#CorrectTheMap #AfricaStandUp #AfricaRising #MercatorMap
a year agothe_phantom017
- It confuses the distinction between oceanic space and artificial voids, which can mislead viewers unfamiliar with projection mechanics. On Historical Context and Accusations of Bias: The claim that the Mercator projection was designed to diminish Africa’s importance is historically unfounded. Mercator was a European cartographer creating a tool for European navigators. Had the projection originated in Asia or Africa for similar navigational purposes, it likely would have emphasized regions relevant to those contexts. The projection’s distortion is symmetrical - Greenland is also vastly enlarged, yet no one argues this was to elevate its geopolitical status. While it is true that maps have been used to serve political agendas, conflating the mathematical properties of a projection with ideological intent risks undermining the credibility of the critique. The real issue lies not in the projection itself, but in how maps are used and interpreted without context. On Modern Usage Today, the Mercator projection remains standard in digital mapping platforms like Google Maps due to its conformal nature and ease of tile-based rendering. It allows for consistent zooming and panning, which is essential for user experience. These platforms are not promoting a worldview - they are optimizing for functionality. In conclusion, I support efforts to diversify the types of maps used in education and public discourse. However, I urge campaigns like Correct the Map to engage more deeply with cartographic science and pedagogy. Promoting geographic literacy means teaching how projections work, why distortions occur, and how to choose the right map for the right purpose - not replacing one oversimplification with another. Respectfully
a year agothe_phantom017
As a geoscientist and geoinformatics specialist based in Germany, I feel compelled to offer some clarification regarding the widespread criticisms of the Mercator projection and the advocacy for alternatives such as the Equal Earth map, particularly as presented by the Correct the Map campaign. While I appreciate the intent to promote geographic equity and challenge colonial legacies in cartography, I believe the current discourse often oversimplifies the technical realities of map projections and misrepresents their historical and practical contexts. On the Mercator Projection: The Mercator projection, developed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, was designed for maritime navigation. Its key feature - preserving angles (conformal property) - makes it invaluable for plotting straight-line courses across oceans. It was never intended to be a pedagogical tool for understanding landmass size relationships. The distortion of area near the poles is a mathematical consequence of projecting a spherical surface onto a flat plane while preserving angles, not a deliberate attempt to minimize Africa or exaggerate Europe. In fact, in German schools (and many others globally), the Mercator projection is rarely used for general geographic education. It is typically reserved for contexts where its properties are relevant, such as navigation or meteorological maps. Moreover, the distortions inherent in various projections - including Mercator - are part of standard curriculum, and students are taught to interpret maps critically. On the Equal Earth Map and “True Size” Visualizations: The Equal Earth projection is a valuable pedagogical tool for illustrating relative landmass sizes. However, the version often promoted by Correct the Map - such as the one used on "The True Size" website - introduces artificial gaps between countries to emphasize scale differences. While visually striking, this representation is cartographically problematic: - It disrupts spatial continuity, making it difficult to represent natural regions, economic zones, or ecological systems. - It overemphasizes political borders, which can hinder thematic mapping (e.g., climate zones, biomes, cultural regions
a year agoaedes_irae
Pétition signed 🫶 full support for a world to be seen as it is ♥️ hope that Europe countries will follow the mouvement 🙏🏻 the current map is so old, it definitely deserves an update.
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