What exactly do maps have to do with social justice? Actually, a lot! The way we view the world influences how we feel about ourselves and others around the planet. In the United States, most maps put us at the center of the world. That's OK, considering that within a particular country you might want to think about the rest of the world as it relates to you. But.... when you distort the rest of the world.......
Take a look at how this issue came up on an episode of The West Wing back in 2001:
Let's look at a typical map of the world that a kid might find in a classroom here in the United States:
Would you know, for example, by looking at this map, that Europe has twice the land mass of South America? Which is bigger, Mexico or Alaska? How about Greenland versus China?
OK, let's bring a child into the picture.... one who lived in Australia.
Stuart McArthur first drew this map when he was 12. He drew an early version of this map in 6th grade and his teacher told him he'd better redo the map the "right" way or he'd fail. He didn't understand why he couldn't have Australia on the top of the map. A few years later, at 15, he was an exchange student in Japan where fellow exchange students from the USA teased him. They said he came from "the bottom of the earth." He decided then and there that one day he would publish a map of the world with Australia on top. Six years later at 21, after graduating from the University of Melbourne; he published this map and since that time it's sold nearly 400,000 copies.
His map included the following text:
At last, the first move has been made - the first step in the long overdue crusade to elevate our glorious but neglected nation from the gloomy depths of anonymity in the world power struggle to its rightful position -- towering over its northern neighbours, reigning splendidly at the helm of the universe.
Never again to suffer the perpetual onslaught of "downunder" jokes -- implications from Northern nations that the height of a country's prestige is determined by its equivalent spatial location on a conventional map of the world.
This map, a subtle but definite first step, corrects the situation. No longer will the South wallow in a pit of insignificance, carrying the North on its shoulders for little or no recognition of her efforts.
Finally, South emerges on top.
Spread the word. Spread the map! South is superior. South dominates!
Long live AUSTRALIA -- RULER OF THE UNIVERSE!!
Another hero in the world of mapmaking is a guy named Arno Peters. He created his "Peters World Map" in 1974 and gosh did that cause quite a stir. Of course we here at Reach And Teach have our own map hero, a guy named Bob Abramms. He runs ODT Maps, the source of all our map products.
Bob and we want to make sure that we don't just leave you "freaked out" like C.J. was in that West Wing episode. We want you to learn and teach about these incredible maps and we want to give you all the resources you'll need to do it right.
So..... If you spend $75 during your map purchase (maps plus any other products in our store), we'll include an incredible DVD all about Arno Peters, the man who shook up the world by creating a completely different kind of map. The DVD sells for $39.95 but we'll give it to you for free. And on that DVD you'll find tons of extras, including PowerPoint presentations, videos, PDFs, images and other stuff that will help you learn about AND teach about the many ways to see the world.
AND, you'll even get to watch map guru Bob Abramms on that DVD! He's an incredible teacher.
Another hero in the world of mapmaking is a guy named Arno Peters. He created his "Peters World Map" in 1974 and gosh did that cause quite a stir. Of course we here at Reach And Teach have our own map hero, a guy named Bob Abramms. He runs ODT Maps, the source of all our map products. 
Reach And Teach is thrilled to announce the launch of its childrens picture book OPERATION MARRIAGE