Norway's Arctic north wants to bring in a 26

Release time：2024-05-21 12:29:37 Source：Culture Chronicles news portal

Norway's Arctic north has presented a bizarre plan to bring in a 26-hour day which would see clocks go up to 13 instead of 12.

The mayor of the remote town of Vadso in Finnmark County, in the Arctic Circle, sent the proposal to the European Commission to 'offer individuals the opportunity to enjoy more quality time' with their families, Politico reports.

Wenche Pedersen, who penned the letter to the EU, asked the commission to allow Norway to create a time zone where days are 26-hours long rather than 24.

When asked how this could be achieved, she said that the clock would go from to 13, but added: 'I don't think they're going to say yes so we haven't thought about all the details.'

Pedersen said the aim of the 26-hour day would be to give people more time to engage in 'activities such as fishing, hunting, learning new languages, or simply being with loved ones' as part of the region's push to attract more visitors.

The mayor of the remote town of Vadso in Finnmark County, in the Arctic Circle, sent the proposal to the European Commission to 'offer individuals the opportunity to enjoy more quality time' with their families, Politico reports (file image of houses in Finnmark County)

READ MORE: Top scientists call for an end to daylight saving time: Experts warn clock change fuels a rise in cancer, traffic accidents and sleep issues 

The plan is to highlight the Arctic north's 'unique way of life', which Pedersen said consists of residents focusing more on spending time with their loved ones rather than rushing to take public transport or travel long distances to get to work.

Vadso, which is near the Russian border, hopes that the longer days would attract new residents to come live in the remote region, which Pedersen says is now 'more important than ever' in light of Russia's war on Ukraine.

'We are one of the richest regions in Europe because […] we have more time,' the mayor told Politico.

Pedersen acknowledged that the request is unlikely to be granted, the plan would at least generate some publicity for the remote Arctic region.

Making the request to the European Commission would likely have been fruitless anyway, as an official told Politico that countries set time zones themselves, not the EU.

• Arctic region of Norway asks EU Commission for 26-hour day – POLITICO

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