Core Viewpoint - The understanding of Chinese civilization is crucial for comprehending the complexities of contemporary world history, politics, economy, culture, and thought [1] Group 1: Importance of Chinese Civilization - Chinese civilization is one of the most influential civilizations in the modern world, and its revival is seen as an important trend in global cultural development [1] - The study of China is particularly important for Europeans, who often fall into Eurocentrism and view the Western development path as the only correct one [1] Group 2: Personal Insights and Experiences - The speaker, Alexander Lukin, first visited China in 1983 and has dedicated much of his life to studying China, which has significantly altered his Eurocentric views [1] - The concept of "harmony in diversity" from Confucius is embraced, emphasizing that globalization does not necessitate a single cultural form for communication [1] Group 3: Globalization and Cultural Diversity - A world that loses cultural diversity will lose its color and soul, highlighting the importance of maintaining multiple civilizations [1] - The study of China is not only to understand China itself but also to reassess one's own perspectives through the lens of Chinese culture [1]

Core Viewpoint - The African Union (AU) supports a movement called "Correct the Map," urging governments and international organizations to abandon the Mercator projection in favor of maps that accurately represent Africa's true size, seen as a significant step in reshaping Africa's global image [1][2]. Group 1: Background and Motivation - The Mercator projection, designed in 1569, distorts the size of continents, exaggerating areas near the poles while significantly shrinking Africa and South America [1]. - The AU's support for the "Correct the Map" movement aligns with broader political goals to reaffirm Africa's rightful place on the global stage amid rising calls to address the lasting impacts of slavery and colonialism [2]. Group 2: Advocacy and Implementation - The movement advocates for the adoption of the "Equal Earth" projection introduced in 2018, which aims to maintain proportional area representation of continents and avoid the underrepresentation of Africa [2]. - The AU plans to discuss collective actions with its 55 member states to promote the "Equal Earth" projection as a standard in African education [2]. Group 3: Current Usage and Response - The Mercator projection remains widely used in education and technology, with Google Maps still offering it as a default option [3]. - The "Correct the Map" movement has formally requested support from the World Bank and the United Nations, with the World Bank indicating a shift towards using the Winkel Tripel or "Equal Earth" projections in its static maps [3]. - The movement has also gained support in the Caribbean, rejecting the power dynamics represented by the Mercator projection [3].