The article discusses Abimbola Ogundairo's campaign against the widely-used Mercator map projection, which inaccurately diminishes Africa's size and exaggerates the size of affluent regions. As the lead campaigner for Africa No Filter, Ogundairo is emphasizing the need for equal area projections, advocating for a more accurate representation of Africa in global institutions and education. The campaign also encourages public awareness through petitions, revealing how most people are unaware of these distortions, which leads to surprise and outrage when informed.
Many people see maps as simple tools for navigation, but the choice of projection significantly affects the perception of a region's size and importance.
The Mercator projection is misleading because it minimizes the size of Africa and the Global South while exaggerating the spatial prominence of wealthier areas.
An online petition has gained traction, showing widespread ignorance about map distortions and the public's desire for change in how Africa is represented.
Advocates argue that equal area projections provide a fairer and more true representation of Africa's geographic scale, challenging long-standing misconceptions.
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