Activism 2.0: You Make the Call!

The new iPhone is certainly drool-worthy. But if you care more about causes than toting the shiniest gadgetry, you should check out Credo Mobile. Every time you make a call using the Credo's mobile or long distance plans, the company donates 1% of your mobile charges to nonprofit groups. The groups vary every year but normally fall within the categories of civil rights, economic/social justice, environment, peace/international freedom and voting rights--broad enough categories to cover most interests. According to their website, they've raised over $60 million since 1985 for various causes. How does your provider stack up? Check out their chart that indicates, among other interesting factoids, that Verizon contributes to the Texas Freedom Fund, a PAC that supports Minnesota representative Michelle Bachman, famous for accusing Obama and other congress people as being "anti-American" among other flubs.

Click here for the interactive chart, courtesy Credo Mobile.

Credo also lets you take your activism a step further, offering a variety of tools to organize members for political action. For instance, by signing up for Credo Mobile Action, you can opt-in to hear talking points on congressional committee meetings and votes. When you're ready to make your voice heard to your local representative, you push a button and Credo will connect you directly with the appropriate office. You don't need to be a Credo Mobile user to sign up for this feature.

As the whole country is rethinking the way that we live, it makes sense to look at the things we do every day and investigate ways that these activities can be combined with ways to become a more engaged and informed citizen. And if you still want that iPhone, I'm hoping that someone out there is developing an activism app.