Hello, language learners. Although it is September and fall is quickly approaching, the temperature is still scorching in Nagoya! I hope you all are surviving this intense heat and finding time to relax. Personally, I wish I were in a cold place like Greenland right now.
By the way, have you ever noticed how big Greenland looks on most maps? It is very interesting how different areas around the world are represented, and today, we will discuss how leaders in Africa are trying hard to change the way the continent is shown on maps.
The African Union (AU) is asking the world to stop using the Mercator map, which has been the most common map for hundreds of years. The map was first made in 1569 and later became the international standard for sailors in the 1700s. Even though it is still widely used today, the Mercator map does not show the true size of countries. Nations farther from the Equator, like Europe or Greenland, appear much bigger than they really are. Meanwhile, countries near the Equator, like those in Africa, look smaller. This makes Africa, one of the largest continents, seem less important.
Leaders of the AU say this is a serious problem. Africa is actually the world’s second-largest continent and has over one billion people, yet the Mercator map makes it look tiny. The AU supports a campaign called Correct the Map, which calls for designs that show Africa and other continents in their real size. A non-profit group called Africa No Filter agreed, saying the Mercator map has been “the world’s longest misinformation campaign.” This means people have been given the wrong idea about the size and importance of different places for centuries.
Other groups, like Speak Up Africa, believe people should use newer maps instead. For example, the Equal Earth map, created in 2018, shows the world more accurately. On this map, Africa looks 14 times larger than Greenland, which is the truth. By promoting maps like this, the AU and other organizations hope people will have a better understanding of Africa’s true size and importance in the world.
What do you think of this situation? Please share your thoughts on this interesting when you visit BRIDGE again.
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