UN Pushes Politically Correct Map Change, US Stands Alone for Tradition
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The UN General Assembly has endorsed a new equal-area map projection, replacing the classic Mercator map, despite the United States standing firm in opposition. 164 countries voted for the resolution, while the US defended longstanding cartographic standards.
The United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution to replace the time-honored Mercator projection with a so-called equal-area map, a move pushed by Togo and African Union members and backed by 164 nations. The United States, refusing to bow to political correctness and revisionist pressures, was the only country to vote against the resolution, with six others abstaining.
The Mercator map, developed in 1569, has been a staple of navigation and education for centuries, but critics claim it distorts the size of continents, particularly Africa. Activists argue that this supposed distortion downplays the development needs and potential of equatorial regions, using the map as a scapegoat for broader issues.
In 2018, cartographers introduced the 'Equal Earth' projection, which the African Union’s 54 member states adopted in February, claiming it better represents the sizes of continents, especially Africa. This move is part of a broader trend of rewriting history and established norms in the name of so-called fairness.
Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told Reuters before the vote that 'a fair world begins with a fair map,' and insisted that 'a map is never neutral; it shapes perceptions, influences how the place of peoples and continents in the world is understood.'
The resolution, while non-binding, is expected to pressure institutions worldwide to adopt the new map format, regardless of longstanding tradition and practical considerations.