... even acknowledge because they are embedded so deeply into a culture. In particular this has led to a generally high rate of ethnocentrism among people in western societies. Abram attempts to help the reader see past theses cultural barriers and see people who are considered "undeveloped" in a different light. For example, in chapter 1 Abram travels to Indonesia on a research grant to ... study the relationship between modern medicine and magic. More particularly the illusory magic practiced by shamans and healers in undeveloped cultures. During one of his stays, he noticed that the woman...

• Word Count: 2479
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... cloud cover; and thereby alters the distribution of climate across the surface of the planet. An increase in average global temperature of 0.7 C has already been measured, and present rates of emission of greenhouse gases are committing the Earth to an additional warming of about 0.3 C per decade. We are also adding small particles and droplets called aerosols that reflect light back into space and tend ... to cause some areas to cool. It is because they trap heat like glass in a greenhouse that these gases received their name -- the greenhouse gases. They are vitally important for life....

• Word Count: 2775
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... various other significant climatic changes that cannot be predicted at this time. The greenhouse effect is also intensified by the process of deforestation, which is the conversion by humans of forest land to other uses (such as farming). Deforestation now takes place on a large scale in tropical areas of the world. When tropical forest is cleared for pasture land, there is an immediate loss of carbon ... to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. One current study indicates that as much of 25% of the current level of CO2 emissions can be attributed to deforestation and fires. Global ... is ...

• Word Count: 1531
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate