I received this, and am passing it on.
Please can you take a few seconds to go on online and vote “no” to this criticism of Israel (poll at foot of article): http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/poll/2014/jan/28/communications
You will probably be aware of the controversy in recent days because of the actress Scarlett Johansson agreeing to be the advertising face of Sodastream, the manufacturer of machines for making carbonated drinks at home.Sodastream is an Israeli company which has a manufacturing facility in Area C of the West Bank, at a site which may well become part of Israel in any peace deal. Because it operates in the West Bank it is the subject of intensive boycott campaigning by anti-Israel protesters, including protests at its store in Brighton, here in the UK. The company employs hundreds of Palestinian workers, with pay and conditions well above the Palestinian average. Their livelihoods are at stake if the boycott succeeds. You can read more about Sodastream’s operations in the West Bank here: http://forward.com/articles/170873/boycott-israel-push-against-sodastream-could-hurt/
Scarlet Johansson is also a global ambassador for Oxfam. The boycott campaigners are calling for Oxfam to drop her from this role, in line with Oxfam’s critical position towards Israel.
The Guardian website is running an unscientific online poll about whether Oxfam should break its links with Scarlett Johansson.
At the moment it is running 85% in favour of this attack on Scarlett Johansson’s links to an Israeli company.
Please can you take a few seconds to go on online and vote “no” to this criticism:http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/poll/2014/jan/28/communications
Please then forward this email to your friends and family and ask them to vote “no”.
Michael Danby’s critique of OXFAM can be seen here
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It beggars belief that these NGOs and individuals hatred of Israel is so perverse that they cannot see that their actions are actually counterproductive to Palestinian goals and aspirations.
If it wouldn’t be perceived as a negative move (to Ms Johansson) for Oxfam to sever its ties with Scarlet Johansson, I would say let them and be damned. However perception creates reality and for the betterment of all concerned we have to show restraint, great tolerance, and not a little bit of two-faced-ness.
The world will not love us any better but at least we know we are doing the right thing.
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It seems this young lady has integrity, loyalty and sense…
She resigned from OXFAM
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Apparently she gave them the boot. Job well done..
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How charitable is Oxfam – see here:
http://www.snouts-in-the-trough.com/archives/6022
This is the best part: “Then there are a few other costs I haven’t included like the £48,000 expenses claimed by Oxfam’s top boss.”
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Nor will the leftist-anti-Israel alliance stop targeting Johansson, whose star-power not only promotes SodaStream sales, but legitimizes SodaStream’s West Bank facility. “End the Occupation: U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation” is running a petition at its website to pressure Johansson out of her support for SodaStream.
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