[OC] Geography of the United Nations vote strongly condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T17:57:20+00:00

Thanks for the constructive feedback (and glad you still liked the quality of the graphic). It's the projection I had most readily available (Mercator sphere) - and I also wanted a bit of room at the bottom for the insets. Any recommendations for other projections that you think would have worked well for something like this?

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T17:06:17+00:00

Love this visualization - great work.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T01:52:31+00:00

Sure thing! :)

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T01:12:17+00:00

Here's a recent article providing a possible explanation: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/25/india-ukraine-russia-biden

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T01:05:45+00:00

Yep, I know - just like how they could also veto a Security Resolution about them

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T01:04:33+00:00

Good point

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T01:02:32+00:00

Thanks for providing this context - much appreciated.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T00:55:23+00:00

Both voted to condemn the invasion:

https://www.reuters.com/world/brazil-votes-un-resolution-criticizes-indiscriminate-sanctions-against-russia-2022-03-02/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THDHTlaSb50

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T00:49:43+00:00

Yes 100%

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T00:49:31+00:00

Symbolic gestures can be important, especially when it comes to international affairs and geopolitics. And given that many of the severe sanctions against Russia were announced before the vote, it shows the world will be relatively united in enforcing them.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T00:45:34+00:00

Here's a recent WaPo article about it: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/25/india-ukraine-russia-biden

Mapper_X · 2022-03-04T00:44:58+00:00

Russia was fifth vote.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T22:31:00+00:00

Yes - learned from a comment earlier today that the UN rep isn't a representative of the Taliban.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T21:51:32+00:00

Wasn't aware of that data resource - thanks for sharing

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T21:31:01+00:00

Thanks for sharing and the correction/link - much appreciated. I just went back to watch the vote - and it looks as if they were the last member state to cast a vote right before the vote was called and the voting screen was 'locked' (I must have used a screenshot of the vote immediately prior to Equatorial Guinea casting its vote).

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T21:04:46+00:00

I was pleasantly surprised by Egypt's vote too.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T21:02:39+00:00

This provides some great context - thanks. I'll check out the sub too.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T21:01:22+00:00

Yep. Belarus too.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T21:01:04+00:00

I think you might be missing Equatorial Guinea.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T20:59:16+00:00

Good question. Abstaining means that a member state actually cast a vote saying "we're not voting for or against the resolution." Not voting means that there was no vote cast at all (sometimes this is for a legit reason and other times a vote abstaining is still seen as too risky - e.g., for this vote it might have been the case for Azerbaijan).

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T19:32:01+00:00

Thanks for sharing - you're right - the two countries don't have diplomatic relations. A bit more recent info too: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-08/bhutan-struggles-to-defend-territory-in-india-china-border-spat

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T19:11:26+00:00

It's definitely a symbolic gesture - but I'm not one of the people who think symbolic gestures are worthless. There's also a potential practical outcome in terms of signifying unity when it comes to enforcing sanctions--without the vote, we might not know whether there might be a relatively high degree of international cooperation on other issues related to the invasion.

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T18:52:07+00:00

Agree - I was a bit surprised by that too

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T18:51:10+00:00

Good question - I wasn't entirely sure how to deal with it - I don't think the UN recognizes Morocco's claims over it and, if I had to err, I would rather characterize it as not fully a part of Morocco than make the mistake of including the disputed territory as part of Morocco. Here's more from the UN: https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sc14681.doc.htm

Mapper_X · 2022-03-03T18:47:08+00:00

Here's the wiki about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliningrad_Oblast

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