not be terminated legally unless approved by Samoa’s Cabinet. [21]

On Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, Samoa concluded its 11th and final daylight saving time period at 4:00 a.m., permanently reverting to the UTC+13:00 time zone. [22] [23] Just before its 12th iteration would have returned, Samoa’s Cabinet decided in mid-September of 2021 to cease the practice. [8] The official announcement was made Monday, September 20, just six days before DST was scheduled to begin. [8] Now, only parts of Kiribati experience each New Year first in the world, with Samoa welcoming a new calendar year one hour later.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time zone</span> Area that observes a uniform standard time

A time zone is an area which observes a uniform standard time for legal, commercial and social purposes. Time zones tend to follow the boundaries between countries and their subdivisions instead of strictly following longitude, because it is convenient for areas in frequent communication to keep the same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylight saving time</span> Seasonal change of clock settings

Daylight saving time (DST), also referred to as daylight saving(s), daylight savings time, daylight time (United States and Canada), or summer time (United Kingdom, European Union, and others), is the practice of advancing clocks to make better use of the longer daylight available during summer so that darkness falls at a later clock time. The typical implementation of DST is to set clocks forward by one hour in spring or late winter, and to set clocks back by one hour to standard time in the autumn (or fall in North American English, hence the mnemonic: "spring forward and fall back").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Date Line</span> Imaginary line that demarcates the change of one calendar day to the next

The International Date Line (IDL) is the line extending between the South and North Poles that is the boundary between one calendar day and the next. It passes through the Pacific Ocean, roughly following the 180.0° line of longitude and deviating to pass around some territories and island groups. Crossing the date line eastbound decreases the date by one day, while crossing the date line westbound increases the date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in the United States</span> Time zones in the U.S.

In the United States, time is divided into nine standard time zones covering the states, territories and other US possessions, with most of the country observing daylight saving time (DST) for approximately the spring, summer, and fall months. The time zone boundaries and DST observance are regulated by the Department of Transportation, but no single map of those existed until the agency announced intentions to make one in September 2022. Official and highly precise timekeeping services (clocks) are provided by two federal agencies: the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ; and the United States Naval Observatory (USNO). The clocks run by these services are kept synchronized with each other as well as with those of other international timekeeping organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer time in Europe</span> Variation of standard clock time

Summer time in Europe is the variation of standard clock time that is applied in most European countries in the period between spring and autumn, during which clocks are advanced by one hour from the time observed in the rest of the year, with a view to making the most efficient use of seasonal daylight. It corresponds to the notion and practice of daylight saving time (DST) to be found in some other parts of the world.

Time in New Zealand is divided by law into two standard time zones. The main islands use New Zealand Standard Time (NZST), 12 hours in advance of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) / military M (Mike), while the outlying Chatham Islands use Chatham Standard Time (CHAST), 12 hours 45 minutes in advance of UTC / military M^ (Mike-Three).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTC+13:00</span> Identifier for a time offset from UTC of +13

UTC+13:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +13:00. Because it does not contain any land in the Northern Hemisphere, this time zone is exclusive to the Southern Hemisphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTC+14:00</span> Time offset from UTC of +14

UTC+14:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +14:00. This is the earliest time zone on Earth, meaning that areas in this zone are the first to see a new day, and therefore the first to celebrate a New Year. It is also referred to as the "latest time zone" on Earth, as clocks in it always show the 'latest' time of all time zones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Australia</span>

Australia uses three main time zones: Australian Eastern Standard Time, Australian Central Standard Time and Australian Western Standard Time.

Time in Chile is divided into three time zones. Most of Continental Chile uses the time offset UTC−04:00 in winter time and UTC−03:00 in summer time, while the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica region uses the time offset UTC−03:00 the whole year. Additionally, Easter Island uses the time offset UTC−06:00 in winter time and UTC−05:00 in summer time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iran Standard Time</span> Identifier for a time offset from UTC of +03:30

Iran Standard Time (IRST) or Iran Time (IT) is the time zone used in Iran. Iran uses a UTC offset UTC+03:30. IRST is defined by the 52.5 degrees east meridian, the same meridian which defines the Iranian calendar and is the official meridian of Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh Standard Time</span> Time zone used in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Standard Time serves as the official time zone for Bangladesh. It operates six hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time and is observed uniformly across the country as a national standard. In 2009, Bangladesh briefly observed daylight saving time (DST) as a measure to address an ongoing electricity crisis. However, this decision was reversed by the government in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylight saving time in the United States</span> Practice of setting the clock forward by one hour in the United states

Most of the United States observes daylight saving time (DST), the practice of setting the clock forward by one hour when there is longer daylight during the day, so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less. Exceptions include Arizona, Hawaii, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established a uniform set of rules for states opting to observe daylight saving time.

Samoa uses UTC+13:00 as standard time. Until the end of 2011, it used UTC−11:00 as standard time. Samoa observed daylight saving time from 2010 to 2021.

Daylight saving time in the Americas is the arrangement in the Americas by which clocks are advanced by one hour in spring and moved back in autumn, to make the most of seasonal daylight. The practice is widespread in North America, with most of Canada and the United States participating, but much less so in Central and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylight saving time in Asia</span> Observation of daylight saving time in Asia

As of 2022, daylight saving time is used in the following Asian countries:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylight saving time in Africa</span> Observation of daylight saving time in Africa

African countries, apart from Egypt, do not use daylight saving time (DST) although some did in the past. Only the territories of the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla (Spain) and Madeira (Portugal) implement DST from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Although these regions politically belong to Europe, they are geographically part of Africa. They have DST schedules according to European Union rules.

Parts of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji are areas of Oceania that currently observe daylight saving time (DST).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Portugal</span>

Portugal has two time zones and observes daylight saving time. Continental Portugal and Madeira use UTC+00:00, while the Azores use UTC–01:00. Daylight saving time is observed nationwide from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, when continental Portugal and Madeira advance one hour to UTC+01:00, and the Azores advances one hour to UTC+00:00.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylight saving time by country</span>

Daylight saving time (DST), also known as summer time, is the practice of advancing clocks during part of the year, typically by one hour around spring and summer, so that daylight ends at a later time of the day. As of 2024, DST is observed in most of Europe, most of North America and parts of Africa and Asia around the Northern Hemisphere summer, and in parts of South America and Oceania around the Southern Hemisphere summer. It was also formerly observed in other areas.

References

  1. ↑ Howse 1997 , p. 12
  2. ↑ Howse 1997 , p. 137
  3. ↑ Dunning, Wm. A. (1890). "Record of Political Events". Political Science Quarterly. 5 (2): 357–388. doi:10.2307/2139573. ISSN   0032-3195. JSTOR   2139573.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jacobs, Frank (July 31, 2012). "The Border That Stole 500 Birthdays". The New York Times. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "The Alaska Adjustment of 1867 and the Samoa Adjustment of 1892". webspace.science. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  6. ↑ "The History of Coordinated Universal Time". Time Machines. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Samoa Starts Daylight Saving Time in 2009". Time and Date. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Tong, Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah (September 20, 2021). "Daylight savings scrapped". Samoa Observer. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  9. ↑ Siegel, Eliza (March 7, 2024). "The history of daylight saving time". Athens County Independent. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Samoa's Daylight Saving Starts in September 2010". Timeanddate.com. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  11. ↑ "DST News - Samoa Daylight Saving Time news". Worldtimezone.com. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Time Change 2010 in Samoa". Time and Date. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 "Time Change 2011 in Samoa". Time and Date. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Tiny Samoa takes big leap across date line". CBS News. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  15. ↑ McCabe, Joanne (May 9, 2011). "Samoa to change time zones and move forward by a day". Metro. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012.
  16. ↑ "International Dateline: Updated Cartographic Depiction" (PDF). Office of the Geographer and Global Issues. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Territories that Crossed the Date Line: Part 2". The Oikofuge. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Forrest (December 27, 2019). "Where is the new year celebrated first?". CNN Travel. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 "Time Change 2012 in Samoa". Time and Date. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Time Change in Samoa". Time and Date. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "It's possible Samoa may end daylight savings". Talanei.com. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Time Change 2021 in Samoa". Time and Date. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Samoa Scraps Daylight Saving Time (DST)". www.timeanddate.com.

Bibliography

See also

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