Let us get metricized!

(Posted on 20th May 2015, the 140th anniversary of the Metre Convention was signed)

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as a demonstration for the unity of the system of units in the world.

One hundred and forty years ago, representatives of seventeen nations signed the famous Metre Convention in Paris. This treaty set up the institute for coordinating the development of the metric system. In this treaty it says that the unit of length is m, the mass unit is kg, and the time unit is s. After this convention was signed, more and more nations joined gradually, which means the new metric system is widely spread among nations and becoming so universal in the world. In 1960, at the 11th meetings of the CGPM, the system of units it had established was overhauled and relaunched as the "International System of Units" (SI). After that, SI is widely used in the international communication. Now SI is used all over the world, and everyone in the world uses SI in international communication. It is known to all that SI brings convenience to everyone.

But 140 years later, there are still some people do not know the meaning of using SI. 140 years later, they still use the obsolete system of units in international communication. 140 years later, some of them says that they "do not know SI". 140 years later, some even refuse to use SI. And we come here today to talk about this problem.

In the past the units varied from nation to nation in Europe, which severely hampered the communication among nations. And France is not an exception either, so people need a new system of units which is "for all people for all time". To define the new unit, the French Academy of Sciences commissioned an expedition lasting from 1792 to 1799, which measured the distance of the meridian, was to serve as the basis for the length of the quarter meridian connecting the North Pole with the Equator. Then the 1/10000000 of the meridian is defined  as 1 metre. After metre was defined, litre and gram was defined as well. The new metric system is decimal, so it is very easy to use. And then more and more nations started to adopt it. Then in 1875 the Metre Convention was signed, which is the beginning of the unity of the units. And in 1960 SI is launched by BIPM, which is a universal system used all over the world.

However, there are some people still sticking to the obsolete unit system in international communication, which made other people confused. But we refuse to believe there is no hope to these people. We refuse to believe that these people cannot to change. And so, we come to tell these people about using SI and the meaning of using it.

We have also come to this spot to remind these people of the urgency for now. There is no time to refuse the coming of SI. Now is the time to make real the promises of metrication. Now is the time to stop using the obsolete units. Now is the time to let us get metricized. Now is the time to make the using of SI a reality for everyone.

It would be fatal for the people to overlook the urgency of the moment. If  you have ever read "A Day's wait", you will know that the 9-year-old boy thought he would die just because of the disunity of the units.  In addition, the conversion of different units will be hard, sometimes it is even critical. If you are converting units too often in international communication, it will be very messy, and converting units will bring errors sometimes. In short, we should use SI directly instead of converting to it.

But there is something that I must say to those people, who stick to the obsolete system now: We must think about the other people. If you are still using those units, not only do you bring inconvenience to others, but also you are trying to turning the clock back, which is useless. SI is used everywhere, and no one can get rid of it. We must attach significance on the unity of units.

Maybe some people do not realize the importance. They think using obsolete units on the Internet is also ok. However, this is completely wrong. Internet is for everyone in the world, not for a specific nation. That means what you sent will be spread all over the world. If you do not use SI, other people will not understand what you are saying. Sometimes it will cause misunderstanding. So following the international practice on the Internet is very vital for everyone.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we go for SI, we must make the pledge that we shall always go ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking about the metrication, "When will it end?" It will never end as long as some people do not use SI in international communication. It will never end as long as the manufacturers do not use SI in designing and producing. It will never end when non-SI units are still being widely used in trades. It will never end as long as metric products are not very common in the market. It will never end as long as scientists do not use SI in researches. No, no, It will never end, and it will never end until SI units can be seen everywhere and known to everyone.

I have known that some of the excuses for those people rejecting SI now. Some people say they do not know SI. Some say they cannot find SI units in life. Some even say they do not use SI. These have been a great barrier in metrication. Continuing to work with these obsolete units is equal to closing the door to the world. If you are still rejecting SI with such excuses, Look at what other people using SI, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us say no the obsolete units and get metricized, I say you today, everyone.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, metricizing is still not so hard for us. Just do as the following:

First, use SI in your life. Choose the tape measures, thermometers, cooking stuff, etc. in SI units and use them in your life. Buy products in SI units, even though it is expensive. You will learn a lot about  SI gradually in your own life by doing so. In this progress, do not miss the old units, do not convert, use SI only, and you will soon know about it.

Then, promote SI to other people actively. When you know how to use SI correctly, it is time that you promoted SI to others. You can discuss the benefits of using SI to others, and promote SI in any volunteer activities you do. You can also volunteer to coach or tutor metric at local science fairs or high schools if you can. To promote SI, you should describe SI units visually instead of converting to other units on request, and people will accept SI by themselves.

Last but not the least, let the officials support our activity. To do this, you can write to elected officials supporting metric legislation and opposing anti-metric legislation, to media supporting SI and explaining its benefits, to manufacturers praising them when they use SI products and use SI properly, and to manufacturers educating them when they do not use SI appropriately. When engaging in trade, state that you prefer your product or service in the SI because it is the legally preferred system of measurment for trade, according to the Convention of Metre. Then, when you see misuse of SI, write to the responsible organization. If you think you can do this, you can try. If everyone do this actively, promoting SI is not very difficult.

This is what we are doing, and this is the faith that I promote the SI with.

With this faith, we will be able to get together by using SI. With this faith, we will be able to abolish those obsolete units in international communication and follow the international practice. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to discuss together, to communicate together,  to struggle together , to stand up for SI together, knowing that we will success on getting metricized one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when everyone in the world will be able to say this with new meaning:

"The metric system is for all people and for all time."

And if the whole world is to be together, this must become true.

And so let us get metricized together!

Let us use m, cm, mm, km … for length!

Let us use m², cm², ha, km² … for area!

Let us use m³, cm³, l, ml … for volume!

Let us use g, kg, t … for mass!

Let us use K, °C for temperature!

But not only that:

Let us use m/s, km/h … for speed!

Let us use N for force and N m for torque!

Let us use J, kJ for work/energy/heat and W, kW for power!

Let us use Pa, kPa, bar … for pressure!

For everyone here, let us use SI units!

And when this happens, and when we realize the meaning of metrication, when we let us get metricized from everywhere in everytime, we will be able to speed up that day when everyone in the world,wherever they come from, whatever they do, whoever they are, will be able to use SI in international communication and say this famous motto by Condorcet together:

        

        --The metric system is for all people and for all time!