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https://theconversation.com/an-indigenous-approach-shows-how-changing-the-clocks-for-daylight-saving-time-runs-counter-to-human-nature-and-nature-itself-253097>
"It is that time again. Time to wonder: Why do we turn the clocks forward and
backward twice a year? Academics, scientists, politicians, economists,
employers, parents – and just about everyone else you will interact with this
week – are likely debating a wide range of reasons for and against daylight
saving time.
But the reason is right there in the name: It’s an effort to “save” daylight
hours, which some express as an opportunity for people to “make more use of”
time when it’s light outside.
But as an Indigenous person who studies environmental humanities, this sort of
effort, and the debate about it, misses a key ecological perspective.
Biologically speaking, it is normal, and even critical, for nature to do more
during the brighter months and to do less during the darker ones. Animals go
into hibernation, plants into dormancy.
Humans are intimately interconnected with, interdependent on, and interrelated
to nonhuman beings, rhythms and environments. Indigenous knowledges, which
despite their complex, diverse and plural forms, amazingly cohere in reminding
humans that we too are an equal part of nature. Like trees and flowers, we are
beings who also need winter to rest and summer to bloom.
As far as we humans know, we are the only species that chooses to fight against
our biological presets, regularly changing our clocks, miserably dragging
ourselves into and out of bed at unnatural hours.
The reason, many scholars agree, is that capitalism teaches humans that they
are separate from, and superior to, nature – like the point on top of a
pyramid. That, and I argue, that capitalism wants people to work the same
number of hours year-round, no matter the season. This mindset runs counter to
the way Indigenous people have lived for thousands of years."
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
