Zionist Coffee

Solomonia links to this from the Boycott Israel Campaign. They've been pressurising Oxfam to withdraw from an agreement with Starbucks whereby Starbucks contributed £100,000 to Oxfam's rural development programme in Ethiopia. So what's the problem?

Starbucks’ chair Howard Schutltz [sic] is an active zionist whose own activities include running propaganda seminars on behalf of Israel across campuses in both North America and Israel. In recognition for his support of Israel Howard Schultz has been presented with "The Israel 50th Anniversary Tribute Award". Starbucks has sponsored the bowl4isreal event, and despite pulling its stores out of Israel has maintained that it will return in response to questions raised by the Zionist Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

We are of course concerned that a humanitarian organization is getting involved with a company that supports apartheid Israel.

Read the sample letter that campaigners are encouraged to send to Barabara Stocking, Oxfam's director, headed Oxfam Collaboration With Starbucks. Also the second letter from a campaigner in answer to Oxfam's original reply:

I am disappointed by your reply. Its interesting how you so easily separate Schultz from his company in order to facilitate your business with Starbucks.

If the Chairman of a company was a proud nazi would you do business with the company if they said that their CEOs nazi activities were a private matter not related to the company even though they proudly displayed his award for best nazi on their company website?

They go on to claim, at the bottom of the page, that their campaign has been successful:

We are proud to announce that, following a series of discussions with Oxfam regarding its agreement with pro-Zionist multinational coffee chain Starbucks, Oxfam has decided that it will not be renewing its 1 year contract with Starbucks, which terminates this September.

We would like to thank all activists and organisations who have campaigned to ensure Oxfam adheres to its stated values and principles. This victory shows what is possible when people come together and stand united in the struggle for justice.

Ah yes, the struggle for justice.

Personally I think this should be taken with several spoonfuls of salt. The "series of discussions with Oxfam" most likely consisted of a number of the sample letters being sent, and being duly ignored by Oxfam after their courteous replies only produced more ranting. Here's Oxfam's announcement. No mention of the Boycott Israel Campaign. The agreement was only for a year anyway. I don't think we should be encouraging this organisation's delusions about its effectiveness.

Comments

[Erg]

Wait a minute. These dingbats think (sanely or not) that they talked into Oxfam into rejecting donations of 100,000/year for folks in Ethiopia who need the help, right? That's what they're saying, isn't it? And they're delighted! "United in the struggle for justice". Justice? His infantile racist/ideological witch-hunts are "justice"?

These people have gone beyond self-parody.

There's also a mild desire to punch the bigoted cretin shrieking incoherently about "Nazis". Does that moron have any clue what the Nazis actually did? Well, probably not. Fortunately, he's not within punching range and, after typing all this, the desire has already passed. His cretinism, however, will continue... while my proud patronage of the Zionist Coffee Entity will only increase. Please make mine an toffee-almond bar with a double espresso, Mr. Sharon -- and tell the Elders I said hello!

[Dave]

Ping.

http://www.fried.dynalias.net/News/ShowArticle.asp?index=812

[Solomon]

Good find on the Oxfam announcement. I found it somewhat dubious that Oxfam caved so overtly and figured there was some opportunism going on here but I couldn't find anything but the boycotter's statements themselves. Will update the post accordingly.