Posted on March 2, 2020
Vote for Americans for Tax Fairness, Friends of the Earth and NARAL Pro-Choice America this March
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute our monthly donation to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This March, you can support groups fighting for economic justice, the environment and climate justice and women’s rights and reproductive freedom by voting to fund Americans for Tax Fairness, Friends of the Earth and NARAL Pro-Choice America.
ATF mobilizes public support for progressive tax reform, so we have the revenue to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and to make new investments in education, housing, infrastructure, and more to create an economy that works for all.
A grant from CREDO would cover expenses for ATF’s part-time writer, who provides the backbone of the content generation that so many groups depend on, and a chunk of ATF’s email consultant, who makes ATF’s online activism program successful.
Friends of the Earth defends the environment and champions a more healthy and just world. The organization works at the nexus of environmental protection, economic policy and social justice to fundamentally transform the way people and the environment are valued.
Support from CREDO will help Friends of the Earth protect our environment from Trump and his efforts to dismantle essential protections for clean air, water and a healthy climate, uniting with our international federation of partners in 75 countries.
NARAL is powered by its 2.5 million members in all 50 states. The group represents the 7 in 10 Americans who support reproductive freedom and believe every person should be able to make personal decisions about pregnancy free from political interference.
A CREDO grant would allow NARAL to expand its impact, working to protect and expand abortion access across the country, while mobilizing the organization’s members with a comprehensive strategy to drive voter turnout in states critical to 2020.
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 March 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 February 25, 2020
CREDO Tip: 5 secure messaging apps to keep your conversations private
“If I’m not breaking the law, why do I care if someone reads my messages? I have nothing to hide.”
We’ve heard a lot of versions of this conversation here at CREDO. And the reality is, even if you’re not doing something illegal, you should care about surveillance.
With an authoritarian in the White House — who has every tool of mass surveillance at his disposal — all bets are off. Even if you’re not Muslim or an undocumented immigrant, or have family in another country, or are a Black Lives Matter activist or an investigative journalist, or just an ally of progressive causes, you should care.
Let’s ask this: Would you let the government place cameras or listening devices in your home? That’s the equivalent of digital mass surveillance. And we know that the government, with help from major telecom companies like AT&T — considered the NSA’s “most trusted partner” — has been engaging in illegal mass surveillance operations.
That’s why we think it’s probably a good idea to consider protecting the communications on your phone if you share some of these concerns. Here are a few apps you can use.
Signal
The best messaging apps use end-to-end encryption, a method of encoding the message so that only the sender and the recipient can read it, even if the data were intercepted en route. And Signal’s end-to-end encryption is one of the best: its engine is open source, which means the code is continuously reviewed for bugs and loopholes. It’s sort of the Linux of the secure-messaging world. Signal is supported by grants and donations, which means the app has no ads, no affiliate marketing, and no tracking. Its security platform is used by WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
Signal is free and its interface is refreshingly simple. A great feature is the ability to set a timer on messages so they disappear or “self-destruct” after a period of time. Signal is the favorite messaging app of Edward Snowden, who knows a thing or two about security. And when WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton quit Facebook in protest against Facebook’s plan to put ads on WhatsApp, he joined Signal.
Here are two tutorials for using Signal from our ally and grantee recipient the Electronic Frontier Foundation:
Install Signal for iOS or Android.
WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world, used by over 1.5 billion people every day. It’s free and available to Android and iOS users. It provides end-to-end encryption by default – you don’t have to turn it on, it’s always there. You can back-up your messages to Google Drive if you choose, so you can restore them on a new Android device.
WhatsApp is, however, owned by Facebook, which has a disturbingly poor record on privacy. Facebook also had planned to monetize WhatsApp with advertising, raising significant privacy concerns for an encrypted messaging service, but recently scrapped those plans for now.
You can download WhatsApp here for iOS and Android.
Wickr
Like Signal, Wickr is another open source messaging app with end-to-end encryption that allows you to set up self-destructing messages and group chat rooms for secure collaboration.
Unlike Signal, you don’t need a phone number to register, which could have some benefits, especially if you want to communicate with the public in a secure way without having to publish your phone number. The company also claims to not have the keys to decrypt your private messages so once your messages are deleted, law enforcement, the government not the company can retrieve them.
Install Wickr for iOS and Android.
Telegram
Telegram is a cloud-based app, which brings advantages and disadvantages. On the upside, it delivers messages very quickly (faster than any other secure-messaging app, it claims) and allows you to share an unlimited number of photos, videos and files, including .doc, .zip and .mp3 – up to 1.5 GB each.
On the downside, cloud storage means Telegram does not offer end-to-end encryption by default. To get it, you have to turn on Secret Chats in the app’s settings. All Secret Chats are device-specific and never enter the Telegram cloud. Messages in Secret Chats cannot be forwarded, and when you delete messages on your end of the conversation, they will also be deleted at the receiver’s end.
Telegram’s code is open source. It’s free, serves no ads and does not push in-app purchases.
Get Telegram for iOS and Android.
Viber
Viber, which is used by close to 1 billion people, is used in over 190 countries and provides end-to-end encryption by default. It’s free and available to Android and iOS users. Viber does come with ads and in-app purchases. It also leans toward the young user, offering a large library of stickers (some free, some not) directly on the interface. Which is cool if you’re a sticker fan but distracting if you’re not.
In addition to its Secret Chats feature (which makes messages disappear after a set time), Viber also lets you manually delete messages you’ve sent – from your own phone and also from the phones of the people you’ve sent it to. The company is owned by Japanese e-commerce and internet giant Rakuten and based in Luxembourg.
Get Viber for iOS and Android.
CREDO Mobile and Privacy
Here at CREDO, we take privacy very seriously. Respecting our customers’ privacy rights is a core mission of our company, we have a long history of fighting for it — and we’ve consistently been recognized for it.
Unlike other carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, who sell their customers’ private data for profit – your data is not for sale at CREDO. No amount of money will ever change that. We were the first carrier to issue a transparency report in 2014 and we now issue quarterly transparency reports detailing requests by the government for customer data.
Learn more about how CREDO fights for our customers’ privacy rights.
Posted on February 19, 2020
CREDO Tip: What is dark mode — and should you use it?
If you’re like most of us here at CREDO, you probably use your phone or tablet a lot. In fact, the average American uses their mobile devices almost 4 hours a day!
With all that use, we can develop eye strain, loss of sleep, reduced productivity and a drained battery. What if there were a mode on your phone to reduce all of those?
While we wish there were a magic way to cure all our phone ailments, we *are* able to adjust and possibly improve our experience with built-in features found right inside the settings of our phones or tablets.
Enter “dark mode.” You may have heard of it; you may even be reading this in dark mode right now.
So what is dark mode, will it enhance your experience on your device, and should you try it out? Here’s a quick explainer.
What is dark mode?
As you may have guessed, dark mode is setting that darkens your display and user interface on your device and in many apps, inverting the background and text colors from dark text on a light background to light text on a dark background.
Here’s an example from the Twitter app on an iPhone:
Dark mode now comes as an option natively with Apple’s iOS 13 and Google’s Android 10. Many popular apps, including Chrome, Instagram and Twitter, also support dark mode. The Verge keeps a running list of apps that support dark mode.
Why use dark mode?
According to the big tech companies, dark mode is helpful in a number of ways, including:
- Making it easier to stay focused
- Improving visibility for people with low vision or have sensitivity to bright light
- Reducing eye strain especially in low light conditions
- Improving battery life, especially for devices with OLED and AMOLED screens (which include most newer devices made by popular manufacturers)
- It looks pretty cool.
There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to back up most of these claims, however many experts have recently called into question whether dark mode can really reduce eye strain. VICE’s “Dark Mode Isn’t ‘Easier on the Eyes’ for Everybody” and Wired’s “Dark mode isn’t as good for your eyes as you believe” explain why the claim may be a bit of folklore. (We think you should try it out for yourself, though!)
Does dark mode help with sleep?
It’s complicated.
Studies have shown that the blue light emitted from screens can negatively affect circadian rhythms and make falling asleep more difficult. For years, Android and iOS devices have included a “night shift” or “night mode” that imparts a warmer, orange-yellow hue, reducing cooler, blue light from screens, presumably to help sleep.
But a recent study from the University of Manchester in the U.K. suggests just the opposite. Researchers found that the body may actually use the “dim and blue appearance of twilight” to signal sleep, and features on our phones could be sending us mixed messages.
How about dark mode, then? The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that it’s probably a good idea to use dark mode — which is generally darker than a “night shift” mode — combined with reduced screen time at night to improve sleep.
How to enable dark mode on your device
Ready to give dark mode a try? Here’s how to turn it on:
Apple iOS and iPadOS devices (version 13 or above)
There are three ways to turn on dark mode from your Apple device
- If you use Siri, simply say
- “Hey Siri, turn on dark mode,” or
- “Siri, turn on dark appearance.”
- To enable dark mode from the Control Center:
- Swipe down from the top right corner of the device (or swipe up from the bottom on older devices)
- Touch and hold the brightness control
- Toggle dark mode on or off
- To enable dark mode from Settings:
- Go to Settings, then to Display & Brightness.
- Select “Dark” to turn on dark mode.
Google Android devices (version 9 or higher)
- Go to the Settings app
- Tap Display
- Toggle “Dark Theme” on or off
Posted on February 12, 2020
CREDO Tip: How to be a better LGBTQ ally
For many of us, we consider ourselves allies (or members! or both!) of the LGBTQ community. We love and support our friends and family who do — or do not — identify in the community. We support inclusive policies and lawmakers who fight for justice and equality. We lift up the stories and voices of trans, non-binary and genderqueer people.
But what does it really mean to be an ally? We all know it goes beyond wearing a rainbow pin and marching at Pride events. It means listening, making space and having respect. It also means understanding your own biases and, for straight allies, checking your heteronormativity at the door. It means publicly standing up for LGBTQ people, especially trans people and people of color.
This Valentines Day, when Love is Love is Love, we wanted to share a few tips on practicing allyship with LGBTQ communities, adapted from the UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center.
- Use the pronouns and name that someone wants to use. If you don’t know, ask them! Politely correct others if they use the wrong pronoun or name. Include your preferred pronouns in your social media profiles.
- Recognize the difference between sexual orientation and gender. Trans people, just like cisgender people (those who generally identify as their birth-assigned sex), can be straight, gay, bisexual, asexual, etc.
- Be respectful of trans people’s bodies and stories. Don’t ask about surgery, hormones, sexual preferences, or any other incredibly personal aspects of their lives. But do listen if they want to share their stories with you.
- Gender isn’t binary — i.e. boy/girl, man/woman. Don’t assume trans people or others in the LGBTQ community identify as one or the other.
- Learn inclusive terminology. Here’s a great glossary of terms from the National LGBTQ Task Force.
- If you are cisgender, understand and identify your prejudices and biases. Popular culture, the news media and even friends and family can be very heteronormative (the idea, belief or assumption that gender binary and heterosexuality is the norm) and can reinforce those biases.
- Be aware of the physical spaces your LGBTQ friends may prefer or require. Think ahead if your trans friends feel more comfortable at inclusive spaces or public places with all-gender restrooms. If you run an event, be sure to designate gender-neutral bathrooms. Ensure “women-only” spaces for trans women.
- Advocate for better policies for the LGBTQ community — at the federal and local levels. Support lawmakers who stand up for equality and LGBTQ rights.
- Spend your dollars with LGBTQ-friendly businesses and avoid those who are not allies. Check out #GrabYourWallet as a good place to start.
- Or, join us at CREDO Mobile — we’ve donated more than $6 million to progressive groups, like the Transgender Law Center the the National LGBTQ Task Force, who are fighting for LGBTQ rights every day.
For more tips, check out LGBTQIA Ally Tips from the LGBTQIA Resource Center at UC Davis.
Posted on February 7, 2020
Wondering how CREDO gives donates each month?
Here at CREDO, we were created with a mission to fund progressive causes, like civil rights, climate justice and LGBTQ equality, today and all year long –— and we’ve been doing just that for more than 30 years.
We always get the question: How is CREDO able to donate millions to progressive nonprofits like Planned Parenthood, Friends of the Earth, the ACLU and so many others?
The answer is it’s our members. Because of CREDO members who use our CREDO Mobile, CREDO Energy, CREDO Long Distance and Working Assets Credit Card products every day, we can make an incredible impact on the progressive movement. CREDO members are the reason we contribute $1 million every year – and have donated more than $94 million since our founding – to amazing progressive nonprofit groups doing incredible work.
Here’s how our donations program works:
- All year long, CREDO members who use one of our products or services – CREDO Mobile, CREDO Long Distance, CREDO Energy or the Working Assets Credit Card – fund the CREDO Donations program with their phone, long distance, energy and credit card bills.
- Each month, CREDO meets as a company to vote for which three nonprofit groups will be on the ballot to receive the next month’s donations. Just like our members, everyone who works at CREDO shares a passion for our progressive work and takes the act of voting on each month’s slate very seriously. You can nominate a group too, just visit our CREDO Donations site.
- We ask all of our members to help decide who gets how much each month. We send the donations ballot to CREDO members, activists and supporters, and they vote for the group (or groups) they’d most like to see funded. The votes of CREDO members carry more weight. The vote of a member with one CREDO product or service counts twice. The vote of a member with two CREDO products or services counts three times, and so on.
Our donations are only possible because of our members who vote with their wallets and choose a company that shares their progressive values. Our loyal CREDO members have helped us donate more than $1.7 million in 2019 and over $88 million since 1985.
You can help us choose how to distribute this month’s donation to three great groups! Click here to cast your vote today.
So thank you, CREDO members, for making these donations possible. Not a member yet? Want to join a company that isn’t afraid to stand up for your values and gives millions to progressive causes? Check out CREDO Mobile and CREDO Energy and make the switch!
Posted on February 5, 2020
CREDO Tip: 3 Political Documentaries to Stream on Netflix Right Now
As election season heats up, the first votes of 2020 have been cast, and politics is in the air. It’s an exciting time, because we’re that much closer to one of the most consequential elections of our lives.
But if the 24 hour news cycle isn’t your cup of tea — and you still need your political fix — we’ve got you covered. From courageous and progressive female candidates to propaganda in our news feeds to mass incarceration, we’ve picked out three political documentaries streaming right now on Netflix for your next binge session.
Knock Down The House (2019)
2018 was another year of the woman. A record 529 women ran for Congress, many of whom were inspired to run in the wake of the election two years prior, when a misogynist entered the White House. Knock Down the House, directed by Rachel Lears, features four female progressive candidates — with a focus on now-Rep. Alexandria Ocazio-Cortez — who took on the establishment, following them through their campaigns and up to election night, and beyond. 2020 could again shape up to be another year of the female candidate, so this one is worth a watch.
Watch it streaming on Netflix here.
The Great Hack (2019)
If you’ve ever felt like your devices are listening to you — then serve you up eerily similar ads — you’re not alone. Technology companies and data brokers are constantly harvesting our private information for profit, and they’re playing an ever growing role to influence our behaviors, including at the ballot box. The Great Hack, produced and directed by Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer, examines how now-defunct Cambridge Analytica, the data firm backed by major Republican billionaire mega-donor Robert Mercer, harvested Facebook data of millions of Americans and Brits to feed them propaganda.
As election security bills to protect our democracy languish in Mitch McConnell’s Senate, the possibility of history repeating itself could become reality, so we recommend checking this out to know what we could be up against again.
Check it out streaming on Netflix here.
13th (2016)
More than 150 years ago, the 13th Amendment was ratified, cementing the abolishment of slavery in our nation’s most important governing document. But disturbingly, there remains one notable and ominous loophole: salvery and involuntary servitude were abolished “except as a punishment for crime.” Immediately post-Civil War, this exception was exploited, and, as director Ava DuVernay, widely known for her work on Selma, examines, is still being employed today.
Shocking as well as tear-jerking, DuVernay’s 13th lays bare the systemic racism in our criminal justice system, from Jim Crow through today’s crisis of Black mass incarceration. As the New York Times lays out 13th‘s overarching argument, “The United States did not just criminalize a select group of black people. It criminalized black people as a whole, a process that, in addition to destroying untold lives, effectively transferred the guilt for slavery from the people who perpetuated it to the very people who suffered through it.”
Now streaming on Netflix here.
Posted on February 4, 2020
Our January 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 fighting for racial and social justice, voting rights and women’s rights. In January, over 38,000 CREDO members voted to distribute our monthly donation to Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Brennan Center for Justice and Women’s March.
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 January grant recipients thank you.
Black Alliance for Just Immigration
$42,821
“BAJI’s movement has greatly benefited from CREDO’s commitment to racial, social and economic justice. Our deepest gratitude for standing with BAJI and supporting our work, we are in this fight together.” – Nana Gyamfi, Executive Director
To learn more, visit baji.org.
Brennan Center for Justice
$54,727
“The Brennan Center for Justice is grateful to CREDO members like you – and your commitment to make sure our elections are free, fair and secure. Thanks for joining us to protect voting rights, secure our elections, and ensure that every voice counts.” -Michael Waldman, Executive Director
To learn more, visit brennancenter.org.
Women’s March
$52,452
“Thank you to CREDO and CREDO members who support the work of so many organizations with your actions and resources. The future that we are working for, one where freedom is for everyone, no exceptions, is more possible with your support.” – Rachel Carmona, Executive Director
To learn more, visit womensmarch.com.
Now check out the three groups we are funding in February, 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 February 1, 2020
Vote for 350.org, Peace Action and UltraViolet this February
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute our monthly donation to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This February, you can support groups fighting for climate justice, peace and women’s rights by voting to fund 350.org, Peace Action and UltraViolet.
350.org
350.org is building a global grassroots climate movement to hold our leaders accountable to the realities of science and the principles of justice. The organization believes in a safe climate and a just and equitable future for all. 350.org is working around the world to empower our grassroots campaigners with more resources.
A CREDO grant would enable 350.org to continue its work to combat climate change by halting fossil fuel projects and promoting 100% renewable energy in the future.
Peace Action
Peace Action mobilizes the pro-peace public through targeted grassroots action and lobbying. The group is working to end our endless wars, for diplomacy to prevent new wars with countries like Iran and to cut Pentagon bloat to fund critical human needs.
Funding from CREDO members would help power Peace Action’s ability to block Donald Trump’s reckless foreign policy including the dangerous military stand-off with Iran and fund programs to educate voters on peace issues in key districts in the 2020 election.
UltraViolet
UltraViolet is building power for a multiracial and multigender community of people calling for change to erase our culture of patriarchy and white supremacy, and bring about a just and equitable world.
A CREDO grant will help UltraViolet expand the community of people calling for change to ensure that women—and all people who are impacted by gender-based oppression and violence—have autonomy over our bodies and 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 Feb. 29.
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 January 29, 2020
CREDO Tip: Samsung S10 review: Specs, differences and features
Each year, Samsung treats us to a new version of its flagship phone — the Galaxy S series — and last year was no different, releasing three versions of its high-end S10 mobile phones: the larger Galaxy S10+, the mid-size S10, and the more compact S10e.
Here at CREDO, many of our members want to know which of these Galaxy S10 phones is best for their needs because, on the surface, it may be hard to tell. Each model contains the same snappy Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, same Android operating system, edge-to-edge glass screen and 4g LTE capability — but there are some distinct differences. So here’s a quick review of the each phone, their specifications, features and differences.
Samsung Galaxy S10+
If you’re looking for the best Samsung has to offer, the Galaxy S10+ has you covered. The S10+ offers a sizeable 6.4 inch edge-to-edge display, internal storage up to one terabyte, a long-lasting battery and a whopping five camera lenses, three on the rear and two on the front (the other two models only have one front-facing lens). If you want the latest and greatest Samsung phone featuring a great display, the S10+ is the right choice for you.
Specs:
Screen size: 6.4in Infinity Display
Display Type: Edge-to-Edge
Resolution: 1440 x 3040 pixels
Biometrics: In Screen Ultrasonic, Fingerprint, Facial Recognition
RAM options: 8GB or 12GB
Storage options: 128GB, 512GB or 1TB
Battery: 4100mAh, All-Day Battery, Wireless Powershare
Rear camera: 12MPSuper Speed Dual PIxel + 16MP Ultra Wide + 12MP 2x Zoom
Front camera: 10MP Selfie Camera + 8MP Portrait Lens
Check out the Samsung Galaxy S10+ here.
Samsung Galaxy S10
The Galaxy S10 isn’t too big or too small and offers most of the same features as its bigger sibling. The S10 offers a 6.1 inch display, great RAM and storage options and four camera lenses, two on the front and two on the back. If you’re having a hard time deciding which Galaxy model to choose, we think this one is just right for most people.
Specs:
Screen size: 6.1in Infinity Display
Display Type: Edge-to-Edge
Resolution: 1440 x 3040 pixels
Biometrics: In Screen Ultrasonic, Fingerprint, Facial Recognition
RAM options: 8GB or 12GB
Storage options: 128GB or 512GB
Battery: 3400mAh, All-Day Battery, Wireless Powershare
Rear camera: 12MPSuper Speed Dual PIxel + 16MP Ultra Wide + 12MP 2x Zoom
Front camera: 10MP Selfie Camera
Check out the Samsung Galaxy S10 here.
Samsung Galaxy S10e
The Galaxy S10e may be Samsung’s “budget” phone, but it still packs quite a punch. You still get the same speedy processor and Android OS, but it costs less and comes in a smaller, pocket-sized package. Unlike the previous two phones, you do get a smaller, 5.8 inch flat display and you lose one lens on the rear camera. This is a great option for those looking for a wallet-friendly phone.
Specs:
Screen size: 5.8in Infinity Display
Display Type: Edge-to-Edge
Resolution: 1080 x 2280 pixels
Biometrics: Fingerprint, Facial Recognition
RAM options: 6GB or 8GB
Storage options: 128GB, 512GB or 1TB
Battery: 3100mAh, All-Day Battery, Wireless Powershare
Rear camera: 12MP Super Speed Dual Pixel + 16MP Ultra Wide
Front camera: 10MP Selfie Camera
Check out the Samsung Galaxy S10e here.
Posted on January 24, 2020
How CREDO funding helped Working Families Party win big victories
In October 2018, more than 55,000 CREDO members voted to donate $37,365 to Working Families Party, a people-powered progressive party fighting for an America that works for the many, not the fortunate few.
This grant, powered by CREDO members who use our products and services every day, supported WFP’s efforts to win a string of big electoral and policy victories in multiple states and train progressive leaders of the future.
In four states that Working Families focused on, the group scored major minimum wage wins, including three at its top demand of $15 per hour in Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey and $12 per hour in New Mexico. In Connecticut, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, Working Families Party won seats on city councils, school boards, and Mayor’s offices.
In New York City Working Families Party passed two historic ballot initiatives — ranked choice voting, and an initiative that would give a civilian-appointed board the power to investigate crooked cops who lie in police misconduct cases. Working Families Party made history in Philadelphia by booting out one of two Republicans on the city council and electing Kendra Brooks on the Working Families Party line in their place — the first third-party candidate elected to city council in 100 years!
Check out their year in review video and to sign up and learn more about the Working Families Party, please visit http://wfpus.org/signup.
These important victories were fueled in part by CREDO members who use our products, and our members are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile and CREDO Energy and join our movement.
And don’t forget to check out the three groups we are funding this month, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
