What in the World

Are we using the wrong world map?


Listen Later

The Mercator projection, a map that’s been around for over 450 years and which most people use, distorts size. It stretches land masses farther from the equator. It can make Greenland looks the same size as Africa, when in reality Africa is actually around 14 times bigger.

Campaigners want schools, organisations and governments to use a different one - the Equal Earth map. And now the African Union, which represents all 55 states on the continent, has endorsed the “Correct the Map” campaign.

The BBC’s Makuochi Okafor explains some of the arguments for switching to a different map and also the wider implications of showing Africa as smaller than it really is.

Moky Makura, from Africa No Filter, tells us what her organisation is hoping to achieve with the Correct the Map campaign. Plus Edwin Rijkaart, known to his YouTube subscribers as Geodiode tells us why we use the Mercator projection in the first place.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld

WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Benita Barden, Chelsea Coates and Abiona Boja
Editor: Verity Wilde

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

What in the WorldBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

16 ratings


More shows like What in the World

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,913 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

523 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

296 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,808 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,729 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,018 Listeners

Learning English Vocabulary by BBC Radio

Learning English Vocabulary

503 Listeners

Learning English Stories by BBC Radio

Learning English Stories

368 Listeners

Learning English Grammar by BBC Radio

Learning English Grammar

311 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

965 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

471 Listeners

Learning English from the News by BBC Radio

Learning English from the News

238 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

394 Listeners

Learning English For Work by BBC News

Learning English For Work

41 Listeners

The Explanation by BBC World Service

The Explanation

30 Listeners