Posted on 01/30/2014 10:04:08 AM PST by Impala64ssa
US actress Scarlett Johansson has quit as global ambassador for Oxfam after the aid group deemed the role "incompatible" with her promotion of an Israeli firm that has a factory in the occupied West Bank.
Johansson, 29, appears in an advertisement for home drinks carbonation firm SodaStream, which is due to air during the US Super Bowl on Sunday. Urgent: Do You Approve Or Disapprove of President Obama's Job Performance? Vote Now in Urgent Poll It has already been seen more than 4.5 million times on the YouTube video-sharing website.
The Hollywood star has worked for Oxfam since 2005 but the British-based aid agency said she had stepped down due to her role with SodaStream.
A statement released by Johansson's spokesman Wednesday said the 29-year-old actress has "a fundamental difference of opinion" with Oxfam International because the humanitarian group opposes all trade from Israeli settlements, saying they are illegal and deny Palestinian rights.
"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, divestment and sanctions movement. She is very proud of her accomplishments and fundraising efforts during her tenure with Oxfam."
Oxfam responded with its own statement.
"Oxfam has accepted Scarlett Johansson's decision to step down after eight years as a global ambassador and we are grateful for her many contributions," the charity said in a statement.
"While Oxfam respects the independence of our ambassadors, Ms Johansson's role promoting the company SodaStream is incompatible with her role as an Oxfam global ambassador.
"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.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Depends on whether she has a business manager or not. A smart celebrity keeps their mouth shut about politics, even if they are a liberal. Pissing off a few million potential conservative, Jewish, or other people isn’t good box office.
Interesting—My guess is that the folks busting her chops expected that she would abandon SodaStream.
Good for her.
Good for her. True, it may be due to a good business decision, but still, she is doing the right thing supporting Israel.
As violently anti-Israel as the media is these days, I think it showed quite a bit of courage for her to come to this decision.
From press releases, she seems to pretty well get it, that Arabs and Israelis are working side by side for the same pay and the same workplace rules.
To my way of thinking, this is the road to real peace. So it’s my take in this instance she has done more for true peace than all the Leftist so-called pro-Palestinian big mouths ever have.
For now I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.
The anti-Soda Stream people are nuts. Last year they stormed a hardware store in San Francisco, getting into the faces of employees and customers alike.
Soda?
Seven.
Seven?
Seven.
Either way, I’m impressed. Though wasn’t she in love with Barack?
SJ is typically near the top of the list of politically ignorant, but she has this one very right.
So a business which provides jobs increases poverty?
Come on people. Where are the pics for this lovely lady who has stuck her beautiful neck out for the people of Israel (and probably millions of dollars in advertising revenue)?
Please!
Um... she’s quite liberal. This may be a flash of sanity, or completely self serving.
I wanted to like her, or at least like looking at her... I really did.
Oxfam just gets better and better. Who was the FReeper who was approvingly quoting their “stats” about income inequality the other day?
Not Guilty.
Thank you!
This is definitely the best one I’ve seen on FR yet.
Probably self-serving, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’d like to see more of that.
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