Passing in default timezone to MySQL connection via JDBC URL

gistfile1.txt

@Grab(group='mysql', module='mysql-connector-java', version='5.1.6')
@GrabConfig(systemClassLoader = true)

import groovy.sql.Sql

def sql = Sql.newInstance("jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/noonu?sessionVariables=time_zone='-8:00'", 'root', '', 'com.mysql.jdbc.Driver')
println sql.firstRow("select now()")

def sql2 = Sql.newInstance("jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/noonu?sessionVariables=time_zone='%2B8:00'", 'root', '', 'com.mysql.jdbc.Driver')
println sql2.firstRow("select now()")