| I know this post might make a few people angry, | | | | Now, am I the only one who sees this whole thing as |
| but I'm not trying to be politically correct. I am just | | | | a huge multi-billion dollar scam? I mean, let's all go out |
| voicing my opinion. I think carbon offsets are a huge | | | | and be irresponsible and keep producing huge |
| and unnecessary scam. | | | | amounts of CO2 and then go pay someone to |
| Here is what WikiHow says carbon offsets are: | | | | promise that they will reduce their carbon footprint |
| "Carbon offsets are becoming an increasingly popular | | | | so that our carbon footprint will be neutralized. Come |
| way for individuals and businesses to participate in | | | | on people! Are you kidding me? |
| solutions to global warming. The basic idea of a | | | | I think I will go out to McDonald's every day for the |
| carbon offset is to figure out your personal | | | | next 2 months and eat Big Macs and French Fries |
| contribution level to the global warming problem from | | | | until I gain 50 extra pounds, but I will pay someone |
| such activities as driving, flying, or home energy use. | | | | else to promise they will lose the 50 pounds that I |
| This contribution is called a "carbon footprint." The | | | | gained. Isn't that the exact same logic? |
| term refers to carbon dioxide, the principal | | | | I really think that individuals and businesses would be |
| greenhouse gas. You can balance out your carbon | | | | better off to step up to the plate and reduce their |
| footprint by buying carbon offsets. Your purchase | | | | carbon footprints themselves. Instead of paying to |
| funds reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through | | | | get an unknown company to either plant a tree or |
| projects such as wind farms, which produce clean | | | | not, how about getting the employees to go out and |
| energy that displaces energy from fossil fuels. By | | | | plant trees themselves. How about using more |
| funding these reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, | | | | environmentally friendly transportation solutions. |
| you balance out, or offset, your own impact by an | | | | Come on, I really do believe we can all do more, but |
| equivalent amount. Carbon offsets help you take | | | | paying someone far away to do what we should do |
| personal responsibility for the environmental | | | | is absolutely ridiculous. |
| consequences of your activities." | | | | Okay, go ahead and rip me apart. I can take it. |