Posted on July 12, 2021
CREDO + Consumer Power = Victories for People and the Planet!
In December 2020, CREDO members voted to donate $60,183 to Green America to advance our mission to create a more socially just and environmentally sustainable society – and advance our mission we have! Since receiving the award, we have leveraged consumer power to achieve major victories in ending child labor, increasing corporations’ use of renewable energy, and popularizing regenerative agriculture though Climate Victory Gardening.
Like CREDO members, Green America recognizes that human wellbeing and ecological health are deeply intertwined. In our nearly 40 years as the nation’s leading green economy organization, Green America has observed that the same corporations that have subpar environmental regulations are often lagging in their labor and human rights policies as well.
This correlation is especially evident in the chocolate industry, where large companies profit off cocoa while West African cocoa farmers live off less than one dollar per day amidst rampant deforestation. Pressure from Green America and international allies is getting chocolate companies to take action. In the Chocolate Scorecard Green America compiled with our allies for the End Child Labor in Cocoa campaign, it is clear which major chocolate companies are improving the social and environmental impacts of their supply chains – and that the leading small chocolate companies are way ahead of their larger counterparts!
Green America believes in a world where our favorite sweet treats do not rely on exploitation or deforestation – and our audience is making this world possible. Thanks to pressure from nearly 40,000 individuals who took Green America’s latest End Child Labor in Cocoa action, Godiva issued a public policy on responsible cocoa in spring 2021. With this new policy, Godiva committed to taking steps to scale child labor monitoring, limiting deforestation in its supply chain, and more. CREDO members can help encourage additional progress by signing Green America’s new petition urging ten major chocolate brands to put an end to child labor and deforestation in their supply chains.
Since receiving our generous donation from CREDO, we have leveraged pressure from tens of thousands of consumers to persuade Amazon to commit to powering 100% of its operations using renewable energy by 2025. This new commitment, which is five years earlier than the company’s initial target transition date, encompasses Amazon’s corporate offices, fulfillment centers, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers. Though Green America continues to push Amazon to improve treatment of warehouse workers and garment workers in its supply chain, we are also celebrating the company’s acceleration of its clean energy goals as more corporate renewable energy purchasing translates to increases in our country’s overall renewable energy capacity.
CREDO’s donation is not only supporting Green America’s digital actions, but also our on-the-ground efforts to counter climate change. A portion of CREDO’s award was used to support the growth of our nonprofit’s Climate Victory Gardens campaign, which is enlisting thousands of Americans to use regenerative gardening practices (such as composting, not disturbing the soil, and eliminating the use of pesticides) in their own communities. This month, Green America reached 9,306 registered Climate Victory Gardens! Using estimates from Project Drawdown, these gardens have the potential to collectively sequester 4,557 tons of carbon each year – the equivalent of eliminating emissions from driving 38,093,225 miles – while also supporting pollinator health, reducing stormwater run-off, and producing organic food! Visit our website to register your own Climate Victory Garden or learn how to start one.
Earlier this year, Green America also joined 200+ allies in the launch of the Pay Your Workers email campaign. This campaign demands that apparel brands pay garment workers their normal wages throughout the duration of the pandemic, protect workers’ rights to organize, and sign on to a severance guarantee fund. CREDO members can support this new campaign by taking action here to become part of the collective consumer voice pushing corporations to adopt practices better for people and the planet.
Posted on July 12, 2021
How CREDO members helped Free Speech For People fight for our democracy and our elections
Free Speech For People is a national nonpartisan legal advocacy and public education organization at the forefront of the movement to reclaim our democracy for we, the people. We work to ensure all people have an equal voice and an equal vote in our democracy. We advance our mission by challenging big money in politics, fighting for free and fair elections, ending corporate abuse of power, and confronting corruption in government.
Thanks to the votes of CREDO members in December 2020, Free Speech For People was honored to receive a grant totaling $41,925. Your support helped us to achieve critical victories for voters, our elections, and our democracy.
Fighting Back Against the Influence of Foreign Corporate Money in Elections
Following the 2010 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United v. FEC, multinational corporations with significant foreign investment became able to donate unlimited funds to wield influence in our elections and overwhelm the voices and votes of everyday people. To challenge these corporations seeking to overtake our democracy, Free Speech For People developed the first legislation in the country to end foreign-corporate spending in elections.
On June 3, 2021, the New York State Senate passed, with bipartisan support, our model bill, the New York Democracy Preservation Act. The legislation would bar corporations with partial foreign ownership from spending to influence the outcome of New York State elections. A companion bill, A7458, has been introduced in the State Assembly by Assembly member Latrice Walker of Brooklyn. We are also helping to advance similar legislation in Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Oregon.
Protecting the Right to Vote and Our Elections through Legal Action
Free Speech For People works to challenge voter suppression, the use of unreliable and insecure voting systems, and unequal voting conditions. This year we achieved a major victory for democracy with a case in Minnesota. In October 2020, we filed a federal lawsuit against a private mercenary contractor, Atlas Aegis, and its chairman for voter intimidation in Minnesota. The company planned to hire and deploy armed ex-soldiers to polling sites in the state for the November 2020 general election. In response to our complaint, we were granted a motion for a preliminary injunction prohibiting Atlas Aegis from moving forward with their illegal voter intimidation plans.
In February 2021, the court approved a consent decree and a landmark settlement, active through January 1, 2025, which directs that Atlas Aegis and its chairman are prohibited from engaging in voter intimidation activities, including attempts to threaten and coerce voters and election workers, in the state. We are using this case as a model to introduce and move forward legislation across the country to challenge voter intimidation efforts, which primarily target underrepresented communities.
Challenging Corruption at the Highest Levels of Government:
Free Speech For People co-founded the national movement calling for the impeachment of former President Donald Trump, due to repeated and ongoing abuses of power, while in office. We continue to serve as a leading force in the effort to hold former President Donald Trump accountable to the law. We led in issuing, with a coalition of national organizations, a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to create an independent task force in the Department of Justice to investigate potential crimes committed by Trump and his associates.
In support of this effort, we launched the new coalition, Hold Trump Accountable, with national organizational partners. Over 200,000 people across the country have joined our call on the Department of Justice to establish this task force to investigate Trump and his associates and to ensure that they are held accountable for any and all violations of federal law.
Holding Social Media Giants Accountable
Since our founding in 2010, we have helped to lead the challenge against unchecked corporate power and the threat it poses to our democracy. Now, we are leading a bold new fight to challenge the dangerous impact of disinformation and the amplification of violence on social media platforms.
The insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 was preceded by the spread of false information and threats of violence online, including the oft-repeated lie, by former President Trump and others, that the election was stolen. This lie was subsequently amplified by social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and 4chan. This has created a grave threat to our democracy and our people. In the face of this threat, our elected officials have failed to take any meaningful action.
Free Speech For People has introduced and is advancing the Digital Accountability Act, our model bill which would hold social media companies accountable for amplifying disinformation and violence via their online platforms.
Thank you to CREDO members for your support, which has made this work possible. To join the movement to reclaim our democracy, please visit our website, www.freespeechforpeople.org.
Posted on July 11, 2021
Why the Climate Crisis Demands Democracy Reform
American democracy faces unprecedented attacks. July grantee Brennan Center for Justice believes the best way to defend our democracy is to strengthen it. Take a minute to read their recent analysis about why fixing America’s broken political system and building a healthier democracy can contribute to a more just and sustainable world — then cast your vote for Brennan Center at CREDODonations.com to help us distribute a portion of our July grant.
The recent record-breaking heat wave on the West Coast, among other extreme weather events, has underscored the urgency of addressing the global climate crisis. Such efforts will require significant action from the federal government, including policies to reduce carbon emissions and adaptation measures to prepare communities for rising sea levels and extreme weather. Too often, however, the U.S. political system interferes with the government’s ability to carry out the significant action required to address the climate crisis.
The United States needs a healthy system of democracy — one that represents the will of the people — in order to combat climate change, which has emerged as a leading voting issue for Americans. This includes repairing the nation’s campaign finance system, which has allowed corporations and special interest groups — including big spenders from fossil fuel industries — to wield outsize influence in Washington. And it requires ensuring that communities of color and low-income communities, who often bear the brunt of environmental hazards, aren’t disenfranchised.
Suppressing the vote suppresses climate action
The right to vote is a crucial element of a functioning democracy. But in recent years, a surge in voter suppression has threatened America’s progress toward a more inclusive democracy. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby v. Holder, which weakened a number of the Voting Rights Act’s key protections, states have accelerated their efforts to pass laws, such as reduced early voting and strict ID requirements, that make it harder for many citizens to vote. These restrictive laws, along with manipulative practices such as extreme gerrymandering, are often designed to target low-income communities of color, threatening their rights to fair political representation.
These are often the same communities that are disproportionately exposed to pollutants and other environmental hazards — along with the associated health consequences, such as a higher risk of certain respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and cancers. And these are the communities that are most vulnerable to the devastating effects of a changing climate, such as extreme heat, rising sea levels, and displacement.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the communities most affected by environmental injustice are those that are most likely to express concern about the climate crisis. Over the past decade, polls have consistently found that people of color — including Black, Latino, and Asian Americans — overwhelmingly support government action on climate change and environmental protection. And, according to a 2017 poll by ecoAmerica, 91 percent of African Americans and 90 percent of Latinos surveyed were “personally concerned” about climate change, compared with 76 percent of people nationwide and 69 percent of white Americans. Similarly, of those surveyed, 82 percent of African Americans and 81 percent of Latinos supported government action to protect against climate impacts, compared with 70 percent of people nationwide and 66 percent of white Americans.
The communities that are most vulnerable to environmental injustice are often the same ones targeted for voter suppression and gerrymandering. A democracy that is more responsive to the concerns of these communities — and, more broadly, to the will of the American people — will be better positioned to address the climate crisis. Federal legislation that is currently under consideration would, if enacted, help bring about that more representative democracy. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and strengthen the protections of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in elections. And the expansive For the People Act would reverse voter suppression through a variety of reforms — including automatic voter registration, nationwide early voting, and a ban on partisan gerrymandering — all of which would make it easier for eligible voters to participate in American democracy and have their voices heard in elections.
Big money and climate change
But voter suppression is far from the only antidemocratic force that threatens to thwart substantive climate change legislation. Another major factor is the role that big money plays in American politics, including in electoral campaigns. This dynamic has allowed corporations and the wealthiest individuals to hold an astounding amount of influence over the lawmaking process in Washington, often spending aggressively to kill climate change legislation, such as the American Clean Energy and Security Act in 2009, which passed the House of Representatives only to fail in the Senate. According to some estimates, groups spend up to $1 billion per year on lobbying against climate legislation.
If the political system gave an advantage to the fossil fuel lobby and other special interest groups prior to 2010, it tilted even more in their favor with the Supreme Court’s consequential ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The decision, which permitted corporations and other groups to spend unlimited money on elections, sparked a massive increase in political spending from special interests. In particular, Citizens United gave rise to the creation of super PACs — organizations largely powered by the wealthiest donors — and a surge in secret spending from dark money groups, which don’t disclose their donors.
These developments have further expanded the political influence of corporations, wealthy individuals, and special interest groups — including the fossil fuel lobby, which has significantly increased its election spending. In 2006, for example, the oil and gas industry spent an estimated $23.6 million in federal elections, a figure that skyrocketed after Citizens United to $85.7 million in 2012, $104.5 million in 2016, and $138.8 million in 2020. (These figures don’t account for contributions from dark money groups, whose spending is secret.) Critics have pointed out how this spending, combined with lobbying efforts, has stalled climate change legislation in Washington.
A Supreme Court reversal or constitutional amendment to undo Citizens United is extremely unlikely in the short term. In the meantime, however, federal legislation could help counter the role of big money in American politics. The For the People Act includes a provision for a nationwide small donor public financing system for congressional and presidential elections. Under this system, small donors who give to participating candidates would see their contributions matched by public funds. The program would come at no cost to taxpayers, as it would be funded primarily by a surcharge on criminal and civil penalties on corporate defendants and their executive officers.
If enacted, the system would significantly expand the power of small donors, and political candidates would rely less on big checks from wealthy donors and special interest groups, including big fossil fuel spenders. And it would amplify the voices of ordinary citizens, a vast majority of whom support government action to address climate change.
The For the People Act also includes provisions that would increase transparency in election spending. It would, for example, require groups that spend significant amounts of money on campaigns to disclose their donors, closing the legal loophole that led to the rise of dark money.
Climate change threatens our democracy
It’s not only that case that a dysfunctional democracy jeopardizes our ability to address the climate crisis. The inverse also holds true: climate change threatens American democracy, including the integrity of the U.S. voting system itself. For example, scholars have documented how during Election Day in November 2005, three months after Hurricane Katrina, 80 percent of New Orleans voters (two-thirds of whom were African American) remained displaced and nearly three-quarters of polling places had been damaged or destroyed. Such catastrophic events threaten to undermine voter participation even years after they take place.
The stakes of these intersecting crises are high, but there are solutions. Lawmakers can take note of what the vast majority of Americans support, including bold climate action and the democracy reforms needed to achieve it. And they can discern how a healthier democracy can contribute to a more just and sustainable world.
This analysis originally appeared on the Brennan Center for Justice website on July 1, 2021.
Posted on July 8, 2021
Vote for Brennan Center for Justice, The Fairness Project and the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum this July
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute a monthly donation to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This July, you can support voting rights, economic justice and civil rights by voting to fund the Brennan Center for Justice, The Fairness Project and National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.
Brennan Center for Justice
American democracy faces unprecedented attacks. The Brennan Center believes the best way to defend our democracy is to strengthen it. The organization works to craft and advance a transformative reform agenda — solutions that aim to make our democracy work for all.
A grant from CREDO will support the Brennan Center for Justice in its advocacy for real democracy reform, fight against voter suppression tactics, and work for a fair justice system — through in-depth research, top-notch litigation, and bold solutions.
The Fairness Project
When politicians fail, The Fairness Project helps grassroots organizations run ballot initiatives to support working families. In just 5 years, the organization has raised wages and brought health care, paid leave and more to over 17.7 million people.
A CREDO grant to The Fairness Project will help empower voters through ballot initiatives to win progressive policy change for economic, racial, and gender justice by raising wages, expanding Medicaid, guaranteeing paid leave, curbing predatory lending, and more.
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum builds power with Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls to influence critical decisions that affect our lives, our families and our communities. Using a reproductive justice framework, the organization elevates AAPI women and girls to impact policy and drive systemic change in the United States.
Funding from CREDO would allow NAPAWF to further invest in the AAPI women leaders of tomorrow by providing leadership training and coaching on organizing strategy, public speaking, op-ed writing, and more, and to enable them to connect and organize around the issues that impact their lives.
Your vote this month will determine how we divide our monthly donation among these three progressive groups. Be sure to cast your vote to support one, two or all three by July 31.
CREDO members who use our products and services everyday are the reason we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile and CREDO Energy and join our movement.
Posted on July 7, 2021
How to get the most out of your smartphone in the great outdoors this summer
We use our smartphones all the time. But when we’re camping or hiking, the last thing we want to do is stare at a screen. It’s time to enjoy the great outdoors!
Yet, our smartphones can be extremely helpful tools when we’re venturing out into the wilderness, whether we’re at one of our great national parks, roughing it in the backcountry or out for a lazy weekend camping trip.
Here are a few helpful tips to get the most out of your smartphone this summer while enjoying the outdoors.
Planning a trip to a national park?
First things first, if you’re planning a trip to one of the roughly 400 national parks this summer, you’re in luck! Many parks have reopened, but they will be very busy.
Make sure to plan ahead on the National Park Service website or on the NPS mobile app. And while you’re at it, don’t miss our suggestions for some great national parks to visit in the summer, fall or winter.
Saving your phone’s battery
If you will be away from civilization for any amount of time, you’ll want to preserve the life of your phone’s battery for as long as possible until you’re near a power source — especially if you’re relying on your phone for a map or directions.
Check our recent tip on ways to extend your phone’s battery life, with suggestions on avoiding extreme temperatures, turning on airplane mode, making necessary software updates before you travel, and more.
Additionally, consider purchasing an external USB battery pack, as well a car charger if you are traveling in or camping near your own vehicle. These devices are relatively inexpensive and will be invaluable on longer trips away from power.
Solar phone charger
Speaking of power — specifically green, renewable power — consider purchasing a solar-powered phone charger. These devices can efficiently recharge small electronic devices, including your phone. If you’re off the grid for any amount of time, a solar charger is a must-have. Be aware that if you’re backpacking, some of these devices can be bulky or heavy (think many ounces not multiple pounds).
Here are some recommendations for solar battery packs and chargers from Outdoor Gear Lab and Wirecutter.
Download and use maps offline
Here at CREDO, we have the best and most dependable network, but there may be times when you’re in a very remote area where you may not have great service.
If you’re using your phone to navigate or find points of interest, you’ll want to download and save maps ahead of time if you lack access to your cellular network. Here’s how to use Google Maps (download for iOS or Android) on your phone for offline use:
- Apple: Go to the Google Maps app > Tap your profile image > Offline maps > Select your own map > Choose the map area you want to save > Download
- Android: Go to the Google Maps app > Search for the location > At the bottom, tap the name of the place > Download.
Note: Make sure to download your maps when you still have cellular service, but preferably when you’re connected to a WiFi network.
Making emergency calls without service
Some experts believe the increased reliance on technology in the outdoors can be dangerous, giving inexperienced people a false sense of security.
So if you don’t plan to use your smartphones for GPS navigation or maps, you may want to keep your smartphone nearby (and turned off, to preserve your battery) for an emergency phone call.
You’ve probably seen the message “No network, Emergency calls only” on your phone’s screen at some point. That can mean you do not have service with your primary cellular network, but you may still be able to make an emergency call using a tower of another network service provider if it’s in range.
Need connectivity all the time? Consider a satellite communicator
If you need a connection to the outside world at all times, regardless of cellular reception, consider purchasing a satellite communicator. This is an external device that connects to a global satellite communications network, then to your smartphone, to provide you with network connectivity. These devices range from basic units that send simple two-way messages, all the way up to comprehensive devices that can send and receive calls and text messages and access data virtually anywhere on the planet.
Zoleo is the top choice for Cam, our Senior Data Analyst. Here’s a review of other devices that will match your needs and budget.
Download other content for offline use
Sometimes you just need the digital creature comforts of civilization while you’re enjoying the outdoors. Maybe you want to read a book on top of a mountain, but don’t want to schlep extra pounds up the trail. Or you’d like to listen to a podcast or audiobook while you fall asleep.
Not a problem — but you should plan ahead, since you will want to be connected to a WiFi network and ensure your device has enough storage.
Many of your favorite video streaming apps allow you to download content to access offline (here’s how for Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+), so do your music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora) and popular audiobook platforms (Audible for iOS and Android; Google Play Books)
Your phone is a multi-use tool
Remember, your smartphone is more than just a little internet machine that can make calls and send texts. Your phone is a flashlight (iOS and Android). It can measure lengths and distances.
Most importantly, smartphones come equipped with great built-in cameras. If you have a newer device, your camera is pretty amazing. Unless you’d like to take pictures with professional-level equipment (and lug around a few extra pounds), your phone’s camera will probably be sufficient for many situations to make great memories. Here’s our recent tip on taking better photos with your smartphone.
Posted on July 6, 2021
How journalist Judd Legum holds corporations like AT&T accountable
If you’ve followed CREDO’s story for any amount of time, you know that we aspire to be an ethical company that exists to make the world a better place, from our commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility to the millions in donations to progressive causes over the last 35 years.
Other corporations, like Fox News, AT&T, Exxon, Koch Industries — not so much.
Over the last few years, journalist Judd Legum has been holding the feet of bad corporate actors to the fire with tenacious research and reporting, uncovering shady donations to right-wing politicians working to subvert democracy and undermine our progressive values.
Legum’s work has been invaluable for shining a light on Big Telecom companies like AT&T who claim publicly to be responsible corporate citizens, then privately fund anti-LGBTQ or white supremacist politicians. So, we were lucky to have the opportunity to chat with him recently about corporate accountability, his work as a journalist and his newsletter Popular Information.
If the name Judd Legum sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Many CREDO members may remember Legum as the founder and editor of the popular progressive blog ThinkProgress. During the 2008 presidential race, he served as the research director for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Today, Legum is the author of Popular Information, a daily political newsletter that shares its name from a quote by James Madison and gets to the heart of Legum’s work:
“A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both.”
His research and investigative work have been cited widely — many with real-world effects. Just one example: His March 3 piece uncovering donations by major corporations, including Coca-Cola, UPS, Delta, and AT&T, to Georgia politicians supporting racist voter suppression bills resulted in a rapid response advocacy campaign by a coalition of voting rights activists (including CREDO grantees NAACP and Black Voters Matter).
We also should mention that Legum’s corporate accountability work appears frequently on this blog, regularly highlighting the malfeasance of Big Telecom and uncovering AT&T’s donations to anti-LGBTQ politicians, Florida and Georgia lawmakers supporting voter suppression, Texas lawmakers supporting voter suppression, and insurrectionist members of Congress who enabled Trump’s deadly riot on the Capitol.
The following Q&A has been edited for length and clarity and does not imply endorsement by Judd Legum.
CREDO: You’ve uncovered a lot of stories missed by big media outlets, some of them sitting in plain sight (or in FEC reports) that later made big waves in the mainstream media. Why are many traditional reporters not connecting the dots, say between advertisers and Fox News, or corporations buying influence with their right-wing beneficiaries?
JUDD LEGUM: I think part of the reason why so many people miss these stories is because it’s just the way things are done in Washington, D.C and in American politics. The reason why we were the first to do a story about which corporations donated to the members of Congress that voted to overturn the election is that most people were like, “Oh, of course those corporations donated to Kevin McCarthy and Mo Brooks and all the other people who voted to overturn the election. That’s what corporations do.”
But as it turns out, when you do the work to identify these corporations, the people who do business with these companies are very interested in how they operate — and the corporations themselves are very sensitive to how their customers feel about them. So while [not reporting on these donations] may be the way things are done in Washington, we’re still going to get the information out to people, and that’s important.
CREDO: So it’s “conventional wisdom,” really, among the traditional media that, “of course, these corporations donate to politicians,” so it’s not a story.
JUDD LEGUM: Right. For a long time, corporations rested on the fact that they give to both parties, so one cancels out the other. But that’s not always the case. If you give $100,000 to one party that is voting to overturn a democratic election, and then you give $100,000 to lawmakers voting not to overturn the election, that doesn’t cancel each other out. That’s a big story.
And the same goes for voting rights. It’s not enough to divide up your contributions to people who support the right to vote and to people who try to make it extremely difficult to vote — especially if you’re a company that says, publicly, that you support voting rights and wrap yourselves in the legacy of John Lewis and other civil rights heroes.
CREDO: You’ve been reporting on corporate bad actors and calling out companies for their hypocrisy for a while now — whether it’s a company saying publicly that they support LGBTQ rights or Black Lives Matter or voting rights, then they’re quietly donating to Republican lawmakers — sometimes substantial amounts — who completely oppose those values, when they think no one is looking. Recently, you uncovered some companies who promised to stop donations to insurrectionist politicians, then when the dust settled, they opened their wallets to lawmakers who still continue to spread Trump’s Big Lie.
Why do you think these companies keep doing it, even though they know people like you are paying such close attention?
JUDD LEGUM: There’s an infrastructure built into these corporations that’s based on, effectively, purchasing access to politicians. Part of the toolkit in a “government relations” department is not only trading access based on relationships, but it’s also donating money so that you get your phone calls returned. There’s certainly some people within these companies who are pushing to reform the way they do business [with regards to political donations], but there are others who believe that if Republicans get back into power in 2022, they need to restart these donations, even after what happened on Jan. 6, and get back to business as usual.
CREDO: In the last few years, it feels like people are paying more attention to how corporations act in the political space. Do you feel like you’ve been seeing a heightened expectation from consumers for companies to uphold their values?
JUDD LEGUM: I think that’s absolutely right. Consumer behavior is changing and companies are trying to respond. That’s why you see so many companies taking public stances on social issues. After George Floyd’s murder, you saw all those companies express their support on social media for the Black Lives Matter movement — because a lot of people [who support Black lives] didn’t want to be associated with companies that didn’t.
The problem is that these companies haven’t taken the next step — which is how you spend your money with those expressed values. So there’s still a gap. Part of what we saw after Jan. 6, and what I think we’ll see in the future, is a response to enhanced expectations by consumers.
CREDO: At CREDO, we’re particularly interested in how you’ve really held AT&T to account for their donations that support right-wing causes and politicians — they are kind of the antithesis to what CREDO stands for. To you, what makes these actions by AT&T particularly egregious?
JUDD LEGUM: Well, they are a very large contributor, even among large corporations. They are usually at the top of any list for contributions made to any politicians. If they aren’t on top, they are near the top.
The other thing that really stuck out to me about AT&T is how the company really leaned in hard into civil rights and into the legacy of civil rights leaders. There was a video that was posted by AT&T on YouTube where they recreated John Lewis’ march on Selma, which is fine. And to be fair to the company, Black AT&T employees were involved in that video, so I don’t fault them for it.
But, once you do that, you can’t [donate to politicians who support voter suppression.] For example, AT&T may be the #2 donor in Texas with regards to contributions to the sponsors of voter suppression legislation, but when asked, the CEO issued a statement essentially saying that [voting laws] weren’t their area of expertise.
So that’s why AT&T ends up in a lot of our stories; I go where the data takes me. Frequently, it takes me to AT&T.
CREDO: Last question: What’s some advice you can give to CREDO customers and other progressives who want to make sure that they aren’t spending their money with companies that donate to Republicans and right-wing causes and instead try to be vigilant and do business with companies that share their values?
JUDD LEGUM: Well, they can subscribe to my newsletter, Popular Information, because that is one thing that I try to cover. But I also think that making your voice heard really can drive a lot of corporate behavior. So if you’re going to change your service, I would let the company know why you’re making the switch. You’d be surprised how a relatively few number of people can raise the eyebrows of a large company and get attention.
We’d like to thank Judd Legum for this great interview and all the work he’s doing to hold companies accountable, especially when they support the politicians and causes that don’t align with our values as CREDO members. We encourage you to sign up and subscribe to his newsletter, Popular Information, for daily or weekly analysis, insight and research. We’ll be sure to feature his work on our blog again.
Posted on July 2, 2021
Our June grantees thank you for your support
Each month, CREDO members vote on how we distribute funding to three incredible nonprofits. Those small actions add up – with one click, you can help fund groups working for LGBTQ rights, climate justice and public land conservation. In June, CREDO members voted to distribute our monthly donation to Freedom For All Americans, Rainforest Foundation US and Trust for Public Land.
These donations are made possible by CREDO customers and the revenue they generate by using our services. The distribution depends entirely on the votes of CREDO members like you. And for that, our April grant recipients thank you.
Freedom For All Americans
$47,600
“Thank you! We know 8 in 10 Americans want their LGBTQ neighbors protected from discrimination. With help from CREDO members like you, we can activate every single one of them to support the Equality Act and get this critical legislation passed.” – Kasey Suffredini, CEO & National Campaign Director
To learn more, visit www.freedomforallamericans.org.
Rainforest Foundation US
$53,250
“Thank you for your contribution! By counting on the support of passionate people like yourself, Rainforest Foundation US is able to help indigenous peoples protect the tropical forests we all depend on.” – Suzanne Pelletier, Executive Director, Rainforest Foundation US
To learn more, visit rainforestfoundation.org.
Trust for Public Land
$49,090
“Thank you for being a part of this transformational change. By donating to The Trust for Public Land, you are an essential contributor to the parks, trails, schoolyards, and open spaces that are strengthening neighborhoods and helping people thrive.” – Diane Regas, President and Chief Executive Officer, Trust for Public Land
To learn more, visit tpl.org.
Now check out the three groups we are funding in July, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on July 1, 2021
The Top 5 Phone Tips of 2021 So Far: Blocking robocalls, scanning documents, extending your phone’s battery & more
Are you still getting annoying spam and robocalls on your phone? Having trouble securely keeping track of all your passwords? Or is your phone’s battery dying a lot sooner than it should?
We’ve got you covered. Today, we want to share with you the top 5 best phone tips of 2021 so far in case you missed them the first time around. Enjoy!
#5: 8 easy ways to extend your phone’s battery life
If your smartphone is a little older, you know what it’s like when your battery dies unexpectedly. It’s the side effect of having a powerful yet tiny computer in your pocket.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to preserve and extend the battery life of your smartphone. Here are 8 tips to keep your phone running a little longer.
#4: How to securely erase your phone before selling or trading in
If you’re planning to sell, trade in or give away your current phone, there are a number of steps you should take to prepare your phone in order to protect your personal information and secure your data and accounts.
That means unpairing, backing up, logging out, and most importantly, securely erasing all of your data before you hand over your device. Here’s what you should do with your phone before selling, trading it in or giving it away.
#3: Here’s why you need to start using a password manager — and how you can get started
It’s tough to remember all our passwords — but if you’re not using unique and complex passwords for each of your accounts, you’re making it easy for hackers or criminals to compromise your sensitive information.
A password manager can help. It keeps all of your accounts secure by creating, encrypting and storing your passwords so you don’t need to write them on a sticky note next to your computer anymore.
#2: How to quickly scan documents right from your mobile phone
Whether you’re applying for a new apartment or loan, or saving old recipes or receipts, at some point you’ve probably needed to scan a document or two. But scanning can be difficult if you don’t own a scanner or all-in-one printer.
#1: How to Block Annoying Robocalls and Spam Calls on Your Phone
We hate robocalls and spam calls, and we know you do too. They are persistent, annoying and dangerous.
Posted on June 29, 2021
The survey results are in: Equality and LGBTQ nondiscrimination across America
Despite significant victories for equality in recent years, LGBTQ Americans continue to face discrimination in many parts of our country.
That’s why, this Pride Month, we teamed up with our June grantee Freedom For All Americans to survey CREDO members about equality and discrimination in their area to help FFAA fight for full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people nationwide.
Thousands of CREDO members took our survey, and here are the results.
We began the survey asking respondents whether they were aware of protections in their state against LGBTQ discrimination. Many people were not sure if the LGBTQ community is fully protected in their state.
Next, we highlighted that 29 states — more than half of all U.S. states — have not passed full nondiscrimination laws to protect LGBTQ people. A plurality of respondents expected this to be the case, and more than a quarter were surprised it is so high.
Click here to see if your state offers full LGBTQ nondiscrmination protection.
Recent polling from the Public Religion Research Institute found that 76% of all Americans, including 85% of Democrats, 78% of independents, and 62% Republicans, support full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people. A majority of survey respondents did not expect the support for these laws to be so popular.
We then asked a series of questions about the Equality Act, a bill in Congress that would extend protections to LGBTQ people at the federal level, which is a priority for our allies at FFAA.
A overwhelming majority — more than 86% of respondents — are aware of the Equality Act.
More than half of all survey takers have taken action at least once to support the Equality Act, with more than one third taking action multiple times.
Finally, we asked our members what grassroots actions they’d be willing to take to make sure the Equality Act becomes law. We learned that a large majority want to use their voice to make change, so here are some ways you can take action today to help us and our partners at Freedom for All Americans ensure the Equality Act will protect the LGBTQ community nationwide:
- Email your senators and tell them to vote “YES” on the Equality Act
- Tweet at your senators and urge them to #Act4Equality
- Call your senators and urge them to support the Equality Act
Visit CREDODonations.com and vote for Freedom For All Americans and our other great grantees this month to help distribute our monthly donation
Posted on June 24, 2021
Your phone apps are tracking you. Here’s how to stop them.
Have you ever searched for something on your phone, like a new shirt, plane ticket or computer, then get the sinking feeling you’re being followed online with ads for the same product for the next few days?
You’re not alone. Your phone apps are helping marketers target and track you across the internet. For some, it’s a useful way to see products you might purchase. For others, it feels like an invasion of privacy.
Here are a few simple tips to protect your privacy and prevent these apps from tracking you online.
Turn off app tracking
A new feature built into iOS 14.5 released this April was App Tracking Transparency, which allows you to give explicit permission to apps to share your data, location and other identifiers that can allow third parties to serve you with targeted ads. Here’s how to manage this new feature:
- For new apps that you download, you will automatically receive a pop-up notification upon opening that asks if you would like the app to track your activity and explains how it will use your data. You can choose Ask App not to Track or Allow.
- For apps that you have already downloaded and use, you can control tracking permissions on an app-by-app basis. Go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking, and for each app in the list, you can choose which apps to allow or prevent tracking.
- You can turn off app tracking altogether by going to Settings > Privacy > Tracking, and turning off Allow Apps to Request to Track. This should prevent new apps from tracking by default and stop current apps from tracking you.
If you have an Android phone, this feature is not available to you — at least not yet. Google has announced that it will start allowing users to opt-out of ad tracking sometime in late 2021 for devices that run Android 12. Android users can still turn off ads personalization in the Google ad network by going to Settings > Google > Ads and toggling off Opt out of Ads Personalization.
Turn off location tracking (iOS and Android)
Sharing your location data with certain apps is absolutely essential for the app to work properly, like navigation and map apps, rideshare apps, or weather apps. Sharing your location data for apps like these is pretty helpful, if not critical, to ensure the best experience.
But marketers can also use your geolocation data to target you with advertisements. If you’d like to read more, check out this visual explanation from the Boston Globe on how it all works.
If you’d like to control how you share your location data, here’s how:
- In iOS, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Here, you will see a list of all the apps that have asked to access your location data. Choose the app you’d like to change permissions for, and select Never, Ask Next Time, While Using the App, or Always.
- Alternatively, you can also toggle Location Services to Off, but that could prevent some of your apps from not being able to function properly.
- For Android devices (this will be dependent on your device manufacturer and Android version), go to Settings > Location > App Permissions. Choose the specific app you’d like to change and choose Deny.
- You can also disable location services altogether by going to Settings > Location > App Permissions and toggling off the Location at the top of the menu.
Turn off access to your phone’s microphone
It’s all happened to us: We’re having a conversation with friends about the latest TV show or gadget, and then we see an ad on our phone soon after. It really seems like our phone was listening to us. Many people have reported this exact same experience, too, yet app developers claim they do not use ambient noise from our phone’s microphones to determine which ads to show users.
If you’re concerned that your phone is listening to you, you can turn off microphone access app-by-app. Here’s how:
- In iOS, go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone. You will see a list of all the apps that have requested access to your device’s microphone. Toggle which app you’d like to turn on or off.
- You can also turn off Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, which also uses your microphone. Go to Settings > Siri & Search. Toggle off Listen for “Hey Siri” and Press Side Button for Siri.
- For Android devices (this will be dependent on your device manufacturer and Android version), go to Settings > Privacy > App Permissions > Microphone and choose which apps you’d like to turn on or off.
- You can also turn off Google Assistant. Go to Settings > Google > Account Services > Search > Voice > Voice Match and turn it off.
If you want another layer to protect your data from advertisers, consider joining CREDO Mobile. CREDO customers never have to worry that their data is for sale. As a carrier, we don’t share your cell phone usage data with advertisers. In fact, data privacy is at the core of our business, and CREDO customers can rest assured that we take your privacy very seriously.
Click here to learn more about how CREDO protects your data — and how other major carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile do not.
