Oxfam pans Scarlett Johansson for Israeli deal

[alp227]

JERUSALEM (AP) — Oxfam International is criticizing Scarlett Johansson over her new ad campaign for an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank.

Israeli drink maker SodaStream International Ltd. recently signed the U.S. actress as its first "global brand ambassador." She is to appear in a television ad during the Super Bowl on Feb. 2.

SodaStream has come under fire from pro-Palestinian activists for maintaining a large factory in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, a territory captured by Israel in 1967 and claimed by the Palestinians.

Johansson has served as a global ambassador for Oxfam since 2005, raising funds and promoting awareness about global poverty.

full: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/oxfam-pans-scarlett-johansson-israeli-deal

[yeoman6987]

1. SodaStream is Israeli

Gosh I thought it was American. You learn something new everyday. I have one and never even considered anywhere else but the United States making them.

[azurnoir]

3. it's owned by Israeli's but it's located in the West Bank settlement of Barkan

now in the US the packaging says Israel but in the EU that's now illegal because the West Bank is not Israel

[King_David]

4. It's probably Jewish owned and therefore irrelevant if it's in West Bank,Israel,France or the USA

These peeps believe all Jewish businesses and exhibitions must be boycotted.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113456461

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

5. You should really stop it with the untrue blanket statements.

"all Jewish businesses and exhibitions must be boycotted"

You could grow some pretty roses with that brand of manure.

Really, WTF dave?

[King_David]

6. Untrue statements ? Really

You read the posts in the UNESCO boycot of Jews threads.

The BDS crowd and Apartheid picnic crowd aren't in it for the occupation ... It's all about boycotting a Jewish exhibition.

It is what it's always been ... All sbout Jews not about Israel or the occupation .

Proof is in this thread :

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113456461

[azurnoir]

8. UNESCO did not boycott or cancel anything the story has been debunked

what part of that do you not seem to understand?

[King_David]

10. The posts by our DU members are more revealing than that part of the question

Even before it was known that unesco would cave in and backtrack under pressure there was support for their original decision to boycott Jews right here on DU.

Proving that it's not about "Apartheid " "Brutality" "Ethnic cleansing" "The occupation " etc

It's all about boycotting Jews...

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

12. Dave, stop flailing in the wind for once.

Israel is an apartheid state. Get over it.

Also, continuing to know that, while playing the victim, is embarrassing to anybody reading these "everybody us an anti-Semite" posts.

[King_David]

14. As I said it has nothing to do with thought in occupation

Segregation ,Apartheid , Justice for the Palestinians etc etc... The UNESCO thread and the posts within show to all that it's all about Jews... Boycotting Jewish businesses , boycotting Jewish exhibitions as long as it's a Jew boycotted . That is what that thread shows .

Same sentiment as Jews owning the Media and Wallstreet
, Hollywood and Puppet the strings
at the Whitehouse...Moneygrubbers ,Shylocks and the Jewish Lobby
etcetera ..

Those threads should be pinned top of this forum.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

16. Wrong, dave.

Sodastream operates in the illegal settlements. Am I wrong on that?

[Mosby]

18. sodastream provides badly needed jobs in the WB

Or would it be better in your opinion if they relocated to Israel proper and lay off the hundreds of Palesinian workers?

Ps - repeating a lie over and over again isn't going to make it true, Israel is a democracy and pretending it isn't is just silly.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

19. Israel is a Democracy in the same way that apartheid South Africa was.

You can't call yourself a democracy while acting as an colonial apartheid state, but I'm sure there are plenty of excuses to be made on Israel's behalf.

Also, thanks for walking out the strawman argument. If Sodastream is an Israeli company in an illegal settlement then it should be subject to a boycott seeing how it is in illegally held territory.

[King_David]

20. Blah blah bla

The pathetic anti Jewish UNESCO fiasco showed us what's really going on with the posts in the thread.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

21. Well, dave you certainly have worked over the anti-Semitism card this evening.

I guess that is far easier than answering a simple query.

Sodastream operates in the illegal settlements. Am I wrong on that?

Your mask is slipping dave.

[Violet_Crumble]

23. Am I correct in thinking you oppose boycotting goods made in the settlements?

Yr argument is exactly the same as the one the pro-apartheid folk used to trot out to argue against the boycott of Sun City. Great company...

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

31. I believe that *Mosby* is at a crossroads WRT his veracity.

Last edited Sat Jan 25, 2014, 08:22 PM - Edit history (1)

You are either against the settlements or you are not.

It's that simple.

On edit: I have corrected my error.

[Violet_Crumble]

33. It was Mosby, not Dave* who I was asking...

I've seen some insipid one-line stuff from Dave in the past muttering that they oppose the settlements, but I'm not sure when it comes to Mosby. I'm guessing from Mosby's responses in this thread that he does oppose any boycott of the settlements, but thought I'd ask to find out for sure...

* Calling one of the 'supporters' of Israel Dave by mistake has led to people being blocked from this group, so I thought I'd better point out that you thought I was replying to King_David and weren't calling Mosby Dave

[azurnoir]

7. why are you bringing an unrelated and debunked story here?

there was no boycott of anything and the West Bank is not sovereign Israel

[King_David]

11. The Boycott is because they are a Jewish owned business

The UNESCO fiasco and support of their bigotry proved it. It's very much related.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

13. Sodastream operates in illegal Israeli settlements in the

West Bank. No?

[King_David]

15. That part is irrelevant to the BDS crowd

What's relevant to the "Israel is Apartheid picnic " crowd is that Sodastream is owned by Jews.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

17. All those facts are irrelevant!

AHAHAHAHA!

Keep drubbing the anti-Semite shtick all you want. It doesn't make it true no matter how often one cries about it.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

32. "Sodastream is owned by Jews"

You should stop with the victimization and sh!t stirring for a while.

[Dick Dastardly]

22. The company is not located in the W Bank.

It has 1 plant in the W Bank
Its HQ is in Israel near Tel Aviv. It also has more than 13 plants worldwide including the 1 in the W Bank and 2 in Israel plus another plant in Israel under construction. The new plant under construction is near Beersheva in a Bedouin area that will employ 1000 mostly Negev Bedouins.
As we see only 1 plant out of more than 13 is located in the W Bank. The HQ and the rest of the plants are not in the W Bank. So to simply claim the Company is located in the W bank is false.
On a side bar, being that Sodastream is a publicly traded company on NASDAQ, it is not just owned by Israelis but most likely owned by people and institutions from many countries.

[Violet_Crumble]

24. So if they close the plant in the West Bank, there's no reason to boycott them..

But while they operate out of the West Bank, I'd be boycotting them if I didn't already think Sodastream is crappy tasting stuff

[King_David]

29. Yep I am sure their success leaves a bitter taste in a lot if mouths,

Making "Sodastream is crappy tasting stuff"

Myself I have purchased 4 as gifts but never tasted it yet .

[Violet_Crumble]

30. I couldn't give a shit if they're successful or not. It tastes like crap...

My parents had one of those sodastream things when I was a kid, and it didn't taste like real softdrink. Maybe they use some weird American formula for softdrink, as I only noticed recently when I was on an American cruise ship that a can of American diet coke tastes different than the diet coke here...

[King_David]

34. I don't drink pop

But if you ever ate Cadbury choclate in England or South Africa or the same one in Australia or Canada it tastes inferior in the latter 2 Dominions.

[azurnoir]

25. on the packaging it says Barkan which is a West Bank settlement part of the

Shomron Regional Council, do you really think renting an office space in Tel Aviv fools anyone?

[sabbat hunter]

2. according to the article

Sodastream's plant in the WB employes 550 Palestinians and pays them the same as Israeli workers. (plus benefits)

While Israel should pull out of the WB, doesn't it sound like that Sodastream is providing good paying, quality jobs for Palestinians?

[azurnoir]

9. more about sodastream and the reality of using Palestinian labor

While, technically, Palestinians who work in settlements are largely covered by Israeli labor laws, there is little enforcement of labor regulations in settlements. As a result, Palestinian workers, including women and children, are frequently exploited by Israeli employers.

SodaStream’s Mishor Edomim factory has been the subject of numerous complaints by Palestinian workers over the years, having to do with low wages, discrimination, and poor working conditions. In 2008, Palestinian workers staged a protest at the factory after the contractor that hired them refused to improve working conditions or raise their pay, which amounted to less than half the legal minimum wage at the time. Seventeen workers were fired before they were rehired following unflattering press coverage and pressure from NGOs. However, in a 2010 report, Israeli NGO Kav LaOved, which works on labor issues, noted that Palestinian workers at SodaStream’s Mishor Edomim plant continued to be “at the bottom of the hierarchy in the factory and remain fearful of dismissal.”

Palestinians who work for SodaStream and other companies that operate in settlement industrial parks also face severe restrictions on their movements and their ability to organize to protect workers’ rights. They have to be approved and obtain special permission from Israel's General Security Service (Shabak*). As noted in a report issued by Israeli NGO Who Profits?, “Their dependence on these permits limits the workers’ employment choices and makes organizing almost impossible.”

SodaStream stock has been billed as a hot property since the company went public on the NASDAQ in November 2010. However, in January 2014 the price of SodaStream shares plunged after the company reported preliminary earnings that failed to achieve analysts’ estimates.

http://imeu.net/news/article0024811.shtml

*Shabak is also known as Shin Bet

[Jefferson23]

26. In response to critics, Scarlett Johansson says she supports two-state solution

The new face of settlement-based Israeli company SodaStream says she believes in conscious consumerism and transparency.
By Haaretz | Jan. 25, 2014

Actress Scarlett Johansson, who has been the subject of criticism in recent weeks since becoming a brand ambassador for SodaStream, said Friday that she remains "a supporter of economic cooperation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine."

SodaStream, an Israeli company which provides a device for making soda and other carbonated drinks, operates 25 factories around the world. Among them is one in Ma'ale Adumim, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

In a statement published by The Huffington Post, Johansson said she "never intended on being the face of any social or political movement, distinction, separation or stance as part of my affiliation with SodaStream."

The company, she added, "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."
Oxfam International, a charity which is also promoted by Johansson, had been among the actress' critics, saying that it "believes that businesses that operate in settlements further the ongoing poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities that we work to support. Oxfam is opposed to all trade from Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law."

In her response, Johansson said being an ambassador for Oxfam had enabled her to "witness first-hand that progress is made when communities join together and work alongside one another and feel proud of the outcome of that work in the quality of their product and work environment, in the pay they bring home to their families and in the benefits they equally receive."

She concluded by saying that she believes in "conscious consumerism and transparency and I trust that the consumer will make their own educated choice that is right for them. I stand behind the SodaStream product and am proud of the work that I have accomplished at Oxfam as an Ambassador for over eight years.

"Even though it is a side effect of representing SodaStream, I am happy that light is being shed on this issue in hopes that a greater number of voices will contribute to the conversation of a peaceful two state solution in the near future."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.570450

[Jefferson23]

27. Scarlett Johansson blasted by Oxfam over Israeli campaign deal

The actress and Oxfam ambassador recently inked a deal with SodaStream International Ltd, who own a factory on the West Bank

Jenn Selby
Friday, 24 January 2014

Scarlett Johansson has come under fire from Oxfam International for signing up to star in an advertising deal with an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank.

The actress recently inked a deal with SodaStream International Ltd as its first "global brand ambassador," which will see her star in a televised add for the soft drinks firm during the Super Bowl on 2 February.

Pro-Palestinian activists have blasted SodaStream’s decision to maintain a large factory in the Israeli settlement in the West Bank: a territory captured by Israel in 1967, but claimed by the Palestinians.

As well as being SodaStream’s new ambassador, however, Johansson also serves as a global ambassador for Oxfam – a role she’s held at the humanitarian charity since 2007.

While, Oxfam declared in a written statement published on their website, the group respects the independence of its ambassadors, it opposes “all trade” from Israeli settlements, claiming that they are “illegal” and “deny Palestinian rights”.

"We have made our concerns known to Ms. Johansson and we are now engaged in a dialogue on these important issues," the statement reads.

"We are proud of our relationship with Scarlett Johansson who has worked with Oxfam since 2005 to support Oxfam's mission to end poverty and injustice.

"Oxfam respects the independence of our ambassadors.

"However, Oxfam believes that businesses that operate in settlements further the ongoing poverty and denial of rights of the Palestinian communities that we work to support. Oxfam is opposed to all trade from Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law."

The International Court of Justice has ruled the West Bank an "occupied territory" and determined that Israel is an "occupying power".

But Johansson has thus far expressed her willingness to partner with the company, calling the pairing a “no brainer” and labelling the product healthy and environmentally friendly.

SodaStream have countered Oxfam International by rebutting that their West Bank factory employs nearly 550 Palestinians and gives them equal benefits as Israeli workers, the Alternative Press reports.

They also pointed out the factory is just one of 25 production facilities they run worldwide.

Representatives for Johansson and SodaStream are yet to respond to The Independent's request for comment.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/scarlett-johansson-blasted-by-oxfam-over-israeli-campaign-deal-9083827.html?printService=print

[Jefferson23]

28. Can Scarlett Johansson Turn SodaStream Shares Around?

Taking on a celebrity as a brand representative is nothing new. It is a strategy that also does not come without risks. Now we have news that SodaStream International Ltd. (NASDAQ: SODA) has selected actress Scarlett Johansson as the brand’s first-ever Global Brand Ambassador. The question to ask here is whether or not using such a strong celebrity will help the stockholders or whether it will come at too big of a price.

Scarlett Johansson will become the face of a new marketing campaign for SodaStream. The press release shows that this will be a multi-year partnership, and the first airing of a SodaStream commercial during Super Bowl XLVIII.

SodaStream apparently decided to go with a well-known face, as well as someone who is represented as a big fan of the company. The company called her a long-time user and genuine fan of SodaStream’s products, as well as “a role model for healthy body image and a champion for environmental responsibility.”

The company said, “The actress has loved sparkling water since childhood, which led her to discover SodaStream. Now a loyal user for years, Johansson has a soda maker in her home and is an enthusiastic fan of the brand.” Johansson even shows in the release that she has been giving SodaStream’s products as gifts for many years.

SodaStream shares have been trading as though the company is in serious trouble. At a close of $49.89 on Friday, the stock’s 52-week range is $45.25 to $77.80. That means that SodaStream shares are close to a 52-week low when the stock market is within a fizz of all-time highs.

KeyBanc Capital Markets just started SodaStream with a Buy rating and a $70 price target this last week. That is actually a conservative price target compared to elsewhere as this price target is more than $5 short of the consensus price target.

SodaStream’s market cap is $1.04 billion, and the consensus estimates at Thomson Reuters show that the company’s expected sales for 2013 and 2104 are to be $564.3 million and $671.9 million, respectively. The stock trades at 19.4-times expected 2013 earnings and 15.2-times expected 2014 earnings.

The stock market performance would indicate that there are concerns about SodaStream being a fad product, and perhaps one which could have many competitors down the road. Another question to ask is how much the company is having to pay Scarlett Johansson to be its Brand Ambassador because financial terms of this relationship were not disclosed. Hiring celebrities is nothing new, but it is never free and it can come at a high price.

Read more: Can Scarlett Johansson Turn SodaStream Shares Around? - SodaStream (NASDAQ:SODA) - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/consumer-products/2014/01/11/can-scarlett-johansson-turn-sodastream-shares-around/#ixzz2rPuj6b4B
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