Carbon Offsets

The subject of carbon offsets -making donations to environmental causes to offset the amount of carbon emissions we use - is a complicated and controversial one. I've purchased them when flying, but don't purchase them on a daily or monthly basis. I've chosen, instead, to try to make small daily changes that helps reduce our footprint on the earth.
That's where the controversy comes in. Some people believe that carbon offset donations just allows society to continue doing what we're doing without making the changes.
There's an excellent article on carbon offsetting that explores the practice and what the money is actually used for:
http://www.gorgeoutdoors.org/go1/?p=937