Some of us are being our greenest

I don’t have the means to buy carbon offsets, like many of the Hollywood and political left [“The Perils of Acting Green,” Sept. 2]. Former Vice President Gore’s enormous electricity bill is excused because, after all, he buys carbon offsets, whatever that is, and, of course, he can afford the bill!

As a moderate, middle-class conservative, all my family and I can do is recycle our newspapers, cans and bottles, make sure our cars are working properly to get the best gas mileage, drive clean-emission cars, take quicker showers and run a very full dishwasher and washing machine. Heck, even our city gives us a blue trash bin for various other items, and that is often more full than “regular” trash. And still, it’s often not enough, according to the pro-Green rhetoric.

While it’s pure conjecture on my part, it seems that Daryl Hannah’s oil-drenched hand is more important to them than the everyday efforts of millions of Americans.

My biggest frustration with the Green movement is the constant force-feeding of ways we can help the Earth and the constant criticism that we’re not doing enough. I’m doing the best I can with the means I have.

Steven Dugan

Upland

A funny thing happened to me on the way to a “green forum.” My hybrid car died. Your article is grossly slanted against celebs -- and for what? “Green With Envy” would have been a better title. Even Kermit would have said, “If everybody did something, anything, the world would get greener.” Next, Birkenstock will come up with a carbon-free sandal and sole -- and we will count every step as being neutral. Let’s hope so! Let the ecorazzi find a real profession -- one that fuels the efficiency of actions, not words.

Nancy Gould Chuda

Los Angeles

Chuda is co-founder and president emeritus of Healthy Child Healthy World (www .healthychild.org), a group dedicated to helping parents and educators create nontoxic green environments for children.