Turning Points in the History of the Middle East

Introduction The major turning points in the history of the Middle East can be divided into three main time periods. During the 1980s and 1990s, the history of the Middle East was shaped by three main events namely the Gulf War, the Palestinian rebellion, and the meltdown of the U.S.S R (Turning Points 114).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Turning Points in the History of the Middle East specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The second time period occurred during the first half of the new millennium. The events that had great significance on the history of Middle East included the September 11 attack, a second Gulf War, and a Palestinian rebellion (Turning Points 114). The third time period covers the years that followed the second half of the new millennium. Events that occurred during that period include America’s plan to depart from Iraq, the Arab spring, and squabbles between Israel and terror groups in the region. These events had significant implications on the economic, social, and political stability of the Middle East. Their effects market critical turning points in the modern history of Middle East. 1980s and 1990s The collapse of the U.S.S.R was a critical turning point in the history of the Middle East because it heralded a new system of political and economic ideology, alignment, and population. The position of the Soviet Union as a superpower was beneficial to countries such as Iraq, Syria, and South Yemen because of the military and financial assistance the received (Turning Points 115). However, its collapse meant that the support was withdrawn and the beneficiaries had to find other benefactors. The event would instigate the emigration of Jews from the region into Israel and a subsequent increase in its population that presented numerous social, economic, and financial challenges. Muslim countries were compelled to create new alliances with Western nations. The invasion o f Kuwait by Iraq in 1990 initiated the involvement of the United States in the Gulf War. The U.S. joined forces with other nations to help liberate Kuwait from the tight grip of Iraq (Turning Points 115). As a result, the military and economic infrastructure of Iraqi were adversely affected. Jordan struggled with helping Palestinian refugees who had been expelled from Kuwait for siding with Saddam Hussein. The financial aid that was coming from Western and Gulf countries was lost and Jordan had to forge new alliances. Egyptians were expelled from Iraq, Yemeni workers were expelled from Saudi Arabia, and Syria gained more control over Lebanon (Turning Points 114).Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These events created enemies and allies depending on the side that each country was supporting between warring nations. For instance, enmity between the United States and Iraq dates back to this period after the U.S. helped Kuwait defeat Iraq in the war. The Iraq-Kuwait war introduced enmity in the Arab world because it was the first time two Arab nations turned against each other. The war also led to creation of alliances between Arab and Western countries. For instance, the United States, United Kingdom, and France joined the war and since then, they have been involved in the politics of the Middle East. They use their economic superiority to push their agenda and influence economic policies. The collapse of the U.S.S.R. created a power vacuum in the Middle East that heralded the geopolitical and ideological contentions that took place in the 1990s. The rivalries aimed to fill the power vacuum and create a new model that would regulate the political and economic endeavors of the region. They set a stage for the involvement of regional and international players such as the United States, France, Russia, and Britain. Early 2000s The September 11, 2001 attack is one of the e vents that defined the modern history of the Middle East. 19 militants allied to the terrorist group Al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and launched attack against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (Turning Points 116). The attacks caused massive destruction and demise of more than 3,000 people. The attacks prompted the U.S. to develop stringent initiatives against terrorism. Reasons for the attack included America’s participation in the Persian Gulf War, presence of its military personnel in the Middle East, and its support of certain regimes (Turning Points 116). As a result of the attack, the U.S. waged war on Iraq as a way of crippling Al-Qaeda and as a result the regime of Saddam Hussein was brought down. During the same period, another war broke in the region after Palestinian militants attacked Israeli citizens. In retaliation, Israeli military fought back and occupied all regions that were under the control of Palestine in the West Bank. The economic infrastructur e of Palestine was destroyed and many civilians were killed. Continued attacks from Palestine compelled Israel to fight back. The political calamities that ensued form the war led to political dispensations in both countries in 2003 (Turning Points 116)This war was a turning point because the peace that both countries had enjoyed for many years was gone and they went back to attacking each other.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Turning Points in the History of the Middle East specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Iraqis noncompliance with United Nations’ resolutions led to an attack by the United States, Britain, and other nations. On the other hand, Iran was slapped with economic sanctions for failing to cooperate with international inspectors of nuclear weapons (Turning Points 117). The September 11 attacks, war against Iraq, and political crises in Afghanistan caused enmity between the United States and Gul f states because of the need to fill the power vacuum and address the United States’ initiative to fight radical Islam and terrorist groups in the region. Many states were angered by the continued presence of U.S. military personnel in the Middle East. The Arab spring heralded a new era of ideological and political dispensation in the Middle East. It brought about geopolitical changes that showed that the ideologies of Arab countries as well as political balance are directly related to the power wielded by individual states. Globalization, terrorism, nationalism, Arab spring, Kuwait crisis, and the peace process Globalization is also another factor that has had great influence in the history of the Middle East. This phenomenon originated from the western countries and most people in this region consider it more of a threat to their culture and value system than an opportunity to broaden their customs and attitudes towards various aspects in life (Turning Points 117). The Midd le East constitutes a lot of conservative cultures that have over the years struggled to deal with the impact of globalization. At the time when the western ideologies were being introduced in the Middle East, the region was very unstable. This led to the region losing its control over various things, thus resulting in an intense struggle to fight globalization. Research has established that the effect of globalization in the Middle East is responsible for poor democratization of various societies, as well as the growth of the ideologies behind Islamic fundamentalism and extremist groups (Turning Points 115). For example, the continued pressure from the U.S. in their bid to fight terrorism, as well as promote democracy and economic liberalization has created a lot of unrest across the Middle East.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is the kind of pressure that led to the emergence of the Arab spring in 2011, a phenomenon that sought to stimulate changes in the style of governance used across various Arabic countries. This is one of the recent developments that have left a huge mark on the history of the region because the protests resulted in change of a number of regimes that had blocked numerous efforts to embrace democracy. Currently, the Middle East is experiencing steady growth towards full democracy characterized by free and fair electoral processes, as well as promotion of human rights (Turning Points 117). One of the notable developments following the Arab spring is an initiative called rethinking political Islam that focuses on changing the global perception about Islamist movements through public debates. Reports indicate that the Kuwait crisis is also a prominent phenomenon that has shaped the history of the Middle East. The crisis also involved Iraq and the United Arab Emirates who were tangle d in a debt cancellation battle over oil exports. This crisis played a major role in the destabilization of the Middle East because countries involved started losing trust in each other. Over the period of seven months in which the crisis lasted, a lot of economic and political ties were destroyed, thus resulting in numerous challenges that altered the development efforts that were already in place across the region. Analysts argue that the greatest impacts of the crisis were felt with regard to the slow development of nationalism, as well as disregard for the peace process and the possible effects that the people would suffer due to the looming threat of terrorism (Turning Points 117). Most people in the Middle East have a strong love for their countries and have the willingness to sacrifice for it. However, this doctrine that one’s national culture and interests are superior to any other has contributed to the prolonged conflicts that have been a characteristic feature in t he history of the Middle East. Over the years, the Middle East has been dogged by great rivalries between its members due to accusations and counteraccusation with regard to the establishment of a reliable peace process. This challenge has been necessitated by the global challenge of terrorism, which has seen countries such as the U.S. targeting countries in the Middle East because they believe they harbor the most dangerous terror groups (Turning Points 114). Obama’s election The election of Obama was a defining moment because he promised to remove his military personnel from Iraq (Turning Points 117). The process began with military withdrawal from urban areas with promises of complete departure thereafter. In addition, Obama’s administration promised to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Obama’s promises meant that Iraqi authorities had to resolve certain economic and political issues that had existed for a long time. An election was conducted in 2010 and led to the creation of a coalition government (Turning Points 117). A new U.S. military policy also initiated elections in Iran in 2009. The elections were characterized by massive protests and clashes because of fraud claims. The situation was worsened by international pressure and criticisms against their nuclear weapons program. Iran’s failure to collaborate with inspectors led to U.N. sanctions that had severe economic and social implications. At the same time, clashes between Israel and Palestine were ongoing. Israel attacked Gaza and destroyed much of its infrastructure and blocked the transport of goods into the country (Turning Points 117). These events caused a humanitarian crisis that led to international criticisms against Israel. Israel loosened its stand after several instances of international protests from various countries. However, they carried on the blockade of construction materials because they did not want the reconstruction of destroyed inf rastructure (Turning Points 117). Currently, there is great rivalry between regional actors and international acts. There is Iran, Turkey, Israel, and Audi Arabia on one side and the U.S., China, Russia, and the U.K. on the other. These rivalries are aimed at defining the geopolitical and ideological systems of the Middle East. A good example of the effect of these rivalries is the severity of the Syrian crisis and the involvement of both regional and international actors. Conclusion The modern history of the Middle East has been shaped by several events that have taken place over the years. The Gulf War, the Palestinian rebellion, the collapse of the U.S.S.R, the Iraq invasion of Kuwait, the September 11 attacks, the Arab spring, and the Israeli attack on Palestine. These events are turning points that are responsible for the geopolitical and ideological state of the Middle East. Formation of alliances between countries, shifts in power balance, political transitions, and regional rivalries are examples of the aftermath effects of the aforementioned events. These events have shaped the political and ideological systems of the Middle East in a significant way. For instance, the current Syrian crisis is an example of the effects of rivalry between international and regional actors. This essay on Turning Points in the History of the Middle East was written and submitted by user Anderson Everett to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Weimar Republic essays

The Weimar Republic essays Why did the Weimar Republic get off to a "bad start?" What were the republics main successes and failures? What were the unique features of the Weimar constitution? What social problems existed in post war Germany? What does "We shall all be nationalists in ten years," mean? Why was 1926 a good year of the republic? Why was 1929 a bad one? Make a chronological list of the major events in Hitlers early life through 1933. This will be collected. Rosa Luxemburg- (One of the Sparticist leaders murdered by German police)"Freedom only for the supporters of the government, only for the members of one party however numerous they may be is no freedom at all. Freedom is always and exclusively freedom for the one who thinks." Of all liberal attempts at reconstruction, none began more hopefully nor ended more pathetically than the German republic. On paper-that is, in its constitution-it appeared to be one of the most advanced democratic nations of the times, but almost from the beginning it encountered die-hard opposition from both ends of the political spectrum. Its founders carried the onus of having accepted the Versailles treaty with the war guilt clause. It was overwhelmed by the worldwide depression, which struck Germany with greater severity than almost any other nation. The republic got off to a bad start. The provisional government declared an immediate end to martial law and the reestablishment of traditional civil liberties and set about preparing for an election for a constituent assembly. Before the election could take place the Sparticist uprising in Berlin showed that the forces of democracy would be opposed on the Left as well as the Right. The government called on elements of the old imperial army to suppress the revolt and executed its leaders without trial, both of which were bad precedents for a new democracy. At the same time it went ahead with plans for the election, the freest and most democratic i...

Socrates's wisdom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Accreditation Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Corporate Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Corporate Culture - Essay Example If I were the leader of Zappos, I would cultivate a more participative culture that would incorporate all the stakeholders including the customers in the decision making process of the organization. This will result into stimulation of ideas which will enable all the stakeholders to always respond to shared problems with innovative suggestive and unusual efforts. This will also improve the level of morale and a sense of satisfaction amongst the employees. A strong culture that is widely recognized constitutes one factors which contribute greatly to the success of any company. The managerial approach of most organizations tend to be characterized as being highly structured with set vision, mission and various strategies which guide its operations (Weiss, 2011). What determines the attainment of all this, depends on the organizations culture. If the employees share similar goals and objectives of the organization, the organization will tend to realize its vision and mission while there is always successful implementation of their strategies while the contrary is true. All this depend on the ability of the management to make the employees have a good assessment of and embracing the organizations

Needs and Expectations of Healthcare Stakeholders Case

Needs and Expectations of Healthcare Stakeholders Case You are asked to critically investigate and validate the needs and expectations of healthcare stakeholders in relation to the above ABC Concordia Healthcare Ltd organisation’s policy on equality and diversity. Prepare a summary of your investigate on the needs and expectations of Concordia Healthcare Ltd which relate to: Internal organizational needs External needs Fairness and justice The impact of prejudice and discrimination on individuals and groups Answer Organizational Needs and Expectations The consideration of organizational needs and expectations has a positive effect on outcome of health care delivery programmes or systems. Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights or opportunities. Diversity means understanding that each individual is unique and recognizing our individual difference. Policy is a course or principle of action adopted by an organization or individual. It is set of principles or rules that provides a definite direction for an organization. An equality policy is a written statement showing that your organization actively opposes discrimination .It demonstrates your commitment to making organization a fully accessible that welcomes and respects diversity. Developing an inclusive equality policy is one of the key factor in creating a sustainable organization that reflects the rich diversity of society and ensures equality of opportunity for everyone involved.[1] Internal needs and expectations If there is anything any that is steadfast and is unchanging, it is change itself and the organization that does not accept change that is the cause of failure or domain. There are events or situations that occur that affect the organization in two ways, in positive or negative way. The internal needs are easier to control, it usually are management changes, employee morale, culture changes and financial changes. The clients want the deals with them on the basis of their skills and experience instead of race and cast. They want the organization to focus on their physical disability. The clients want respect for their cultures, values, beliefs and preference and they need a friendly and comfortable environment. And we can say like that there few main expectations of every individual from an organization that should be met to make the working environment good and comfortable. These expectations are respect for their values, preference and expressed needs. Coordination and integration. The clients of an organization needs full information and communication. External Needs External environmental factors or needs are the events that take place outside the of the organization and are harder to predict and control. These needs can b more dangerous for an organization if are not met by the organization. These needs include the changes to the economy, threats from the competitions, political factors, government regulations or the industry itself. External needs also include the customers and contractors because without them they can not work and earn anything. Technology and resources are also the external needs requires for the proper functioning of an organization.[2] Fairness and Justice A lack of organizational justice can lead to negative outcomes, such as lower performance, lower satisfaction and higher absenteeism. To prevent the organization from the negative outcomes, the organization should promote equality and diversity policy that applies to service provision and not just employment. The organization to make a commitment to tackle discrimination. It should provide equal opportunities and access to all stake holders and support equality act 2010. The organization should use the policy to train the staff and integrate the policy into their activities. Organizational needs to explain hoe the policy will be put into practice and how it will be communicated to all staff and service users. The policy should be linked to the complaints and disciplinary procedures. The impact of prejudice and discrimination on individuals and groups Prejudice is a preconceived opinion not based on research or experience. Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment or different categories of people or things especially on grounds of race, age or sex. There is endless number off groups affected by prejudice and discrimination around the word and these are lower class, different cultures, women, different religions, elderly, and immigrants. Homosexuals, different races, teenagers, mentally or physically challenged. Examples of prejudice and discrimination are as teens are often discriminated against because people assume that they are rebellious and unless when teens are often very helpful and compassionate. Second is women who are often judged because of their past struggles to obtain acknowledgement by society as person. Immigrants are sometimes not allowed into a country or not given work because they are simply too different and people cannot accept change ,not realizing that they are fully capable of accomplishing tasks just as easily as someone of a similar race to themselves Effects on the individual are Acceptance- They believe what is being said about them. They feel that they have an inferior status in society. Accommodation- They don’t like or believe what is being said about them, but try and make the best of the situation. Voluntary segregation- Groups may live or work in separate areas in order to feel more comfortable and to succeed. Organized Protest- A person may join organizations to help fight against discrimination and get involved with marches, protest, and media exposure. Aggression- A person may take action against a prejudice individual’s property. Examples of aggression are crime and terrorism. Effects on the Discriminators are this person feels hate and resentment in their life. They don’t enjoy life or people as much as they could have. They focus only on one aspect of some individuals. They tend to lose friends (People don’t like to associate with the discriminator In conclusion, prejudice and discrimination is a serious issue that affects many people including the individual, the discriminators and society. The citizens should pay more attention to the solutions to prejudice and discrimination then may be society feel more comfortable Task 2 Consider what ABC Concordia Healthcare Ltd organisation’s policy currently proposes as methods to address, review and monitor equality and diversity issues in the organisation. You are asked to propose improvements to address gaps or shortfalls in their systems and processes. Consider where improvements could be made in terms of plans, team meetings, roles and responsibilities, timescales, audit, policy reform and allocation of resources. Answer ABC Concordia healthcare LTD Equality and diversity guidance and policy 2012 Investigation Results The internal organization needs the following changes to be included in the organization for making the environment comfortable for the clients and promote the work. The organization needs to take steps to identify the need of each and every client in the organization. Needs to devise the policies and procedures and to put in place customers service, should provide appropriate facilities and services and draw up a plan. Moreover, take appropriate actions wherever is needed, Monitor and record equal and provide opportunities on the basis of their experience instead of age, gender, ethnicity and disability. Solutions and preventions of prejudice and discrimination are; know the facts of the problem or situation. Be aware of your attitude and behaviour towards other clients. The words should be carefully selected before saying anything to the employees in an organization. The focus should on the positive and others should be supported. Get to know the people from the other groups. Hold monthly meetings with the staff. Recommendations; the organization should review the needs and finalize policies –strategic planning activity. It should formulate procedures for every policy covering all corners of its concern; communicate the approved policies and procedures to all. The organization should conduct regular meetings as follow ups on feedback and incident report.[3] References www.equalityhumanright.com www.managementhelp.org/orgcom/ [1] [2] [3]

Honest Iago Essay -- essays papers

Honest Iago The poet Coleridge appropriately described the character of Iago as being one of "motiveless malignity." Throughout the play Iago’s motives are secondary to, and seem only to serve as justification for, his actions. Iago is driven by his nature of character. To discuss Coleridge’s assessment we must look at Iago’s character—from Iago’s point of view and that of the other characters—his motives, methods, and pawns. Through some carefully thought-out words and actions, Iago is able to manipulate others to do things in a way that benefits him; all the while he is pushing Othello, Desdemona, Roderigo, Emilia, and Cassio to their tragic end. According to Websters New International Dictionary, Second Edition, malignity is partially defined as "disposition to do evil." "Motiveless" is implied in the definition of malignity. That one has a "disposition to do evil" is to say evil is in the nature of the malignant person; motive is not an issue. "Motiveless malignity" is redundant in the pure meaning of the words. Does Coleridge mean to say that Iago cannot help himself from being evil or does he mean that what Iago did was without motive? For the sake of this discussion, Coleridge intends the later. Abbott states "in truth character is what a person is; reputation is what he is supposed to be." (Websters) Is Iago evil? No, he is not. Walter Lippmann says that "evil is not a quality of things as such. It is a quality of our relation to them." (Websters) Iago is not opposed to good (a partial definition of evil) however, he is amoral and malicious. How does Iago see himself? "Others there are who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty, keep yet their hearts attending on themselves, and t... ...d knowledge of the nature of things to play a game and win. He does not make each move with conscious reason, only to win the game; thus Iago is motiveless at each step. He is like a child who only enjoys tumbling down the blocks of other children; he is the play-yard bully. When asked why, the bully generally shrugs and says "I don’t know." Similarly when asked why, Iago's response is just as simple: "What you know, you know." [Act V, Scene 2, Line 302] And Iago knew why; and he knew how. Iago most honestly confesses to Emily "I told him what I thought, and told no more than what he found himself was apt and true" [Act V, Scene 2, Line 175] The unspoken line comes next: they believed what they wanted—they are the guilty not I. Iago is a crafty, intelligent, manipulative school-yard bully, who is motiveless at each move. Iago is an honest man--deadly honest.

Letter to Macduff

A Letter to Macduff Dear Macduff, Oh, what you have missed! I have important news to tell you. A series of events happened at the banquet you failed to attend. The majesty left all of us thanes speechless and suspicious. It is not that I ever doubted your thoughts about Macbeth, but it is now clear to me that he is a guilty man with a conscience filled with remorse. The ceremony seemed as if it were going to be elegant and pleasing. There were an equal number of thanes on each side of the table.The king presented himself honorably as he sat down with the rest of us to â€Å"play the humble host† and announced that Lady Macbeth would keep her state. However not long after that things began to get strange. A dirt and bloody man walked through the doors of the dining room and Macbeth quickly got up and attended him. Suspicious it was, my lord, for Macbeth seem unsatisfied with the news the ruffian delivered and before anything else could be said, Lady Macbeth interrupted and remi nded Macbeth of his duties as a host.She seen overly agitated, embarrassed and desperate to get Macbeth away from the doors and back to the feast. She rightly said that a guest must be treated with social rituals and courtesy and must be reminded of how welcomed they are. However as she did this, those looking at his majesty discretely could tell that the bloody man was bringing him bad news and as soon as he heard Lady Macbeth he quickly dispatched the man from the banquet.In all honestly, it looked like Macbeth had someone do his dirty work for him and something went wrong however once he got back at the table he tried to put it aside and the feast began. That wasn’t all! If you had only been there to see what Lady Macbeth claimed was an illness of the king’s infancy. His body was possessed with madness! As he was about to make a toast, he suddenly stopped as if his heart had stop beating and his expression changed from joy to intense fear and the he began to scream â€Å"Which of you have done this? He did all this while looking at the empty chair that was meant to be filled by Banquo whom also did not attend the banquet. And things only became stranger. His majesty continuously repeated he had not done â€Å"it† however he never mention what â€Å"it† was. It seemed that some kind of vision appeared to be accusing him of something. What could he be accused of? You can only imagine that Lady Macbeth tried to ease the situation, by saying it was just a momentary fit and to do our best to ignore him, however this was very hard to do.She also demanded the guest not to ask any questions since it would feed and extend the king’s passion. And of course no one did but all of us thanes were filled with curiosity and suspicion as to what was happening. She approached the king and had a word with him where no one could hear but by simply looking at her you could tell she was not content and as the conversation got intense their voi ces rose and we all heard the king declare that is charnel-house and graves sent back the bodies put in them then our graves would be like the maws of kite.As soon as the king and queen rejoined with their guest, Macbeth spoke and said he suffered from a strange infirmity. He pretended like nothing had happened and demanded wine. He might have fooled himself but not us, as it was obvious that there was more to the story than a simple illness. Furthermore my lord In the middle of the servant pouring the wine, the king began to grow pail and weak once more and then screams â€Å"avaunt and quit my sight! † all of us Thanes were confused since we were not sure if he was talking to us, but then it became clear that he was having another one of his episodes.This time, however, he revealed things our ears were not meant to hear. He confessed that what he was so vividly seeing was a ghost. Lady Macbeth tried once more to brighten the mood of the dinner but too much had been said and we all wanted to hear more. All present at the table looked at each other with one eye and had the other fixed on Macbeth. He seemed so certain that what he saw was real, the fear and remorse in his eyes could be seen from miles away and no one could help but wonder whose ghost he was seeing.Dear Macduff at this point I wouldn’t help but think that maybe it was your father king Duncan coming back for vengeance†¦ Our suspicions grew even stronger by the end of his second episode. He paused, looked at us and asked us how we could see such things and not look pale moreover when Ross asked him with confusion what the sighs were, before the King could reply, Lady Macbeth firmly reminded us that questions would enrage him and then dismissed all of us and demanded to leave at once and not by order of importance.The scene was quite suspicious and most alarming Macduff. This whole ceremony was a disaster that will lead to Macbeth’s fall my lord. Things were said and done at this event that no one thane should have seen or heard. Once we left the banquet you could hear the rumors on the street about the king, how he had gone mad, but those who were knowledgeable, began to think about the things that had happened and began to ask questions about the resent murders. How is it going with you Macduff?After attending the banquet last night, I am certain that Macbeth will go to any length to get what he want so please be careful, watch your back at all times. Hope everything is working out the way you hope. Your noble friend, Lennox P. S. You will not believe that news my ears have just heard. Banquo has been killed by savages. He was found in the wood stabbed to death. I wonder who would want him dead and why. Who will be next? This have gotten out of control around here and it is all because of the tyrant Macbeth. You must hurry and put a stop to this before anyone else gets hurt. Related essay: â€Å"Co Curricular Activities Letter†

Peacock Facts (Pavo sp. and Afropavo sp.)

Peacock Facts (Pavo sp. and Afropavo sp.) Peacocks are birds known for their showy plumage and piercing calls. While both males and females are often called peacocks, really only the male is the peacock. The female is a peahen, while the young are peachicks. Collectively, they are properly known as peafowl. Fast Facts: Peacock Scientific Name: Pavo cristatus; Pavo muticus; Afropavo congensisCommon Names: Peacock, Indian peacock, blue peafowl, green peafowl, Java peafowl, African peacock, Congo peafowl, mbuluBasic Animal Group: BirdSize: 3.0-7.5 feetWeight: 6-13 poundsLifespan: 15-20 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Forests of India, Southeast Asia, and Congo Basin of AfricaPopulation: ThousandsConservation Status: Least Concern to Endangered (depending on species) Species Peafowl belong to the pheasant family (Phasianidae). The three genera are Pavo cristatus, the Indian or blue peacock; Pavo muticus, the Java or green peafowl; and Afropavo congensis, the African peafowl or mbulu. There are also subspecies of green peafowl. The male green peafowl and female Indian peafowl can mate to produce a fertile hybrid called a spalding. Description Peacocks are easily identified by their fan-like crest of feathers and long train of colorful eye-spot feathers. Male birds have spurs on their legs which they use for territorial disputes with other males. While peahens have a feathered crest, they lack the elaborate train. Both males and females have iridescent feathers. Actually, the feathers are brown, but crystalline structures produce vibrant blue, green, and gold colors by the scattering and interference of light. The body of the blue peacock appears blue, while the body of the green peacock appears green. The African peacock is a darker blue-green and brown. Chicks bear cryptic coloring in shades of tan and brown that help them blend in with their environment. Both males and females are large birds, but males are about twice the length of females because of their feather train. On average, adults range from three to over seven feet from beak to tail tip. They weigh between six and thirteen pounds. African or Congo peafowl have shorter trains the green or blue peafowl. Stan Osolinski, Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Originally, the Indian peacock came from the Indian subcontinent. Now it is widely distributed across South Asia. Green peafowl live in Southeast Asia, including China, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Java. The African peacock is native to the Congo Basin. The three peafowl species do not naturally overlap ranges. All three species prefer forested habitats. Diet and Behavior Like other pheasants, peafowl are omnivorous, basically eating anything that fits in their beaks. They eat fruits, insects, crops, garden plants, seeds, insects, small mammals, and small reptiles. At night, peacocks fly to tree branches to roost in family units. Reproduction and Offspring The breeding season is variable and depends largely on rain. Males fan their feathers to attract a mate. A female may select a mate based on several factors, which include the visual display, its low-frequency vibration (picked up by the females crest feathers), or the males call. A blue peacock has a harem of two to three peahens, while green and African peafowl tend to be monogamous. After mating, the female scrapes a shallow nest in the ground and lays between four and eight buff-colored eggs. She incubates the eggs, which hatch after 28 days. Only the female cares for the chicks, which follow her around or may be carried on her back when she flies to roost. Peafowl reach sexual maturity at two to three years of age. In the wild, they live between 15 and 20 years, but they may live 30 years in captivity. Green peahen with chicks. Ronald Leunis / EyeEm, Getty Images Conservation Status Peafowl conservation status depends on species. The IUCN classifies the conservation status of the Indian peacock as least concern. The bird enjoys wide distribution across Southeast Asia, with a wild population over 100,000. The IUCN lists the Congo peafowl as vulnerable and decreasing in population. In 2016, the number of mature birds was estimated to range between 2,500 and 10,000. The green peafowl is endangered. Fewer than 20,000 mature birds remain in the wild, with a decreasing population. Threats Peacocks face numerous threats, including habitat loss and degradation, hunting, poaching and predation. Green peacocks are further endangered by introduction of hybrid birds into wild populations. Peafowl and Humans Blue peacocks are agricultural pests in some regions. Peafowl readily breed in captivity. They are most often kept for the beauty and their feathers and sometimes for meat. Peacock feathers are collected after the male molts each year. While peafowl are affectionate toward their owners, they can be aggressive toward strangers. Sources BirdLife International 2016. Afropavo congensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22679430A92814166. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679430A92814166.enBirdLife International 2016. Pavo cristatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22679435A92814454. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679435A92814454.enBirdLife International 2018. Pavo muticus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22679440A131749282. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22679440A131749282.enGrimmett, R.; Inskipp, C.; Inskipp, T. Birds of India: Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Princeton University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-691-04910-6.  Johnsgard, P.A. The Pheasants of the World: Biology and Natural History. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 374, 1999. ISBN 1-56098-839-8.

Mississippi Burning essays

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Legalization of medical marijuana Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Predatory Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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