The world map based on Gerardus Mercator’s 1569 projection On 4 September, the UN General Assembly voted 164 to one to encourage the world to stop drawing itself on Gerardus Mercator’s 1569 projection – the world map everyone learnt at school. The non-binding resolution, tabled by Togo for the African Group and the African Union…
The United Nations General Assembly backed a move toward world maps that show continents in their correct relative sizes, supporting an Africa-led campaign to reduce use of the Mercator projection. The resolution passed on September 4 with 164 countries voting in favor, 1 against and 6 abstaining. Togo led the proposal with support from the…
France will stop using maps based on the traditional Mercator projection, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Friday – backing an African push for a more accurate representation of the continent. The announcement comes as the United Nations General Assembly votes on Friday on a resolution calling for the world to move away from Mercator…
The United Nations voted on Saturday for a shift away from the 16th-century Mercator global map towards one more accurately reflecting the true size of countries. The resolution was sponsored by African states to counter perceptions that the continent is peripheral. It passed with the support of 164 nations, including France. The United States was…
Africa’s landmass is so big that Russia, China, India and the United States could fit in it. But that’s not the impression you get when you look at the world map that’s been in use for more than 450 years. ALSO READ: African Union urges replacement of outdated world map that shrinks Africa The widely…
