The UN vote to adopt the Equal Earth projection is…

Per Axbom Bluesky

The UN vote to adopt the Equal Earth projection is non-binding, but it’s also a no-brainer. Go Togo! ❤️ equal-earth.com

I’d also like to stress that no flat map can ever represent what the world looks like, and a diversity of maps aids critical perspective.

/huge fan of cordiform projections

Equal-Area Map centered on Oceania - South at Top

Cordiform (heart-shaped) map projection by John Bartholomew & Son, early 1900s.

Anyway, buy me a beer and invite me to talk about maps. Here are some photos of me on stage at Camp Digital in 2025.

axbom.com/cdmaps/

Per Axbom on stage. Photo of an 'earthrise' by William Anders in 1968. Text on slide: "18 months afther the Apollo 8 astronatus took this photo, 20 million people took to the streets across the US to protect environmental destruction in the first ever Earth Day."

Per Axbom on stagge in front of a slide with a cordiform (heart-shaped) world map. This world map was created in 1514 by Oronce Fine (1494–1555) who was one of the first French scholars to work with cartography.

Per Axbom on stage in front of a world map explaining what to questions to ask about maps, and any tool used for explanation.

- Who made this tool, why and under what constraints?
- Whose power is being wielded?
- What is the data source is it the right one for the job?
- What is being left out, added or distorted?
- What assumption are being made and/or conveyed?
- Who stands to lose from the use of this tool?

Per Axbom on stage, a slide displahing a quote from James Wan in the Guardian:

"Imagine if all of Google's data and programming ability was suddenly in the hands of a Namibian agriculturalist, a Sahelian nomad or a Senegalese fisherwoman – the maps they would conjure up would be completely different.

They might well prioritise soil types over Starbucks, wells over Walmarts and the state of land degradataion over panoramic street views of American towns."
"

🔗 Originally posted on Bluesky