UN approves new world map to end centuries of shrinking Africa on the page • FRANCE 24 English

For centuries, the world has been looking at itself through a distorted lens. The Mercator map, created in 1569, makes countries and continents closer to the poles appear far larger than they really are, meaning Greenland can look almost as big as Africa, despite Africa being around fourteen times larger. But today, the United Nations has voted overwhelmingly to promote a new projection called Equal Earth, designed to show land masses in their correct relative sizes. The resolution was first launched by Togo and subsequently driven all 55 African Union countries countries. It's now been backed by 164 nations, aiming to change how the world is represented. The United States is the only country to vote against. Jean-Emile Jammine speaks to Fara Ndiaye, Co-Founder and Deputy Executive Director at Speak Up Africa, the Dakar-based advocacy organization driving African-led solutions on public health, sanitation, gender equality, and sustainable development.


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