| Conscientious consumerism is the idea that when we shop, we are looking to purchase various products, whether it be food, laundry detergent, clothing, or investments, that can concurrently positively impact another person’s life in a far away place. To some people, this idea may seem ludicrous given the various arguments that it takes more than a handful of consumers to really help; or that honestly it costs a lot more money to buy organic or fair trade products; or the skepticism related to big corporations and whether or not they really utilize their products to really make a substantial change; or the implausible notion that we as consumers actually have time to research and find out where we can buy these products that will assist those in need. We are human and we do want to help, but these arguments are justifiable and need to be openly discussed and hashed out. This dialogue is what we hope will happen through this multi-media journey known as The Bottom Line. The Bottom Line asks, what is your own personal bottom line? Can you give up a night at the movies once a month and spend the extra eight bucks on a bag of tea and coffee that supports fair trade for farmers? Can you spend an extra dollar or two on a specific type of dish soap that is better for the environment? If a person is in need of a very nice rug, can he or she take the time and save up for the extra money needed to purchase a rug where it is guaranteed that no child labor was used in any part of the process? When a person is in need of a new car, can that person purchase a Prius or another hybrid that helps to protect and preserve planet Earth. These questions are ones that we struggle with all of the time. As a result of our desire to personally become more conscientious and attentive to the needs of the poorest of poor we have been planning and preparing for quite awhile now to shoot a documentary film and record a weekly video podcast that will delve headfirst into this subject. Becoming aware of how we can make a difference is the first step in what we hope to accomplish through this multi-media journey. We want to consolidate the information that we have been gathering and allow this website to become a place where people can reliably make their decision as to how they want to leave their footprint on the humanity of life. We believe it takes more than just famous people of nobility such as Angelina Jolie or Bono to shed serious light on the places that are in desperate need. It takes more than politicians reducing foreign debt for poverty stricken countries or restructuring fair trade agreements for these same areas. Although all of these things are beneficial and absolutely necessary, it is the responsibility of what middle America, or of what the average person deems both plausible and ethical. So, when The Bottom Line Documentary or The Bottom Line Podcast does make their debut, we hope that you will indeed grab a rich cup of fair-trade coffee, take a seat, and enjoy the show – a show that we hope will create discussion, empathy, awareness, and most importantly action born out of genuine care for the other. |