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African Union Challenges Outdated World Map Projection
The African Union supports replacing the Mercator map with the 2018 Equal Earth projection to correct size distortions affecting Africa’s representation, backed by advocacy groups and global institutions.
- The African Union has supported the 'Correct The Map' campaign, which aims to replace the outdated Mercator map—known for distorting the true size of Africa—with a projection that more accurately represents the continent’s scale.
- The campaign emerged because the Mercator projection distorts continent sizes, shrinking Africa and inflating areas like North America, fostering false narratives about Africa's marginality.
- The campaign, supported by advocacy organizations focused on African representation, promotes the use of the 2018 Equal Earth map projection to more accurately depict Africa’s size and address issues of misrepresentation.
- Key supporters include Mr Dorbrene O'Marde, who described Mercator's map as promoting an 'ideology of power and dominance', and a World Bank spokesperson noting they phase out Mercator on web maps.
- The African Union intends to promote broader implementation of the Equal Earth projection and collaborate with its member states on coordinated initiatives, signaling a movement for international organizations to reconsider their choice of world maps.
13 Articles
13 Articles
World map doesn't show Africa's true size as second-largest continent, change it, says AU
The African Union (AU) has endorsed a campaign for the worldwide adoption of the 'correct' map of the continent that adequately describes its size. The Mercator map that is widely used incorrectly shrinks Africa to show it as marginal and artificially enlarges areas near the poles like North America and Greenland.
AU urges adoption of world map showing continent's true size
The AU has backed a campaign to end the use by governments and international organisations of the 16th-century Mercator map of the world in favour of one that more accurately displays Africa's size
African Union Urges Adoption Of World Map Showing Continent's True Size
The African Union has backed a campaign to end the use by governments and international organisations of the 16th-century Mercator map of the world in favour of one that more accurately displays Africa's size.
African Union Challenges Outdated World Map Projection
The African Union is advocating against the traditional Mercator map used by governments and organizations. Criticized for distorting the size of continents, it misrepresents Africa's true stature. The 'Correct The Map' campaign urges adoption of the 2018 Equal Earth projection to foster a more accurate global view.
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