I don't think I or anyone who commented here is worshiping the Manhattan couple. PErhaps impressed by their dedication, but I haven't heard anyone coming close to anything like 'worship'.

I agree that they may not be making as big an impact as they like to think, but they're still doing a lot more than most people. I also admire that you bike to work - I wish that that were a feasible option for most of us.

Moving to Africa and living on less than a dollar a day is not exactly helpful to anyone. Sure, the impoverished people of this world may create less of a "carbon footprint" than I or other yuppies do, but the solution is not the scale back to the point of switching continents. The spirit of it is to do the most you can. What if all of us did what this Manhattan family is doing? What if it were possible for half of my city to ride their bikes to work rather than to drive?

In a way, I understand why this couple is going full-bore (or as full-bore as they can, given that they have jobs that require them to wear clean clothes). It forces them to REALLY do all this stuff. I might say to myself "You know, I should take the stairs", but half the time, when faced wih more than a couple of flights, I'll take the elevator. Taking on a huge experiment like this wouldn't let me forget my obligation.