As much as I hate running up a controversial subject that's almost certain to overflow into AAH, I'd really like other people's opinion on this.
I can't decide what's the right position to take on SodaStream.
For those you are not yet familiar, this is a company that makes DIY soda making equipment. It appears to be a quite nice little product that lets you control the content of your soda while at the same time reducing the hassle of buying it in cans and bottles and schlepping it home from the store. The big thing to me, however, is that it seems to be a significantly "greener" product as there's no bottles or cans for the recycling bin. The CO2 cartridges it uses can be exchanged for fresh ones and the bottles that hold the soda are reusable so total environmental footprint seems to be much lower than traditional bottled or canned beverages. (They also claim that it saves money but I think that's a little dubious.)
The downside, though, is that the company is Israeli-owned with a primary factory in an occupied settlement in the West Bank. This has resulted in a boycott called by the Palestinian authority for all SodaStream products. Many groups have joined this boycott including OxFam, which recently lost Scarlett Johansson as a spokesperson after she signed on to a SodaStream ad campaign.
There are somewhat conflicting media reports over the opinions of everyday Palestinians. It seems from most of what I read that they really love the plant and the SodaStream owners - one called them "peacemakers" - but the positive effects on the individual workers may not outweigh the negative effects on the Palestinians as a whole.
So now I don't know what to do.
I really like the idea of making my own soda and it seems SodaStream is really the best product out there. Most of all I really like the idea of reducing my input to the waste stream by not buying canned or bottled soda anymore.
On the other hand I completely disagree with the West Bank settlements and want nothing to do with perpetuating or legitimizing them.
So what say ye, fellow travellers? Do I support working Palestinians and help the environment or do I drag home another 24-pack of Diet Dr. Pepper to encourage Israel to leave the West Bank? I'm completely torn.
(The third option is to build my own soda maker - which I'm more than technically capable of. If I did that, though, and then killed myself with high pressure CO2 my wife would have nobody to sue. She's therefore nixed that idea.)
And no, I'm not just enthralled with the product because of the new Scarlett Johansson commercial. I really would like to hear people's opinions on it.
Please, though, keep it nice. I know that this one is going to get people's dander up. Let's try to make it educational instead of just combative.
I can't decide what's the right position to take on SodaStream.
For those you are not yet familiar, this is a company that makes DIY soda making equipment. It appears to be a quite nice little product that lets you control the content of your soda while at the same time reducing the hassle of buying it in cans and bottles and schlepping it home from the store. The big thing to me, however, is that it seems to be a significantly "greener" product as there's no bottles or cans for the recycling bin. The CO2 cartridges it uses can be exchanged for fresh ones and the bottles that hold the soda are reusable so total environmental footprint seems to be much lower than traditional bottled or canned beverages. (They also claim that it saves money but I think that's a little dubious.)
The downside, though, is that the company is Israeli-owned with a primary factory in an occupied settlement in the West Bank. This has resulted in a boycott called by the Palestinian authority for all SodaStream products. Many groups have joined this boycott including OxFam, which recently lost Scarlett Johansson as a spokesperson after she signed on to a SodaStream ad campaign.
There are somewhat conflicting media reports over the opinions of everyday Palestinians. It seems from most of what I read that they really love the plant and the SodaStream owners - one called them "peacemakers" - but the positive effects on the individual workers may not outweigh the negative effects on the Palestinians as a whole.
So now I don't know what to do.
I really like the idea of making my own soda and it seems SodaStream is really the best product out there. Most of all I really like the idea of reducing my input to the waste stream by not buying canned or bottled soda anymore.
On the other hand I completely disagree with the West Bank settlements and want nothing to do with perpetuating or legitimizing them.
So what say ye, fellow travellers? Do I support working Palestinians and help the environment or do I drag home another 24-pack of Diet Dr. Pepper to encourage Israel to leave the West Bank? I'm completely torn.
(The third option is to build my own soda maker - which I'm more than technically capable of. If I did that, though, and then killed myself with high pressure CO2 my wife would have nobody to sue. She's therefore nixed that idea.)
And no, I'm not just enthralled with the product because of the new Scarlett Johansson commercial. I really would like to hear people's opinions on it.
Please, though, keep it nice. I know that this one is going to get people's dander up. Let's try to make it educational instead of just combative.
via JREF Forum http://ift.tt/MIunZJ
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