Carbon offsetting is evolving. When I first heard of it, it was empowering, exiting the people who were using it, who didn't want to drive but couldn't always avoid it. Now it has become part of the mainstream "let someone else do it" culture, where we consume and consume and pollute and then hope that we can purchase our way out. Purchasing carbon offsets is a very backwards approach: there are so many ways to offset your own carbon pollution. (It's also more realistic: if you offset your flight by planting a garden so you don't have to have as much food trucked to you, you realize that you're still burning fuel on that flight.)

There could be a variety of pledges that neighbors can make to help cut carbon they would be using:

* Walk over to your neighbor's house with a compact florescent (and a ladder?) and offer to install it.
* Community garden days. Less watered lawns, more trees and gardens.
* Tell your neighbors when you go shopping if you drive, and see if they want to go with you.
* I especially like combining community, ideas and actions: start a rotating movie night, where everyone shows up for an environmental (or your favorite cause) video to watch and discuss, followed by two hours of greening: a mini-barn-raising to plant a garden, install insulation or low-flow plumbing.

Add your ideas to the comments.... This will soon be hosted on the Do It Yourself Carbon Offsets page at SpaceShare, would love co-creators.