I saw an article ridiculing the foolishness of certain people in our society.(Shocking) This New Penance is to assuage the guilt many people feel for being wealthy, racist, planet killers. So they buy their Carbon offsets, support Mr. Obama's campaign and buy the occasional organic food item. Thus they can feel better about themselves without actually changing their "sinful" life styles, such as giving up their hummer and Lexus SUV's. It's much better to buy a simple "carbon offset" to replace acres of virgin Rainforests with ethanol plantations. (Which actually isn't such a bad idea as long as you don't try and pass off as good for the environment) This way they can point their fingers at the sinners who work in the suburbs, take the bus you heathen scum, don't you know if everyone acted like you we'd need kill three earths!" I could go on, but really, I think you get the idea.