Showing posts with label Oxfam. Show all posts

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Scarlett Johansson Scandal Likely Boosting SodaStream Sales - Israel Today

Scarlett Johansson Scandal Likely Boosting SodaStream Sales

Sunday, February 02, 2014 | Israel Today Staff

Share on blogger Share on twitter Share on print Share on facebook More Sharing Services

Topics:

If the reaction of Canadian Employment Minister Jason Kenney is anything to go by, the negative reaction of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to Scarlett Johansson's signing to represent Israeli soda-maker SodaStream is likely to actually boost sales for the company.

A major mover in the BDS movement is international aid organization Oxfam, for which Johansson was an active ambassador. However, the actress terminated her relationship with Oxfam over its own criticism of the her deal with SodaStream, prompting Kenney to posted to Twitter that he is keen to start buying SodaStream's products.

In an interview on Canada's Sun News, Kenney acknowledged that he used to be a supporter of Oxfam, but no more.

"I've given money to Oxfam in the past because I thought they were there to help poor people, not to marginalize Israelis and make Palestinians unemployed," the minister told his host, adding that he is now "dropping Oxfam and becoming a customer of SodaStream, thanks to all the nutters at Oxfam who are marginalizing Palestinians."

It has been widely pointed out that Israeli companies like SodaStream provide thousands of Palestinians with good paying jobs that they would be unable to find otherwise, thanks to the Palestinian Authority's gross mismanagement of billions of dollars in financial aid over the past decade.

Johansson herself even pointed out that fact when she suggested Oxfam's misguided criticism would only serve to put hundreds of Palestinian employees of SodaStream out of work.

In his post to Twitter, Kenney, who visited Israel last month with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, tagged his remark with the term "buycott," which is used by those working to reverse the anti-Israel boycotts by convincing people to buy Israeli-made products.

Israel Today is pleased to host a "buycott" page of our own, featuring a video interview with several Palestinian employees of SodaStream, and plenty of Israeli-made products for your consideration. CHECK IT OUT NOW >>

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates

Friday, January 31, 2014

SodaStream Plans on Bringing Scarlett Johansson to Israel this Year - BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

SodaStream Plans on Bringing Scarlett Johansson to Israel this Year

Posted by: Lea Speyer January 31, 2014 , BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse…” (Genesis 12:3)

(Photo: Facebook)

Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson has been making waves in the news lately for not bowing to pressure to boycott Israel. Johansson, a spokesman for the Israeli based SodaStream company, has been criticized by anti-Israel advocates as supporting an apartheid state and the oppression of Palestinians in Israel.

More specifically, the humanitarian group Oxfam International, of which Johansson is affiliate with, has been pressuring Johansson to leave SodaStream since Oxfam opposes all trade from Israeli settlement. It was announced late this week that the 29 year old actress has decided to split with Oxfam citing a “fundamental difference of opinion.”

“Scarlett Johansson has respectfully decided to end her ambassador role with Oxfam after eight years,” the statement said. “She and Oxfam have a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycott, divestments and sanctions movement. She is very proud of her accomplishments and fundraising efforts during her tenure with Oxfam.”

Oxfam released a statement upon Johansson’s departure from the organization, saying it was “grateful for her many contributions.”

“While Oxfam respects the independence of our ambassadors, Ms. Johansson’s role promting the company SodaStream is incompatible with her role as an Oxfam Global Ambassador,” the statement said. “Oxfam believes that businesses, such as SodaStream, that operate in settlements further the ongoing poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities that we work to support.”

What is apparent from this whole controversy is that Scarlett Johansson is a friend of Israel. SodaStream announced on Thursday that it is planning on bringing its global ambassador to Israel this year.

SodaStream president Yonah Lloyd told The Jerusalem Post: “She [Johansson] has never been to Israel before. We look forward to hosting her later in the year.”

Johansson last week responded to critics saying she was a “supporter of economic cooperation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine.” She added that SodaStream is “not only committed to the environment but to building a bridge to peace between Israel and Palestine supporting neighbors working alongside each other, receiving equal pay, equal benefits and equal rights. That is what is happening in their Ma’ale Adumim factory every working day.”

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Update on Scarlett Johansson and Oxfam (SodaStream)

Thank you to everyone who voted in the Guardian online poll we drew attention to yesterday, about whether Oxfam should sever its links with actress Scarlett Johansson over her advertising deal with the Israeli company SodaStream.

Our email was opened by nearly 7,000 people, and many of them must have voted as the poll - http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/poll/2014/jan/28/communications - moved from 86% critical of Ms Johansson to only 55% in just 24 hours.

However, things have taken an unexpected twist as Scarlett Johansson has pre-emptively severed her links with Oxfam over its support for the anti-Israel boycott movement rather than vice versa!

She has issued a statement saying:

“Scarlett Johansson has respectfully decided to end her ambassador role with Oxfam after eight years. She and Oxfam have a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. She is very proud of her accomplishments and fundraising efforts during her tenure with Oxfam.”

An earlier statement explaining her views said:

“I remain a supporter of economic cooperation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine. SodaStream is a company that is not only committed to the environment but to building a bridge to peace between Israel and Palestine, supporting neighbours working alongside each other, receiving equal pay, equal benefits and equal rights.”

There is coverage of her decision here:

http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/01/30/scarlett-johansson-cuts-ties-with-oxfam-over-groups-support-for-bds-movement/

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-the-a-list-shuns-bds/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/10606240/Scarlett-Johansson-stepping-down-as-Oxfam-ambassador-over-SodaStream-deal.html

Best wishes,

Luke Akehurst
Director, We Believe in Israel

PS, if you haven't signed out petition against Palestinian hate education and indoctrination yet, please do so here: http://www.webelieveinisrael.org.uk/petition/uks-role-major-donor-palestinian-authority/

Contents List

Sunday, February 2, 2014