Fennec Fox Facts (Vulpes zerda)

The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is known for its huge ears and diminutive size. It is the smallest member of the canid (dog) family. Whether the fennec truly belongs in the genus Vulpes is debated because it has fewer chromosome pairs than other fox species, lives in packs while other foxes are solitary, and has different scent glands. Sometimes fennec foxes are known by the scientific name Fennecus zerda. Its common name comes from the Berber-Arabic word fanak, which means fox. Fast Facts: Fennec Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes zerdaCommon Names: Fennec fox, fennecBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 9.5-16 inch body plus a 7-12 inch tailWeight: 1.5-3.5 poundsLifespan: 10-14 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: North Africa and the Sahara DesertPopulation: StableConservation Status: Least Concern Description The fennec foxs most distinctive feature is its large ears, which may measure 6 inches. The ears help the fox identify prey at night and dissipate heat during the day. The fox is small, with a body ranging from 9 to 16 inches in length, plus a bushy 7 to 12 inch tail. Adults weigh between 1.5 and 3.5 pounds. The fennecs thick coat is cream-colored with a black-tipped tail. The fluffy coat insulates the fox against temperatures that range from below freezing at night to over 100 F during the day. Fur covers their paws, protecting them from getting burned by hot sand and improving traction on shifting dunes. Fennec foxes lack musk glands found in other fox species, but have glands on their tail tips that produce a musky odor when the fox is startled. Habitat and Distribution Fennec foxes live in North Africa and Asia. They range from Morocco to Egypt, south to northern Niger, and east to Israel and Kuwait. The foxes are most at home in sand dunes, but they will live where soil is compacted, too. Diet Foxes are omnivores. Fennec foxes are nocturnal hunters that use their sensitive ears to detect the movement of small underground prey. They eat rodents, insects, birds and their eggs, and also fruit and other plants. Fennecs will drink free water, but dont require it. They get their water from food, plus digging in the ground causes dew formation that the animals can lick. Behavior Fennec foxes communicate using a wide variety of sounds, including a purr resembling that of a cat. Males mark territory with urine. Other fox species are mostly solitary, but fennec foxes are highly social. The basic social unit is a mated pair and their offspring for the present and previous year. The group lives in elaborate dens dug into sand or compacted soil. Fennec fox kits are born with closed eyes and folded ears. Floridapfe / Getty Images Reproduction and Offspring Fennec foxes mate once a year in January and February and give birth in March and April. Gestation typically lasts between 50 and 52 days. The female or vixen gives birth in the den to a litter of one to four kits. A birth, the kits eyes are closed and its ears are folded over. Kits are weaned by 61 to 70 days of age. The male feeds the female while she is caring for the young. Fennec foxes reach sexual maturity around nine months of age and mate for life. They have an average life expectancy of 14 years in captivity and are believed to live about 10 years in the wild. Conservation Status The IUCN classifies fennec fox conservation status as least concern. The foxes are still abundant within most of their range, so the population may be stable. The species is listed under CITES Appendix II to help protect the foxes from international trade abuse. Threats The foxs most significant natural predator is the eagle owl. Fennecs are hunted for fur and trapped for the pet trade. But, the most significant threat comes from human settlement and commercialization of the Sahara. Many foxes are killed by vehicles, plus they may suffer habitat loss and degradation. Some people keep fennec foxes as pets. petrenkod / Getty Images Fennec Foxes and Humans The fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria. In some places, its legal to keep fennec foxes as pets. While not truly domesticated, they can be tamed. Like other foxes, they can dig under or climb over most enclosures. Most canine vaccinations are safe for fennecs. Although nocturnal by nature, fennec foxes (like cats) adapt to human schedules. Sources Alderton, David. Foxes, Wolves, and Wild Dogs of the World. London: Blandford, 1998. ISBN 081605715X.Nobleman, Marc Tyler. Foxes. Benchmark Books (NY). pp. 35–36, 2007. ISBN 978-0-7614-2237-2.Sillero-Zubiri, Claudio; Hoffman, Michael; Mech, Dave. Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. World Conservation Union. pp. 208–209, 2004. ISBN 978-2-8317-0786-0.Wacher, T., Bauman, K. Cuzin, F. Vulpes zerda. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T41588A46173447. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41588A46173447.en

Gandhi, All Human Beings Are Equal - 1297 Words

Gandhi, all human beings are equal. Dr Mahindra shouts in The Old Woman and the Cow condemning people deviating from Gandhi’s path of indiscrimination: â€Å"I am talking of something else. I am not blaming you. I am blaming your Dharma – according to Jwala Prasad you are immoral if you do not pay the interest on debt. To be sure, these hypocrites and the priests are together – Brahmin dogs! In one village the pure, pure Hindus have turned out all the untouchables. And this happens in our own raj. All those white caps, Gone is Gandhi’s Dharma?† (Anand1981: 225). According to him, the real spirit of all religions is inclusiveness. Bakha†¦show more content†¦In Coolie, the have-nots suffer the worst during the Hindu-Muslim riots. A mere thought of the communal riots distresses Munoo and â€Å" . . . he gazed at the ruined fortresses, c astles, shrines and Mausoleums, which dug their heels into the barren earth among the gnarled roots of trees, cactus and wild shrubs, fuming with shimmering smoke without burning the hateful glare of the all consuming sun† (Anand 1936: 147). The message Anand wishes to impart is what Puran Singh professes in The Big Heart: â€Å"If there is anything which has accrued to me through my pilgrimage of the world it is the belief that I must help to change the present order built on profit; that I must devote myself entirely to the poor† (Anand 1945: 143). Anand wants to remove poverty and false beliefs by spreading awareness in the superstition ridden society. â€Å"Even in a random reading of Anand’s novels, the reader becomes immediately aware of such issues as the tyranny of the caste-system, its injustice, and its social, moral and economic consequences, class conflicts, exploitation of various kinds of the poor by the rich, quest for identity, search for freedom , etc. Under colonial rule, a number of social and economic changes took place and as a result a feudal society was gradually transformed into a capitalistic one. The class system in India has turned out to be a new kind of caste-system. It is built on the cash nexus on which itShow MoreRelatedMahatma Gandhi And Nelson Mandela1447 Words   |  6 PagesIf Mahatma Gandhi never inspired Nelson Mandela to fulfill his vision for human rights, would Nelson Mandela have inspired Barack Obama to continue that legacy? Mahatma Gandhi practiced civil disobedience and lobbied for the rights of Indians in South Africa and India. Nelson Mandela hungered and fought for a South Africa, where all races were equal and unified as nationalists. Barack Obama sought to build a more tolerant United States through his historic presidency, immigration policies, andRead MoreNelson Mandela, Beyonce, And Mahatma Gandhi1029 Words   |  5 Pagestheir ethnicity, race, or gender? Nelson Mandela, Beyonce, and Mahatma Gandhi had one mission. Their mission was to support others during their struggle to have equality and earn the basic rights of freedom. Although these three individuals used different methods, they all fought for equal rights against racial discrimination by showing strong leadership skills and loving all people. Nelson Mandela was passionate about human rights because he witnessed the cruel treatment firsthand. In his bookRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr s Letter From A Birmingham Jail1213 Words   |  5 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas K. Gandhi were civil rights activists who practiced a form of movement to gain equal rights amongst their nation. King and Gandhi were most important for their allegiance to nonviolence. King demonstrated his notion of nonviolence in his letter titled, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, and Gandhi in his writing, from Non- Violent Resistance. The two are closely related and share common and distinct themes; both held considerably comparable belief toward nonviolenceRead MoreThe Fight For The Fair Treatment And Equal Rights1713 Words   |  7 PagesWhenever human rights is brought into question, may it be locally or internationally, It is very common for people to point out their lack of equal rights in order to further explain how they are being robbed of some naturally given right(s). Those who point out rights and the lack of them are using it to argue for justice. Today, equal rights are adamantly fought for by people from all walks of life. If we look at the United States of America, we can see that, the inequality that people point toRead MoreThe Gandhi And Joseph Mazzini Essay1563 Words   |  7 PagesMahatmas Gandhi and Joseph Mazzini make strong arguments regarding these two topics. While they share the common end goal of independence, they contend different views as to what constitutes a nation’s need independence from, and who are members of a certain nation-state. Ultimately, Gandhi’s argument is more morally defensible than Mazzini’s for reasons that will explained. In their arguments for nationalism, both Gandhi and Mazzini argue that nations need to be free. However, Gandhi contends thatRead MoreEssay on Civil Disobedience1397 Words   |  6 Pages All throughout world history, human beings have participated in acts of civil disobedience. However, in the last two centuries the belief and practice of it has been in full swing and has even brought on major historical events, especially concerning equal rights and just laws. Three major firm believers and activists in civil disobedience were Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr., and Gandhi. All three of these men participated in acts of civil disobedience but each in his own wayRead MoreThe Beliefs And Achievements Of Nelson Mandela And Mohandas Gandhi853 Words   |  4 PagesSara Peterson Mr. Heitman Global II May 28, 2016 The beliefs and achievements of Nelson Mandela and Mohandas Gandhi have made positive impacts on society throughout global history. They both helped people fight the restrictions against them in order to earn what they deserved; freedom. Mandela never stopped helping people achieve equal rights. Gandhi saw people were being mistreated so he took action by boycotting. Both men fought hard to earn the rights that people sill currently have today. Read MoreMahatma Gandhi, Athenian Essay781 Words   |  4 Pagesevil side. In â€Å"My Graduation Speech† by Neil postman, Mahatma Gandhi shows some characteristics of an Athenian. Athenians took interest in public affairs and the improvement of public behaviour and so did Gandhi. He also inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Mahatma Gandhi believed that the wrong acts done by people are acts of violence against the social order and Athenians believed in that also. Mahatma Gandhi was a good public figure, placed a great value on traditionRead MoreThe Most Important Aspect Of Life874 Words   |  4 Pagesdaily life and gives someone, something to believe in. All religions have some sort of important leader that followers look up to on a daily basis. Take Gandhi and Dalai Lama, for example, they both embrace the fact that spiritual evolution is the most important aspect to life. Both leaders take on a role of non-violence actions and are known to re present the idea that people in society can always evolve and transcend to become a better human being. Even though they both have similar aspects in lifeRead MorePrime Minister and Gandhi1014 Words   |  5 PagesAnalyzing the speech ‘What Educated Women Can Do’ by Indira Gandhi, published in the Selected Speeches and Writings of Indira Gandhi from September 1972 to March 1977 (WordPress.com 2011) stresses on the importance of women’s education and their neglect not only in India but around the whole world. In this speech, Gandhi provides many strong stances on women’s education. Gandhi discusses its culture and superstitions and how women in India have been oppressed of proper/formal education. She also

Urban Redevelopment

Question: Write an essay on Urban Redevelopment. Answer: Urban redevelopment is the rehabilitation or urban areas by replacement of old buildings with better houses, parks, roads, industrial areas according to comprehensive plans. During this renewal, major impacts on landscapes occur, playing a part in the history of cities (Wang, 2010). Further, there is business relocation, destruction of structures and displacement of people during this renewal. Redevelopment involves coming up with better pedestrian zones, making better use of the underutilized regions of the city by integrating them into a citys history. In addition, it involves renovation of sidewalks, integration of business activities and residential, afforestation and increasing the number of security lights (Wang, 2010). Australia having the highest population growth level among developed nations put pressure to housing, health and transport infrastructure. Sustainable development has been an issue of concern in this country in order to improve the living standards of the citizens. Coming up with the appropriate policies of carrying out urban development without affecting low income earners is therefore a pressing need to Australia. According to Downs, A. (2009), the challenge is coming up with viable cities incorporating transformation projects and properly planned infrastructure at the same time bringing up social and economic development. Discussed in this paper are the policy recommendations necessary for urban redevelopment without raising house rent that results to displacement of low income earners in Australia. Trueventus urban renewal Australia Trueventus urban renewal Australia is a strategic framework and discussion platform with the aim of shipping the Australian urban renewal policy in creating a sustainable city. Government representatives, policy makers, investors and other key decision makers are coming together to address the issue (Wang, 2010).The government has the duty of coming up with policies which safeguard the quality and ensure affordable housing such that its citizens despite their income level can easily access housing(Wang, 2010). A multifaceted strategy addressing housing challenges is necessary to achieve this objective. Importantly the government should ensure affordability of the houses where the low income earners reside. Protection policy In order to protect the people from rising rents, the government should come up with a protection policy. Good cause eviction policy is one way to protect the tenants as it ensures they are not evicted without a good reason (Berry, 2003). As much as it does not protect those who cannot afford rent it reduces indiscriminate evictions, allowing residents to adjust to rent hike. In addition residents get more time to get alternative housing. The owner is required to issue a good reason for eviction such as failure to pay rent and intentional destruction of the unit. Again for the purpose of protecting low income earners the government should come up with clear processes for filling petitions as well as penalties for landlords who unfairly evict tenants. In addition vulnerable groups such as pregnant woman and the elderly should be protected from no fault evictions (Wang, 2010). Condominium Conversion Protection Condominium conversion protection serves as a policy which protects the renters from their rental units being converted into condominiums and sold to other renters. In addition it solves the issue of inadequate rentals to the low income earners. Residents should be issued with up to three years notice before conversion even giving them a chance to buy a unit before selling it to new residents, saving financially capable residents from displacement. Condo conversion protections also requires that the owner pays a fee that is directed to affordable housing to minimize the impacts of reduced rental housing brought about by condo conversion. A lottery which restricts the number of convertible buildings annually should also be established as a means of preventing displacement. The residents have the right of first refusal against the owner selling the entire building which can lead to the transfer of ownership to a person who is ready to preserve the building for rental purposes affordabl y. Give Density Bonuses Another policy applicable in Australia to increase affordability of housing amidst urban redevelopment is the policy of density bonuses (Shaw, 2004). Under this land owners receive a bonus such as to build more units than the allowed ones if they agree to make a certain portion of the unit affordable to low income earners. In another approach of the density bonus policy, owners are allowed to develop their property beyond existing zoning specifications (Shaw, 2004). In return they make sure a share of the new residential is affordable to low income earners. The owner can also receive financial assistance for development from the community with a promise of including affordable units in the development. In addition the government should mobilize initiative from volunteers to build affordable houses in favor for the low income earners as a moral persuasion. The government may give landlords who consent to the moral persuasion a land tax holiday or tax cuts as incentives (Shaw, 2004). Rent Stabilization Notably rent stabilization is a practical strategy to prevent displacement and rent hike. The strategy ensures that rent can only be increased by a specific amount annually making it easy for those unable to adjust to sudden rent rise. In addition rent stabilization policy assist renters to select a house based on their anticipated income for the future. Mandatory inclusion zoning is another strategy addressing housing needs of the low income earners, (Lees, 2008). The requirement of this policy is that developers should make a portion of the newly developed units affordable. According to this policy about 10 to 20% of the new unit should be affordable to individuals at a certain income levels. For effectiveness the policy should be adopted prior to the development (Lees, 2008). Tax Increment Financing According to Zukin (2007), tax increment financing is a strategy for financing infrastructure plus other public improvements the government should use to reduce the negative externalities caused by tax burden on land owners. Tax increment financing raises the capability to maintain a low but steady rental increments. It includes funding for investments such as sidewalks, electricity bills and water expenses. Therefore, communities are able to pay increments on property taxation. Zukin. (2007) explains that the policy can be used for other purposes such as pooling funds for affordable housing as well as prioritizing cheap home ownership. Linkage Fees Program Linkage fees program is a mechanism where the government generates funding for affordable housing in places undergoing redevelopment (Zukin, 2007). It does so by asserting a fee to nonresidential developments and spends the money to come up with affordable housing. Hotels, manufacturing facilities are examples of the nonresidential developments that raise the funds. Justification of this fee is in the fact that in areas with both residential and nonresident developers, competing for land, land value rises as well as housing challenge. This is in contrary to areas where developmental and non-residential are not in direct competition. Further, the initiative of funding nonresidential development can foster neighborhood change through creation of amenities that attract extra charges and higher income earners who want to reside near their workplaces (Zukin, 2007). In return rent and home value increase tremendously which explains the justification for linkage fee and promotes fair sharin g between the nonresidential developers and the commercial developers (Zukin, 2007). According to Davidson. (2008) Linkage fees also acts as a solution for the imbalance caused by the job housing ratio where commercial developers outpace affordable housing in a certain neighborhood. Commercial projects, offices and parks increase demand for affordable houses whose members are workers in this businesses. Imbalance between demand and supply for affordable units raise rent hence distorting the peaceful existing of the neighborhood. Linkage fee policy has several purposes such as determining how and who benefits from the fee. In the linkage fee program, communities decide a balance between the amount of funds to be raised and the economic development to foster. Increasing costs discourages commercial development (Zukin, 2007). Housing Trust Funds Notably, housing trust funds is a practical policy in reducing housing coats and minimize displacement. The policy works to generate and bring together financial resources to promote housing development and support local government departments to maintain affordable housing for the low income earners. Societies that establish new funding incentives, an example of tax increment financing can come up with a housing trust fund that prioritizes on expenditures. In addition the policy can be financed through revenue bonds, real estate transfer of taxes and taxes collected from building improvements. Housing trust funds have the advantage of flexibility which allow communities come up with initiatives that meet the needs of the society. Further, the policy can be used for preservation and growth of homebuyer assistance programs and promotion of ongoing rental subsidies, (Lees, 2008). Targeting Local Housing Resources Targeting federal, state and local housing resources is important in promoting affordable housing. The initiative uses Home and Community Development Block Grants that assist in funds distributing to ensure equality in the community by giving equal weights to applications from all individuals. The policy makes the decision on whether and how to come up with the allocation target for the resources in the community Boddy, M. (2007). Importantly, recognition of societys decision on grant allocation and available funds outdoes the impact on the production of affordable rent rates, due to the federal decision on raising the funding through the low Income Housing tax credit. Communities have a chance to increase their allocation if they are willing and have the capability to control the funds. Tax Incentives According to Atkinson, R. (2004) Local and state tax incentives should be used to encourage maintenance of existing affordable housing. Tax incentives, promote housing goals such as development of affordable taxes, lower property tax rates and a longer period of tax payment. Credit facilities should be offered in cases of property underutilization which promotes development through the raised tax rate for land improvements. Tax incentives foster development without a specified population target but with a great emphasis on the requirements needed to meet the tax objectives. The government should use tax to stimulate development projects if they lead to increased affordable housing. In addition, the tax policies should specifically aim at promoting affordable units in the allocated neighborhoods (Lees, 2008). Parking Incentives In reference to Lees. (2008), the government should as well make use of parking incentives in creating affordable shelter for the people of Sydney. Parking incentives policy aims at motivating development without increasing the cost and space required. Reducing parking requirements for residential developers, reduces the cost of production, hence increasing the availability of affordable housing. This would particularly be applicable for Sydney with its large population and high land costs. Like other incentives, parking incentives promotes different kinds of development (Freeman et al, 2004). Hence, the government must specify the target population that benefits from the new units. In addition, the incentive should consider raising developmental units without expanding the parking space. Yet, as the population density raises, parking space tightens, reducing transit space which raises concern as to whether parking supply is a sufficient strategy. Expedited Permitting Accordingly, the government should enhance expedited permitting, which is important in cost reduction associated with delays and red tapes in permits acquisition. According to Weber, R. (2002) Time is an important factor and therefore long durations of obtaining building permits or approvals could cause a great deal of efficiency. Expedited permitting can reduce development costs by coming up with clearer and shorter permit processes such as online fees payment and automated payments. Communities should clearly differentiate between requirements and development needs to receive expedited permitting. For those who chose expedited permitting policy, parallel processes should be put in place to ensure affordable and new developments (Berry, 2003). Impact Fees Impact fees is another incentive the government can use to the advantage of low income earners as far as housing is concerned. According to Berry. (2003), it is designed as a onetime charge to cater for development project such as waterlines, schools and pathways. In reference to Berry .(2003),through cutting this fees, new development projects for affordable housing can foster incentives to lower costs even further. Summary To summarize, bearing in mind the consequences that come along with poor housing, the government has a large pool of choices to pick from to ensure affordable housing. The mentioned incentives are especially a shortcut in fighting this challenge. A combination of the incentives would be far more efficient not only to promote affordable housing but also to maintain the housing. If anyone is to be productive out there, then it begins from a comfortable home. References Atkinson, R. (2004). The evidence on the impact of gentrification: new lessons for the urban renaissance?. European Journal of Housing Policy, 4(1), 107-131. Berry, M. (2003). Why is it important to boost the supply of affordable housing in Australiaand how can we do it?. Urban Policy and Research, 21(4), 413-435. Boddy, M. (2007). Designer neighbourhoods: new-build residential development in nonmetropolitan UK citiesthe case of Bristol. Environment and Planning A, 39(1), 86-105. Davidson, M. (2008). Spoiled mixture: where does state-ledpositive'gentrification end?. Urban Studies, 45(12), 2385-2405. Downs, A. (1981). Neighborhoods and urban development. Brookings Institution Press. Freeman, L., Braconi, F. (2004). Gentrification and displacement New York City in the 1990s. Journal of the American Planning Association, 70(1), 39-52. Lees, L. (2008). Gentrification and social mixing: towards an inclusive urban renaissance?. Urban Studies, 45(12), 2449-2470. Randolph, B., Holloway, D. (2005). The suburbanization of disadvantage in Sydney: new problems, new policies. Opolis, 1(1). Shaw, K. (2004). Local limits to gentrification. Gentrification in a global context, 172. Wang, Y. P., Murie, A. (2000). Social and spatial implications of housing reform in China. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 24(2), 397-417. Weber, R. (2002). Extracting value from the city: neoliberalism and urban redevelopment. Antipode, 34(3), 519-540. Wu, F. (2004). Residential relocation under market-oriented redevelopment: the process and outcomes in urban China. Geoforum, 35(4), 453-470. Shaw, K. (2004). Local limits to gentrification. Gentrification in a global context, 172. Swyngedouw, E., Moulaert, F., Rodriguez, A. (2002). Neoliberal urbanization in Europe: largescale urban development projects and the new urban policy. Antipode, 34(3), 542-577. Zukin, S. (2007). Gentrification: culture and capital in the urban core. Annual Review of Sociology, 129-147.