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The True Size of Africa (2015)

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Re: The True Size of Africa (2015)

#71

Post by init »

jahnu wrote: post #40
init wrote: post #35

Africa has 54 countries, thousands of languages and 1.2 billion people. As an African, whenever I see this map I'm more astonished by how densely populated Europe and India are, how big and populated China is and how homogeneous the US is compared to its size.

Population density of Europe is 34/km2 Africa is 45/km2 https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/europe-popula... ). https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/africa-popula... .

I'm referring to the European countries included in the visualization.

Re: The True Size of Africa (2015)

#72

Post by ordu »

layoutIfNeeded wrote: post #52
torstenvl wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> there are rumors that a former Vice Presidential candidate thinks Africa is a country Rumors, not facts. One candidate, not "a lot of Americans." Irony is making sweeping generalizations while ostensibly pushing back on generalizations.

A candidate and a president (who’s a Yale and Harvard alumnus): “ One of the most famous blunders made by former U.S. President George W. Bush was, “Africa is a nation that suffers from terrible disease.” President Bush, like many others, misconstrued the fact that Africa is not a country, but a continent.” https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2018/11/23/africa-not-a-co... But surely, it must be a coincidence! :)

> But surely, it must be a coincidence!

Coincidence of what and what? Bush is well known for his blunders, so it is not such a coincidence that this one is of his authorship. Or did you mean that it was American president who blundered this? How many other presidents had a chance to blunder in such a way that you'd notice it? It is an important question, because blunders of American presidents are carried to every corner of the world, while blunders of a president of Botswana probably isn't.

> A candidate and a president

I pray, America is a democratic country, anyone could become a president. ;)

Re: The True Size of Africa (2015)

#73

Post by init »

JackFr wrote: post #49
init wrote: post #35

Africa has 54 countries, thousands of languages and 1.2 billion people. As an African, whenever I see this map I'm more astonished by how densely populated Europe and India are, how big and populated China is and how homogeneous the US is compared to its size.

When you say the US is homogenous for it’s size, are you referring to the physical geography or the demographic make up of the population, or something else entirely? (I think I would disagree, but good faith requires I actually try to understand what you meant before I take issue with it.)

As the other commenter responded, I'm referring to the linguistic, socioeconomic and judicial homogeneity. Even though the US is culturally diverse, it still has a single currency, a single dominant language and a single jurisdiction (with minor state specific legal requirements). I only need one US visa to travel to all 52 states. A software company taking payments in the US has access to all 52 states. A peach cobbler is called the same throughout the US even though the recipe might change a little bit from place to place.

This is not the case in Africa or Europe, where countries use different languages, scripts, legal codes, currencies, driving directions, etc...

EDIT: I'm referring the land masses included in the visualization and what they entail in practical terms.

The US can be seen as a single market, the same applies to China and India. Europe has the schengen area, the EU and the EEA. Africa needs similar initiatives.

Re: The True Size of Africa (2015)

#74

Post by meristohm »

School-Cotton wrote: post #31
layoutIfNeeded wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a lot of Americans think that Africa is a country.

What makes you think so? I’m American and have never encountered that belief.

I haven’t yet found a reference site, but I remember then-President G. W. Bush referring to Africa as a big country.

Edit to add: sometimes one important person’s error gets conflated with the assumed views of many.

Re: The True Size of Africa (2015)

#75

Post by mgerullis »

DevKoala wrote: post #67
init wrote: post #35

Africa has 54 countries, thousands of languages and 1.2 billion people. As an African, whenever I see this map I'm more astonished by how densely populated Europe and India are, how big and populated China is and how homogeneous the US is compared to its size.

In which sense is the USA homogenous?

Language, currency, jurisdiction (to large extends), media…

An American from Idaho will be able to communicate, trade and watch the same tv as someone in Vermont, whereas a person from Malawi will not be able to do any of these things with a person in Guinea

Re: The True Size of Africa (2015)

#76

Post by mgerullis »

dominicjj wrote: post #9

I remember flying to Munich once from Cape Town and a German colleague guessed the flight was three to four hours. I said no, it was over eleven hours and he was shocked. I laughed and told him to check out a globe sometime - not a map - so he could trace for himself how massive Africa really is. The surface area of the moon is only 20% larger.

Ha, in 3-4 hours you may be in Cairo at best

Re: The True Size of Africa (2015)

#77

Post by boraoztunc »

>> The Good Design Grand Award, arguably Japan’s most prestigious award for design, went out to architect Hajime Narukawa’s completely groundbreaking design for a map of the world. His map, the AuthaGraph World Map, isn’t your average map of the globe: It’s a near-perfect representation of the continents and oceans as they exist on our spherical planet, all laid out on a two-dimensional surface.

https://totravelistolive.co/authagraph-world-map/

Re: The True Size of Africa (2015)

#79

Post by js2 »

init wrote: post #73
JackFr wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you say the US is homogenous for it’s size, are you referring to the physical geography or the demographic make up of the population, or something else entirely? (I think I would disagree, but good faith requires I actually try to understand what you meant before I take issue with it.)

As the other commenter responded, I'm referring to the linguistic, socioeconomic and judicial homogeneity. Even though the US is culturally diverse, it still has a single currency, a single dominant language and a single jurisdiction (with minor state specific legal requirements). I only need one US visa to travel to all 52 states. A software company taking payments in the US has access to all 52 states. A peach cobb…

Do you have any idea how many different kinds of sandwiches we have in this country? You're just not looking at the right things for diversity! :-)

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/04/14/dining/field-...

Re: The True Size of Africa (2015)

#80

Post by Nition »

raldi wrote: post #8

It says "United States with Alaska & Hawaii" but I don't see them anywhere.

> "The table at right shows the US including Alaska and Hawaii, btw. And while not listing Eastern Europe (dark blue in the map) it adds many others unused in the map: Mexico, Peru, New Guinea, New Zealand, Nepal and Bangladesh!"
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