Our good friends at the Guardian are besides themselves trying to cover Israel-related issues in a balanced and unbiased way. And if you like their neutral headline, which doesn’t ask “what should Oxfam do” but rather offers option one from column A as the given, you’ll love their depiction of the events so far:
“It seems [Oxfam’s] celebrity ambassador, Scarlett Johansson, has signed an advertising deal with SodaStream International Ltd, an Isreali company operating in the West Bank… [and the] move has caused an ‘internal revolt’ at Oxfam.”
Now that you know all the facts from a neutral perspective, do the interactive:
While there is no doubt that celebrity endorsement yields financial dividends for NGOs and can raise the profile of a cause, it can also infuriate staff and create tensions with communities in which the organization works. So what should Oxfam do? Take our poll and tell us your experiences or thoughts on celebrities and NGOs in the comment threads below.
Do you think Oxfam should sever ties with Scarlett Johansson?
I went ahead and voted No. The “landing page” didn’t tell me how many have participated, but 85% have voted a resounding Yes. If you care to, there are 6 days left before they close the poll, so if you’re into influencing world opinion, go vote and send the link to all your loved ones.
Cheerio.