DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 7 -- THE United Nations decision to promote world maps that more accurately portray the size of continents could trigger a rethink of how geography is taught and understood in Tanzania.

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution promoting the wider use of map projections that better represent the relative sizes of continents, particularly Africa.

The Togo-led initiative, backed by African countries, received 164 votes in favour, while six countries abstained and the United States was the only country to vote against it.

The resolution is not legally binding and does not ban the widely used Mercator projection. Instead, it encourages governments, schools, international organis...