Iceland review - 2019, Page 75

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Iceland Review
Then there is also the question of Iceland's
northerly latitude. Many arguments against the
proposal appear to be coloured by bias and misun-
derstanding, but there are some valid questions.
Andri Snær Magnason, Icelandic writer and envi-
ronmentalist, writes: “The report cites research
papers that … were composed at latitudes dissim-
ilar from Iceland's, and under different social and
cultural circumstances. Iceland's short winter days
are an unavoidable fact. Darkness in the mornings
will continue in January and December and the
sun will rise when people are
indoors and in school. It is not
clear whether our body clock
will adjust itself again during
spring's brighter days and what
the effect of the summer sun
has on our body clock.”
THE EXPERTS AGREE
On this issue—that is, on subject of whether moving
the clock back to better align with solar time will
truly have the same benefit as in other countries
closer to the equator—professor Stevens’ response
remained unchanged, i.e. that morning light
appears to be the most important factor when it
comes to maintaining circadian health: “I would
advocate setting the clocks to noon (12:00) when
the sun is at its highest point (even when it’s still
very low during winter) for the location (not for the
town of Greenwich). Same for summer.”
The experts all seem to agree. The authors
of the report commissioned by the Ministry of
Health were unequivocal in their recommendation
that the clock be moved back. And so is doctor
Sigurðardóttir: “What’s most important in regard
to this ‘issue with the clocks,’ in my opinion, is that
social time and circadian time are not in sync. All
living things, human beings included, coordinate
biological processes with the help of the sun. The
circadian clocks of most human beings does not
synch with the clock on the wall, which means that
unlike the clock on the wall we must reset ourselves
every day and the best way to do that is with sun-
light in the morning. I understand the perspective
of those who want sunlight later in the day, but
from a biological perspective, it’s healthier for us to
get more sunlight in the mornings.”
WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US?
Last January 17th, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Iceland’s
Prime Minister, decided that parliament would not
vote on the “clock issue” this spring. “The matter
has been in review for a week and we have received
more than a thousand comments, which tells me
something that I like best about the Icelanders—
they don’t bite their tongues when one asks for
their opinion. They show up and speak up.” The
only real question, perhaps, is whose voices the
government will heed?
ICELANDERS DON’T BITE THEIR
TONGUES WHEN ONE ASKS
FOR THEIR OPINION. THEY
SHOW UP AND SPEAK UP.