A significant shift is underway as the African Union (AU) champions map projection equality by officially endorsing the “Correct the Map” campaign. This initiative challenges the long-standing use of the Mercator projection, a 16th-century map that distorts the relative sizes of continents, particularly diminishing the visual prominence of Africa. The AU’s move, widely reported by outlets including The Indian Express, The New Arab, and CNN through Caliber.Az, aims to rectify what it sees as a misrepresentation that perpetuates a skewed perception of the world.
Challenging Cartographic Bias
The core of the “Correct the Map” campaign lies in replacing the Mercator projection with the more accurate 2018 Equal Earth projection. The Mercator map, while valuable for navigational purposes due to its preservation of angles and shapes locally, introduces significant distortions in area, especially as one moves away from the equator. This distortion leads to a visual inflation of landmasses closer to the poles, such as North America, Europe, Russia, and Greenland, while shrinking equatorial regions like Africa and South America. The disparity is stark: Africa, the world’s second-largest continent, is approximately 14 times larger than Greenland, yet the Mercator projection often depicts them as being of comparable size.
Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the AU, has articulated the organization’s stance, emphasizing the need to reclaim “Africa’s rightful place on the global stage.” This statement underscores the AU’s belief that the Mercator projection contributes to a false impression of Africa as marginal and less significant than it truly is. The “Correct the Map” campaign, driven by advocacy groups like Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, argues that these cartographic distortions have far-reaching implications, influencing media representations, educational curricula, and policy decisions, ultimately impacting African identity and pride.
The “Correct the Map” Campaign
The campaign’s primary objective is to encourage widespread adoption of the Equal Earth projection across various sectors. This includes urging governments, educational institutions, and international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank to transition away from the Mercator map. The Equal Earth projection, a compromise projection, offers a visually more accurate representation of continental sizes while maintaining a relatively familiar appearance. While no flat map can perfectly represent the spherical Earth without some distortion, the Equal Earth projection minimizes area distortions, providing a fairer depiction of the relative sizes of continents.
Momentum for Change
The “Correct the Map” campaign is gaining traction, with some organizations already responding to the call for change. The World Bank, for instance, has begun transitioning away from the Mercator projection for its online maps, signaling a growing awareness of the issue. Furthermore, Google Maps offers a 3D globe view on its desktop platform, which provides a more accurate representation of the Earth’s shape and the relative sizes of continents. However, the Mercator projection remains the default on Google Maps’ mobile application, indicating that further progress is needed.
The movement extends beyond the African continent. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission, for example, has voiced its support for the campaign, viewing it as a rejection of the Mercator map’s inherent “ideology of power and dominance.” This support highlights the broader recognition that cartographic representations can reflect and reinforce historical power dynamics.
Implications and Future Directions
The African Union’s endorsement of the “Correct the Map” campaign represents a significant step towards challenging ingrained cartographic biases. The implications of this move are multifaceted, potentially influencing how Africa is perceived and represented in various domains, from education to international relations. By advocating for a more accurate representation of the world, the AU is seeking to promote a more equitable and balanced global perspective.
The success of the campaign hinges on continued advocacy and collaboration across sectors. Raising awareness among educators, policymakers, and the general public is crucial for driving widespread adoption of alternative map projections. Additionally, fostering partnerships with technology companies, such as Google, to prioritize accurate map representations across all platforms is essential. The AU’s initiative serves as a catalyst for a broader conversation about the role of maps in shaping perceptions and reinforcing power structures.
Ultimately, the African Union’s stance on map projections is a powerful statement about reclaiming identity and challenging historical misrepresentations. By advocating for a more accurate and equitable depiction of the world, the AU is contributing to a more inclusive and informed global understanding. This effort underscores the importance of critically examining the tools and representations we use to understand our world, ensuring they reflect a fair and balanced perspective.
