# articles

feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/summer-internships-at-the-fsf-apply-by-april-30
title: Summer internships at the FSF! Apply by April 30
uri: Summer-internships-at-the-FSF-Apply-by-April-30
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/summer-internships-at-the-fsf-apply-by-april-30
content:
<p>Do you believe that free software is crucial to a free society? Do you
want to help people learn why free software matters, and how to use
it? Do you want to dig deep into software freedom issues like
copyleft, <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital Restrictions Management (DRM)</a>, or surveillance
and encryption? Or, do you want to learn systems administration,
design, or other tasks using only free software?</p>
<p>These positions are unpaid, but the FSF will provide any appropriate
documentation you might need to receive funding and school credit from
outside sources. We also provide lunch expense reimbursement and a
monthly transportation pass that will give you free access to local
subways and buses (MBTA). We place an emphasis on providing hands-on
educational opportunities for interns, in which they work closely with
staff mentors on projects that match their skills and interest.</p>
<p>Interns can choose from the following fields of work:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Campaigns team interns might focus on privacy, encryption, or
  expanding and updating our outreach. Or, the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/take-action-on-the-international-day-against-drm-this-september-18th">International Day
  Against DRM (IDAD)</a> offers a great opportunity to design and run
  a large part of a full campaign.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Licensing team interns might assist with the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/endorsement/respects-your-freedom">Respects Your
  Freedom</a> hardware product certification program. Or, they might
  work to improve the <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Main_Page">Free Software Directory</a> or analyze the
  <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-compatibility.html">compatibility of other licenses with the GPL</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Tech team interns may choose from our current list of projects, or
  suggest one of their own. A past sysadmin intern did extensive work
  to set up a <a href="https://status.fsf.org/main/public">GNU social</a> instance; others created <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/free-software-video-streaming-hubangl-powered-libreplanet-2017">HUBAngl</a>
  for easy video streaming, worked on porting <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-librejs-new-and-improved">LibreJS to
  WebExtensions</a>, penetration tested our network, and researched
  Ceph distributed object storage and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/single-board-computer-guide-updated-free-software-is-winning-on-arm">the freedom status of single
  board computers</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Summer internships start in June and typically run for a period of
twelve weeks. We prefer candidates who are able to work in our Boston
office, but may consider remote interns. The deadline to apply is
April 30.</p>
<p>To apply, send a letter of interest and a resume with two references
to <a href="mailto:hiring@fsf.org">&#104;&#105;&#114;&#105;&#110;&#103;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. Please send all application materials in free
software-friendly formats like .pdf, .odt, and .txt. Use "Summer
internship application" as the subject line of your email. Please
include links to your writing, design, or coding work if it applies --
personal, professional, or class work is acceptable. URLs are
preferred, though email attachments in free formats are acceptable,
too. Learn more about our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/volunteer/internships">internships</a>, and direct any questions
to <a href="mailto:info@fsf.org">&#105;&#110;&#102;&#111;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2019-wrap-up-building-the-free-software-utopia
title: LibrePlanet 2019 wrap-up: Building the free software utopia
uri: LibrePlanet-2019-wrap-up-Building-the-free-software-utopia
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2019-wrap-up-building-the-free-software-utopia
content:
<p>From the time of free software's inception, with Richard Stallman's <a href="https://www.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html">announcement of the GNU Project in 1984</a>, community has been a central part of its philosophy: we must be free to choose to share any software we use or create. Stallman wrote, "I consider that the golden rule requires that if I like a program I must share it with other people who like it," and from this point concluded that we must always be permitted to share our discoveries and innovations with others, in order to make their computing and their lives easier and better. Software that is free always has benefits beyond the individual, and the free software movement depends on a vibrant, ever-changing, committed pool of developers, activists, users, and enthusiasts to keep the dream alive and the movement growing.</p>
<p>Every year, <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2019">the LibrePlanet conference</a> brings together many members of that movement to celebrate our achievements, strategize how to deal with our setbacks, show off new ideas, and decide what new frontiers we will trailblaze together next. The 2019 conference included many introductions to, and updates from, new and familiar projects, discussions on copyleft and security, and explorations of free software in the business world, but one compelling theme was woven through both days of the conference: how do we maintain and increase the health of our all-important community?</p>
<p>The winners of <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/openstreetmap-and-deborah-nicholson-win-2018-fsf-awards">the 2018 Free Software Awards</a>, presented during Stallman's keynote speech on Saturday night, both reflected how crucial community engagement and advocacy are to the free software movement. Deborah Nicholson was given the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/fs-award/">Award for the Advancement of Free Software</a>, recognizing her position as an exceptional opinion leader, activist, and community advocate. Her speech on Sunday, "Free software/utopia," emphasized her efforts to consciously sustain a positive development environment: she pointed out that even extremely dedicated contributors to a project can ruin the whole thing if they insist on negative and insulting behavior. If the free software movement is to grow, it must attract and maintain newcomers, and that means insisting on good behavior.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/sb-award/">Award for Projects of Social Benefit</a> also reflected the community-building theme: the winner, OpenStreetMap, is a free, editable map of the world that owes its breadth and utility to the efforts of over one million volunteer community members. It's an amazing example of how huge numbers of motivated people can be inspired to do tremendous good together, and in addition to the obvious ethical benefit of it being free software, it's also helped to provide priceless information to humanitarian efforts, like the disaster response after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017.</p>
<p>Other talks that explored aspects of the free software community included:</p>
<ul>
<li>"Hackerspace Rancho Electrónico," in which activists Martha Esperilla and Stefanía Acevedo described their radical hackerspace, which welcomes hackers, hacktivists, and free software users at all levels for workshops, talks, meetings, working groups, and more;</li>
<li>"Sharing global opportunities for new developers in the Wikipedia community," in which Srishti Sethi provided a gentle introduction to the world of Wikimedia for newcomers, with plenty of pointers on how to get started;</li>
<li>"Governing the software commons," in which Shauna Gordon-McKeon delineated some of the many forms of governance structures that dictate how people can and can't participate in the building and proliferation of free software projects;</li>
<li>"Sparking change: What free software can learn from successful social movements," in which Mary Kate Fain suggested lessons of past movements to use to mobilize our wider communities to fight against the abuses of proprietary software; and</li>
<li>"Meta-rules for codes of conduct," in which Katheryn Sutter explored the ways in which free software enthusiasts might be communicating poorly with each other, and how to create codes of conduct to enable us all to understand each other and treat each other with respect.</li>
</ul>
<p>The sobering and inspiring closing keynote from Micky Metts, a prominent free software activist and member of the Agaric Design Collective, the MayFirst.org leadership committee, and Drupal, also emphasized gathering our forces to fight the evils of proprietary software. She
delineated the increasingly sinister ways in which corporate technologies are creeping into our private lives, arguing that scenarios like Orwell's <em>1984</em> are closer than ever to fruition, and will keep advancing if we don't fight back with a bold new tide of free software and <a href="https://agaric.coop/blog/resources-preventing-digital-world-nineteen-eighty-four">other creative solutions</a>.</p>
<p>With all of this urgency, it's easy to forget that one of the key aspects of free software that attracts newcomers and keeps us in the fold is the joy of discovery and the fun of invention made possible when you have complete free reign over the code you use. And what better example of free software-powered fun is there than gigantic model rockets? Free software veteran Bdale Garbee opened up <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-day-2-welcoming-everyone-to-the-world-of-free-software">day two of the conference</a> with the keynote speech, "Freedom is fun!", where we learned how Bdale has used free software design tools to build everything from rockets to <a href="https://twitter.com/baconandcoconut/status/1109825344096399360">his son's guitar</a>. Free software is necessary to save privacy and democracy -- but there's a reason why so many people like to tinker with it in their free time, and that's because they enjoy it. </p>
<p>Between Saturday and Sunday, there were 66 speakers in over 40 sessions, with 53 volunteers and over 341 total participants. We also gave away raffle prizes generously donated by Vikings GmBH; Technoethical; Aleph Objects; ThinkPenguin; JMP; Altus Metrum, LLC; and Aeronaut, and we're extremely grateful to our generous sponsors, Red Hat and Private Internet Access. If you were at the conference or participating remotely, please <a href="https://my.fsf.org/node/22">fill out our feedback form</a> by April 9 to let us know how to make next year even better. And whether you participated or not, keep an eye on our <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/">MediaGoblin instance</a> for photos from the event, and videos of nearly every speech, coming soon!</p>
<p>Finally: while the LibrePlanet conference only happens once a year, the free software community needs your participation year-round. You can find local LibrePlanet teams <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Main_Page">at the LibrePlanet wiki</a>, and if you're not already an FSF associate member, <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join">joining the FSF</a> enables you to support the fight for software freedom and sustain the free software community all year round!</p>


title: Volunteers needed! Help update "Introduction to the command line" manual
uri: Volunteers-needed-Help-update-Introduction-to-the-command-line-manu
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/volunteers-needed-help-update-introduction-to-the-command-line-manual

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/volunteers-needed-help-update-introduction-to-the-command-line-manual

content:
<div style="float: right; width: 250px; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 4px; background-color: #EEEEEE; text-align: center; font-size: 75%;">
<img alt="intro to the command line book cover" src="media/f3f57e2c.intro_to_command_line_0.jpg" data-original-source="https://shop.fsf.org/sites/default/files/intro_to_command_line_0.jpg" width="250" /></div>

<p>The current book is <a href="http://booki.flossmanuals.net/command-line/">available online</a> at the Web site of the partner in the original sprint, or it can be bought as a hard copy <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/books-docs/introduction-command-line">through the GNU Press store</a>.</p>
<p>We will need writers and proofreaders to:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Write a new chapter to introduce Git (about 20 to 30 pages). The introduction should start by explaining how to get involved in an existing project, such as on GitLab.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Write a new chapter to introduce Python (about 20 to 30 pages). This should not try to impress the reader with fancy features (for instance, newbies may not need to know list comprehensions), but should prepare readers to use a few popular libraries such as Numpy, Matplotlib, and Jupyter to do something useful quickly.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Perform a general read-through to find outdated material and suggest small additions.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>If you are interested in contributing or would like to know more, please get in touch with Andy Oram at <a href="mailto:andyo@praxagora.com">&#97;&#110;&#100;&#121;&#111;&#64;&#112;&#114;&#97;&#120;&#97;&#103;&#111;&#114;&#97;&#46;&#99;&#111;&#109;</a>. Andy has generously volunteered his time to edit the book and coordinate the project.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/the-free-software-directory-needs-you-irc-meetups-every-friday
title: The Free Software Directory needs you! IRC meetups every Friday
uri: 2019-04-23-The-Free-Software-Directory-needs-you-IRC-meetups-every-Friday
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/the-free-software-directory-needs-you-irc-meetups-every-friday
content:
<p>The <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Main_Page">Free Software Directory</a> is an essential catalog of free
software online. The Directory is maintained by countless
volunteers dedicated to the promotion of software that respects your
personal liberty. As with any group composed of volunteers, the
informal Directory team has people who come and go, and right now, it
could really use some fresh new members to kick our efforts into high
gear.</p>
<p>Tens of thousands of people visit the Directory every month to
discover free software and explore information about version
control, documentation, and licensing. All of this information is also
exported in machine-readable formats, making it a valuable source of
data for the study of trends in free software. The Directory is
powered by MediaWiki, the same software used by Wikipedia.</p>
<p>A few statistics on what our team and our amazing volunteers have achieved
in the last few months and years:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>The Directory passed 16,000 entries last summer, and is now up to
  16,176 total entries.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The Official Backlog of the Directory has been improved to better track
  active and archived bugs.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The migration to using the SPDX license identifiers for the
  Directory is currently underway.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>In 2018, the Directory received 962,847 unique visitors, with
  1,671,047 total visits and 15,129,307 page views. So far in 2019,
  the directory averaged 79,859 unique visitors a month.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The Directory currently has 3,093 registered users.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>There are also several larger projects that are in need of new
leaders. We organize these projects via our <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Free_Software_Directory:Participate/Project_Team">Project Teams</a>. If one
of those projects sounds interesting, or if you have another idea
about improving the Directory, we would love for you to join us.</p>
<p>Adding and maintaining entries to the Directory is crucial work to
give people access to free software which has only free dependencies
and runs on a free OS.  Every Friday at 12:00-15:00 EDT (16:00 to
19:00 UTC), volunteers meet <a href="irc://irc.gnu.org/fsf">on IRC in the #fsf channel on
irc.freenode.org</a> to add new entries, update existing ones, and
talk about free software together (to see the meeting start time in
your time zone, run this in GNU bash: date
--date='TZ="America/New_York" 12:00 this Fri').</p>
<p>If you can't wait or don't have the time to jump onto IRC on Friday
afternoons, you can still help: check out the <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Free_Software_Directory:Participate">Free Software Directory
Participation Guide</a> for instructions.</p>
<p>No matter how you participate, improving the Free Software Directory
is an easy, nuts-and-bolts way to make a contribution to the free
software movement, bringing us a tinier step every day to a truly free
society. We look forward to seeing you on IRC!</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-15-new-gnu-releases-in-april
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 15 new GNU releases in April!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-15-new-GNU-releases-in-April
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-15-new-gnu-releases-in-april
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/dico/">dico-2.9</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/">emacs-26.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gama/">gama-2.04</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gawk/">gawk-5.0.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuastro/">gnuastro-0.9</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/health/">gnuhealth-client-3.4.4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnunet/">gnunet-0.11.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnupg/">gnupg-2.2.15</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnutls/">gnutls-3.6.7</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libcdio/">libcdio-2.1.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/nano/">nano-4.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20190422</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/rush/">rush-1.9</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/shepherd/">shepherd-0.6.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/wget/">wget-1.20.3</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>. You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>This month, we welcome Tom Tromey as comaintainer of src-hilight and
Abhilash Raj as comaintainer of mailman.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-guix-1-0-0-released
title: GNU Guix 1.0.0 released
uri: GNU-Guix-1-0-0-released
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-guix-1-0-0-released
content:
<div style="float: right; width: 250px; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 4px; background-color: #EEEEEE; text-align: center; font-size: 75%;">
<img alt="guix logo" src="media/24deccee.guix-logo.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/guix/guix-logo.png" width="250" />
</div>

<p>On May 2, the GNU Guix project <a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/blog/2019/gnu-guix-1.0.0-released/">announced the release</a> of version 1.0 of the Guix
software manager.  Since the project’s beginnings a little more than seven
years ago, nearly 300 volunteers from all over the world have contributed more
than 50,000 improvements. Guix now provides a huge collection of
bit-reproducible free software packages consisting of close to 10,000
applications and libraries from a wide range of categories, including gaming,
music production, video editing, programming, and specialized scientific
software.</p>
<p>What distinguishes Guix from other free software distributions is that it is
designed with reproducibility in mind. It builds packages in controlled
environments to ensure that the results are bit for bit the same no matter
when or where packages are built. This means that users can easily deploy the
very same software environment or even the very same operating system, at
different points in time or on different machines. Reproducibility provides
strong assurances that are of fundamental value for security, for the use of
software in computational science, and for user freedom.</p>
<div style="float: right; width: 250px; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 4px; background-color: #EEEEEE; text-align: center; font-size: 75%;">
<img alt="guix scope" src="media/4cf94497.guix-scope.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/guix/guix-scope.png" width="250" />
</div>

<p>While Guix offers package management features such as transactional
upgrades, safe roll-backs, and per-user profiles, package management is
just one special case of its general facilities for reproducible,
declarative software environment management. Guix bends the notion of a
traditional package manager by extending these features to building
systems: lightweight containers, Docker images, virtual machine images
or bare-metal operating systems -- Guix specifies a flexible,
programmable configuration framework for reproducible software
deployment at every level. With Guix’s simple, well-documented
extension to the general purpose language Scheme, users and developers
alike can easily declare custom packages and package variants, compose
and inspect arbitrarily complex software environments, and generate full
operating systems with minimal effort -- Guix is designed to be hackable!</p>
<p>Whether you’re a software developer, a user, or a free software enthusiast, we
hope GNU Guix will provide you with the tools to deploy and manage software
with confidence and ease, qualities that are not usually associated with
software deployment. The Guix community would love to <a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/contact/">hear from
you</a>!</p>
<p><em>The FSF supports the work of GNU Guix through its <a href="https://www.fsf.org/working-together/fund">Working Together for Free Software fund</a>. Make a contribution <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=50">here</a>!</em></p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2019-videos-now-live
title: LibrePlanet 2019 videos now live!
uri: LibrePlanet-2019-videos-now-live
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2019-videos-now-live
content:
<p>At the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2019">LibrePlanet 2019</a> conference, the <a href="https://fsf.org">Free Software Foundation (FSF)</a> recorded 40 speaker sessions -- over 24 hours of video, and they are now online on <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org">our GNU MediaGoblin instance</a>. </p>
<p>The FSF team put their heads together and selected a few of our favorites from the entire <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2019/program/">2019 Libreplanet program</a> for you to start with -- brought to you in a <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital Restrictions Management (DRM)-free</a>, downloadable, free format.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>In their talk, entitled "Sharing global opportunities for new developers in the Wikipedia community,"  <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/sharing-global-opportunities-for-new-developers-in-the-wikipedia-community/">Srishti Sethi</a> gave us some valuable insights into how you can get involved in the Wikipedia community.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/the-secret-battle-of-encryption-algorithms/">Amanda Sopkin's talk,</a> "The secret battle of encryption algorithms," delved into the history of encryption, with lots of fun factoids about how encryption methods were invented, used and foiled.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Martha Esperilla and Stefanía Acevedo joined us from <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/hackerspace-rancho-electronico/">Hackerspace Rancho Electrónico</a>, sharing their work in building community around their work, including CoAA TV, an online audiovisual archive.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>In "GPL enforcement and customer benefits: Evidence from OpenWRT," <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/gpl-enforcement-and-customer-benefits-evidence-from-openwrt/">Do Yoon Kim</a> explained to us how his research shows that free software wireless routers are valued higher and sell better.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/sparking-change-what-free-software-can-learn-from-successful-social-movements/">Mary Kate Fain</a> asked us "What free software can learn from successful social movements," and answered this question by sharing experiences as a grassroots organizer and as a free software activist.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/openstreetmap-and-deborah-nicholson-win-2018-fsf-awards">Free Software Award winners</a> OpenStreetMap and Deb Nicholson both shared their work talking about <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/openstreetmap/">"OpenStreetMap"</a> mapping developments, and the free software community challenges we face in <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/free-software-utopia/">"Free software/utopia,"</a> respectively.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>These are just a few of the interesting and varied subjects discussed at the LibrePlanet 2019 conference. Please have a look at the entire collection of <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/tag/libreplanet-2019-video/">2019 videos</a> and <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/tag/libreplanet-2019-photo/">photos</a> for hours of viewing pleasure. And if you really can't get enough, you can scroll down to the archives, where you can revisit the <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/tag/libreplanet-2018-video/">2018 videos</a> and <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/tag/libreplanet-2018-photo/">photos</a>, and much more.<br />
</p>
<p>All the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2019/Streaming">LibrePlanet 2019 videos were created</a> using free software, with high resolution USB Web cameras and USB audio mixing desks, whose drivers are supported by Trisquel. We want to thank everyone who participated in LibrePlanet 2019, plus our sponsor, Red Hat, and you too, for your continued support of free software, the FSF, and LibrePlanet. </p>
<p>We look forward to welcoming you again in 2020!<br />
</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-18-new-gnu-releases-in-may
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 18 new GNU releases in May!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-18-new-GNU-releases-in-May
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-18-new-gnu-releases-in-may
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/">bison-3.4.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/cssc/">cssc-1.4.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/emms/">emms-5.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gama/">gama-2.05</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gcc/">gcc-9.1.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/">gdb-8.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/">gettext-0.20.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnunet/">gnunet-0.11.4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnupg/">gnupg-2.2.16</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/">guix-1.0.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/hyperbole/">hyperbole-7.0.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/">libidn-2.2.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/librejs/">librejs-7.20.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/mcron/">mcron-1.1.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/orgadoc/">orgadoc-1.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20190522</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/shepherd/">shepherd-0.6.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/unifont/">unifont-12.1.01</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>.  You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>This month, we welcome Wolf as co-maintainer of gengetopt.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help.  The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


title: A roundup of recent updates to our licensing materials - November 2018 to June 2019
uri: A-roundup-of-recent-updates-to-our-licensing-materials-November-2018
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/a-roundup-of-recent-updates-to-our-licensing-materials-november-2018-to-june-2019

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/a-roundup-of-recent-updates-to-our-licensing-materials-november-2018-to-june-2019

content:
<p><strong>We recently added two new licenses to our list of <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html">Various Licenses
and Comments about Them</a> and we updated our comments on <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.en.html#CC0">Creative
Commons 0 (CC0)</a>. We cleaned up the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/">Free Software Foundation (FSF)
Licensing &amp; Compliance Team page</a> and refreshed the materials on
it. What follows is a brief rundown on those changes, and how you can
learn more about free software licensing.</strong></p>
<h1>Personal Public License Version 3a (PPL)</h1>
<p>The <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.en.html#PPL3a">PPL</a> is a nonfree license based on the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html">GNU General Public
License version 3</a> (GPL). The PPL takes the language of the GPL,
but redefines who is a licensee to exclude "Organizations." That means
that non profits, governments, and other organizations are not able to
enjoy the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html">four freedoms</a> in any software licensed under the PPL.</p>
<p>Free software does not discriminate based on who the user is, or how
the user intends to use the software. The PPL falls into the same trap
of those who would restrict <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.en.html#NoMilitary">military or "commercial" use of
software</a>. Such restrictions are antithetical to software freedom,
so any license with such a term is necessarily a proprietary software
license.</p>
<h1>Anti-996 License</h1>
<p>We added the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.en.html#Anti-996">Anti-996 License</a> to the nonfree list. The "996" in
the name refers to a common labor practice in China requiring workers
to work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, six days a week. The license attempts
to ban use of the software by organizations or users that fail to
comply with local labor laws or international labor standards. Like
the PPL, this restriction on who may use the software renders the
license nonfree. Free software never limits the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/programs-must-not-limit-freedom-to-run.html">freedom to run the
program</a>.</p>
<h1>CC0</h1>
<p><a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.en.html#CC0">CC0</a> is a public domain dedication. If for any reason such
dedication is not possible, it has a fallback license meant to ensure
virtually the same conditions. But CC0 explicitly does not grant a
patent license, making it problematic for use on software. Our entry
previously didn't cover this last aspect of the license. We've updated
our comments to explain how the patent situation with CC0 works, and
to warn users about the issues involved in using software available
under the license.</p>
<h1>Licensing team updates</h1>
<p>As part of our spring cleaning, we made some updates to the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/">overview
of our available licensing materials</a>. We welcomed some new team
members over the past year, and finally have them included on the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/team/">FSF
Compliance Lab Team page</a>. We made a number of other minor
updates, as we're always looking to improve the resources we
offer. But if we missed something, or if you would like to see more
resources added, let us know by sending us an email at
<a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">&#108;&#105;&#99;&#101;&#110;&#115;&#105;&#110;&#103;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. Here's what else you can do to help:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Help your colleagues stay informed by letting them know about the <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/mailing/subscribe?reset=1&amp;gid=1524">FSF's licensing updates mailing list</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Want to know more? Check out our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/recent-licensing-updates">previous licensing updates blogpost</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Thank you to all the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/join">FSF associate members</a> and <a href="https://donate.fsf.org/">donors</a> who
make this important work possible.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/double-the-movement-inspire-someone-to-explore-free-software
title: Double the movement: Inspire someone to explore free software
uri: Double-the-movement-Inspire-someone-to-explore-free-software
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/double-the-movement-inspire-someone-to-explore-free-software
content:
<p><img src="media/972f2356.Spring19-dark-age.png" data-original-source="http://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/badges/Spring19-dark-age.png" alt="double the movement" width="540" style="margin-top:4px;" /> </p>
<p>Thank you for being part of our exceptionally generous community. Your
interest in our mission is what got us where we are, in position to
succeed if we keep at it. While it's incredible to have hundreds of
thousands of subscribers around the world, we need to connect with
millions if we're to realize a world free of proprietary software. This
spring, we have set ourselves goals to reach 200 new members and
400 donations before July 15th, and to achieve them, we need your
help. Please take this moment to publicly share your passion for free
software. If each free software supporter inspires just one other, we
can double our strength.</p>
<p>We tasked free software designer <a href="https://raghukamath.com/">Raghavendra Kamath</a> with creating
some inspiring visual images to help us spread our message
further. You can find these banners and profile images, including
their embed codes, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">here</a>. Sharing these images online might inspire
someone to explore free software, and may give reasons for you to
educate your friends and family about why free software matters. Use
the hashtag #ISupportFreeSoftware when you share the images online or
on your social media. </p>
<p>Here are some more ways to help grow our movement:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>If you can spare a monthly $10 ($5 for students), your contribution
  in the form of an <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=fr_sp2019&amp;pk_source=email1">Associate Membership</a> is the strongest vote of
  confidence you can give us. For less than a subscription to a
  <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/">Digital Restrictions Management</a> (DRM)-controlled streaming service,
  your membership will serve as a testament that our work is used,
  read, and making its way through the world. In appreciation, we
  offer Associate Members many <a href="https://www.fsf.org/associate/benefits">benefits</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Inspire someone you know to become an Associate Member, or gift
  a membership to a friend following the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/associate/gift">instructions in this
  link</a>. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate?pk_campaign=fr_sp2019&amp;pk_source=email1">Donate</a> any amount suitable to your household, and have a look
  at <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/ways-to-donate">other ways to donate</a> to see if there is a simple action you
  can take to give your support to the FSF. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Start a conversation about free software and why you support the FSF
  with someone you know.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/share">Share</a> your victories and experiences with free software online
  or in person with your community. Please use the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">images
  provided</a> and the hashtag #ISupportFreeSoftware to help
  stimulate other people to do the same.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Your generosity and outspokenness fuel our message and allow us to
continue to advocate on your behalf. Our fourteen hardworking staff
use your contributions wisely, earning yet another best possible
rating of four stars from Charity Navigator this last year. You can
read our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/financial">financial statements</a> and our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/annual-reports">annual reports</a>
online.</p>
<p>Individual financial contributions and spreading the word like this
are forms of activism we need much more of if we're to overcome
trillions of proprietary software dollars. We need to grow and
diversify if we're to make respect for user freedom the default,
rather than a constantly endangered niche. We've shown that with your
support we can succeed together against far greater resources -- thank
you for sticking with us and giving everything you can to bring about
a brighter future.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal">Read more about our online appeal!</a></p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/drop-the-journalism-charges-against-julian-assange
title: Drop the journalism charges against Julian Assange
uri: Drop-the-journalism-charges-against-Julian-Assange
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/drop-the-journalism-charges-against-julian-assange
content:
<p>The US government has persecuted Julian Assange for a decade for
Wikileaks' journalism, and now <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/05/24/the-indictment-of-julian-assange-under-the-espionage-act-is-a-threat-to-the-press-and-the-american-people/">seeks to use his case to label the
publishing of leaked secret information as spying.</a></p>
<p>The Free Software Foundation stands for freedom of publication and due
process, because they are necessary to exercise and uphold the
software freedom we campaign for. The attack on journalism threatens
freedom of publication; the twisting of laws to achieve an unstated
aim threatens due process of law. The FSF therefore calls on the
United States to drop all present and future charges against Julian
Assange relating to Wikileaks activities.</p>
<p>Accusations against Assange that are unrelated to journalism should be
pursued or not pursued based on their merits, giving him neither
better nor worse treatment on account of his journalism.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/gnu-press/emacs-t-shirts-available-now-at-the-gnu-press-shop
title: GNU Emacs T-shirts available now at the GNU Press Shop
uri: GNU-Emacs-T-shirts-available-now-at-the-GNU-Press-Shop
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/gnu-press/emacs-t-shirts-available-now-at-the-gnu-press-shop
content:
<p><img src="media/b6dcbc20.Emacs20shirt20three20quarter.jpg" data-original-source="https://shop.fsf.org/sites/default/files/styles/product_zoom/public/Emacs%20shirt%20three%20quarter.jpg" alt="zoe modeling emacs tee" width="300" style="margin-top:4px;" /> </p>
<p>Have you been waiting with bated breath for the opportunity to show your love for GNU Emacs, the text editor that also does everything else, with a nifty T-shirt? Wait no longer. The GNU Press Shop now has GNU Emacs logo T-shirts in unisex sizes S through XXXL. Order one at <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/gnu-emacs-logo-t-shirt">https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/gnu-emacs-logo-t-shirt</a>, and we'll ship it to you sooner than you can say "extensible, customizable, self-documenting, real-time display editor."</p>
<p>All GNU Press Shop purchases support the Free Software Foundation's efforts to free all software, and <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join">FSF associate members</a> get a 20% discount off of all purchases.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-17-new-gnu-releases-in-june
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 17 new GNU releases in June!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-17-new-GNU-releases-in-June
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-17-new-gnu-releases-in-june
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/apl/">apl-1.8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/artanis/">artanis-0.3.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/dr-geo/">dr-geo-19.06a</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gawk/">gawk-5.0.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gengetopt/">gengetopt-2.23</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnunet/">gnunet-0.11.5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/guile/">guile-2.2.5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuzilla/">icecat-60.7.0-gnu1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libmicrohttpd/">libmicrohttpd-0.9.64</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libredwg/">libredwg-0.8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/mailutils/">mailutils-3.7</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/mit-scheme/">mit-scheme-10.1.9</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/nano/">nano-4.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/nettle/">nettle-3.5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20190622</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/unifont/">unifont-12.1.02</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/units/">units-2.19</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>. You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/photo-blog-2019-june-brno
title: June 2019: Photos from Brno
uri: June-2019-Photos-from-Brno
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/photo-blog-2019-june-brno
content:
<!-- Start of image + caption block -->
<div style="border-style:solid; border-width:2px;text-align:left; margin: 4px 50px 4px 50px; padding-top:4px; padding-left:5px; padding-right:5px">

<p>Free Software Foundation president Richard Stallman (RMS) was in
<strong>Brno, Czech Republic</strong> on June 6, 2019, to give two speeches.</p>

<p>In the morning, he took part in the <a href="https://www.smartcityfair.cz/en/">URBIS Smart City Fair</a>, at the Brno Fair Grounds, giving his speech
"Computing, freedom, and privacy."<sup style="font-size:8px"><a href="#fn1" id="ref1">1</a></sup></p>

<!-- Image(s) start below -->
<!-- Adjust the width="150" part to change how wide the image appears on the page  -->

<p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-fair-grounds/20190606-brno-c-2019-veletrhy-brno-a-s-cc-by-4-0-1-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="265" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-fair-grounds/20190606-brno-c-2019-veletrhy-brno-a-s-cc-by-4-0-2-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="265" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-fair-grounds/20190606-brno-c-2019-veletrhy-brno-a-s-cc-by-4-0-3-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />
</p>

<!-- Photo credits start below --> <p style="padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; margin-top:1px; text-align:center;"> 
<em>(Copyright &copy; 2019 Veletrhy Brno, a. s.  Photos licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>.)</em>

<br style="margin-bottom:15px;" />

<p>In the afternoon, at the University Cinema Scala, he gave his
speech "The free software movement and the GNU/Linux operating
system," to about three hundred people.

<!-- Image(s) start below -->
<!-- Adjust the width="150" part to change how wide the image appears on the page  -->

<p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-jan-prokopius-cc-by-4-0-1-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<!-- Photo credits start below --> <p style="padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; margin-top:1px; text-align:center;"> 
<em>(Copyright &copy; 2019 Pavel Loutocký. Photos licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>.)</em>

<br style="margin-bottom:15px;" />

<!-- Image(s) start below -->
<!-- Adjust the width="150" part to change how wide the image appears on the page  -->

<p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-047-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-050-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-051-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-052-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="265" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-053-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="265" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-054-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-055-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-056-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-057-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-058-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-064-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-063-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-066-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-069-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-070-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-071-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-073-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-074-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-068-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="265" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-072-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="265" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-075-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-076-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-078-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-079-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="132" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-080-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="133" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-081-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="133" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-082-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="132" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-083-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="132" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-084-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="133" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-085-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="133" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-086-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="132" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-087-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="132" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-088-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="133" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-090-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="133" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-091-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="132" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-092-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="132" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-093-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="133" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-094-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="133" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-095-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="132" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-114-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-115-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-116-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-117-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="265" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-120-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="265" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-121-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-124-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-126-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-128-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-132-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-131-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-133-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-134-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-135-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-136-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-140-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-137-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-141-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-143-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" /><img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-145-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-146-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="176" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190606-brno-scala/20190606-brno-c-2019-pavel-loutocky-cc-by-4-0-144-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="530" style="margin-top:4px;" />

</p>

<!-- Photo credits start below --> <p style="padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; margin-top:1px; text-align:center;"> 
<em>(Copyright &copy; 2019 Pavel Loutocký. Photos licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>.)</em>

<br style="margin-bottom:15px;" />

<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Thank you to everyone who made this visit possible!</strong></p>

<!-- End of image+caption block -->

<p style="text-align:center;">If you're in the area, please fill out our contact form, so
that we can inform you about future events in and around <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/profile/create?gid=578&amp;reset=1">Brno</a>.
</p>

<p style="text-align:center;">Please see <a href="http://www.fsf.org/events">www.fsf.org/events</a> for a full
list of all of RMS's confirmed engagements, <br /> and contact <a href="mailto:rms-assist@gnu.org">rms-assist@gnu.org</a> if you'd like
him to come speak.</p>

<hr /></hr>

<sup id="fn1">1. The recording will soon be posted on <a href="http://audio-video.gnu.org">our audio-video archive</a>.<a href="#ref1" title="Jump back to footnote 1 in the
text.">↩</a></sup><br />


title: Thank you for advancing free software: Read FSF spring news in the latest Bulletin
uri: Thank-you-for-advancing-free-software-Read-FSF-spring-news-in-the-lat
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/thank-you-for-advancing-free-software-read-fsf-spring-news-in-the-latest-bulletin

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/thank-you-for-advancing-free-software-read-fsf-spring-news-in-the-latest-bulletin

content:
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal"><img src="media/69de2d91.Spring19-lock-in.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/badges/Spring19-lock-in.png" alt="ThankGNU Star Supporter" width="650" style="margin-top:4px;" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/spring/issue-34-spring-2019">Our <em>Bulletin</em></a> highlights some important activities and issues in free software
over the last six months, including:</p>
<p>It highlights some important activities and issues in free software
over the last six months, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>an educational program we launched, together with free software
  activist <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/spring/fsf-teaches-free-software-to-public-school-youth">Devin Ulibarri</a>, where we used the program Music Blocks
  to teach Boston area public school youth about coding and free
  software, and then proceeded to donate ten fully freed laptops to the
  schools we visited;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>some ideas on how the free software community can do better to bring
  visibility to our movement, according to LibrePlanet 2019 conference
  speaker and free software activist <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/spring/sparking-change-what-free-software-can-learn-from-social-justice-movements">Mary Kate Fain</a>, pulled from
  her superb LibrePlanet talk <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/sparking-change-what-free-software-can-learn-from-successful-social-movements/">“Sparking change: What free software
  can learn from social justice movements”</a>; and</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>our licensing and compliance manager, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/spring/what-respects-your-freedom-is-for-and-what-it-isnt">Donald Robertson, III,
  reports</a> on the progress of our Respects Your Freedom program,
  with further explanation on the parameters needed for the
  certification of hardware devices that meet FSF's criteria for
  protecting the rights of users.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Thirty-five volunteers joined FSF staff over the course of three
days to get all the <em>Bulletins</em> stuffed in envelopes and mailed out. This was a
great opportunity to catch up on free software issues with some of our
most dedicated free software enthusiasts here in Boston. We are
grateful to have such a strong core of supporters that keep the
movement growing, and thanks to your generous contribution, we
will be even stronger.</p>
<p>Please be vocal about your support for free software. <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/spring/issue-34-spring-2019">Read and share
the <em>Bulletin</em> articles</a> online using the #ISupportFreeSoftware
hashtag, use our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">fundraiser support images</a>, and talk to your
community about why you support the FSF. It makes a difference.</p>
<p>Throughout our spring fundraiser, we have been enjoying both the
public posts from supporters using the hashtag on <a href="https://www.fsf.org/share">social media</a>,
as well as answers to the "What inspired you to join today?" question
we ask new members. Here are some of our favorites.</p>
<ul>
<li>We see many excited calls for user freedom and user control:   <br />
<ul>
<li><em>"For freedom!"</em>      <br />
</li>
<li><em>"Does the software you use grant you the freedom to
   redistribute copies so you can help others? #FreeSoftware
   does. Learn more by listening to Richard M. Stallman, on the
   <a href="https://www.makingbetterpod.com/2019/06/17/making-better-episode-4-richard-stallman/">Making Better podcast</a>. #ISupportFreeSoftware"</em> from
   @makingbetterpod</li>
<li>@mmaug shared: <em>"There are alternatives to Facebook, Microsoft,
   Google, and Twitter. Take control of your privacy, and your
   computer! #ISupportFreeSoftware #FSF"</em></li>
<li>@globalspectator posted: <em>"Software you don't control seizes
   control over you. Help @fsf break the chains of proprietary
   software for a freer future #ISupportFreeSoftware"</em>            <br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p>We receive humbling thank you's from people appreciating our
  work, naming the <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/">LibrePlanet conference</a>, our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/">licensing work</a>, and the
  <a href="https://www.gnu.org/">GNU Project</a>:<br />
</p>
<ul>
<li><em>"Wanted to for a long time. Also, LibrePlanet!"</em>       <br />
</li>
<li><em>"Gratitude. And a long lasting debt feeling. Thanks so much!"</em></li>
<li><em>"As a software developer and GNU/Linux user I want to set a
    statement and do my part in keeping free software popular"</em>        <br />
</li>
<li><em>"I use GNU tools, and have since the beginning"</em>    <br />
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p>And most importantly, we hear from people who have come across our
  activities and campaign images online, or who were informed about
  FSF through their on- and offline community and decided to take
  action -- convincing us that people inspiring each other to join the
  <a href="https://www.fsf.org/free-software-supporter/"><em>Free Software Supporter</em> mailing list</a>, or to <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=fr_sp2019&amp;pk_source=email2">become an associate 
  member</a> is by far the most powerful way to expand our reach and
  strengthen our message: <br />
</p>
<ul>
<li><em>"I watched an interview with Richard Stallman"</em>   <br />
</li>
<li><em>"A friend"</em>  <br />
</li>
<li><em>"A post in the <a href="https://victorhckinthefreeworld.com/2019/06/27/la-free-software-foundation-quiere-redoblar-la-comunidad-del-software-libre-isupportfreesoftware/">'Victorhck in the free world'</a> blog"</em>   <br />
</li>
<li>@opc_5 called for digital liberation through free software: <em>"Software Libre para la
   liberación digital. #ISupportFreeSoftware"</em></li>
<li>@AugustinPMichel tagged his connections with: <em>"#ISupportFreeSoftware, do you?"</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Today, we have one week left in our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=fr_sp2019&amp;pk_source=email2">spring fundraiser</a>, and we are
confident we will achieve our membership goal of 200 members in 28
days if we keep at it. With your help, we may engage enough
people to also reach 400 <a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate?pk_campaign=fr_sp2019&amp;pk_source=email2">donations</a> before the 15th of July. Your
support helped get us where we are, in position to succeed. Your
generosity and outspokenness fuel our message, increase our reach, and
will allow us to continue to advocate on your behalf.</p>
<p>Thank you for your contribution to free software.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/fall-internships-at-the-fsf-apply-by-september-2
title: Fall internships at the FSF! Apply by September 2
uri: Fall-internships-at-the-FSF-Apply-by-September-2
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/fall-internships-at-the-fsf-apply-by-september-2
content:
<p>Do you believe that free software is crucial to a free society? Do you
want to help people understand why free software matters, and how to
use it? Are you interested in diving into software freedom issues like
copyleft, Digital Restrictions Management (DRM), or surveillance and
encryption? Or are you interested in sysadmin work? We may have just
the opportunity for you here at the FSF!</p>
<p>These positions are unpaid, educational opportunities, and the FSF
will provide any appropriate documentation you might need to receive
funding and school credit from outside sources. We also provide lunch
expense reimbursement and a monthly transportation pass that will give
you free access to local subways and buses (MBTA). We place an
emphasis on providing hands-on educational opportunities for interns,
in which they work closely with staff mentors on projects that match
their skills and interests.</p>
<p>Interns can choose from the following fields of work:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>The <a href="https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/">FSF campaigns team</a> is in charge of communicating with and
   expanding our audience of free software supporters, targeting
   important opportunities for free software adoption and development,
   and empowering people to act against specific threats to their
   freedom. Campaigns team interns might work on expanding and
   <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/introducing-jake-glass-fsf-campaigns-and-licensing-intern">updating our resources</a> on a particular area of the free
   software world. Or, the International Day Against DRM (IDAD) offers
   a great opportunity to plan and experience the online and offline
   elements of a full campaign in close collaboration with our
   campaigns manager.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/">FSF licensing and compliance lab</a> works with developers to
  license their packages under one of the GNU General Public Licenses
  and to help organizations maintain compliance. They also field all
  licensing and copyleft inquiries. Licensing team interns might
  assist with the Respects Your Freedom certification program, or they
  might work to improve the Free Software Directory or analyze the
  compatibility of other licenses with the GPL.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/">FSF tech team</a> maintains and improves the infrastructure for
  the FSF and the GNU Project. Tech team interns may choose from our
  current list of projects, or suggest one of their own. We have
  plenty of opportunities, from updating our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/introducing-valessio-brito-intern-with-the-fsf-tech-team">video streaming
  toolkit</a>, to improving our data management systems.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Fall internships start mid to end September and typically run for a
period of twelve weeks. We prefer candidates who are able to work in
our Boston office, but may consider remote interns. The deadline to
apply is September 2.</p>
<p>To apply, send a letter of interest and a resume with two references
to <a href="mailto:hiring@fsf.org">&#104;&#105;&#114;&#105;&#110;&#103;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. Please send all application materials in free
software-friendly formats like .pdf, .odt, and .txt. Use "Fall
internship application" as the subject line of your email. Please
include links to your writing, design, or coding work if it applies --
personal, professional, or class work is acceptable. URLs are
preferred, though email attachments in free formats are acceptable,
too. Learn more about our internships, and direct any questions to
<a href="mailto:info@fsf.org">&#105;&#110;&#102;&#111;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>


title: Strengthen free software by telling Congress to reject the STRONGER Patents Act
uri: Strengthen-free-software-by-telling-Congress-to-reject-the-STRONGER-Pa
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/strengthen-free-software-by-telling-congress-to-reject-the-stronger-patents-act

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/strengthen-free-software-by-telling-congress-to-reject-the-stronger-patents-act

content:
<p>The Free Software Foundation (FSF) has long been opposed to the ways in which US and international patent law have been misused to allow for so-called "<a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/software-patents.en.html">software patents</a>." As these patents are not held over a particular piece of software, but rather any principle that can be used in its design, it is more accurate to describe them as software <em>idea</em> patents. Software idea patents are a grave threat to free software developers because they severely limit the scope of what they can or cannot implement, and also expose them to legal harassment from any group that has enough resources to enforce their unjust claim over a programming idea. Litigation on a software idea patent can spell financial ruin for developers and an abrupt end to any free software project. An upcoming bill in Congress would leave the free software community much more open to these kinds of attacks.</p>
<p>Despite its failure to pass in 2017, a bill with the appropriately Orwellian title of "Support Technology and Research of Our Nation's Growth and Economic Resilience" (STRONGER) Patents Act was reintroduced into Congress on July 10th, 2019. If passed, the Act would make software idea patents much more easily claimed and enforceable against developers in the free software community. Whatever its effects on other types of patents may be, the fact that it will prop up software idea patents is reason enough to reject it. As we have seen before, it is an attempt to <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/the-shield-act-fails-to-protect-free-software-from-patents">patch a broken system</a>. The proposed bill never bothers to question the validity of these patents as a category. To protect our community, it is our duty to inform Congress and legislators that the only remedy for the problem posed by software idea patents is to dismantle them entirely.</p>
<p>The FSF urges all of its supporters to contact their local congresspeople and advise them to vote against the STRONGER Patents Act. No matter where you are in the world, please stand firm in campaigning for the right of free software users and programmers to use, copy, and develop tools for user and community empowerment.</p>
<h3>Take action!</h3>
<p><em>If you're not in the US, let us know your country by <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/profile/create?gid=34&amp;reset=1">updating your profile</a> so we can send you more relevant info. In the meantime, please also help us spread the word to your contacts in the US.</em></p>
<p>Nervous? Try using the following script:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I live in CITY/STATE. I am calling to urge you to vote against the "STRONGER" Patents Act, and protect programmers and developers from the threat of software idea patents.</p>
<p>Thank you for your time.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Don't know who to call?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>To call your congressperson directly, dial (202) 224-3121 and the switchboard will connect you.</li>
<li>Alternatively, you can find contact information for both your local senator and House representative online in the <a href="https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm">Senate</a> and <a href="https://www.house.gov/representatives">House</a> directories.</li>
</ul>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-16-new-gnu-releases-in-july
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 16 new GNU releases in July!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-16-new-GNU-releases-in-July
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-16-new-gnu-releases-in-july
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/denemo/">denemo-2.3.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/direvent/">direvent-5.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gama/">gama-2.06</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnunet/">gnunet-0.11.6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnupg/">gnupg-2.2.17</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/">grub-2.04</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/guile/">guile-2.2.6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libmicrohttpd/">libmicrohttpd-0.9.65</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libtasn1/">libtasn1-4.14</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/linux-libre/">linux-libre-5.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/nettle/">nettle-3.5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20190722</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/pies/">pies-1.4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/rush/">rush-2.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/stow/">stow-2.3.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/tramp/">tramp-2.4.2</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>. You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/fundraiser-membership-drive-comes-to-an-end-and-we-all-win
title: Fundraiser membership drive comes to an end and we all win!
uri: Fundraiser-membership-drive-comes-to-an-end-and-we-all-win
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/fundraiser-membership-drive-comes-to-an-end-and-we-all-win
content:
<p>The Free Software Foundation (FSF) <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=FR_SP2019&amp;pk_source=thanks">spring fundraiser</a> has come to
an end and we would like to thank you for your help in surpassing our
ambitious goal of 200 new members in 28 days, and for all the
inspirational words of support we've received over the past weeks. The
motivations people give for becoming associate members are gratifying,
and these are only a few:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><em>I think non-free software is unethical.</em></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><em>GNU OS has enabled me to build my companies and remain independent of big capital</em></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><em>I thought it was about time that I started supporting the software
 I've been using for years...</em></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>We're extremely thankful for all of the ways you may have
contributed. For instance, you may have taken the time to explain the
concept of free software to someone new. Perhaps you licensed your
program under the GNU GPLv3 or later, or you contributed to free
software by giving your spare time writing code. Or you heard our call
and left your copy of the <em><a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/spring/issue-34-spring-2019">Free Software Foundation Bulletin</a></em> in
a public space and shared our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges/">images</a> online. Because of your
help, we managed to welcome 206 new members to our <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=FR_SP2019&amp;pk_source=thanks">associate
membership program</a>, and new people continue to join daily! </p>
<p>We are only 14 staff here at the FSF, so we rely on our
community to keep moving forward in the fight for user
freedom. Whether online or offline, the support we get from your
financial generosity, positive feedback, and sharing our mission for
user freedom is very much appreciated.</p>
<p>We are powered by donors, members, and volunteers like you -- all of
the work of the FSF is accomplished with your help.</p>
<p>A warm thank GNU! </p>
<p>Zoe Kooyman    <br />
Program Manager</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/photo-blog-2019-may-aalborg-copenhagen
title: May 2019: Photos from Aalborg and Copenhagen
uri: May-2019-Photos-from-Aalborg-and-Copenhagen
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/photo-blog-2019-may-aalborg-copenhagen
content:
<!-- Start of image + caption block -->
<div style="border-style:solid; border-width:2px;text-align:left; margin: 4px 50px 4px 50px; padding-top:4px; padding-left:5px; padding-right:5px">

<p>Free Software Foundation president Richard Stallman (RMS) was in
Denmark in May 2019.</p>

<p>After a visit to the beach in nearby Slettestrand the day before, RMS went to <strong>Aalborg</strong>, where he delivered his speech &ldquo;Free software and your freedom&rdquo;<sup style="font-size:8px"><a href="#fn1" id="ref1">1</a></sup> at <strong>Aalborg University</strong> (AAU), on May 6<sup style="font-size:8px">th</sup>.</p>

<!-- Image(s) start below -->
<!-- Adjust the width="150" part to change how wide the image appears on the page  -->

<p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190506-aalborg/20190505-aalborg-c-2019-aalborg-university-cc-by-4-0-1-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="275" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190506-aalborg/20190506-aalborg-c-2019-aalborg-university-cc-by-4-0-2-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="275" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190506-aalborg/20190506-aalborg-c-2019-aalborg-university-cc-by-4-0-1-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="550" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190506-aalborg/20190506-aalborg-c-2019-aalborg-university-cc-by-4-0-3-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="550" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190506-aalborg/20190506-aalborg-c-2019-aalborg-university-cc-by-4-0-4-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="275" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190506-aalborg/20190506-aalborg-c-2019-aalborg-university-cc-by-4-0-5-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="275" style="margin-top:4px;" />
</p>

<!-- Photo credits start below --> <p style="padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; margin-top:1px; text-align:center;"> 
<em>Photos courtesy of Aalborg University (copyright &copy; 2019, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>).</em>


<br style="margin-bottom:15px;" />

<p>The next day, he went on to Odense, where he gave his speech
&ldquo;The danger of mass surveillance&rdquo; at Syddansk Universitet
(the <strong>University of Southern Denmark</strong>, or SDU). Next, he
headed on to Copenhagen, where he gave the following three speeches.</p>

<p>On May 8<sup style="font-size:8px">th</sup>, he was at the
IT-Universitetet i København (<strong>IT University of
Copenhagen</strong>, or ITU) to give his speech <a href="media/990473c4.rms.ogg" data-original-source="http://rms.itu-innovators.dk/rms.ogg">&ldquo;Free Software and
your freedom in computing,&rdquo;</a> to an audience of about three
hundred people.</p>

<!-- Image(s) start below -->
<!-- Adjust the width="150" part to change how wide the image appears on the page  -->

<p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190508-copenhagen/20190508-copenhagen-c-2019-itu-innovators-cc-by-4-0-4-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="550" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190508-copenhagen/20190508-copenhagen-c-2019-itu-innovators-cc-by-4-0-5-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="550" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<!-- Photo credits start below --> <p style="padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; margin-top:1px; text-align:center;"> 
<em>Photos courtesy of ITU Innovators (copyright &copy; 2019, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>).</em>

<br style="margin-bottom:15px;" />

<p>On May 9<sup style="font-size:8px">th</sup>, he was in the
Lundbeckfond Auditorium of the Copenhagen Biocenter, at Københavns
Universitet (<strong>University of Copenhagen</strong>, or KU), to give
his speech <a href="https://ia600905.us.archive.org/33/items/RichardStallmanAtDIKUDefaultSideBySide/Richard_Stallman_at_DIKU_default-side-by-side.ogv">&ldquo;Computing,
freedom, and privacy.&rdquo;</a></p>

<!-- Image(s) start below -->
<!-- Adjust the width="150" part to change how wide the image appears on the page  -->

<p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190509-copenhagen/20190509-copenhagen-c-2019-university-of-copenhagen-cc-by-4-0-1-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="275" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190509-copenhagen/20190509-copenhagen-c-2019-university-of-copenhagen-cc-by-4-0-2-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="275" style="margin-top:4px;" />
<img src="/static/nosvn/rms-photos/20190509-copenhagen/20190509-copenhagen-c-2019-university-of-copenhagen-cc-by-4-0-3-thumb.jpg " alt="" width="550" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<!-- Photo credits start below --> <p style="padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; margin-top:1px; text-align:center;"> 
<em>Photos courtesy of the University of Copenhagen (copyright &copy; 2019, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>).</em>

<br style="margin-bottom:15px;" />

<p>On May 10<sup style="font-size:8px">th</sup>, he gave his speech
"Should we have more surveillance than the USSR?" at Danmarks Tekniske
Universitet (the <strong>Technical University of Denmark</strong>, or DTU).</p>

<p>On the day after that, while still in Copenhagen, he visited the
<strong>Danish-French School,</strong> the only school in Denmark to
use free software exclusively.

<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible!</strong></p>

<!-- End of image+caption block -->

<p style="text-align:center;">Please fill out our contact form, so
that we can inform you about future events in and around <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/profile/create?gid=273&amp;reset=1">Aalborg</a>, <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/profile/create?gid=567&amp;reset=1">Odense</a>, 
<a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/profile/create?gid=190&amp;reset=1">Copenhagen</a>.
</p>

<p style="text-align:center;">Please see <a href="http://www.fsf.org/events">www.fsf.org/events</a> for a full
list of all of RMS's confirmed engagements, <br /> and contact <a href="mailto:rms-assist@gnu.org">rms-assist@gnu.org</a> if you'd like
him to come speak.</p>

<hr /></hr>

<sup id="fn1">1. The recording will soon be posted on <a href="http://audio-video.gnu.org">our audio-video archive</a>.<a href="#ref1" title="Jump back to footnote 1 in the
text.">↩</a></sup><br />


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-15-new-gnu-releases-in-august
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 15 new GNU releases in August!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-15-new-GNU-releases-in-August
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-15-new-gnu-releases-in-august
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/aspell/">aspell-0.60.7</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/freeipmi/">freeipmi-1.6.4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gcc/">gcc-9.2.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/glibc/">glibc-2.30</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuastro/">gnuastro-0.10</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/">gsl-2.6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/help2man/">help2man-1.47.11</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libffcall/">libffcall-2.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libmicrohttpd/">libmicrohttpd-0.9.66</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/mit-scheme/">mit-scheme-10.1.10</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/nano/">nano-4.4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20190822</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libcdio/">pycdio-2.1.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/stow/">stow-2.3.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/unifont/">unifont-12.1.03</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>.  You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help.  The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


title: Help defend the right to read: stand up against DRM on October 12th
uri: Help-defend-the-right-to-read-stand-up-against-DRM-on-October-12th
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/help-defend-the-right-to-read-stand-up-against-drm-on-october-12th

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/help-defend-the-right-to-read-stand-up-against-drm-on-october-12th

content:
<p><a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org">Defective by Design</a> is calling on you to stand up against Digital
Restrictions Management (DRM) on the International Day Against DRM
(IDAD) on October 12th, 2019. This year we will be focusing
specifically on everyone's right to read, particularly by urging
publishers to free students and educators from the unnecessary and
cumbersome restrictions that make their access to necessary course
materials far more difficult.</p>
<p>For years, products incorporating Digital Restrictions Management
(DRM) have been a plague upon the Web, and have gradually infiltrated
nearly every aspect of digital society. New developments have reminded
all of us that DRM is now more of a threat than ever. Many people were
impacted by Microsoft's Orwellian <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/microsoft-ebook-apocalypse-drm">"ebook apocalypse,"</a> in which
thousands of books were forcibly deleted from ebook readers and
smartphones. Recently we have seen DRM extend its sinister influence
into education, especially in the form of "digital-first" textbooks
that put onerous restrictions on students that forbid them from
accessing the course materials they have bought, and the education
that they deserve. The "Netflix of textbooks" model practiced by the
major textbook publisher Pearson is a Trojan horse for education:
requiring a constant Internet connection for "authentication"
purposes, severely limiting the number of pages a student can read at
one time, and secretly collecting telemetric data on their reading
habits.</p>
<p>It is universally agreed that each person has a right to be educated
-- so why are major publishers like Pearson placing digital handcuffs
on students that make learning more difficult? This year, we will be
asking both corporations and everyday people alike to demonstrate
their commitment to education. For publishers like Pearson, that means
the immediate removal of DRM from any and all of their educational
materials. We will also be showing you how easy it is to make
contributions to ethical, freely licensed, and DRM-free textbooks by
sponsoring local and remote hackathons.</p>
<p>DRM poses a serious threat to our collective cultural heritage, and
has wide-reaching implications for historical preservation. It also
severely limits what can be viewed "legitimately" by those in other
nations by putting an arbitrary location-based block on many different
kinds of media. In a world where companies like Pearson and
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/technology/companies/18amazon.html">Amazon</a> have the ability to make unauthorized books "disappear"
from all of their users' devices, it's not hard to imagine how this
power could be used for even greater injustices. Will the next ebook
apocalypse happen simply because a given book is too critical of its
publisher, or the country it's discussing? If works are made exclusive
to a digitally restricted platform, who knows what important works
will be lost the next time this happens?</p>
<p>For thirteen years, we have used IDAD to mobilize actions that stand
up for the freedom of users everywhere. This year, we'll be continuing
the fight by bringing in a round of in-person actions, guest bloggers,
organizing tips, and a few surprises that you won't want to
miss. Follow along with us at the <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org">Defective by Design</a> Web site,
join the <a href="https://lists.defectivebydesign.org/mailman/listinfo/drm-elimination-crew">DRM Elimination Crew</a> mailing list, and read about our
past actions, such as last year's <a href="https://defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2018">IDAD</a>, and our protest of the
<a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/we-dont-want-the-hollyweb">W3C's decision to embed DRM</a> into the core framework of the
Internet.</p>
<p>If you're new to the movement and looking for ways to avoid DRM, or
just want to learn more, take a look at our <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/guide">Guide to DRM-Free
Living</a>. This year, we've updated it with lists of retailers to
avoid and ones to support, in addition to giving general tips on how
to tell whether a book, video, or piece of music is DRM-encumbered.</p>
<p>As we become ever more reliant on digital methods of accessing our
shared cultural history, the question of who controls that access and
how they control it becomes a crucial one. In standing up against DRM,
you are not only standing up for the rights of readers now, but for
those in years to come. Our successes in past years could not have
happened without your help. Every voice raised in protest of DRM
weakens the hold it has on all of us. Together, we are confident that
we can end it once and for all.</p>
<h2>How to participate</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p>The easiest way to participate is to join us in going a Day Without
  DRM, and resolve to spend an entire day (or longer!) without
  Netflix, Hulu, and other restricted services to show your support of
  the movement. Document your experiences on social media using the
  tags "#idad" or "#dbd," and let us know at
  <a href="mailto:info@defectivebydesign.org">&#105;&#110;&#102;&#111;&#64;&#100;&#101;&#102;&#101;&#99;&#116;&#105;&#118;&#101;&#98;&#121;&#100;&#101;&#115;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> if you have a special story you'd like
  us to share.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Even more effective is to join up with others to make your voice
  louder. We'll be providing activists around the world with support
  on how they can stage their own local in-person event, as well as
  how to join us online while we help improve the free and ethical
  alternatives to educational materials restricted by DRM.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>In Boston, we'll be leading the way with our own demonstration on
  October 12th, 2019 at Pearson Education's corporate offices,
  followed by an evening hackathon on collaborative, <a href="https://flossmanuals.net/">freely
  licensed</a> educational materials.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Follow us on <a href="https://status.fsf.org/dbd">GNU social</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/endDRM">Twitter</a> <a href="https://fsf.org/twitter">(with caveats)</a>
  to stay posted on all the events we have planned, in addition to
  more news items on how you can resist DRM.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>If you're IRC-inclined, join us in the <a href="https://webchat.freenode.net/">#dbd</a> channel on the
  Freenode network for real-time chat and collaboration on DRM-related
  actions.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Join and take part in discussions on the <a href="https://lists.defectivebydesign.org/mailman/listinfo/drm-elimination-crew">DRM Elimination Crew</a>
  mailing list, where we'll be sending all of the information about
  this year's campaign.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Are you an organization or project interested in supporting
IDAD?</strong> We're looking for vendors of DRM-free media, organizations
that support the building of a DRM-free world, and those who believe
in the mission of DbD to participate by offering sales, writing blog
posts, organizing events, and sharing information with your members
about IDAD. Please contact us at <a href="mailto:info@defectivebydesign.org">&#105;&#110;&#102;&#111;&#64;&#100;&#101;&#102;&#101;&#99;&#116;&#105;&#118;&#101;&#98;&#121;&#100;&#101;&#115;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> for more
information.</p>
</li>
</ul>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/introducing-craig-topham-fsf-copyright-and-licensing-associate
title: Introducing Craig Topham, FSF copyright and licensing associate
uri: Introducing-Craig-Topham-FSF-copyright-and-licensing-associate
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/introducing-craig-topham-fsf-copyright-and-licensing-associate
content:
<p>Hello World! My name is Craig Topham, and I’m the latest to have the honor of being a copyright and licensing associate for the Free Software Foundation (FSF). I started work in November, and the delay in assembling my introductory blog post is a testament to how busy I have been. Although my post feels late, it gives me a chance to share my experience here at the FSF, along with sharing a little bit more about myself.</p>
<p>From 2005 to 2017, I worked as a PC/Network Technician for the City of Eugene, Oregon. The role had the inherent reward of allowing me to be a part of something much larger than myself. I was helping local government function. From the mayor and city council all the way to the summer staff that worked the front desk at the recreation department's swimming pools, I was one of many making it all work. It was even a part of my job to support some free software the city used! Sadly, a vast majority of the software that we used was proprietary, but despite the painful duty of supporting nonfree software, the overall experience felt pretty great. As I close that chapter of my life with all the wonderful memories and marks made, I am beset with a wild sense of relief. Like finding a rock in my shoe after twelve years, the alleviation is palatable: I never have to labor to master proprietary software again! </p>
<p>For unknown reasons (which I contemplate often), I did not learn about the free software movement until 2004, despite a lifetime of using computers. Like so many before me, my initial education on the movement came via <a href="media/1473ad3f.rms-essays.pdf" data-original-source="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/fsfs/rms-essays.pdf"><em>Free Software, Free Society: Selected Essays of Richard M. Stallman</em></a>. What so instantaneously drew me to free software was the simplicity of the four freedoms: run, edit, share, contribute. These freedoms, coupled with the ethical nature of the movement, made it a natural fit for me. It did not take me long to realize that this is what I needed to soothe my “How can I make the world a better place?” angst. Inevitably, I became an FSF associate member on October 28, 2007 because it was (and still is) the easiest way to help out. If you are reading this and you are not a member, <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join">I encourage you to change that</a> and help make the world a better place.</p>
<p>Although the four freedoms appear simple, defending them in this complicated world is a different story. The <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html">GNU General Public License (GPL)</a> was created as a tool that anyone can use to defend those freedoms. As with any license, questions arise as to best practices and various topics like compatibility with other terms. In order to help others make better use of free software, my team (and our fantastic volunteers) answer licensing questions sent to <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">&#108;&#105;&#99;&#101;&#110;&#115;&#105;&#110;&#103;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. There, we are useful to programmers and others seeking to ensure that free software remains free for future generations.</p>
<p>In my role here at the FSF as a copyright and licensing associate, the program I have been most excited about is evaluating products for the <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org/">“Respects Your Freedom” (RYF) certification program</a>. Enjoyably, this task brings the highest degree of technical calisthenics for my work at the FSF. The RYF certification program encourages the creation and sale of products designed to do as much as possible to empower you, the user, and will provide reassurance that you have the complete control that you deserve over your device. Keep an eye on this program! More than ever, people are becoming wise to the idea that their freedom, privacy, and rights are something that requires active defense, and having the right hardware is the first step.</p>
<p>Among many other job duties, the most engrossing is that of <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-violation.html">GPL compliance</a> for works on which the FSF holds copyright. Although backed by the force of law, a compliance case should be viewed as a kind of teachable moment, because with every compliance case comes an opportunity to make the free software movement stronger. This strength comes from the addition of another compliant distributor of free software as we continue to labor towards (and ultimately secure) a world that respects the GPL and computer user freedom.</p>
<p>As I mentioned earlier, I find it rewarding to be a part of something larger than myself, and this role puts me on the front lines of an important movement which spans the whole globe. The free software movement is invaluable because humanity is faced with a critical binary choice that will determine the quality of our collective future: when it comes to computers, we either control these machines or we don't. It is that simple, especially since we now live in a world that is inseparably intertwined with this technology. If we don’t control these machines, the challenges of keeping personal privacy, retaining freedom of speech, and having transparency in governments will be nearly impossible to overcome. Free software does not guarantee success to these challenges, but free software is understandably a prerequisite. If the free software movement fails, our prospects would be very dim, and a nightmarish dystopia awaits. Fortunately, from a widely held point of view, the movement has been very successful, but there is obviously still far more work to be done. I am here to do that work.</p>
<p>I'm very grateful to be here, and will strive to be the activist that the FSF and free software users everywhere need and deserve. We will see how it goes; however, I believe that with a talented FSF staff and so many dedicated supporters and volunteers behind us, our bright future is an inevitability.</p>
<p>If you ever want to meet, feel free to stop by our office. We love visitors! If you can’t stop by, you can find a licensing and compliance team member every Friday hosting the <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Free_Software_Directory:Meetings">Free Software Directory Meeting</a> in the #fsf IRC Channel on freenode.net, from 1200-1500 Eastern Time, or you can reach me at <a href="mailto:craigt@fsf.org">&#99;&#114;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#116;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>
<p>Here’s what else you can do to get involved and help make the world a better place:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://my.fsf.org/join">Become an associate member</a> of the Free Software Foundation.</li>
<li>Support the Free Software Foundation with <a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate">a donation</a>.</li>
<li>Find a place to help out by becoming a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/volunteer">volunteer</a>.</li>
</ul>


title: Early registration for Raleigh Licensing Seminar extended until September 25th
uri: Early-registration-for-Raleigh-Licensing-Seminar-extended-until-Septem
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/early-registration-for-raleigh-licensing-seminar-extended-until-september-25th

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/early-registration-for-raleigh-licensing-seminar-extended-until-september-25th

content:
<p>We have extended the early registration period of the upcoming
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/events/cle-seminar-20191016-raleigh">Continuing Legal Education Seminar (CLE)</a>, to Wednesday, September
25th. The CLE will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center,
Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 16th, 2019.</p>
<p><a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/event/info?id=86&amp;reset=1">Register here!</a></p>
<p>The Free Software Foundation's (FSF) Licensing and Compliance
Lab is currently finalizing the schedule for this full day
seminar on GPL Enforcement and Legal Ethics, and we will share it
online soon. We will continue to offer a discounted price to all
legal professionals, free software developers, and anyone
interested in licensing and compliance topics. Students and low
income professionals will get gratis registration.</p>
<p>We will offer the early registration price until Wednesday,
September 25th, 6:00pm EDT. Registration for this event will now
close on Wednesday, October 9th, 2019.</p>
<p>To read more about this event, led by experts and respected leaders in
the free software community, you can visit the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/events/cle-seminar-20191016-raleigh">event
page</a>. To get in touch about sponsoring this event, please contact <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>


title: Free Software Awards: Nominate those who inspire you by November 6th
uri: Free-Software-Awards-Nominate-those-who-inspire-you-by-November-6th
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/free-software-awards-nominate-those-who-inspire-you-by-november-6th

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/free-software-awards-nominate-those-who-inspire-you-by-november-6th

content:
<p>Every free software supporter knows someone who has made inspiring
contributions to the cause for user freedom. Whether you know them
personally, or only through following them online, we can all think of
outstanding individuals who have helped further the cause for free
software through their care and attention.  There are also many
projects whose contributors have consistently demonstrated their
dedication to the principles of the free software movement.</p>
<p>Each year the Free Software Foundation (FSF) recognizes the exemplary
commitments of these individuals and organizations through the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/">Free
Software Awards</a>, which are announced as part of the FSF's annual
LibrePlanet conference and gathering for free software users,
developers, and activists alike. Rather than simply recognizing the
sheer number of <em>commits</em> to projects, the Free Software Awards are
meant to recognize the <em>commitment</em> members of our community have
applied in their work to advance the cause for software freedom.</p>
<p>The Award for the Advancement of Free Software recognizes people with
long and impactful contribution histories in free software. This year,
we also want to start recognizing people who are just beginning their
free software contributions, to appreciate them and encourage them to
continue. Along with the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/fs-award"><strong>Award for the Advancement of Free
Software</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/sb-award"><strong>Award for Projects of Social Benefit</strong></a>,
we're now seeking nominations for the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/onfsc-award"><strong>Award for Outstanding New
Free Software Contributor</strong></a>. Do you want to show your appreciation
for a hardworking newcomer to a free software project? Give them the
opportunity to be recognized by their peers by nominating them for
this new award!</p>
<p>Only individual contributors are eligible for the Awards for the
Advancement of Free Software and Outstanding New Free Software
Contributor. The Award for Projects of Social Benefit is granted only
to organizations or projects.</p>
<p>The deadline to submit your nominations is <strong>Wednesday, November 6th,
2019</strong>, at 14:59 UTC.</p>
<h1>Award for the Advancement of Free Software</h1>
<p>The FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software is presented
annually to a single individual who has made a great contribution to
the progress and advancement of free software, through activities that
are in accord with the spirit of the community. Last year's award was
accepted by <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/openstreetmap-and-deborah-nicholson-win-2018-fsf-awards">Deborah Nicholson</a>, who in addition to being the
director of community operations at the <a href="https://sfconservancy.org">Software Freedom
Conservancy</a>, was instrumental in founding both the Women's Caucus
for free software and the <a href="https://seagl.org">Seattle GNU/Linux Conference</a>. Previous
winners include Karen Sandler, Alexandre Oliva, Matthew Garrett, and
Sébastien Jodogne.</p>
<p>Submit your nomination for this award <a href="https://my.fsf.org/projects-of-social-benefit-award-nomination">here</a>!</p>
<h1>Award for Projects of Social Benefit</h1>
<p>The FSF Award for Projects of Social Benefit is presented to an
organization or team responsible for applying the principles of the
free software movement to a project that intentionally and
significantly benefits society in other aspects of life. Last year's
award was accepted by <a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/">OpenStreetMap</a>, a mass collaboration project
that organizes more than a million contributors to help create a free
and editable map of the world. Previous winners include Public Lab,
SecureDrop, GNU Health, Tor, the Internet Archive, Creative Commons,
and Wikipedia.</p>
<p>Submit your nomination for this project/team award <a href="https://my.fsf.org/projects-of-social-benefit-award-nomination">here</a>!</p>
<h1>Award for Outstanding New Free Software Contributor</h1>
<p>The Award for Outstanding New Free Software Contributor will be
presented annually to an individual newcomer to the community who has
demonstrated an outstanding dedication to software freedom. The award
recipient must have made their first significant free software-related
contributions in 2019, and show a pattern of ongoing activity. Their
contributions may have included things like: empowering the community
by organizing local meetups, software development, becoming involved
in the strategic or logistical planning of a project, working on
documentation, or helping to make improvements in the environment to
attract and keep contributors.</p>
<p>Submit your nomination for this individual award
<a href="https://my.fsf.org/outstanding-new-free-software-contributor-nomination">here</a>!</p>
<p>Dedication powers the free software movement. The belief that a better
digital world is possible has fostered incredible projects that are
making a difference in both local and global communities. Everyone's
contributions matter, and it's important for your voice to be
heard. Please take a moment to let us know about the people and
projects that you think have changed our world for the better.
Through the hard work and commitment of our users, activists, and
developers, software freedom will succeed.</p>


title: Submit a session proposal for LibrePlanet 2020 conference: Free the Future by Nov. 20
uri: Submit-a-session-proposal-for-LibrePlanet-2020-conference-Free-the-Fu
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/submit-a-session-proposal-for-libreplanet-2020-conference-free-the-future-by-nov-20

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/submit-a-session-proposal-for-libreplanet-2020-conference-free-the-future-by-nov-20

content:
<p><strong>The <a href="https://www.fsf.org">FSF</a> invites activists, hackers, law professionals,
artists, students, developers, young people, policymakers,
tinkerers, newcomers to free software, and anyone looking for
technology that aligns with their ideals, to <a href="https://my.fsf.org/lp-call-for-sessions">submit a
proposal</a> for a session at our twelfth annual social justice
and technology <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020">LibrePlanet conference</a>. Potential talks
should examine free software through the lens of this year's
theme, and can focus on software development, copyleft, community, or other
related issues.</strong></p>
<p><em><a href="https://my.fsf.org/lp-call-for-sessions">Submissions to the call for sessions</a>
are being accepted through Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at
12:00pm Eastern Standard time (17:00 UTC).</em></p>
<p>Over the last decade, LibrePlanet has blossomed from a small gathering
of FSF members into a vibrant multi-day event that attracts a broad
audience of anyone interested in the values of software
freedom. LibrePlanet 2019 had almost a thousand people participate
around the world, both online and in-person, for workshops and talks
centered around the theme of "Trailblazing Free Software." To stay up
to date about everything LibrePlanet 2020, visit <a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020">https://www.libreplanet.org/2020</a>.</p>
<p>Many picture the future of software bringing about a dystopian
world because of the daily encroachments on user rights. Even in
our own homes, we are not shielded from technology companies
listening to every word we say through their
<a href="https://fortune.com/2019/08/08/gogole-amazon-microsoft-listen-conversation-siri/">proprietary "smart" personal assistants</a>. The thirst for
user data gleaned through nonfree software and unethical network
services like Amazon and Facebook seems to be unquenchable, and
they require strong resistance.</p>
<p>Surveillance developments are becoming more and more unsettling
because of the use of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/business/facial-recognition-uk-court.html?module=inline">facial recognition by state and county
agencies</a>. The <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-and-facebook-potentially-at-odds-over-social-media-monitoring-11565277021">FBI is planning to actively monitor our social
media activity</a> in the name of "safety." Can free software
help defend our rights?</p>
<p>Education also needs our attention. The recent introduction
of Pearson's "Netflix of textbooks" model inhibits students'
rights to education by digitally constraining their learning
environment. With our 2019 <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/help_defend_right_read_stand_against_drm_october_12th">International Day Against Digital
Restrictions Management (DRM)</a>, we are exposing our rapidly
diminishing authority over our technology, as exemplified by
Pearson. Steps like these set a dangerous precedent for all
readers, no matter their age or location.</p>
<p>These are just some of the many examples that come to mind when
contemplating the direction technology is taking us. For each new
convenience that we gain, it seems we lose even more in the
process, exchanging intangible but vital rights to freedom and
privacy for the latest new gadget. But there is resistance, and
it doesn't have to be this way. The free software community has
continuously defied the pressure to use nonfree software and
provided a means of escape. We are in the unique position to
offer solutions to these problems by combining our technical
abilities and educational skills with our ethical dedication to
envision a future free from the clutches of nonfree software and
network services that mistreat their users. In short, 2020 will
be the year we <strong>"Free the Future"</strong>.</p>
<hr />
<h1>About LibrePlanet</h1>
<p>LibrePlanet is an annual conference for free software users and
anyone who cares about the intersection of technology and social
justice. For more than a decade, LibrePlanet has brought together
thousands of diverse voices and knowledge bases, including free
software developers, policy experts, activists, hackers,
students, and people who have just begun to learn about free
software. If you want to learn more about the FSF's yearly free
software conference, you can explore the <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/">presentations and
videos</a> from previous years.</p>
<p>From a LibrePlanet visitor: <em>"Seeing so many people together who
care about the role of software in society gives me renewed
conviction to advocate for software freedom. My first LibrePlanet
certainly raised my awareness of the social side of software."</em></p>
<hr />
<h1>What kind of sessions are we looking for?</h1>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Examine free software through this year's theme, <strong>"Free the Future,"</strong> in the broader spheres of education, licensing,
  medicine, government, business, art, or social movements</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Share an update on your free software project</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Present strategies for strengthening the free software community</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Explore current topics in free software licensing and copyleft, or give a great licensing tutorial</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Host a workshop on how to use a free software tool, free software program, or free hardware project</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Explore a free software concept in an interactive session</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Lead a project "sprint" (a group work session)</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>It's important to us to provide sessions that are friendly to
newcomers, as well as those that help experienced hackers push their
technical skills. Whatever your experience level or the experience
level of your audience, we want to include your session! (As a
corollary of this, we also welcome sessions for kids or teens.) If you're
new to the community, or looking for inspiration, check out last
year's <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2019/program/">conference site and session videos</a>.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Need help attending LibrePlanet?</h1>
<p>The FSF is able to offer a limited amount of funding to bring
conference participants to LibrePlanet from all around the world. You
can submit your travel fund application together with your session proposal.
You can also donate and <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=60">help others attend</a>.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Office hours on IRC</h1>
<p>This year we will be holding office hours on IRC. Those will be
designated times where the LibrePlanet team, and experienced
community volunteers, will be available to help potential speakers
prepare their session proposals for LibrePlanet. Office hours are
on Thursdays, and start October 3rd on the #LibrePlanet <a href="https://webchat.freenode.net/">IRC
channel</a> on Freenode. They will continue every Thursday until the call for
sessions closes on November 20th.</p>
<p>Times are the following:          <br />
</p>
<ul>
<li>October 3rd - November 3: from 13:00 - 14:00 Eastern Daylight time (17:00 UTC)        <br />
</li>
<li>November 4th - November 20th: 13:00 - 14:00 Eastern Standard time (18:00 UTC)             <br />
</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h1>Video coverage and remote participation</h1>
<p>The FSF's technical team uses only free software to livestream
and record LibrePlanet. Unless speakers opt out, scheduled talks
will be streamed live over the Internet for anyone not physically
able to attend, and recordings will be published online after the
event, along with presentation slides and papers whenever
available. We encourage participation for anyone not physically
able to attend. Anyone interested can connect to people in their
area via the <a href="https://libreplanet.org">LibrePlanet wiki</a> and organize a viewing party
or open a discussion via IRC.  If you need any help with
organization or connecting, or have a brilliant idea that we should know about, please contact
us at <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> or visit our #LibrePlanet IRC channel on Freenode.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Sponsor LibrePlanet</h1>
<p>LibrePlanet depends on community support. By becoming a sponsor,
you directly invest in strengthening the free software
community. Among other things, it allows the FSF to offer gratis
participation and accommodation to a select group of applicants
that would not be able to attend otherwise.</p>
<p>For information on how your company can sponsor LibrePlanet or
have a table in our exhibit hall, please email
<a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-14-new-gnu-releases-in-september
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 14 new GNU releases in September!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-14-new-GNU-releases-in-September
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-14-new-gnu-releases-in-september
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/">bison-3.4.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/datamash/">datamash-1.5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/">emacs-26.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/findutils/">findutils-4.7.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gama/">gama-2.07</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/">gdb-8.3.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnubg/">gnubg-1.06.002</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libgcrypt/">libgcrypt-1.8.5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/lightning/">lightning-2.1.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/linux-libre/">linux-libre-5.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/mes/">mes-0.20</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20190922</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/texinfo/">texinfo-6.7</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/wget/">wget2-1.99.2</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>.  You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help.  The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/join-us-in-boston-to-fight-drm-and-get-crafty-october-9-12
title: Join us in Boston to fight DRM and get crafty! October 9 & 12
uri: Join-us-in-Boston-to-fight-DRM-and-get-crafty-October-9-12
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/join-us-in-boston-to-fight-drm-and-get-crafty-october-9-12
content:
<p>The <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2019">International Day against DRM (IDAD)</a>, organized yearly
by the <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/">Defective by Design</a> campaign, is promising to be an
exciting day of protest against <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital Restrictions
Management (DRM)</a>. This year we are standing up for readers'
rights against the restrictive behavior of <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/help-defend-the-right-to-read-stand-up-against-drm-on-october-12th">DRM-encumbered textbooks</a> and
digital learning environments from groups like Pearson, and
our protestors will collect at the Pearson Education offices in
Boston on October 12th, 2019. </p>
<p>The day's success is dependent on
the amount of people showing up, and, of course, on the visuals that
we provide to supplement our message. And so, we're inviting you
to our sign-making party at 17:30 on October 9th, at the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/contact/">Free
Software Foundation (FSF) office</a> in downtown Boston! We will
provide refreshments, art materials, and instructions to make
your own protest signs, so all you have to do is join in the fun!</p>
<p>Volunteering at the sign-making party is a great way to meet new
community members and to contribute to the fight against DRM. We
are also still looking for people to join us in our Boston IDAD protest on October 12 at noon, as well as an
evening hackathon, or collaboration session, on unrestricted and
truly shareable educational materials in the FSF offices from 17:00 onwards. </p>
<p><strong>When and how can I help?</strong>: </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>October 9, 17:30:</strong> Sign-making party at the FSF office at 51 Franklin Street (dinner included)  <br />
</li>
<li><strong>October 12, 12:00:</strong> Protest at the Pearson Education Offices at 501 Boylston Street (refreshments included)     <br />
</li>
<li><strong>October 12, 17:00:</strong> Hackathon at the FSF office at 51 Franklin Street (dinner included)        <br />
</li>
</ul>
<p>Please email <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> to confirm you will be there for any of these
dates, or for more information.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/daniel-martin-gomez-hacking-gnu-for-the-first-time
title: Daniel Martin Gomez: Hacking GNU for the first time
uri: Daniel-Martin-Gomez-Hacking-GNU-for-the-first-time
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/daniel-martin-gomez-hacking-gnu-for-the-first-time
content:
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; margin: 10px 20px 20px 25px; padding: 4px; 
                    text-align: center;"><img alt="Intern standing at a podium speaking into a microphone" src="media/b34ca3d1.daniel-intern-photo.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/staff-photos/interns/daniel-intern-photo.jpg" width="350" /></p>

</div>

<p>Hi, my name is Daniel. I'm from Spain, where I'm currently studying
baccalaureate in sciences before entering university next fall. I was first
introduced to GNU/Linux and free software when I was in primary school, and
since my last year there I've been using only GNU/Linux distributions on my
computer. I started learning programming (a bit of Python) about five years ago,
but I quickly moved to C. I had worked on some of my own projects before I
joined the FSF this September.</p>
<p>This fall, as part of my internship, I've been contributing to GNU Wget2, a
reimplementation of GNU Wget, working on different tasks, most of them from the
issues list of the wget2 repository at GitLab. I started with some issues
marked as "Junior" in order to get used to the source code, and after some weeks,
I went to more difficult tasks like adding some features from wget1.x, such as
the speed reporting support to the progress bar or the --use-askpass option (I
simply ported the original source code) which calls an extern application given
by the user, for instance ssh-askpass, that requests for a username and
password. In this way, sensible data is hidden from the command line and the ps
output. </p>
<p>I have also been working in new additions like a command line option
(named --filter-mime-type) that allows the users to specify the list of MIME
types, which may contain shell wildcards, that will be accepted during the
download process (or that will be rejected if they begin with '!'; this is
quite useful to deal with exceptions).</p>
<p>To end, I would like to thank the people of wget2 (Tim, Darshit and Avinash)
and the FSF staff (Andrew, Ian and Ruben) for everything during these months.
Happy hacking!</p>


title: IDAD 2019: Join us on October 12th, and use this special dust jacket to uphold the right to read
uri: IDAD-2019-Join-us-on-October-12th-and-use-this-special-dust-jacket-t
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/idad-2019-join-us-on-october-12th-and-use-this-special-dust-jacket-to-uphold-the-right-to-read

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/idad-2019-join-us-on-october-12th-and-use-this-special-dust-jacket-to-uphold-the-right-to-read

content:
<img src="media/67ec2c70.idad-2019-book-cover-open.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/idad-2019-book-cover-open.jpg" alt="Photo of IDAD 2019 dust jacket cover." width="60%" height="60%" />

<p>Each year we stage the <a href="https://dayagainstdrm.org">International Day Against DRM</a> (IDAD) to
help others learn about the dangers of <a href="https://defectivebydesign.org">Digital Restrictions
Management</a> (DRM). For this year's IDAD on October 12th, we are
focusing in particular on the increasing and disturbing amount of DRM
present in ebooks and other online educational materials. Having so
thoroughly invaded our leisure time, the digital infection known as
DRM should not be allowed to spread into the classroom. Joining us in
the fight for IDAD 2019 are the <a href="https://eff.org">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a>,
<a href="https://creativecommons.org">Creative Commons</a>, and <a href="https://www.documentfoundation.org/">The Document Foundation</a>, among ten
other <a href="https://dayagainstdrm.org">participating organizations</a> we are privileged to have
standing with us in the fight against DRM.</p>
<p>In a bid to become the "<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jul/16/pearson-netflix-style-rental-academic-textbooks">Netflix of textbooks</a>," and like many
other publishers, Pearson is doing the opposite of what anyone
committed to education should do: severely restricting a student's
access to the materials they need for their courses through arbitrary
page limits, "rented" books that disappear, and many which require a
constant Internet connection.</p>
<p>Publishers like Pearson should not be allowed to decide the rigidly
specific conditions under which a student can learn. No book should
spy on your reading habits or simply "disappear" after you have had it
for too long. In the digital age, it is unacceptable for a publisher
to impose the same <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2010/fall/lending-a-solved-problem">principles of scarcity</a> that would apply to a
physical product to a digital file. The computing revolution was
caused by files being <em>shared</em>, not merely rented. Imposing these
limitations on digital media is an attack on user freedom, no matter
how much corporate PR may spin the story. It's our aim to let the
world know that we support the rights of readers. You could say that
for IDAD 2019, Defective by Design has you <em>covered.</em></p>
<p><strong>We have developed a <a href="https://defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2019/dust-jacket">dust jacket</a> you can slip over any "dead
tree" book that you are reading to warn others about the looming
threat of DRM. Whether in school, in a coffee shop, or on the subway,
it is an easy conversation starter about the insidious nature of
DRM. We encourage all readers to use them, whether on the latest
hardcover bestseller or the textbook you use in class (while you still
have one).</strong></p>
<p><strong>Defective by Design will be printing high quality versions of the
dust jacket for every book shipped from our friends at the <a href="https://shop.fsf.org">GNU
Press</a> while supplies permit. And true to our mission, we are also
releasing the <a href="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/dbd/day_against_drm/2019/idad-2019-src.zip">source files</a> to these designs so that others may
do the same. They are <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/">fully editable and shareable</a> in Scribus
v1.5+, so feel free to print, share, translate, and give away your own
printed copies to readers and anti-DRM activists in your area.</strong></p>
<p>Using ebooks for educational purposes is far from a bad thing: in
fact, we will be bringing together the global Defective by Design
community to help improve the fully shareable and editable works like
those published by our friends at <a href="https://flossmanuals.org/">FLOSS Manuals</a>. We're excited
to be promoting an opposition to "locked-down" learning by staging a
global hackathon on free culture works in the #dbd channel on
<a href="https://webchat.freenode.net">Freenode</a>, or our own in-person meeting to help edit these
ethical alternatives at our offices in Boston.</p>
<p>Activists all over the world come together on the International Day
Against DRM to resist Digital Restrictions Management's massive and
aggressive encroachment on our <em>real</em> digital rights.</p>
<p>This year, we're confident that we can show major book publishers like
Pearson that putting a lock on learning is unacceptable. Join us on
October 12th and beyond in our double-fronted attack to tell others
about the evils of DRM, and to eliminate unethical digital publishing
by contributing to free and ethical alternatives.</p>
<h1>Spread the message</h1>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Print and share these covers as widely as you can, leaving them as
  freebies in libraries, coffee shops, and wherever books are
  appreciated. Snap a photo of your campaigning in action, and share
  it to social media with the tags #idad, #dbd, or #DefectivebyDesign.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>To help us coordinate year-round actions against DRM, join the <a href="https://lists.defectivebydesign.org/mailman/listinfo/drm-elimination-crew">DRM
  Elimination Crew</a> mailing list.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>If you would like to translate the dust jacket into your language,
  please email <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> and we will be happy to include it
  on the official Defective by Design site. We're currently offering
  them in English, Spanish, and German.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h1>IDAD actions</h1>
<ul>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/join-us-in-boston-to-fight-drm-and-get-crafty-october-9-12">Protest with us on October 12th outside the Pearson Education
  offices in Boston, MA at 12:00</a>, or coordinate your own local
  actions with us on the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Defective_by_Design/Day_Against_DRM_2019">LibrePlanet wiki</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Join our remote collaboration session on free culture textbooks in
  the #dbd channel of the <a href="https://webchat.freenode.net">Freenode</a> network beginning on October
  12th at 17:00 EDT (21:00 UTC). Or if you're in the Boston area, drop
  by the FSF offices at the same time for a night of fun,
  refreshments, and old-fashioned cooperation.</p>
</li>
</ul>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/november-2-save-the-date-emacsconf-is-coming-to-boston
title: November 2: Save the date! EmacsConf is coming to Boston
uri: November-2-Save-the-date-EmacsConf-is-coming-to-Boston
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/november-2-save-the-date-emacsconf-is-coming-to-boston
content:
<p>The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is happy to announce our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/contact/fsf-office-directions">office in
Boston</a> as the next official <a href="https://emacsconf.org/2019/">EmacsConf</a> satellite! Join us on Saturday,
November 2 for an all-day event on everyone's favorite self-documenting,
customizable, and extensible editor: <a href="https://gnu.org/software/emacs">GNU Emacs</a>! The FSF will join Zürich,
Switzerland as the second physical satellite to EmacsConf, which will be held
online this year.</p>
<p>Beginning at 9:00 a.m. EDT, we will be gathering at the FSF office to watch both
remote and in-person talks on Emacs and Emacs Lisp. A light breakfast and dinner
will be provided by the FSF, and three lucky attendees will come away with some
official Emacs merchandise from the <a href="https://shop.fsf.org">GNU Press</a>.</p>
<p>A tentative schedule of the conference is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>9:00 a.m. EDT: Conference begins with keynotes from Amin Bandali, Sacha Chua,
  and Emacs maintainer John Wiegley.</li>
<li>9:30 a.m. EDT: "User-related" conference track begins, with talks from Sachin
  Patil, Parham Doustdar, and Marcin Swieczkowski in addition to the lightning
  talks.</li>
<li>12:00 p.m. EDT: "Development" conference track begins, with talks from Jonathan
  Chu, Howard Abrams, Damien Cassou, and Matt Ray.</li>
<li>4:00 p.m. EDT: "Future" conference track begins, with talks from Greg Farough
  and Perry Metzger.</li>
<li>4:50 p.m. EDT: Closing remarks, with dinner provided by the FSF.</li>
</ul>
<p>A small raffle will be conducted after the conclusion of each conference track,
and Emacs stickers will be free for all attendees!</p>
<p>Although attendance is gratis, space is very limited, so please be sure to send
an RSVP to <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> as soon as possible to secure your spot.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/idad-2019-thank-you-for-defending-the-right-to-read
title: IDAD 2019: Thank you for defending the right to read!
uri: IDAD-2019-Thank-you-for-defending-the-right-to-read
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/idad-2019-thank-you-for-defending-the-right-to-read
content:
<img src="media/d517b297.idad-2019-stopsign.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/dbd/day_against_drm/2019/photo/idad-2019-stopsign.jpg" alt="IDAD 2019 protesters outside the Pearson building in Boston, MA" width="400px" />

<p>Now that the dust has settled and we have made our voices heard, we would like
to give a sincere thanks to everyone who helped to make the <a href="https://defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2019">International Day
Against DRM</a> (IDAD) 2019 possible. This is the thirteenth year that we have
come together to voice our dissent against the unjust power of <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital
Restrictions Management</a> (DRM), and we could
not have done it without the help of digital rights activists from all over the world.</p>
<p>In our continued fight against DRM, we make it clear that we reject a world in
which learning is shackled behind draconian restrictions. On IDAD 2019, we used
our strength in numbers to tell Pearson that restricting access to textbooks is
antithetical to the human right to education. Here in Boston, we protested
outside the Pearson building, and spoke with a wide range of students and
shoppers about the importance of their digital rights. Demonstrating our own
commitment to a culture based on sharing rather than exclusion, we also worked
in the FSF office, and remotely with collaborators from around the world,
to make contributions to <a href="https://www.flossmanuals.org/get-involved-0">ethical and DRM-free educational materials</a>.</p>
<p>The digital version of the <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2019/dust-jacket">dust jacket</a> we made for this year's event is
already available in six languages, with at least two more currently in the
final stages of editing. It will remain freely available for you to print and
share to spread the message of our resistance to media restriction. If you have
a translation into your native language that you want to contribute, please
write to us at <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>
<p>With the help of our <a href="https://defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2019">15 participating organizations</a> this year, including
the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Creative Commons, APRIL, and Question
Copyright, we proved once again that DRM is an issue that affects all owners of digital
media, and is not just the concern of technologists. We would
especially like to thank the <a href="https://fckdrm.com/">FCK DRM</a> campaign for highlighting our efforts
in a newsletter that reaches more than eight million people worldwide, as well as
<a href="https://nostarch.com/">No Starch Press</a>, <a href="https://leanpub.com/">Leanpub</a>, and <a href="https://www.libreture.com/bookshops/">Libreture</a> for sales on <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/guide">DRM-free
works</a> that they held in conjunction with this year's IDAD.</p>
<p>Defective by Design continues its fight against DRM year-round, and there's
still much more to be done. Just in the last week we have heard of
the Disney+ streaming service's use of the highest level of <a href="https://hansdegoede.livejournal.com/22338.html">Widevine DRM</a>,
and the forthcoming <a href="https://kotaku.com/the-google-stadia-backlash-has-begun-1833515412">Google Stadia project</a> is going to make a strong attempt at
eliminating even the idea of digital game ownership. Here at Defective by
Design, we are already brainstorming new ways to combat these attacks on our
freedom, but to continue doing so we need your help.</p>
<p>To fight DRM, we need <a href="http://lists.defectivebydesign.org/mailman/listinfo/drm-elimination-crew">vigilant activists</a> who will stand firm in defending
the digital freedoms of those in their communities. We encourage any and all
anti-DRM activists to join us as part of the Defective by Design email <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/join">announce
list</a>, or to communicate with us in real-time in the <a href="https://webchat.freenode.net">#dbd</a> channel of
the Freenode Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network. Given the vast amount of
resources corporations like Pearson, Disney, Netflix, Amazon, and Google have at
their disposal, we are reliant on the community for <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=40">donations</a> to Defective
by Design's mission to end DRM once and for all.</p>
<p>All of us at Defective by Design extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to
everyone who participated this year, and we welcome all those who are just
joining in on the fight.</p>
<p><em>Photo copyright: © 2019 Free Software Foundation, Inc., by Valessio Brito. This
image is licensed under a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/">Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Unported</a> license.</em></p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-11-new-gnu-releases-in-october
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 11 new GNU releases in October!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-11-new-GNU-releases-in-October
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-11-new-gnu-releases-in-october
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/artanis/">artanis-0.4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/aspell/">aspell-0.60.8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/binutils/">binutils-2.33.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/">gdb-9.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libmicrohttpd/">libmicrohttpd-0.9.68</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libredwg/">libredwg-0.9</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/nano/">nano-4.5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20191022</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parted/">parted-3.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/screen/">screen-4.7.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/src-highlite/">src-highlite-3.1.8</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>. You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>This month, we welcome Amin Bandali and Mike Gerwitz as new co-maintainers
of GNUzilla.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/last-call-for-free-software-awards-nominations-submit-by-11-6
title: Last call for Free Software Awards nominations: Submit by 11/6
uri: Last-call-for-Free-Software-Awards-nominations-Submit-by-11-6
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/last-call-for-free-software-awards-nominations-submit-by-11-6
content:
<p>The nomination period for the Free Software Foundation (FSF)'s annual Free
Software Awards is drawing to a close on November 6th. If you haven't done so
already, now's your last chance to honor the outstanding individuals and
projects that have either furthered or made significant use of free software in
their work toward a free society. This year, we're also recognizing newcomers in
a special award category called the Award for Outstanding New Free Software
Contributor. We look forward to the award ceremony at this year's
<a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/">LibrePlanet</a> in March in the Boston area.</p>
<p>We value the community's input to identify the movement's most significant new
contributors and projects. We rely on award nominations from free software users
and activists around the world to help bring those deserving activists to the
spotlight. It's been a joy for us to see the nominations that have already come
in, and to learn about so many different people and projects in the free software
movement. As with the movement itself, every
voice matters, and our committee judges every submission we receive very
carefully.</p>
<p>Besides the Award for Outstanding New Free Software Contributor, we're also
encouraging the community to nominate the individuals that inspire them for the
Award for the Advancement of Free Software. If you know a group that makes
special use of free software in their campaigning for the good of society,
please consider nominating them for the Award for Projects of Social Benefit.</p>
<ul>
<li>Submit your nomination for the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/fs-award"><strong>Award for the Advancement of Free Software</strong></a>!</li>
<li>Submit your nomination for the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/onfsc-award"><strong>Award for Outstanding
New Free Software Contributor</strong></a>!</li>
<li>Submit your nomination for the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/sb-award"><strong>Award for Projects of Social Benefit</strong></a>!</li>
</ul>
<p>The deadline to submit your nominations is <strong>Wednesday, November 6th,
2019</strong>, at 14:59 UTC.</p>
<p>We hold the Free Software Awards as a way to invigorate all those in the free
software movement. As free software users, developers, authors of documentation, and community
organizers, we all depend on each other to achieve our vision of a world in
which all computer users can do all of their work in complete freedom. Let's
take a moment to show the people in our community who inspire us that we care,
and nominate them today.</p>


title: Flying with SeaGL, blasting GNU Radio, and more from the Working Together for Free Software Fund
uri: Flying-with-SeaGL-blasting-GNU-Radio-and-more-from-the-Working-Toget
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/flying-with-seagl-blasting-gnu-radio-and-more-from-the-working-together-for-free-software-fund

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/flying-with-seagl-blasting-gnu-radio-and-more-from-the-working-together-for-free-software-fund

content:
<p>Free software is software that you can <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html">run, copy, distribute, study, change, and improve</a> as you please. While these freedoms are rights that belong to the individual, they are also intrinsically linked to the concept of community and sharing. It's imperative that we be permitted to use, examine, and alter software as we choose, but we also demand the right to share our improvements with the wider community. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/working-together">Working Together for Free Software</a> is one of our initiatives that focuses on the broader world of free software: the community, programs, and funding that we’re coalescing to mount the crucial resistance to the abuses of proprietary software. This is a category that covers a lot of people and a lot of work, and the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/working-together/fund">Working Together for Free Software Fund</a> is just one piece of the picture. </p>
<p>This fund enables important, mission-aligned free software projects to utilize the FSF’s nonprofit infrastructure to enhance their fundraising and other capabilities, without the labor and costs of <a href="https://www.fsf.org/working-together/fiscal-sponsorship">becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on their own</a>. This gives them access to the organizational strengths of the FSF, plus additional capacity and unique benefits. </p>
<p>While all of the projects under the umbrella of the Working Together for Free Software Fund are absolutely worthy of your attention and donations, today we're highlighting just a few projects with some noteworthy announcements. Want to know if your free software project qualifies? Learn more <a href="https://www.fsf.org/working-together/fiscal-sponsorship">here</a>!</p>
<h2>GNU Guix</h2>
<p>Guix (pronounced "geeks") promises users and developers three primary qualities: freedom, dependability, and hackability. You can use it either as a package manager compatible with your current GNU/Linux distribution, or you can use it as your distribution. People are happily using Guix for software development, bioinformatics, high-performance computing, research, and more. The Guix project also encompasses the creation of Guix System, which is on our <a href="https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html">list of endorsed free GNU/Linux distributions</a>.</p>
<p>Thanks to the contributions of nearly 300 volunteers over seven years, version 1.0 of the GNU Guix package manager <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-guix-1-0-0-released">was released</a> in May 2019. Also, Guix has been helping to lead the way on reproducible builds, which provide large advantages for both security and user freedom -- you can read more about this topic and see videos from LibrePlanet 2018 <a href="https://guix.gnu.org/blog/2018/guix--reproducible-builds-at-libreplanet-2018/">here</a>. Read about some more of the ways that people are using and modifying Guix <a href="https://guix.gnu.org/blog/">here</a>! </p>
<p><em>Help Guix flourish and grow: donate <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=50">here</a></em></p>
<h2>GNU Radio</h2>
<p>What can you do with radio in 2019? When the radio software is freedom-respecting, you can do whatever you like! <a href="https://www.gnuradio.org/">GNU Radio</a> is a free software development toolkit that provides signal processing blocks to implement software radios. </p>
<p>Occasionally, the innovations possible with this system make news: most recently, this June, researchers used GNU Radio to increase the usefulness of the RF tags on <a href="https://www.rtl-sdr.com/tracking-tagged-orangutans-in-the-bornean-jungle-with-drones-gnu-radio-and-an-airspy-mini/">rehabilitated orangutans released back into the wild in Borneo</a>. To create a heatmap of orangutan positions, researcher Dirk Gorissen used GNU radio to make a digital signal processing algorithm. You can read more about Gorissen’s research <a href="https://dirkgorissen.com/2019/01/06/wheres-pinoh-tracking-orangutans-with-drones-and-gnu-radio/">here</a>.</p>
<p>GNU Radio developers and fans have met for several conferences this year: <a href="https://www.rtl-sdr.com/talks-from-gnu-radio-days-2019/">GNU Radio Days</a> in June 2019, and <a href="https://www.gnuradio.org/grcon/grcon19/">GRCon</a> in September 2019, in Huntsville, Alabama. GNU Radio will also be a big part of the Software Defined Radio devroom at FOSDEM this year, which is currently <a href="https://wiki.gnuradio.org/index.php/FOSDEM_2020">welcoming submissions</a>.</p>
<p><em>Turn up the volume on GNU Radio: donate <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=16">here</a></em></p>
<h2>SeaGL</h2>
<p>As the hometown of the dreaded <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/amazon">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/windows">Microsoft</a>, Seattle may not seem like the best free software town – but sometimes the best place to organize is right on the doorsteps of our opposition. Since 2013, the free software community has gathered for the <a href="https://seagl.org/">Seattle GNU/Linux Conference (SeaGL)</a>, a grassroots technical conference dedicated to spreading awareness and knowledge about the GNU/Linux community, free software, and freedom-respecting hardware. FSF staff are frequent participants in the SeaGL festivities, including former campaigns manager <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/dating-is-a-free-software-issue">Molly de Blanc</a> and current chief technology officer <a href="https://www.fsf.org/events/ruben-rodriguez-20181109-seattle-seagl">Ruben Rodriguez</a>. </p>
<p>This year’s conference is at Seattle Central College on November 15-16, 2019, and as usual, the FSF will have a table. Come talk about free software with us, learn how you can contribute to the FSF and the GNU Project, and buy some <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/">GNU gear</a>! We also are making plans for an FSF meetup during the conference, so stay tuned.</p>
<p><em>Help SeaGL stay aloft: donate <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=58">here</a></em></p>
<h2>GNU Octave</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/">GNU Octave</a> is a scientific programming language with built-in plotting and visualization tools; it's intended as an ethical replacement for the commonly-used MATLAB, which is nonfree. John W. Eaton began work on Octave all the way back in 1988, and is still the primary maintainer; <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/interview-with-john-w.-eaton-of-gnu-octave">we interviewed him</a> about Octave back in 2012.</p>
<p>The latest version, <a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/news/release/2019/03/01/octave-5.1-released.html">GNU Octave 5.1.0</a>, was released in March of 2019, and improves compatibility with MATLAB, among other improved functions. </p>
<p><em>Help GNU Octave scale up: donate <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=10">here</a></em></p>


title: Register now for LibrePlanet 2020: "Free The Future", in Boston area, MA
uri: Register-now-for-LibrePlanet-2020-Free-The-Future-in-Boston-area
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/register-now-for-libreplanet-2020-free-the-future-in-boston-area-ma

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/register-now-for-libreplanet-2020-free-the-future-in-boston-area-ma

content:
<p>Students and Free Software Foundation (FSF) <a href="https://www.fsf.org/associate">associate
members</a> attend LibrePlanet gratis. Not a member? <a href="https://www.fsf.org/join">Join
today</a> for $10 per month ($5 for students), or register for
LibrePlanet at our non-member rate of $90 for the two day
conference.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&amp;id=87"><strong>Register now to attend the LibrePlanet 2020 conference!</strong></a></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://my.fsf.org/lp-scholarship-application"><strong>Apply now for a scholarship to attend the LibrePlanet 2020 conference!</strong></a></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>At LibrePlanet 2019, over a thousand people participated either
in person or online in the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020">conference</a>. Free software
enthusiasts traveled from fourteen countries to explore the
theme, "Trailblazing Free Software." You can watch videos from
this past March's conference on our <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/">MediaGoblin instance</a>. If you
can't attend LibrePlanet in person, there will be plenty of other
ways to participate, including watching talks on our
livestream and participating in the #libreplanet <a href="https://webchat.freenode.net/">IRC channel on
freenode</a>.</p>
<p>You can already pre-order this year's full-color LibrePlanet
T-shirt on the conference registration form; if you order ahead,
you can pick your shirt up at the event. Or, you can order the
T-shirt through the <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/reserve-your-libreplanet-2020-t-shirt">FSF Shop</a>, if you would like to have it
shipped to you.</p>
<h1>Call for Sessions LibrePlanet 2020: "Free the Future."</h1>
<p>The <a href="https://my.fsf.org/call-for-sessions">call for sessions</a> for LibrePlanet will close on
November 20, at 12:00 p.m. EST (17:00 UTC), so if you haven't
submitted yet, there is still time to be part of the
program. This year, LibrePlanet will explore the theme <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020"><strong>"Free
the Future"</strong></a>, and we are looking forward to seeing free
software explored through the lens of this year's theme in
sessions about software development, copyleft, community, or
other related issues.</p>
<p>Have a look at our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/submit-a-session-proposal-for-libreplanet-2020-conference-free-the-future-by-nov-20">call for sessions blog post</a> to learn
more about the theme and the kinds of sessions we are looking
for. We are also hosting an information session every Thursday to
answer any questions you have about submitting a proposal for
LibrePlanet, until submissions close on November 20. To
participate in these information sessions, join us in the #libreplanet 
<a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020">Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channel</a> during these time slots:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>November 7th: 1:00 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. EST (18:00 UTC)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>November 14th: 1:00 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. EST (18:00 UTC)</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Don't use IRC? Email your questions to <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>
<h1>Need help traveling to LibrePlanet?</h1>
<p>We have a limited amount of funding to bring conference participants
to LibrePlanet from all around the world. You can <a href="https://my.fsf.org/lp-scholarship-application">apply for a
scholarship</a> now! The application deadline is Monday,
December 2nd, 2019, at 10:00 EST (15:00
UTC). Scholarship recipients will be notified in mid-December.</p>
<p>If you don't need a scholarship, you can help us to free the
future, and welcome the broadest possible audience, by <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=60">making a
contribution</a> to support those who do.</p>
<h1>Support LibrePlanet</h1>
<p>LibrePlanet is organized by the FSF, a 501(c)(3) charity. <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=60">Your
contribution</a> allows us to create a truly valuable event
for many people all over the globe by making the production of
the event possible and allowing us to livestream the event.</p>
<p>We also offer unique opportunities for businesses to connect to a
community that is dedicated to free software. Early bird pricing
for exhibitors starts now, and will be available until February
15th, 2020.  For information on how your company can have a table
in our exhibit hall, or to further sponsor the LibrePlanet
conference, please email <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>
<p>I hope to see you at LibrePlanet!<br />
</p>


title: New RYF Web site: It's now easier to support companies selling devices that Respect Your Freedom
uri: New-RYF-Web-site-It-s-now-easier-to-support-companies-selling-devices
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/new-ryf-web-site-its-now-easier-to-support-companies-selling-devices-that-respect-your-freedom

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/new-ryf-web-site-its-now-easier-to-support-companies-selling-devices-that-respect-your-freedom

content:
<p>The <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org/about">Respects Your Freedom</a> (RYF) certification program helps to
connect users with retailers who respect their rights. Retailers in
the program sell devices that come with freedom inside, and promise to
always ensure that their users are not directed to proprietary
software at any point in the sale or ownership of the device. When we
launched the program in 2010, we had no idea how quickly the program
would grow.</p>
<p>In 2012, when we announced the first certification, we hosted
information about the program and retailers as a simple page on the
Free Software Foundation (FSF) Web site. With only one retailer
selling one device, this was certainly satisfactory. As the program
grew, we added each new device chronologically to that page,
highlighting the newest certifications. We are now in a place where
eight different retailers have gained nearly fifty certifications,
including the recently announced <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/talos-ii-mainboard-and-talos-ii-lite-mainboard-now-fsf-certified-to-respect-your-freedom">Talos II and Talos II Lite mainboards</a> from
Raptor Computing Systems, LLC. With so many devices available, across
so many different device categories, it was getting more difficult for
users to find what they were looking for in just a plain chronological
list.</p>
<p>Thus we are proud to announce we're launching a new, stand-alone Web
presence for RYF, capable of facilitating its continued
expansion. Users can check out the new site at
<a href="https://ryf.fsf.org">https://ryf.fsf.org</a>. There, they can browse certifications by vendor
and device type, and learn about the most recent certifications. Each
device has its own page which directs users to the certification
announcement, date of certification, and a link to the retailer site
where they can purchase it.</p>
<p>We hope that this update will make it even easier for users to find
products they can trust from retailers dedicated to promoting freedom
and privacy for everyone. With that said, there is always room for
improvement, so we would love to hear your feedback about the new
site. Here's what you can do to help:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Check out the new site at <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org">https://ryf.fsf.org</a> and let us know what
  you think by sending an email to <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">&#108;&#105;&#99;&#101;&#110;&#115;&#105;&#110;&#103;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Help spread awareness of the RYF program by sharing our <a href="media/f8b226b9.ryf-flier.pdf" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/licensing/ryf-flier.pdf">RYF
  flyer</a> with your friends and colleagues.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Buy certified products and encourage others to do so.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Encourage a retailer to certify a product by directing them to the
  <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org/about/criteria">RYF criteria page</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Support this work by <a href="https://www.fsf.org/donate">donating</a> or <a href="https://www.fsf.org/join">joining</a> the FSF as an
  associate member.</p>
</li>
</ul>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/spring-internships-at-the-fsf-apply-by-nov-29
title: Spring internships at the FSF! Apply by Nov. 29
uri: Spring-internships-at-the-FSF-Apply-by-Nov-29
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/spring-internships-at-the-fsf-apply-by-nov-29
content:
<p>Do you believe that free software is crucial to a free society? Do you
want to help people learn why free software matters, and how to use
it? Do you want to dig deep into software freedom issues like
copyleft, <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital Restrictions Management (DRM)</a>, or surveillance
and encryption? Or, do you want to learn systems administration,
design, or other tasks using only free software?</p>
<p>The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is looking for interns to spend the
summer contributing to work in one of three areas: campaigns,
licensing, or technical.</p>
<p>These positions are unpaid, but the FSF will provide any appropriate
documentation you might need to receive funding and school credit from
outside sources. We also provide lunch expense reimbursement and a
monthly transportation pass that will give you free access to local
subways and buses (MBTA). We place an emphasis on providing hands-on
educational opportunities for interns, in which they work closely with
staff mentors on projects that match their skills and interest.</p>
<p>Interns can choose from the following fields of work:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Campaigns team interns might focus on privacy, encryption, or
  expanding and updating our outreach. Interns can also be part of our
  promotional efforts for the upcoming <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/">LibrePlanet 2020
  conference</a> in March.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Licensing team interns might assist with the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/endorsement/respects-your-freedom">Respects Your
  Freedom</a> hardware product certification program. Or, they might
  work to improve the <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Main_Page">Free Software Directory</a> or analyze the
  <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-compatibility.html">compatibility of other licenses with the GPL</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Tech team interns may choose from our current list of projects, or
  suggest one of their own. A past sysadmin intern did extensive work
  to set up a <a href="https://status.fsf.org/main/public">GNU social</a> instance; others created <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/free-software-video-streaming-hubangl-powered-libreplanet-2017">HUBAngl</a>
  for easy video streaming, worked on porting <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-librejs-new-and-improved">LibreJS to
  WebExtensions</a>, penetration tested our network, and researched
  Ceph distributed object storage and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/single-board-computer-guide-updated-free-software-is-winning-on-arm">the freedom status of single
  board computers</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Spring internships have a flexible beginning, with possible start
times as early as January, and typically run for a period of twelve
weeks. We prefer candidates who are able to work in our Boston office,
but may consider remote interns. The deadline to apply is November 29,
2019.</p>
<p>To apply, send a letter of interest and a resume with two references
to <a href="mailto:hiring@fsf.org">&#104;&#105;&#114;&#105;&#110;&#103;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. Please send all application materials in free
software-friendly formats like .pdf, .odt, and .txt. Use "Spring
internship application" as the subject line of your email. Please
include links to your writing, design, or coding work if it applies --
personal, professional, or class work is acceptable. URLs are
preferred, though email attachments in free formats are acceptable,
too. Learn more about our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/volunteer/internships">internships</a>, and direct any questions
to <a href="mailto:info@fsf.org">&#105;&#110;&#102;&#111;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/come-together-for-free-software
title: Come together for free software
uri: Come-together-for-free-software
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/come-together-for-free-software
content:
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=email1"><img src="media/0b650da3.mail_image.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/photos/mail_image.png" img="img" style="width: 80%; float:center; margin-left: 10%" /></a> 

<p><strong>Here at the Free Software Foundation (FSF), we strongly believe
that one person can make a difference. Our main task,
as the principal organization in the fight for user freedom, is one
of connection; to bring people together around an unwavering set
of principles. We will achieve global software freedom by staying the course, by
focusing on education, and by making tools and solutions available,
all by working together with this passionate and diverse
community.</strong></p>

<p><strong>Every individual that takes action now will help us reach our
goal of welcoming 600 new associate members by December
31st. Associate members give us the strength to amplify the free software message -- each new member
exponentially increases our reach and our ability to make change.
Visit <a href="https://my.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=email1">fsf.org/appeal</a> to learn more about all the different ways we
can stand strong together and for access to engaging <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">images to help you
spread the message</a> using the hashtag <em>#ISupportFreeSoftware!</em> </strong></p>

<p>The FSF is supported by thousands of individuals like you who form
the heart of the movement. This is an opportunity for you to be
an even more central part of an exciting and important community,
one determining the future of freedom. Joining
as an <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=email1">associate member</a> is easy. You can start for as little
as $10 per month, or $120 per year ($5 for students). We have
exclusive associate <a href="https://my.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=email1">membership gifts</a> if you <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=email1">join</a> or
<a href="https://my.fsf.org/renew?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=email1">renew</a> before December 31st <em>and</em> you will enjoy all the year-round
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/associate/benefits">member benefits</a>, like merchandise
discounts, a bootable membership card, and gratis event
admissions. If you motivate others to become members, you will
also be rewarded with our year-end gifts. <a href="https://my.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=email1">Read more about this
offer and our exclusive gifts.</a></p>

<p>Besides associate memberships, the FSF relies on individual
<a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=email1">donations</a>. Any amount that fits your budget will make a real
difference and can help us bring people together around free
software. Have a look at <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/ways-to-donate">"other ways to donate"</a> to see if
there is a simple action you can take to give further support to
the FSF.</p>

<p>This year, our staff of only fourteen used your
financial support to unite people all over the world around our
mission, with increased opportunities both in-person and online.</p>

<p>The only way to make sure free software stays free is through
enforcing copyleft licenses, like the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html">GNU General Public
License</a>, according to the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/enforcement-principles">Principles of Community-Oriented
GPL enforcement</a>. In addition to their GPL enforcement work,
our Licensing and Compliance Lab also provides educational
resources to guide people through myriad licensing choices. With
the help of a dedicated volunteer team, they help organizations
and individuals properly distribute software while protecting
user freedom.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>This October we organized a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/events/cle-seminar-20191016-raleigh">Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
seminar on GPL Compliance and Legal Ethics</a>, educating law
professionals, students, and anyone interested about a range of
relevant free software licensing topics.</p></li>
<li><p>We invested in the development of a brand new <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org/">Respects Your Freedom (RYF) Web
 site</a>, so that we can connect retailers with potential
 customers. Our RYF program provides
 anyone looking for freedom-respecting products with an
 increasingly wide range of options. Our licensing and
 compliance team does the important <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org/about/criteria">leg work of verifying
 devices</a> for users.</p></li>
</ul>


<p>More and bigger seminars are in the pipeline, and we are currently
processing 55 RYF certification applications. Any financial
support will go into increased infrastructure, sourcing
volunteers, certification, and hosting in-person,
educational events.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>For years, people everywhere have been able to participate
remotely in the annual <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020">LibrePlanet conference</a> through our
fully free livestream. This year, our tech team was able to
share that knowledge with the <a href="https://emacsconf.org/2019/">EmacsConf</a> team, as well as
with the <a href="https://wikiconference.org/wiki/2019/Main_Page">WikiConference team</a> so that they could
successfully stream their online conferences using only free
software for the first time. For EmacsConf, the FSF also organized one of only
two satellite instances, and hosted two of the speakers.</p></li>
<li><p>Our tech team supports the development of free software by
providing server space for FSF infrastructure, for
the GNU Project, and for other free software projects. We
recently moved our cluster of 100+ virtual machines to a new
location, where we will continue to work on upgrading and
expanding it. With an upgraded cluster, we'll be able to provide
even more new and promising free software projects with a fully
free hosting location. Rent, equipment, and RYF-compliant
hardware are necessary to be able to offer this service more
professionally to the public.</p></li>
<li><p>The thirteenth <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2019/">International Day Against DRM (IDAD)</a>
hosted activists in Boston for protests and a sprint on writing
educational materials, but also brought together fourteen
online partners who amplified IDAD further worldwide. They
organized activities ranging from promotional offers to
increased writing and local activism. The <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2019/dust-jacket">dust jacket</a>
that was specially designed for the event was translated into
eight languages by supporters from around the world, which is a
testament to its effectiveness and our reach.</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, every six months, we find ourselves in the FSF office
working with some thirty volunteers to hold true to our promise of
sending the print version of our biannual free software
publication to our associate members. A combined 300 hours of
connecting with local free software enthusiasts allows us to
send over 12,500 <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/">Bulletins</a> to dedicated advocates in 49
countries. It will soon be published online as well.</p></li>
</ul>


<p>This is just a snapshot of the many ways we were able to form
new connections this year. Upholding free software and copyleft
standards; providing technical infrastructure for free software
developers globally; educating about free software; campaigning;
organizing events; speaking and tabling at other industry events;
and publishing advocacy articles, are at the core of the
Foundation's work. We use funds for design, venue logistics, equipment, and
operational support; we offer the possibility of attending our events to
those who typically would not have the funds; and we also provide
guidance and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/working-together/fiscal-sponsorship">fiscal sponsorship</a> for other free software
projects and conferences who are making a difference.</p>

<p>We will continue to do this work and to establish and
motivate connections that allow us to build awareness about
the unjust power of proprietary software. We achieve a lot for little with the help of volunteers, and often
repurpose equipment where we can. We have received Charity Navigator's
top rating for six consecutive years. And you can read our
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/financials">financial statements</a> and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/annual-reports">annual reports</a> online.</p>

<p>Thank you for everything you do to help this cause. The faces
behind the free software movement may change, but with your
support, the Free Software Foundation will not diverge from our
continued defense of the four freedoms -- not now, not ever. We
advocate for and facilitate the creation of free software because
it is the right thing to do -- and we need you. Our connection
with you is valuable to us because <em>you</em> connect the movement to
the world.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

<p>Zoë Kooyman       <br />
Program Manager</p>

<p><em>Photo 1 by Zoë Kooyman, Copyright © 2019 Free Software Foundation, Inc., licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0.</em>              <br />
<em>Photo 2 by Ruben Rodriguez, Copyright © 2019 Free Software Foundation, Inc., licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0.</em>                   <br />
<em>Photo 3 by Valessio Brito, Copyright © 2019 Free Software Foundation, Inc., licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0.</em></p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/the-fsfs-emacsconf-2019-satellite-was-an-m-x-success
title: The FSF's EmacsConf 2019 satellite was an M-x success!
uri: The-FSF-s-EmacsConf-2019-satellite-was-an-M-x-success
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/the-fsfs-emacsconf-2019-satellite-was-an-m-x-success
content:
<p>On Saturday, November 2nd, the office of the Free Software Foundation
(FSF) was lively with discussion on everyone's favorite extensible
editor, <a href="https://gnu.org/software/emacs/">GNU Emacs</a>. We were proud to join the 200ok collective in
Zürich, Switzerland as one of two physical satellites to the
<a href="https://emacsconf.org">conference</a>, which was the first installment to be held since 2015.
EmacsConf 2019 was conducted live over the Web through a fully free
software setup utilizing <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jitsi">Jitsi</a> and <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Icecast">Icecast</a>. To assist the organizers,
the FSF tech team employed some of the technical know-how we've gained
from years of streaming the <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org">LibrePlanet</a> conference. Such an
undertaking would have been unthinkable a decade ago, but highlights
the enormous advances free software has made since the days when the
FSF sold Emacs for $200 USD on <a href="https://www.gnu.org/bulletins/bull17.html#SEC20">reel to reel tape</a>.</p>
<p>The FSF satellite hosted local guests and two conference presenters,
who streamed their talk to all of those watching in Zürich and online
through the power of free software. Together, we watched presentations
by Emacs luminaries who included current maintainer John Wiegley, as
well as Sacha Chua and Perry Metzger. We capped off our viewing party
with a raffle of Emacs-emblazoned merchandise from the <a href="https://shop.fsf.org">GNU Press</a> shop,
giving a manual, shirt, mug, and Emacs reference cards to a few lucky
attendees.</p>
<p>As users (and occasionally, hackers) on GNU Emacs, all of us here at
the FSF were proud to take part in the conference. We wish EmacsConf
the best of luck in the future, and look forward to the forthcoming
<a href="https://emacsconf.org">audio/video recordings</a> of each session. Many thanks to organizers Amin
Bandali and Sacha Chua for their initiative and dedication in running
the conference. We'll see you at EmacsConf 2020!</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-17-new-gnu-releases-in-november
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 17 new GNU releases in November!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-17-new-GNU-releases-in-November
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-17-new-gnu-releases-in-november
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/auctex/">auctex-12.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/cpio/">cpio-2.13</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/emms/">emms-5.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gcc/">gcc-7.5.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnuastro/">gnuastro-0.11</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnunet/">gnunet-0.11.8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnupg/">gnupg-2.2.18</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/guile-ncurses/">guile-ncurses-3.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/health/">health-3.6.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libidn/">libidn-3.3.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libredwg/">libredwg-0.9.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libtasn1/">libtasn1-4.15.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/linux-libre/">linux-libre-5.4-gnu</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/mailutils/">mailutils-3.8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/mcron/">mcron-1.1.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/mes/">mes-0.21</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20191122</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>. You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>This month, we welcome Mark Weaver as maintainer of GNUzilla.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


title: Ethical Tech Giving Guide: Freedom is the gift that keeps on giving
uri: Ethical-Tech-Giving-Guide-Freedom-is-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/ethical-tech-giving-guide-freedom-is-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/ethical-tech-giving-guide-freedom-is-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving

content:
<p><a href="https://fsf.org/givingguide/"><img src="media/e2441ad1.giving.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/appeal2019/giving.png" width="40%" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></a></p>

<p>For many of us, the holiday season is about bringing our loved ones
together to celebrate. Most of the time, this includes giving them a
neatly wrapped present or two. We go through the buying process
carefully, using a friend or family member's likes and dislikes to
sift through the Web and find the right item. But when choosing a tech
gift, we need to be careful to give them something that doesn't harm
them instead.</p>
<p>This is why we at the Free Software Foundation (FSF) publish our
<a href="https://fsf.org/givingguide">Ethical Tech Giving Guide</a> each year, as a way to help free
software supporters choose gifts that won't burden the people they
care about with proprietary software or venomous <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital Restrictions
Management</a> (DRM). Devices may come and go, but introducing another
person to software freedom is the start of a lifelong journey.</p>
<p>We create resources like the <a href="https://fsf.org/givingguide">Ethical Tech Giving Guide</a>
to let others know that true freedom is dependent on software
freedom. Our annual <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=giving">fundraiser is happening right now</a>, and we're
looking to bring 600 new associate members into the fold before
December 31st. Our membership program is the heart of our work here at
the FSF, and we couldn't do it without community support. If you're not already one of our valued members, will you
take the next step in your commitment to software freedom and <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=giving">become
an associate member</a> today? Beginning at the $120 level of
contribution, new and <a href="https://my.fsf.org/renew?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=giving">renewing</a> members can choose from a great array of
fundraiser premiums, including <strong>FSF and GNU patches</strong>, an
<strong>FSF-emblazoned thermos</strong>, an <strong>FSF backpack</strong>, or all at once! We
also encourage you to share this Guide, and our message, with friends.</p>
<p>The Giving Guide is a tool that will help you avoid the
temptation to get your loved ones the latest offerings from companies
like Apple or Amazon, whose business model revolves around subjecting
people to proprietary malware and surveillance. Digital personal
assistants and other devices running proprietary software did not
become the norm overnight. Rather, they achieved their popularity
through convincing one person at a time that they were useful. Tech
corporations have billions of marketing dollars to convince people to
use their products -- but our movement has more and more people every
day, who can make daily choices to <em>refuse</em> them, and deprive them of
power.</p>
<p>Computing in the free world received a major gift of its own this year
with our Respects Your Freedom (RYF) certification of the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/talos-ii-mainboard-and-talos-ii-lite-mainboard-now-fsf-certified-to-respect-your-freedom">Talos II
and Talos II Lite</a>, mainboards that are based on the promising
POWER9 CPU architecture. The Talos mainboards and the POWER9
architecture are off to a great start where user freedoms are
concerned, and may in time replace the more restrictive X86
motherboards that are popular today.  It's a great start for the next
phase of the RYF program, something we've taken into consideration
when making major improvements to its <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org">Web site</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://puri.sm/products/librem-5">Purism Librem 5</a> cell phone is another exciting addition to
the Giving Guide this year: we're giving it a tentative recommendation
because the company has publicly committed to doing the right things
for prioritizing user freedom and privacy. We also have evaluated and
endorsed the operating system that the Librem 5 will run, the fully
free PureOS, and the phone is designed for maximum privacy, security,
and user freedom.</p>
<p>We are still strong in our resistance, and Apple, Microsoft, Netflix,
and company still haven't won the fight despite their efforts. The
free software movement continues on, and the FSF is still here to
fight for the freedom of computer users around the globe.</p>
<p>Share the Guide with your friends and family, and use it to give a few
gifts yourself! Just like the free software movement, the FSF
community is spread around the globe. Earlier this month we sent over
12,000 letters to supporters far and wide, and take our own holiday
joy in seeing how far the fight for a free society has come since its
humble beginnings. Although it's winter here in Boston, your sustained
support, feedback, and positivity helps us keep the free software
fires burning.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/the-fsf-tech-team-doing-more-for-free-software
title: The FSF tech team: doing more for free software
uri: The-FSF-tech-team-doing-more-for-free-software
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/the-fsf-tech-team-doing-more-for-free-software
content:
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal/"><img src="media/bdf627cf.techteam.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/appeal2019/techteam.jpg" width="40%" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></a></p>

<p><em>The Free Software Foundation (FSF) tech team works everyday to
maintain and improve the infrastructure that supports hundreds of free
software projects, along with the FSF itself, in its mission to create
a world where all software respects our freedom and dignity. Our
associate members are the heart of this commitment, and we couldn't do
it without your help.</em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=techemail">Our annual fundraiser is happening right now</a>. Will you encourage
your friends and family to <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=techemail">join today</a> to help us reach our goal
of welcoming 600 new associate members before December 31st, or to
support us with a <a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=techemail">donation</a>? As a special bonus, all new and
renewing annual associate members ($120+) can choose to receive one of
our exclusive year-end gifts. If you get a minimum of three people to
mention you as a referral, you can get them too!</em></p>
<p><em>Below is a message from our chief technology officer, Ruben Rodriguez
Perez, about the services provided by our tech team.</em></p>
<p>At the Free Software Foundation (FSF), we like to set big goals for
ourselves, keeping a relatively small group of dedicated activists
determined to cover a lot of ground in a short time.The FSF tech team,
for example, has just four members -- two senior systems
administrators, one Web developer, and a part-time chief technology
officer -- yet we manage to run over 120 virtual servers. These run on
about a dozen machines hosted at four different data centers. These
include many public-facing Web sites and community services, as well
as every single IT requirement for the staff: workstations, data
storage and backup, networking, printing, accounting, telephony,
email, you name it.</p>
<p>We don't outsource any of our daily software needs because we need to
be sure that they are done using only free software. Remember, there
is no "cloud," just other people's computers. For example: we don't
outsource our email, so every day we send over half a million messages
to thousands of free software hackers through the community mailing
lists we host. We also don't outsource our Web storage or networking,
so we serve tens of thousands of free software downloads -- over 1.5
terabytes of data -- a day. And our popularity, and the critical
nature of the resources we make available, make us a target for denial
of service attacks (one is ongoing as we write this), requiring
constant monitoring by the tech team, whose members take turns being
ready for emergency work so that the resources our supporters depend
on stay available.</p>
<p>As hard as we work, we still want to do more, like increasing our
already strict standards on hardware compliance, so in 2020, we will
finish replacing the few remaining servers that require a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/free-bios.html">non-free
BIOS</a>. To be compliant to our own high standards, we need to be
working with devices that are available through <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org"><em>Respects Your
Freedom</em> retailers</a>. We plan to add new machines
to our farm, so that we can host more community servers like the ones
we already host for <a href="https://www.fsf.org/working-together/gang/kde">KDE</a>, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/sugar-labs">SugarLabs</a>, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/support-gnu-guix">GNU Guix</a>,
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority-projects/free-phone">Replicant</a>, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/gnewsense">gNewSense</a>, <a href="http://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre/">GNU Linux-Libre</a>, and
<a href="https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/">FSFLA</a>. We provide completely virtual machines that these
projects use for their daily operations, whether that's Web hosting,
mailing lists, software repositories, or compiling and testing
software packages.</p>
<p>We know that many software projects and individual hackers are looking
for more options on code hosting services that focus on freedom and
privacy, so we are working to set up a public site that anybody can
use to publish, collaborate, or document their progress on free
software projects.  We will follow strict criteria to ensure that this
code repository hosts only fully free software, and that it follows
the very best practices towards freedom and privacy.</p>
<p>Another project that we are very excited about for this year is a
long-awaited refresh of <a href="https://www.fsf.org">https://www.fsf.org</a>. Not only will it be
restyled, but also easier to browse on mobile devices.  As our
campaigns and licensing teams are eager to create and publish more
resources in different formats, we will also work to improve the
support for publishing audio and video files in the site. And to
enable <em>you</em> to do more, too, we are also developing a site to
organize petitions and collect signatures, so that together we can run
more effective grassroots campaigns and fight for the freedom of all
computer users.</p>
<p>All of these efforts require countless hours of hard work, and the use
of high quality hardware. These come to us at a significant cost, not
just to purchase, but to keep running and to host at specialized data
centers (if you have rack space in the Boston area, we are always
looking for donors). For all this work, we depend on the continuous
commitment of individual contributors to keep providing the technical
foundation to fight for software freedom.</p>
<p>Photo by Michael McMahon Copyright © 2019 Free Software Foundation,
Inc., licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC-BY-SA 4.0</a>.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/gnu-press/whats-new-in-the-gnu-press-shop
title: What's new in the GNU Press Shop
uri: What-s-new-in-the-GNU-Press-Shop
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/gnu-press/whats-new-in-the-gnu-press-shop
content:
<p><a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/zip-free-software-free-society-hoodie?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=shop"><img src="media/2e1b6630.new-hoodie.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/new-hoodie.jpg" width="540" style="margin-top:1px;" /></a> </p>
<p>Greetings from the <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=shop">GNU Press Shop</a>! This is an update on
what's new and exciting at the Free Software Foundation's (FSF)
online store, your source for GNU apparel, programming manuals,
and more. We know at this time of year you'll be looking for GNU
gifts for your favorite free software enthusiasts, and we have
some terrific new picks for you to choose from! For holiday
gifting, shipped within the US, we recommend placing your order
before December 17th.</p>
<p>For starters, we've got just the thing for the chilly season: we
have replaced our extended selection of hooded sweatshirts with a
<a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/zip-free-software-free-society-hoodie?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=shop">single, user-friendly zip-up design</a>. It still comes in our
signature maroon color, but with an all-new "happy computer"
graphic by the FSF's superstar 2019 <a href="https://www.fsf.org/volunteer/internships">intern</a> Valessio
Brito. Between this sweatshirt and the satisfying feeling of
helping spread the word about software freedom, we think you'll
be quite warm and cozy this winter.</p>
<p>But what to wear under the hoodie? As in past years, the
autumn brings a fresh color variation of our GNU head T-shirt. <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/gnu-head">This
year's GNU</a> is a snazzy maroon-on-mustard color scheme sure to make
anyone who sees it hungry for freedom: the tangy condiment without
which the sausage of computing lacks savor. You
can also spill nonmetaphorical mustard on it, and nobody will notice.</p>
<p>In addition to the new GNU, we also introduced our <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/gnu-emacs-logo-t-shirt">Emacs logo T-shirt</a> 
in a scintillating color combination of purple-on-green. These
arrived at the shop in late June, and sold out faster than you can say
"M-x apropos-variable RET case-fold-search RET." They are once again
fully stocked, and yes, they will make you look a little like a super
hero (kind of like a more customizable and self-documenting Green Lantern).</p>
<p>Still want more T-shirts? The <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/reserve-your-libreplanet-2020-t-shirt">LibrePlanet 2020 conference T-shirt</a> is available
to order now: they won't be printed until March, but we are accepting
early orders for shipping or pick-up at the conference. The shirt is a
very handsome muted aquamarine color, and features another excellent
illustration by Valessio Brito.</p>
<p>Want something that's NOT a T-shirt? Customers who welcome the
unexpected will be pleased to learn that a new version of the popular
<a href="https://shop.fsf.org/storage-devices/neug-usb-true-random-number-generator">NeuG USB True Random Number Generator</a> is now available. The NeuG
has undergone an update to both its physical design and firmware, and
provides higher-quality random numbers than ever before.</p>
<p>Your purchases support the mission of the FSF and help us empower the
world through the use of free software. Associate members are the
heart of our commitment to create a world where all software respects
our freedom and dignity. By <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_kwd=shop">becoming an associate member</a>, you'll help us
reach our goal of <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_kwd=shop">600 new members</a> by the end of the year, and of
course you receive a 20% discount at the GNU Press Shop. This means,
for instance, if you are starting a free software manual book club and
tea drinking society, the fifth member of your club can be outfitted
with books and mug gratis.</p>
<p>I'm proud to say that I personally fill and ship every order from
the shop, so if you have any queries regarding shipping, please
send them my way. I also lead in selecting and designing new
products, and I can tell you that we are more than happy to
receive your suggestions and opinions about our merchandise. For
any of this correspondence, simply reply to this email or write
me at <a href="mailto:sales@fsf.org">&#115;&#97;&#108;&#101;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>
<p>Thanks for reading this update! I hope that you find something in the
GNU Press Shop for all the software freedom enthusiasts in your life,
yourself included. </p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/at-seagl-2019-free-software-was-in-fine-feather
title: At SeaGL 2019, free software was in fine feather
uri: At-SeaGL-2019-free-software-was-in-fine-feather
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/at-seagl-2019-free-software-was-in-fine-feather
content:
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal/"><img src="media/5c12fec4.the-gull.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/seagl-2019/the-gull.jpg" width="40%" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></a></p>

<p>While the satisfactions of software freedom are quite enjoyable on your own, some of the greatest joys of free software come from our opportunities to flock together with other members of our community: to collaborate on our work, teach new skills, or simply show off new achievements. A grassroots gathering like the Seattle GNU/Linux Conference (<a href="https://seagl.org/">SeaGL</a>) is fun because it’s so thoroughly participatory: everyone comes into the room with something they’re excited to tell you about, and they’re equally excited to hear what you’re working on. The people at the front of the room giving a keynote talk are just as likely to be sitting next to you in the next session, so you can tell them what you thought of their talk, and even find out how to participate in their projects!</p>
<p>As someone who is fairly new to the free software world and comparatively short on tech knowledge, I mostly attended talks on free software culture and more easily understood technological talks, although these were <a href="https://osem.seagl.org/conferences/seagl2019/schedule/events">hardly the only topics on offer</a>. Having unfortunately missed the opening keynotes by Lisha Sterling and Abigail Cabunoc Mayes due to some bad allergies, I began the day with a talk on DIY decentralization, by Aeva Black. Black set an irreverent tone for their talk with a reference to the notoriously goofy nineties movie <em>Hackers</em>, but quickly veered into much more serious territory: major digital communication platforms have exercised bias and even overt censorship against marginalized groups. How do we navigate around the power of Facebook, Twitter, Google, and the rest? <a href="https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority-projects/decentralization-federation">Decentralization, federation, and self-hosting</a> provide some good solutions, and a quick demonstration showed that if you have some basic know-how and tools, anyone can do it.</p>
<p>Next, I checked out Audrey Eschright’s talk called “Organizing your way to a long and healthy career.” Jumping off from the recent walkouts at companies including Facebook and Wayfair, as well as her own experiences trying to correct issues in past workplaces, Eschright laid out some of the basics of workplace organizing without a union. If nothing else, some of these strategies can be crucial for your sanity: as Eschright pointed out, just knowing “I’m not alone in what I want” can be a great relief.</p>
<p>My next talk was “Empowering new programmers through introductory Arduino workshops,” presented by Hailee Kennedy, a developer and co-organizer of the <a href="https://djangogirls.org/portland/">Django Girls PDX</a> program, of Portland, Oregon. Kennedy has put a lot of time and thought into the best ways to introduce women and girls to programming in order to help diversify the computing world, and she spent a lot of the talk comparing various workshops she’s given in order to highlight best practices. The most important take-home message I got from this talk (and have continued to repeat to everyone since): actually learning a new skill takes practice, so nobody’s going to learn a skill they can immediately reuse from a one-day workshop. The goal of these courses, instead, is to pique the curiosity and confidence of the attendees – to give them an experience they’ll enjoy so that they’re eager to take on more programming projects on their own! So, an onerous experience that focuses on training and rote learning isn’t going to do the trick: instead, participants need a social, fun, and satisfying experience that they come out of having created something concrete, creating an itch to try more programming.</p>
<p>My final talk of the day was “Make it official: In praise of official programs for diversity and inclusion,” presented by <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/openstreetmap-and-deborah-nicholson-win-2018-fsf-awards">2018 Free Software Award winner Deb Nicholson</a>. In this talk, Deb noted that a lot of the previous practices attempted by many companies to bump up diversity have failed simply because people don’t like them: trainings, for instance, can feel like a punishment. On the other hand, participants on both sides of mentoring programs like <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/want-to-help-the-fsf-apply-to-be-an-outreachy-intern">Outreachy</a> absolutely love how these paid internships work – and they really do help interns get the tech jobs they’re aiming for! The FSF has hosted internships for several Outreachy participants so far, and I'm glad to hear that in our small way, we're helping to open doors.</p>
<p>I spent the rest of Friday at the FSF table in the exhibit hall, chatting with visitors and selling <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/">GNU Press gear</a>, and then running our meetup at <a href="https://www.herbandbitter.com/">Herb &amp; Bitter Public House</a>, a few blocks away from the venue -- they completely merit the shout-out here, since they took wonderful care of us, and all of our guests seemed quite satisfied! We organize these informal meetups at most free software conferences that have staff attendees, to provide our supporters with opportunities to mingle, cross-pollinate their projects, and tell us how they feel about our current efforts. After all, our members and other supporters enable the FSF to exist, so we need to be available and accountable to you!</p>
<p>Day two of the conference started with keynotes by Benjamin Mako Hill (“How markets coopted free software’s most powerful weapon”) and Sage Sharp (“Countering impostor syndrome culture”). Mako’s talk began with <a href="https://mako.cc/copyrighteous/what-we-lose-when-we-move-from-social-to-market-exchange">data tracking the popularity</a> of the Couchsurfing Web site versus Airbnb, and laid out a somewhat grim forecast for the future of free software: proprietary software companies borrowing techniques from commons-based peer production projects like free software are replacing, displacing, and outcompeting what's available in the commons. Mako delivered a similar talk at LibrePlanet 2018, which you can <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/free-software-and-the-shifting-landscape-of-online-cooperation/">view on our MediaGoblin instance</a>.</p>
<p>Sage Sharp’s keynote was particularly useful for me, as someone with limited technical know-how at a tech conference: their goal was to educate us all on how to avoid worsening everyone else’s impostor syndrome, since it’s likely that we’ve all got at least a little bit! My favorite take-home message from this talk: telling someone that their project, or their talk, or their artwork is “very good and you’re very talented” has a way of exacerbating people’s insecurities. You can avoid making them feel this way, however, by telling them, instead, how their work made <em>you</em> feel: as Sharp put it, “I can’t argue with your feelings.” Thus, when Sharp sat down next to me at the end of their talk, I told them, “I’m now going to use a skill you’ve just taught me: your talk made me feel very seen.”</p>
<img src="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/seagl-2019/gender-flip.jpg " alt="" width="500" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<p>My last stopoff before a long stint behind the FSF table was at Eva Monsen’s talk on “Learning natural language processing through the Regender Project.” This was one of those rare talks that had everyone in the room buzzing with excitement: <a href="https://github.com/ecmonsen/regender">the Regender Project</a> is an open-ended experiment wherein Monsen is attempting to reverse (or neutralize) all gendered language in books that are available in the public domain, entirely through machine learning. You’d think this would be simple – just program your computer to change “he” to “she,” right? But at each stage of the project, Monsen found that she had to add more steps, and discovered more roadblocks, which she laid out as a fascinating narrative about how thoroughly gender is built into the English language (and, of course, many others). By the Q&amp;A session at the end, hands were flying into the air with suggestions for other steps to try, and insights about gendered language, demonstrating the participatory and creative potential built into the world of free software, and how it opens so many possibilities to explore and reach a new understanding of personal and political realities. </p>
<img src="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/seagl-2019/death-star-1.jpg " alt="" width="500" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<p>After a few more hours selling T-shirts and talking free software at our table, I finished off the day with a talk that I knew would be too amusing to miss: “The Death Star Postmortem,” delivered by Gareth J. Greenaway. Every complicated project needs a postmortem, whether your project is a smashing success or a ludicrous failure like the fictional Death Star, which was destroyed not once but twice. Mostly maintaining a pretty impressive deadpan throughout, Greenaway started by explaining best practices for a postmortem on any project, with emphasis on how a properly done postmortem avoids placing blame, maintains team cohesion, and helps to avoid making the same errors twice. He then went into how Darth Vader, the Emperor, and the Galactic Empire proceeded to… make the same errors twice, and some new ones, besides. It was a very informative and entertaining finish to an excellent conference.</p>
<img src="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/seagl-2019/death-star-2.jpg " alt="" width="500" style="margin-top:4px;" />

<p>The FSF presence at SeaGL couldn't possible have done without the time, skills, generosity, and patience of our local volunteers, who did a masterful job setting up, running, and breaking down our table, selling GNU gear, and answering all the questions I couldn’t. I cannot possibly offer enough gratitude to Pean Lim, McCoy Smith, Jeff Silverman, and Mike (whose last name I didn't catch), all of whom were completely indispensable and deserve your applause. Along with countless other organizers, presenters, and free software supporters, they demonstrated to me that the power of our movement lies in our collective commitment to the cause, and our constant willingness to welcome and bring new people into the fold so that we can keep growing stronger every day. If everyone reading this is half as good as they were at making a relative newbie feel welcome, nothing can stop us in our mission to make all software free! </p>
<p>Finally: whether you live in the great Northwest or not, and whether you're inclined to attend grassroots free software conferences or not, you can help SeaGL keep soaring by <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal">donating to the FSF</a>. SeaGL is one of the projects that's fiscally sponsored through our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/working-together/fund">Working Together for Free Software Fund</a>, so you can also contribute directly through <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=58">their fiscal sponsorship page</a>!</p>
<p>Photos by Dana Morgenstein Copyright © 2019 Free Software Foundation,
Inc., licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC-BY-SA 4.0</a>.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/replicant-needs-your-help-to-liberate-android-in-2020
title: Replicant needs your help to liberate Android in 2020
uri: Replicant-needs-your-help-to-liberate-Android-in-2020
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/replicant-needs-your-help-to-liberate-android-in-2020
content:
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=project"><img src="media/9aa41131.replicant2.jpeg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/appeal2019/replicant2.jpeg" width="25%" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></a></p>

<p><em>The Free Software Foundation (FSF) supports the work of several
important free software projects through fiscal sponsorship
in a program we call <a href="https://www.fsf.org/working-together/fiscal-sponsorship"><strong>Working Together for Free Software.</strong></a></em></p>
<p><em>Donations to any of the <strong>Working Together for Free Software</strong>
projects directly benefit the work that can be done. Too often,
these projects are underfunded and developers are putting in a
lot of personal time and effort to keep the project moving
forward. Because of the FSF fiscal sponsorship, they can receive
donations and apply for funding.</em> </p>
<p><em>Our annual <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=project">fundraiser is happening right now</a>. If you're
able to, please consider making a <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=19">donation to
Replicant</a> through their dedicated sponsorship page. Every
dollar you contribute helps this inspiring project work towards a
freer mobile future.</em></p>
<p><em>Associate members are at the heart of our foundation and
strengthen our ability to help other free software projects like
Replicant. <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=project">Join today</a> to help us
reach our goal of welcoming 600 new associate members before
December 31st. As a special bonus, all new and
renewing annual associate members ($120+) can choose to receive
one of our exclusive year-end gifts. If you get a minimum of
three people to mention you as a referral, you can get them too!</em></p>
<p><em>Below is an update from developer Denis "GNUtoo" Carikli, who is
one of three people on the "steering committee" of
<a href="https://www.replicant.us/">Replicant</a>: a fully free Android distribution running on
several devices. It is a free software mobile operating system
putting the emphasis on freedom, privacy, and security.</em></p>
<hr />
<p>Mobile devices such as phones and tablets are becoming an
increasingly important part in our computing, hence they are
particularly subject to freedom and security concerns. These
devices aren't simply "phones" or "tablets." They are full
computers with powerful hardware, running complete operating
systems that allow for updates, software changes, and installable
applications. This makes it feasible to run free software on
them. Thus, it is possible to choose a device that runs a free
bootloader and free mobile operating system -- Replicant -- as well
as fully free apps for the user. You can read more about privacy
and security on mobile phones and the solutions that Replicant
offers, as well as learn some valuable lessons on how better to
protect your freedom on mobile devices on the <a href="https://www.replicant.us/freedom-privacy-security-issues.php">Replicant Web site</a>.</p>
<p>Replicant is currently steered by a team of three people: Fil Bergamo,
Joonas Kylmälä (Putti), and myself. At the beginning of this year, we
successfully applied for funding from a program from the European
Union called <a href="https://www.ngi.eu/">Next Generation Internet</a>. We also received a
sizeable donation from <a href="https://lists.osuosl.org/pipermail/replicant/2019-January/001774.html">Handshake</a>, which allowed us to make some
significant investments.</p>
<p>The most notable changes we are working on are building a new version
of Replicant based on Android 9, which will enable a wider range
of users to use a fully free Android distribution for the first time.
We are also reducing maintenance costs to increase sustainability. The
Replicant project is now using the official linux kernel with
very few patches, and we contribute patches upstream as well. This
means we send our work back to the main developers of the kernel Linux
so that everyone can benefit. This allows us to create a virtuous circle that makes Replicant benefit GNU/Linux and GNU/Linux development benefit from Replicant. Working with upstream would not be possible without funding, as it requires a lot more work than what we used to do with previous Replicant versions.</p>
<p>Getting people more acquainted with the work we do helps us source new
contributors, as well as convince people to use Replicant. This year,
we managed to travel to a few important conferences, as well as
organize our own <a href="https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/ContributorsMeetingJuly2019">Replicant conference</a>. A full report of the
conference is available, along with slides, videos, and a summary of
the discussions that took place. The conference allowed us to bring
together the people who care about Replicant and who understand the
importance of the work we do. Watching these presentations can help
any new Replicant developers to contribute to the project, as they
explain a lot about our architecture, our history, and how to begin making
a version of Replicant for newer devices and Android versions.</p>
<p>Being awarded a large grant is a highly competitive process,
which means we cannot rely on that for continuous funding to pay
for all of our work, so we choose to spend money on tasks that
have a long-term impact. For instance, this could include
completing the library that communicates with the Samsung IPC
modem protocol (<a href="https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/Libsamsung-ipc">libsamsung-ipc</a>), which would enable other
Android distributions to use it and share the changes they make
with us. It could also help us to continue our work on free WiFi
firmware. These investments will ensure that developers can
continue to maintain Replicant even when larger donations are not
available.</p>
<hr />
<p><em>Projects like Replicant rely on individual donations like yours to continue
their work independent of large donations and funding. They can
always use your help, whether that help is <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=19">financial</a>, or provided in time and
effort. To further assist them, you can use Replicant and become part of the project's
community by using its <a href="https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/boards">forums</a>, contributing to its
<a href="https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki">wiki</a>, and <a href="https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/issues">submitting any bugs</a> you discover.</em> </p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/support-fsfs-copyleft-and-licensing-work
title: Support FSF's copyleft and licensing work
uri: Support-FSF-s-copyleft-and-licensing-work
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/support-fsfs-copyleft-and-licensing-work
content:
<p><em>The Free Software Foundation’s (FSF) <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/">licensing and compliance
team</a> is the guardian of the GNU General Public License (<a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html">GPL</a>),
which has brought software freedom to the world for over three
decades. As stewards of the GPL and the rest of the GNU family of
licenses, we must continue our work to protect and extend computer
user freedom, but we need your help.</em></p>
<p><em>We launched our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=licensing">annual fundraiser</a> with the goal of welcoming 600
new associate members before December 31st. New members are critical
to the cause, and by becoming a member you will stand in solidarity
with others who care about computer user freedom. As is the case with
any social movement, the numbers matter, and it is a very powerful
gesture to make for only $10 a month ($5 if you are a student). Please
support the work that gives hope for a future with software freedom:
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/donate?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=licensing">make a donation</a> or – better yet -- <a href="https://www.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=licensing">join us and become a member
today</a>.</em></p>
<p>The Free Software Foundation is a global leader for copyleft, and the
licensing team plays a vital role in disseminating useful knowledge
about free software while working to protect it. We accomplish this in
part by answering licensing questions from the public and by providing
resources like our <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html">list of free software licenses</a>. We also
increase access to software freedom by managing the <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org">Respects Your
Freedom</a> certification program, and cataloging free software
through our <a href="https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html">endorsed distributions</a> program and the <a href="https://directory.fsf.org">Free Software
Directory</a>. To protect free software, we handle license compliance
for the <a href="https://www.gnu.org">GNU Project</a>, resulting in a stronger community and more
respect for the power of copyleft.</p>
<p>We are proud to accomplish this as just two staff working with our
executive director, board, and legal counsel. These resources combined
make a potent force for software freedom, and your support will ensure
our work continues with the aim to do an even better job in 2020. Let
us share a bit about the work we did in 2019 and elaborate on why it
is so vital that this work continues.</p>
<h1>Helping users, developers, and distributors to understand licensing</h1>
<p>The FSF, as a recognized authority on free software licensing, along
with our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/team">team of three volunteers</a>, answered almost 600 licensing
questions from all over the world in 2019. <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/licensing-and-compliance-lab-the-most-frequently-asked-frequently-asked-questions">The questions</a>
can range from the very simple (“Can I sell free software?” Yes, you
can!) to the much more complex nuances of free software
licensing. Some people write to us trying to understand both
established GNU licenses and licenses created by other organizations.</p>
<p>The software licensing landscape is constantly changing, as some
projects choose to draft new licenses. We periodically provide
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/a-roundup-of-recent-updates-to-our-licensing-materials-november-2018-to-june-2019">updates to our licensing materials</a> to help keep everyone
informed and connected to best practices. Even for licenses on which
we’ve publicly commented, there can still be questions about what they
mean, or how they can interact with one another. In addition to
fielding questions directly, we provide resources like our <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html">GPL
FAQ</a>, with over 170 entries on the GPL and other important free
software topics. We also maintain our <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html">list of software licenses</a>,
with our determinations as to whether each license is free or nonfree.</p>
<h1>Software licensing seminars</h1>
<p>In October, we hosted a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/events/cle-seminar-20191016-raleigh">Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
seminar</a> on GPL enforcement and legal ethics, and we plan to do
another one in 2020. The subject matter is geared towards lawyers,
law professionals and students, but is open to and attended by non-law
professionals as well. The 2019 edition of our seminar covered the
basics of the GPL, court cases that shaped the free software licensing
world, ethical considerations important to lawyers working with
clients involved in free software, trademarks, and the current spate
of license proliferation. These seminars are great for anyone seeking
discussion and information about software licensing, and for those
attorneys who are seeking CLE credits. The lectures are given by
experts and leaders in the field, people at the forefront
of advancing copyleft licensing. In 2020, we plan to host yet another
CLE, and with your help, we will keep expanding these seminars and
increase their frequency in the years to come.</p>
<h1>Identifying and supporting fully free GNU/Linux distributions</h1>
<p>Through our <a href="https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.en.html">list of free GNU/Linux distributions</a>, users can find
a complete operating system that <a href="https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html">contains and recommends only free
software</a>. We work with maintainers, we help them remove nonfree
software, and we point out other potential issues with the
distribution. During last year's fundraiser we were excited to
announce the latest addition to the list, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/fsf-adds-hyperbola-gnu-linux-libre-to-list-of-endorsed-gnu-linux-distributions">Hyperbola
GNU/Linux-Libre</a>. Although we saw the retirement of <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/about-musixs-removal-from-our-list-of-endorsed-distributions">Musix</a> in
2019, the list still includes a fair number of choices, with nine
standard distros and two small GNU/Linux distros meant for limited
devices, but clearly we want to keep providing more options for users
when it comes to fully free distributions. Your help will allow us to
do just that as we strive for a world where GNU/Linux distributions
fully guarantee user freedom, rather than risking becoming platforms
using free components just to more efficiently deliver proprietary
applications or forcing users into <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html">Service as a Software
Substitute</a>.</p>
<h1>Helping users find freedom-respecting devices</h1>
<p>Being able to purchase hardware that only comes with free software
takes effort, which is where our <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org">Respects Your Freedom</a>
certification program comes in. As the only organization doing this
unique type of certification, we certified eighteen devices in 2019,
with fourteen from <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org/news/tpe-r1200-certification-announcement">ThinkPenguin</a>, two from <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org/news/viking-d8-certification-announcement">Vikings GmbH</a>,
and two from <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org/news/raptor-talos-announcement">Raptor Computing Systems</a>.</p>
<p>In a world rife with digital products that disrespect the user, this
program is critical. We're seeing an increasing number of people
demanding more freedom when it comes to their devices. For this
reason, we gave our RYF Web page a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/new-ryf-web-site-its-now-easier-to-support-companies-selling-devices-that-respect-your-freedom">major overhaul</a>, transforming
it from a single chronological listing of certifications to a
standalone site. Not only does it have a sleek modern look and mobile
device compatibility, but it is also a robust database for browsing by
product type and by vendor. This functionality not only makes products
easier to find, but its design will also handle the expected growth in
the number of certified devices.</p>
<p>Picture it: a world where people can go into a store or online and
easily buy products, without being expert technologists or licensing
gurus, that purvey respect along with their technical usefulness! We
see this future over the horizon, and with your help, we can exceed
our expectations to process (and hopefully approve) more devices for
certification in 2020 and beyond.</p>
<h1>Helping everyone ethically share free software</h1>
<p>When all of our educational resources aren't enough, and someone fails
to provide the rights guaranteed under a free license like the GPL,
the licensing team takes special care to teach them how to better
their ways and find a place in the community. Where necessary, we
uphold free software by enforcing the license according to <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/enforcement-principles">the
Principles of Community-Oriented GPL Enforcement</a>, which we
co-developed with the <a href="https://sfconservancy.org/">Software Freedom Conservancy</a>. Our goal is
to educate and guide these distributors into compliance, but we stand
firm in our belief that legal action is sometimes necessary to protect
user rights.</p>
<h1>Helping users find free software</h1>
<p>The licensing team maintains the <a href="https://directory.fsf.org">Free Software Directory</a>, a
massive listing of over 16,000 freely-licensed packages, which had
over 800,000 unique visits in 2019. This is a resource for users to
find free software. It also helps maintainers of free software
packages discover potential licensing issues with their code, and
because it provides exportable data sets, the Directory's usefulness
expands to academic researchers as well. You are welcome to join us
and other volunteers every Friday via IRC (freenode, #fsf @
12:00-15:00 EST) to review free software packages for inclusion in the
Directory. If there's an issue, we file a bug with the project about
the licensing problem. The Directory is a wiki that anyone can edit,
and we always welcome more volunteers to <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Free_Software_Directory:Participate">participate</a>. In 2019,
we brought in quite a few new volunteers, who took on projects to more
systematically update and curate entries, and even to improve the
functioning of the Directory itself. But while 16,000 free software
packages may seem like a lot, there is an entire world of free
software beyond the Directory that still needs the sort of licensing
review that we provide as part of the process of adding a package to
the Directory.</p>
<h1>Help us advocate for copyleft!</h1>
<p>Besides answering emails and publishing articles, the licensing team
also gives talks at conferences and staffs FSF booths at conferences
such as <a href="https://copyleftconf.org">CopyleftConf</a>, <a href="https://linuxfestnorthwest.org">LinuxFest Northwest</a>, and
<a href="https://fosdem.org/2020/">FOSDEM</a>. We are getting the word out about software freedom! But
to continue this work, and do even more in the year to come, we need
your support. We hope you'll take this opportunity to help us in this
mission in the year ahead.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/defective-by-design-a-resistance-to-restrictions
title: Defective by Design: A resistance to restrictions
uri: Defective-by-Design-A-resistance-to-restrictions
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/defective-by-design-a-resistance-to-restrictions
content:
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal/"><img src="media/39a2b753.dj2-2.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/dbd/day_against_drm/2019/dj2-2.jpg" width="40%" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></a></p>

<p><em>The Free Software Foundation (FSF) keeps a close eye on the headlines
for threats to user freedom coming from many different fronts, such as
the way <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital Restrictions
Management</a>
(DRM) impedes an individual's right to control their computers and
devices. The Defective by Design campaign is a place for us to
transform our digital dissent into in-person actions, canvassing, and
effective protests. We couldn't do work like this without your
support, which is why we're asking you to join our associate
membership program.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital Restrictions
Management</a>
(DRM) stepped up its game in 2019 when it comes to oppressing users.
The hydra of streaming media conglomerates gained an ugly new head in
the form of Disney+, and Pearson's latest attempt to <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/idad_2019_thank_you_defending_right_read">restrict access
to their textbooks</a> reminded us that even education can't escape
digital handcuffs. Over the years it's crept into our <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2015/2/5/7986327/keurigs-attempt-to-drm-its-coffee-cups-totally-backfired">coffee</a>,
<a href="https://bigthink.com/technology-innovation/is-spotify-spying-on-you">spied on our habits</a>, and may one day threaten <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/doctorows_novella_unauthorized_bread_explains_why_we_have_fight_drm_today_avoid_grim_future">toast</a>, but the
fight's not over yet.</p>
<p>As every aspect of our lives goes digital, there's no part of our
lifestyle that is safe from DRM. This gives us one of two choices.
Either we can go the analog route and stop trying to access the media
we care about in order to retain our freedom, or we can
eliminate DRM altogether. Looking back on 2019 and the thirteen-year
history of the Defective by Design campaign, we're confident that the
best option is the latter one.</p>
<p>Our goal may be ambitious, but it's not impossible to achieve. The
passion we've seen from anti-DRM activists
<a href="media/e9068716.milan-2015.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/dbd/day_against_drm/2015/milan-2015.jpg">over</a>
<a href="media/ffa2ffb3.bangladesh2.JPG" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/dbd/days/bangladesh2.JPG">the</a>
<a href="media/1a6aa08c.nijmegen-1.jpg" data-original-source="https://media.libreplanet.org/mgoblin_media/media_entries/1462/nijmegen-1.jpg">years</a>
has driven one point home: the only thing standing between us and our
objective is the billions of dollars corporations spend to try and
persuade us to trade freedom for convenience. But as every underdog
story shows, it's passion and not profit that wins in the end. For instance, due to
a large public outcry, Disney has begrudgingly lowered the DRM level
of its new streaming service. Yet we won't rest until it's gone for
good.</p>
<p>We spent this year on the frontlines in the fight against DRM.
Sometimes this was easier than at other times: the weather in Boston
for our <a href="https://dayagainstdrm.org">International Day Against DRM (IDAD)</a> wasn't quite as cold
as it was when we campaigned against Disney outside of local theaters
on the premiere of <em>Frozen II</em>. Just before moviegoers huddled inside
the theater, we were there to pass out fliers and start conversations
on the dangers of Disney+.<br />
</p>
<p>At the same time, we were
invigorated by the support we've seen from both individuals and
organizations around the globe; at the time of this writing, we're
expecting to receive a shipment of 2,000 stickers from an anti-DRM
activist with a printing press. No matter how large or small they are,
these gestures of fiscal support add up to make an enormous impact on
our work.</p>
<p>Just as DRM infects many different areas of our digital lives, the
Defective by Design campaign spans multiple forms of media. In
addition to drawing the support of the Electronic Frontier Foundation,
Creative Commons, FSF Europe, and 11 other partner organizations in
the <a href="https://dayagainstdrm.org">International Day Against DRM</a>, we made a shareable book <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2019/dust-jacket">dust
jacket</a> in nine different languages that activists around the world
have used to inform others of the grave threat ebook DRM poses to our
cultural legacy.</p>
<p>As steadfast as we are, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAANG">FAANGs</a> of the hydra are getting
even sharper. DRM may have started out as a seemingly benign way for
record labels to make an extra buck at the expense of their listeners'
freedom, but like every bacteria, it began to take increasingly
sickening shapes and forms. Streaming services are growing more
popular by the day, and the companies behind them are developing ever
more insidious ways to restrict and spy on the people who purchase
their products.</p>
<p>The commitment of our community fuels our own. It's your feedback that
helps us update the <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/guide">Guide to DRM-free Living</a>, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=dbd">your financial
giving</a> that keeps our lights on, and your dedication to a world
without DRM that inspires our passion against all odds. Together we
can push the fight against DRM forward, and design a future that isn't
defective.</p>
<p>Photo by Greg Farough Copyright © 2019 Free Software Foundation,
Inc., licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC-BY-SA 4.0</a>.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-not-just-a-conference-but-a-network
title: LibrePlanet: not just a conference, but a network
uri: LibrePlanet-not-just-a-conference-but-a-network
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-not-just-a-conference-but-a-network
content:
<p>Since 2010, the <a href="https://libreplanet.org">LibrePlanet wiki</a> has provided a space for
connection between free software activists, with the following
mission statement: "To empower a global network of both local and
project-based teams, all working together to advance free
software as a social movement for user freedom."</p>
<p>This idea of participation and space for connection between free
software activists is what motivates both the <a href="https://libreplanet.org">wiki</a> and the
Free Software Foundation's (FSF) yearly <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020">conference</a> by the
same name. Our LibrePlanet wiki uses the same software as what
powers Wikipedia, which makes it the perfect tool for global
collaborative work. We use the wiki as a tool to
help organize free software supporters all over the world, so
everyone can collaborate around their projects and ideas, as well
as communicate with each other using our mailing lists for
<a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss">discussion</a> and <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-dev">development</a>, and our #LibrePlanet IRC
channel on <a href="https://webchat.freenode.net/">Freenode</a>.</p>
<p>LibrePlanet is about spreading the free software ideals,
organizing activists and supporters of the free software
philosophy, as well as about organizing GNU/Linux, or other
technology-specific user groups. The site can be used for a broad
range of uses, by expert software developers and budding
community activists alike. A few random examples will illustrate
the diverse landscape and possibilities:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>You can find <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Teams">other free software enthusiasts</a> in your area so that
  you can discuss free software subjects, and stay updated on the
  latest events and developments within the free software
  community. Many groups are already active
  here, and they welcome you to join. You can also start <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Teams/New">your own group</a>!</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>On the page <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Hardware/research/e-readers"><em>Hardware/research/e-readers</em></a>, you can find a
  discussion of which existing ebook readers could become RYF
  certified without too much work.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>You can follow the FSF tech team's work to deploy a
  <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Fsf_2019_forge_evaluation">Web-based collaborative software platform</a> ("forge") for fully
  free software projects.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>If you are a GNU contributor or maintainer interested in
  meeting up with people in your area to sign GPG keys and
  strengthen the Web of Trust, please add your info to the
  <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:GNU/Keysigning/Offers"><em>GNU/Keysigning/Offers</em></a> page.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>You can learn more about free software and how to make money as a
  <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Making_money_as_a_libre_software_programmer">libre software programmer</a>, or add your own knowledge and experience
  as a page to the wiki as a resource for beginners.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>And there is always the <em>Random</em> button in the main menu, which can take you
  places you had never imagined.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>With the help of our recent campaigns intern Valessio Brito, we
have now <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Libreplanet-theme-mediawiki">updated the theme</a> of <a href="https://libreplanet.org">libreplanet.org</a>
in order to facilitate ease of use. We are asking for your help to maintain
these pages, and to make it as accessible and up to date as
possible. Things that anyone can help us with:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Editing</strong>: Edits are an important part of keeping the
  LibrePlanet site up to date. Any contributions or changes are
  welcome! All you need to do is to log in with your existing FSF
  account, or create one at cas.fsf.org.You don't need additional
  permissions for this: go ahead and start.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Translations</strong>: We want to reach free software enthusiasts all
  over the globe, so all of our pages would benefit immensely
  from translation. For more information, see the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Translation">translation
  page</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Restructuring</strong>: Along with the new theme, we are <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Libreplanet-nav">proposing
  a new structure</a> to go with it. This means that some pages
  will need to be archived, updated, or moved. By working on
  structure, you can help to increase the user-friendliness of
  the site. Our wiki makes use of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_MediaWiki"><em>Semantic MediaWiki</em></a>
  extension, which helps in building a comprehensive knowledge
  base for free software topics.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>We are inviting you to help us create an even better resource for
free software activists all over this (Libre!)Planet. You can get
started now, or connect to us through any of our <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Discussion_channels">discussion
channels</a>. If you would like to discuss your ideas before you
start, you can ask your questions using the <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss">discussion</a>
mailing list, or for technical questions, contact the
<a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-dev">developers</a> mailing list. We look forward to hearing from
you.</p>
<p>Thank you for being part of our network!</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/the-fsf-cant-campaign-for-free-software-without-your-help
title: The FSF can't campaign for free software without your help
uri: The-FSF-can-t-campaign-for-free-software-without-your-help
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/the-fsf-cant-campaign-for-free-software-without-your-help
content:
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges"><img src="media/15e0516f.allimages2.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/appeal2019/allimages2.png" width="600" style="margin-top:1px;" /></a> </p>
<p>The Free Software Foundation's (FSF) <a href="https://www.fsf.org/campaigns">campaigns team</a> works
tirelessly to spread the message to the world that all software
must be free. Campaigning for free software
takes creativity, hard work, and a dedicated community. We amplify free software organizations and projects, mobilize
activists, and provide resources. We're only three people, but we are the point of
connection for hundreds of thousands of supporters annually. 
You hold the power to
exponentially increase this number.  It is our
goal to make the free software conversation a kitchen table
issue, and we need your help!</p>
<p>Since many families and friends get together at the end of the year,
we worked with our recent <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/introducing-valessio-brito-intern-with-the-fsf-tech-team">FSF intern, Valessio Brito</a>, on
translating some of the reasons why our fight is so important into
illustrations, to facilitate conversations during these gatherings.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">The images</a> we developed, which we are using in <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=campaigns">our annual
fundraiser</a>, seek to raise the issue of free software by
focusing on common issues with proprietary software, like privacy
violations, exemplified by a simple flashlight app and its
permissions in your device. We visualize issues like data mining,
back doors into your devices, and the vulnerability of cameras
and microphones in so-called "smart devices." We also comment on
<a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital Restrictions Management's</a> (DRM) power over you and
your devices. We put a lot of thought into designing these images
to be conversation starters, and now we're asking you, as the
free software community and our main channel of communication, to
share them. You can find the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">images</a>, their embed codes, and
their .SVG source files on the FSF Web site. Please use them to
start conversations with the people you care about, using the
hashtag #ISupportFreeSoftware.</p>
<p>And if you're able to, can you take the next step and <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=campaigns">become an associate member
today</a> to help us reach our goal of welcoming 600 new associate
members before December 31st? As a special bonus, all new and
renewing annual associate members ($120+) can choose to receive
one of our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=campaigns">exclusive year-end gifts</a>.</p>
<p>If you can't become a member yourself, you can <a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=campaigns">make a donation</a> instead. Every
dollar you contribute helps the campaigns team bring awareness to the cause.</p>
<h1>Why free software needs you</h1>
<p>It is not always easy to quantify the work we do here in the
campaigns team. Developing campaigns, writing articles, creating
online educational resources and other tools, updating pages on a
range of Web sites, organizing events, organizing protests and
creative attention-getting actions both online and offline,
working together with other organizations, and staying up to date
with the most recent developments in both proprietary, as well as
free, software is a full time job for the three of us, and we
wish we had more time.</p>
<p>Internally, the principle of using free software is first and
foremost. In our digital culture of today, using only ethical tools is
a challenging effort if you want to convey an important message. And
so we are always looking for ways to reach people without compromising
our own values or setting a bad example. We choose not to weaponize analytics, or
networks like Facebook or Google that exploit users in order to
increase the reach of our campaigns, nor do we want to use a data
mining company like Eventbrite to promote our events and handle our
registrations. Instead, we choose to remain true to our mission and
reject these companies in favor of your right to <a href="https://www.fsf.org/share">freedom-respecting
online communications</a>.</p>
<p>Making ethical decisions, however, also means that spreading our
message is much more challenging. We therefore depend heavily on the
engagement of free software enthusiasts like you to spread the word
with us about our events, campaigns, and collaborations, and to let us
know about what event or project we should be boosting or
supporting. With two of the three team members starting only this
year, we have worked hard on educating ourselves, updating our
resources, and strengthening our connection to the community. And with
your help, we can do so much more in the year to come.</p>
<h2>Visual advocacy</h2>
<p>We are well aware that advocating a social movement has become
increasingly visual, so we work closely with designers to
illustrate our message and calls to action in both static and
moving images. We need to break through the noise with appealing
imagery, help explain the issues we face in an engaging way, and
make it easily shareable. This year, we visually improved the
quality of the biannual <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin"><em>Free Software Bulletin</em></a>, the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-not-just-a-conference-but-a-network">LibrePlanet wiki</a>, and the <a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020">LibrePlanet conference Web site</a>, and we've created <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">shareable
images</a>, and updated our <a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=campaigns">donation pages</a>. Next on the
list will be a review of our printed advocacy materials.</p>
<h2>Making connections</h2>
<p>In-person experiences are valuable and important for the FSF to
network and to learn from other free software enthusiasts, as well as
to help us spread the message and bring new people into the fold.</p>
<p>This year, we organized four
member meetups in different locations in the US, and we hosted <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/spring/fsf-teaches-free-software-to-public-school-youth">free
software introductions</a> to students of local public schools. We also organized the <a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2019">LibrePlanet conference</a> with live
instances on IRC (<a href="https://webchat.freenode.net/">#libreplanet on Freenode</a>) and <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Mumble">mumble</a>,
and livestreamed <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/">all 40 sessions</a> on social justice and
technology. We held our annual associate member meeting,
a "hackathon," an FSF office open house, and two social events
during this time as well. We were also one of two <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/the-fsfs-emacsconf-2019-satellite-was-an-m-x-success">EmacsConf</a>
satellite instances, and took to the streets in protest of DRM
twice this year, once (in conjunction with fourteen online partners) to stand up for students against Pearson Education for the <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/dayagainstdrm/2019">International Day Against DRM</a> (IDAD), and once against Disney+ at the opening night of
<em>Frozen II</em>, here in Boston.</p>
<p>To
organize quality events such as LibrePlanet, IDAD, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/events/cle-seminar-20191016-raleigh">Continuing Legal
education (CLE)</a> seminars, and others, we need to invite speakers
and collaborators from all over the world, and we also need to make
sure the events are accessible remotely. With your support, we can add
an additional "workshop room" to the annual <a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020">LibrePlanet
conference</a>, host smaller educational gatherings and talks
throughout the year, do more student outreach, and grant more speakers
and attendees access to events by growing our <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=60">scholarship
fund</a>. We will work together with other organizers to set up and
promote local instances of events, like an upcoming
<a href="https://2020.libreplanet.ca/">LibrePlanet 2020 satellite in Ontario, Canada</a>, and we are
developing a program to help financially support <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Teams">free software local
activist groups</a>.</p>
<p>Public speaking is another way of increasing our footprint in the
community. Campaigns manager Greg Farough spoke at a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/events/freedom-embedded-why-privacy-security-and-user-rights-depend-on-software-freedom">local maker
space</a>, and executive director John
Sullivan traveled to both South America and Europe to talk about
free software issues this year. We also host informational booths
all over the world, with the help of volunteers and our operations
team. These are very effective way of reaching a large audience,
and so we want to do more of it.</p>
<p>The campaigns team is at the center of all communications and
events here at the FSF, working closely with all other
teams. Along with the tech team, we are always thinking about how we can
improve the user experience of our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/campaigns-summaries">campaigns</a> and our Web
sites. Together, we are working on developing a petition site to
allow us to turn around signature actions quickly, and on a major
update to the <a href="https://www.fsf.org">fsf.org Web site</a>, which will enhance user
experience on mobile phones. With the licensing team, we work to release the latest
<a href="https://www.ryf.fsf.org">Respects Your Freedom (RYF)</a> announcements, and we organize
the CLE seminars to educate law professionals on licensing issues.</p>
<h2>Free software needs you</h2>
<p>The physical moments, like the seminars, meetups, speaking
engagements, and conferences, are in-depth, valuable meetings with
people where we learn and educate at the same time. Online, we hope to
inspire people, show newcomers an entry into the world of free
software, and give others a voice. On announcement days, we turn our
local Boston office into a bustling news room while we edit all
communications, talk about targeting and staying on message,
brainstorm visuals, and line up the timing of all the separate elements.</p>
<p>We do this work with passion, in a community that time and time again
shows us how much you care, and we therefore ask you to help us
recruit. We need to overcome the false sense of safety and freedom
created by proprietary software company marketing machines executed on
mainstream media. Making ethical decisions means not taking the easy
way out, and it takes <em>all</em> of us. Just imagine, if each person reading
this message recruited just 5 others into the community, the free
software movement would immediately be in the millions.        <br />
</p>
<p><em>Images by Valessio Brito, Copyright © 2019 Free Software Foundation, Inc., licensed under CC0, no rights reserved.</em></p>


title: Raleigh, North Carolina: good BBQ and great outreach for free software knowledge.
uri: Raleigh-North-Carolina-good-BBQ-and-great-outreach-for-free-software
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/raleigh-north-carolina-good-bbq-and-great-outreach-for-free-software-knowledge

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/raleigh-north-carolina-good-bbq-and-great-outreach-for-free-software-knowledge

content:
<p>We recently posted a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/support-fsfs-copyleft-and-licensing-work">lengthy write-up</a> of the licensing team’s activities in 2019. Although we have been really busy, we didn’t want to miss the chance to share some specifics about our activities in October. That month, members of our licensing and campaigns teams headed down to North Carolina to spread the message of software freedom. First, on the 14th &amp; 15th, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) staffed a booth at the <a href="https://allthingsopen.org/">ATO conference</a> where we reminded hundreds of people that freedom is better than just being open. Next, on October 16th, our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/">licensing and compliance team</a> held another <a href="https://www.fsf.org/events/cle-seminar-20191016-raleigh">Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar</a>.</p>
<p>We had a great time representing software freedom at the ATO conference. ATO was a huge conference with almost 5,000 people from all over the world in attendance. We were fortunate to have prime real estate for our booth location, which was at a bottleneck right outside the keynote auditoriums, and it provided us with a constant stream of visitors. We gave away 200 Bash stickers, and we happily said goodbye to four adorable <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/gear/stuffed-baby-gnu">baby gnu plushies</a>, along with many T-shirts and books. Unfortunately, we forgot to bring our new <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/idad_2019_join_us_october_12th_and_use_special_dust_jacket_uphold_right_read">DRM dust jackets</a>, and we only discovered this because someone asked for one. It was a very busy and full day of introducing people to the FSF and meeting our fervent supporters. As usual, we also hosted a meetup after the conference. Well over twenty people joined us, and we feasted on fried Brussels sprouts and boiled peanuts, among other tasty appetizers. Meetups are always a great time to socialize with free software supporters, and this was no exception, as we had staff from the <a href="https://www.gnome.org/foundation/">GNOME Foundation</a>, the <a href="https://opensource.org/">Open Source Initiative</a>, and the <a href="https://sfconservancy.org/">Software Freedom Conservancy</a> in attendance. While chatting among peers, one of the attendees informed us about a barcade right around the corner requiring a picture of your face to enter the establishment, and that those images are allegedly shared with the police. Yikes! The idea of giving up your whereabouts so wantonly seems like a horrible activity to normalize.</p>
<p>Following the two days of the ATO conference, we hosted our CLE seminar. Attendees of the full day seminar got a comprehensive overview of <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/copyleft.en.html">copyleft</a> and other practical concepts in the GNU family of licenses. They also learned about ethical considerations important to lawyers working with clients involved in free software, and other current topics in free software licensing.</p>
<p>After the morning pleasantries and an introduction by FSF program manager Zoë Kooyman, FSF executive director John Sullivan gave an introduction to the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html">GNU General Public License (GPL)</a>. Next up Marc Jones, JD, in-house counsel and compliance engineer at <a href="https://civicactions.com/">Civic Actions</a>, took the stage and discussed how the courts view the GPL based on a variety of precedent-setting court cases.</p>
<p>What followed was a quiz-show styled learning activity, "Malpractice! The Free Software Ethics Quiz Show!" hosted by Justin C. Colannino, JD, attorney at Microsoft, and Donald R. Robertson, III, JD, licensing and compliance manager of the FSF. You might find this an odd pairing, but the FSF has been working with Justin for several years, since before he went to Microsoft. Presented in the style of <em>Jeopardy</em>, this was a fun time for all, and it presented a platform for tangent discussions and interesting view points. </p>
<p>Pamela Chestek, JD, principal of Chestek Legal, next discussed the topic of trademarks and free software, delving into the governance of free software projects, the “forking” of projects, and some history of a discussion between the Mozilla Foundation and the Debian Project involving trademark. The day’s final talk was given by Donald, about the dangers of the current spate of license proliferation.</p>
<p>After the CLE, we hosted another meetup for seminar attendees. Given that so many of the attendees were lawyers in the free software space, the discussions and debates about the legal landscape surrounding software freedom continued on late into the evening.</p>
<p>Between the hundreds of conversations at the ATO conference, the chats among peers at the meetups, and the informative CLE, it was a fantastic couple of days for free software education. All fun and socializing aside, the CLE seminars are an essential component of the licensing and compliance team’s outreach and education efforts, and is the only CLE offered by a free software organization. We look forward to another CLE in 2020, and we hope to see you there!</p>
<p>To support work like our legal seminar series, here’s what you can do to get involved and help make the world a better place:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://my.fsf.org/join">Become an associate member</a> of the Free Software Foundation.</li>
<li>Support the Free Software Foundation with <a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate">a donation</a>.</li>
<li>Find a place to help out by becoming a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/volunteer">volunteer</a>.</li>
</ul>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/setting-the-right-example-say-no-to-the-elf-on-the-shelf
title: Setting the right example: Say no to the Elf on the Shelf
uri: Setting-the-right-example-Say-no-to-the-Elf-on-the-Shelf
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/setting-the-right-example-say-no-to-the-elf-on-the-shelf
content:
<p>Many if not most people have come to the conclusion that the song "Every Breath You Take" is creepy and inappropriate: <em>Every step you take / Every move you make / Every bond you break / Every step you take / I'll be watching you</em> isn't very reassuring, much less romantic. Yet for many years, we've been completely fine with kids learning that Santa Claus <em>sees you when you're sleeping / He knows when you're awake / He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake</em>. </p>
<p>As noted by writer Matt Beard in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/15/elf-on-the-shelf-is-a-fun-and-festive-way-to-teach-your-child-to-submit-to-the-surveillance-state"><em>The Guardian</em></a>, the latest iteration of teaching kids to accept constant surveillance via holiday tradition is the Elf on the Shelf, a cheerful little snitch whom parents hide in different spots every day in the house. The idea is, the Elf watches what kids are up to, and if they call their little sister a name or steal a cookie from the cookie jar, the friendly household spy will tattle to Santa, who will add them to the "naughty" list. Beware! We agree with Beard that this cutesy, innocent-seeming "tradition" (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elf_on_the_Shelf">which actually only dates back to 2005!</a>) communicates to children that someone is always watching them, and that moreover, this is a perfectly normal thing. This should give us pause, and cause us to think carefully about what kind of messages we are sending in our behavior at home and with friends.</p>
<p>This resonates with us not just because surveillance and privacy are obviously important free software issues, but because kids are little sponges who soak up our values from day one, and thus it's important to communicate clearly. This is why, although it's extraordinarily difficult to live in <a href="https://archive.fosdem.org/2019/schedule/event/full_software_freedom/">complete software freedom</a>, we want to think about every concession to the proprietary world we make, and make sure that kids know that being forced to make those concessions is unfair. When we reject services that try to make us submit to <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management">Digital
Restrictions Management
(DRM)</a> to watch our favorite movies, then we should explain why it's bad; we can also endeavor to use the services in the <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/guide">Guide to DRM-Free Living</a> instead, and explain why they're better. At the center of the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">free software philosophy</a> is a fundamental respect for human dignity and individual rights, as well as our responsibility to our community, and no matter how much we might want to use a shortcut to get kids to behave well, ultimately it sends the message that stomping on their right to privacy is okay today -- and will be okay tomorrow when they're grown up, too. </p>
<p>Likewise, we want to communicate our values clearly to the other people in our lives. Because during the holidays many of us spend a lot of time with family, this is an important opportunity to talk about why we don't want the grownup equivalent of the Elf on the Shelf in our homes: "smart" devices like the Amazon Ring, the Google Home, and other items that grant us some useful capabilities while stealing away our right to privacy. It's quite possible that you're the kind of free software activist who is carefully stacking up small refusals to trade freedom for convenience (having trouble using WiFi on your phone or laptop because of proprietary software, or planning your travel carefully to avoid using proprietary ridesharing apps), and it's also quite likely that you're going to wind up spending some time this holiday in the home of someone whose "smart" devices will be spying on your conversations without your permission, and likely without your knowledge!</p>
<p>So this holiday, it's good to think about why free software matters, and communicate that to someone you care about -- whether it's your own child, or your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or circle of best friends. You can tell them about why you don't want an Amazon Echo or a Nintendo Switch, or any other user-hostile device, and explain why, and also explain why having that Echo in their own home is not only disrespecting their own rights, but yours as well. You can also use our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/givingguide/">Ethical Tech Giving
Guide</a> to select gifts that fit your family's needs. Even better, you
could show your support of user freedom by giving as <a href="https://www.fsf.org/associate/gift">associate membership to the
FSF</a> in place of a physical gift
to a friend or family member. Even if they have yet to hear about us,
make sure your gift is one that respects their freedom, and by
extension, the freedom of us all.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/presenting-shoetool-happy-holidays-from-the-fsf
title: Presenting: ShoeTool -- Happy Holidays from the FSF
uri: Presenting-ShoeTool-Happy-Holidays-from-the-FSF
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/presenting-shoetool-happy-holidays-from-the-fsf
content:
<p><video style="width: 100%;" controls="controls" poster="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/thumbnails/ShoeTool-Cover-1.jpg" crossorigin="anonymous"><source src="media/71106e3b.fsf-shoetool-720p.mp4" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-720p.mp4" type="video/mp4" /><track kind="subtitles" label="English" srclang="en" src="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/captions/shoetoolfsf_en.vtt" default="default" /></video></p>
<p><strong> <em>ShoeTool</em> is an animated fairy tale about an elf shoemaker who
thinks he buys a machine to help him make shoes... only to find out that there are
there are strings attached to his "purchase." Please show
your support for free software and this video by promoting it on
your <a href="https://www.fsf.org/share">social media</a> using the #shoetool hashtag.</strong> </p>
<p><strong>Here's a short URL you can use: <a href="https://u.fsf.org/shoetool">https://u.fsf.org/shoetool</a></strong></p>
<p>Software restrictions, analogous to the kinds of restrictions our
main character Wendell runs into as a user of the promising
ShoeTool, are detrimental to our freedom, creativity, and
jobs. We hope watching Wendell's frustrations will shake things
up in many homes and help more people understand. </p>
<p>People have been looking to the FSF for almost thirty-five years
for leadership, positive innovation, and being the uncompromising
defender of free software. We want to keep producing high quality
visuals that are informative and engaging, but they cost money. This is
the biggest fundraising time of the year, and we still have a
long way to go if we are to meet our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=shoetool">goal of 600 new associate
members</a>. Make a <a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=shoetool">donation</a> or <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=shoetool">become a member today</a>.</p>
<p><em>Wishing everyone a happy holiday and a liberated 2020!</em></p>
<p>Sincerely, </p>
<p>The Free Software Foundation        <br />
Zoë, Andrew, Craig, Dana, Dawn, Donald, Greg, Ian, Jeanne, John H., John S., Matt, Michael, and Ruben        <br />
</p>
<hr />
<h1>Download the video:</h1>
<ul>
<li>mp4: <a href="media/1cb41999.fsf-shoetool-1080p.mp4" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-1080p.mp4">1080p</a> | <a href="media/71106e3b.fsf-shoetool-720p.mp4" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-720p.mp4">720p</a> | <a href="media/b16e2863.fsf-shoetool-360.mp4" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-360.mp4">360p</a>                            <br />
</li>
<li>webm: <a href="media/0d728339.fsf-shoetool-1080p.webm" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-1080p.webm">1080p</a> | <a href="media/de35c8cf.fsf-shoetool-720p.webm" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-720p.webm">720p</a> | <a href="media/cd2a61d8.fsf-shoetool-360.webm" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-360.webm">360p</a>   <br />
</li>
<li>OggTheara: <a href="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-1080p.ogv">1080p</a> | <a href="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-720p.ogv">720p</a> | <a href="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-360.ogv">360p</a>              <br />
</li>
<li>Source files: <a href="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/source-files">Source Files</a>                          <br />
</li>
</ul>
<h1>Subtitles and translations</h1>
<p>Help us translate to many different languages so we can share
this video across the globe! Translation <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:FSF/shoetool_translation">drafts and the how-to
explanation</a> can be found on our wiki. Once you have
finalized a translation, email <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> and we will
make it available on the Web site.</p>
<p><strong>Subtitle files:</strong> <a href="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/captions/shoetoolfsf_en.vtt">English</a></p>
<h1>Embed <em>ShoeTool</em> on your site or blog with this code:</h1>
<p><code><pre>
&lt;video style="width: 100%; max-width: 640px;" controls="controls" poster="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/thumbnails/ShoeTool-Cover-1.jpg" crossorigin="anonymous"&gt;&lt;source src="media/71106e3b.fsf-shoetool-720p.mp4" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/fsf-shoetool-720p.mp4" type="video/mp4" /&gt;&lt;track kind="subtitles" label="English" srclang="en" src="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/captions/shoetoolfsf_en.vtt" default="default" /&gt;&lt;/video&gt;
</pre></code></p>
<hr />
<h1>Video credits:</h1>
<p><strong> <em>ShoeTool</em> by the Free Software Foundation</strong>               <br />
<strong>LENGTH</strong>: 02:05                 <br />
<strong>PRODUCER &amp; DIRECTOR</strong>: Brad Burkhart           <br />
<strong>STORY</strong>: Douglas J. Eboch                  <br />
</p>
<p><em>ShoeTool</em> by the <a href="https://www.fsf.org">Free Software Foundation</a> Copyright © 2019 is
licensed under the <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
International License</a>.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-14-new-gnu-releases-in-december
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 14 new GNU releases in December!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-14-new-GNU-releases-in-December
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-14-new-gnu-releases-in-december
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/artanis/">artanis-0.4.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/">bison-3.5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gama/">gama-2.08</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/global/">global-6.6.4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/health/">gnuhealth-3.6.5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnunet/">gnunet-0.12.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnupg/">gnupg-2.2.19</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libcdio/">libcdio-10.2+2.0.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libmicrohttpd/">libmicrohttpd-0.9.69</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libredwg/">libredwg-0.9.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/nano/">nano-4.7</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20191222</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/taler/">taler-0.6.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/vc-dwim/">vc-dwim-1.9</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>.  You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>This month, we welcome Martin Schanzenbach as comaintainer of GNUnet.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help.  The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/bringing-the-free-software-vision-to-2020
title: Bringing the free software vision to 2020
uri: Bringing-the-free-software-vision-to-2020
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/bringing-the-free-software-vision-to-2020
content:
<p>2019 has been an eye-opening, transformative year for free software
and the Free Software Foundation (FSF), bringing some major changes
both internally and in the world around us. As we navigate these
changes, we are guided by the FSF's founding vision -- the four
freedoms that define free software, and our mission to make all
software be compatible with human freedom. It must be honest,
transparent, and shareable, and it must truly work in service of its
users.</p>
<p>For the last sixteen years, I have been steeped in these principles,
and along with so many of you, have absorbed them into my heart and
soul. Thank you for being a member of this community, for your
advocacy and code and commitment. It is your support that has put us
in a position to be able to face new challenges, and to continue
evolving into an organization that can last for as long as the work
still needs to be done.</p>
<p>Over the last month and a half, we've been sharing <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=JS">highlights of the
work</a> our campaigns, licensing, tech, and operations team have done
in 2019. We don't have a full-time position dedicated to fundraising,
so you've heard these details directly from the people doing the work.
I'm proud of what our teams have accomplished this year with your
support: huge steps forward for the Respects Your Freedom product
certification program, significant updates to the infrastructure we
provide for thousands of free software developers and users worldwide,
an impactful International Day Against Digital Restrictions
Management, a successful pilot program to teach public school students
about free software, and of course our new <a href="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=JS">ShoeTool</a> video. Our
intense focus on program work earned us another 4-star top rating from
Charity Navigator.</p>
<p>Author and activist Cory Doctorow <a href="https://boingboing.net/2019/12/03/charitablegivingguide2019.html">said recently of the FSF</a>, "You
interact with code that they made possible a million times a day, and
they never stop working to make sure that the code stays free." We
need your help now to be able to continue this work. But we can't stop
there. We need to take the free software vision much further in 2020.
We have to be better in the areas of mobile devices, network services,
software-driven cars, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.</p>
<p>Most of all, we need to do better at communicating and spreading the free
software vision in different ways so that others, from all walks of
life, will join us in tackling these problems. This means building a
stronger, kinder, more united, and powerful community.</p>
<p>We are behind on our goal of welcoming 600 new associate members by
December 31st. But I know we can still reach that goal. In my
sixteen years, I have seen single individuals inspire a dozen
people to join in a week. Please join us in our final year-end
push by <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=JS">becoming a member</a> or <a href="https://my.fsf.org/renew?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=JS">renewing your membership</a>? Show your
friends, family, and colleagues the <a href="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/videos/fsf-shoetool/"><em>ShoeTool</em></a> video, and explain
to them the reasons you support free software. We'll even send
you a special <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=JS">thank-you gift</a> if you convince just three
others -- email <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> and let us know who they are.</p>
<p>Thank you for everything you've done for free software, and for
believing in us to carry the vision forward into 2020.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/last-chance-to-help-us-reach-our-membership-goal-in-2019
title: Last chance to help us reach our membership goal in 2019!
uri: Last-chance-to-help-us-reach-our-membership-goal-in-2019
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/last-chance-to-help-us-reach-our-membership-goal-in-2019
content:
<p>The pace and demands of modern life pressure us to carry computers in our pockets laden with nonfree software (our cell phones), and new threats to our privacy are popping up on every street corner, via proprietary Amazon Ring cameras, and on many kitchen counters, via “smart” home devices. Back when our movement was born, software freedom was only of great concern to people who were actively involved in development. Today, nobody in the world can afford to ignore the crucial importance of knowing what our software is doing, and keeping it from doing us harm.</p>
<p>As the battles and triumphs of 2019 fade into the past and the new challenges of 2020 emerge, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) continues our commitment to the goal we’ve had from our earliest days: a future in which all software is free, and can be trusted to serve the needs and best interests of every user. Our strength depends on your support: we need you to boldly carry the message and goal of software freedom to everyone you know, bring them into the fold, and help us mobilize them to use and talk about free software.</p>
<p><em>That's why the central message of <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=lastchance">our fall/winter fundraiser</a> has been membership: because our associate members are the most committed fighters for the cause of software freedom, pledging not just financial support but also a vote of confidence. This is your final chance to help us reach our goal of 600 new members by the end of 2019 (and your last chance for a tax deduction if you're in the US), so today is the day to <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=lastchance">join the FSF</a>! The numbers matter, and FSF membership is a very powerful gesture to make for only $10 a month ($5 if you are a student).</em></p>
<p><em>As a special bonus, all new and renewing annual associate members ($120+) can choose to receive <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=lastchance">one of our exclusive year-end gifts</a>. If you get a minimum of three people to mention you as a referral, you can get the gifts, too!</em></p>
<p>While financial support is a must, using your voice to boost our movement is an equally important role for every member and supporter. We're behind on our new membership goal for this fundraiser period, so please help us get the word out today! You can expand our reach by sharing our posts on social media, sharing our articles via email, and talking to your friends, family, and coworkers about why free software should matter to them. We've prepared <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">some images</a> as fun conversation starters you can share: use the hashtag #ISupportFreeSoftware and help them spread! </p>
<p>We’re spending the end of this year making plans to make 2020 the best year for the FSF ever: you can read about some of these plans in the reports from our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/the-fsf-tech-team-doing-more-for-free-software">tech team</a>, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/support-fsfs-copyleft-and-licensing-work">licensing and compliance team</a>, and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/the-fsf-cant-campaign-for-free-software-without-your-help">campaigns team</a>. Will this be the year that we make user freedom a kitchen table issue? We’ll never stop trying – and we hope you’ll be by our side all the way.</p>


title: Extending our offer for exclusive membership gifts through January
uri: Extending-our-offer-for-exclusive-membership-gifts-through-January
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/extending-our-offer-for-exclusive-membership-gifts-through-january

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/extending-our-offer-for-exclusive-membership-gifts-through-january

content:
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=extension"><img src="media/432b0ddc.allpremium.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/appeal2019/allpremium.png" width="30%" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></a></p>

<p>In the final weeks of 2019, the Free Software Foundation (FSF)
welcomed nearly 300 new associate members. That is a strong
achievement, but we to boost our numbers further in order to
continue our work to educate others about free software and defend copyleft.</p>
<p>Every day, millions of new people globally are gaining access to
software, and are integrating it into their lives. We need to
continue to spread the message of software freedom far and wide
to reach these newcomers, and the millions of longtime software
users who are unaware of how proprietary software is being used
to exploit and abuse them. It’s a big challenge.</p>
<p>At the beginning of this new decade, we're inspired to
dream up a freer future. To help turn this dream into reality,
we're extending our membership drive and our offer for exclusive
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=extension">associate membership gifts</a> as an extra incentive for people
to join the movement until <strong>January 17th</strong>.</p>
<p>Will you start out the new decade with an <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=extension">FSF associate
membership?</a> </p>
<p>If you can't join us yourself, we also offer these membership gifts as a special
thank-you gift if you convince just three others to join the FSF
-- email <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> and let us know who they are.</p>
<p>You care about free software, just like we do. Let your friends,
family and followers know that free software needs their
support. If you're looking for something to help get the message
across online, we recommend using the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/presenting-shoetool-happy-holidays-from-the-fsf"><em>ShoeTool</em></a> video, as well as <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">these images</a>.</p>
<p>Let's make 2020 the start of a decade in which we liberate the future
for generations to come.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/bring-the-planet-to-libreplanet-by-sponsoring-an-attendee
title: Bring the planet to LibrePlanet by sponsoring an attendee
uri: Bring-the-planet-to-LibrePlanet-by-sponsoring-an-attendee
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/bring-the-planet-to-libreplanet-by-sponsoring-an-attendee
content:
<p><a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020"><img src="media/9b1f9475.logo.svg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/assets/logo.svg" width="30%" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=lpscholar">LibrePlanet 2020: Free the Future</a> is only ten weeks away! On
March 14 and 15, we will welcome free software enthusiasts and experts
to Boston for the Free Software Foundation's (FSF) annual conference
on technology and social justice.</p>
<p>We're hard at work creating an event with engaging talks with speakers
from all over the world, and without spoiling any future
announcements, we're very excited about the program we have so far. It
is promising to be a year filled with talks about interesting and
successful projects. Anticipated talks will expose the fascinating
parallels between social movements in free software, dig into
community-related subjects, and as always, explore the latest issues
in licensing, security, education, and government adoption of free
software with experts from these fields.</p>
<p>The FSF is proud of the fact that the LibrePlanet audience and
speakers come from a diverse range of backgrounds, countries, and
cultures. We believe that anyone who wants to attend or speak at the
conference should not be held back by financial burdens, so if you
have a few dollars to spare, why not make a donation in support of the
<a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=60&amp;pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=lpscholar">LibrePlanet Scholarship Fund</a>? You'll be supporting a robust,
diverse free software community by helping to reduce the financial
barrier for those who need the help.</p>
<p>Those who are awarded travel scholarships bring unique ideas to the
conference, and commit to sharing what they learn at LibrePlanet with
their local community.</p>
<p>We look forward to sharing this year's LibrePlanet conference program
soon, and welcoming members of the free software community from all
corners of the world. <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/event/info?id=87&amp;reset=1&amp;pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=lpscholar">Registration</a> for the event is open. If
you're not already a member of the FSF, we have multiple good reasons
for you to <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=lpscholar">join today</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>FSF associate members can attend LibrePlanet free of charge! (We
  nevertheless ask you to register so we'll know how many people to
  expect.)</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>As part of our current fundraising drive, we're offering <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=lpscholar">exclusive
  membership</a> gifts to all new members through January 17th!</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>FSF associate members get a 5% discount at <a href="https://tehnoetic.com/">Technoethical</a> until
  January 17th.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/volunteer/">Volunteers</a> also attend gratis, and get an exclusive LibrePlanet
2020 T-shirt.</p>
<p>On top of all the free software work we fund and do year-round, with
your <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=60&amp;pk_campaign=frfall2019&amp;pk_source=lpscholar">financial support</a>, we can invite speakers who can enlighten
us with their knowledge and experience. Your donations will also help
free software enthusiasts attend who otherwise would not have the
means to do so. Your contribution, even if it's only a couple dollars,
can be the difference between someone attending or not.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/civicrm-meetup-looking-for-new-organizer
title: CiviCRM meetup looking for new organizer
uri: CiviCRM-meetup-looking-for-new-organizer
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/civicrm-meetup-looking-for-new-organizer
content:
<p>The Free Software Foundation's (FSF) <a href="https://civicrm.org/">CiviCRM</a> <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:CiviCRM_Boston">meetup</a> in
Boston is looking for community members who are interested in taking
over and reviving this meetup.</p>
<p>At one point, this meetup had about twelve people every month, but in
the last two or three years it has gone down to one to three. We know
there are people in the Boston area working at nonprofits, and who are
using or considering using CiviCRM as an important part of their
work. We would love for them to get together, but we don't have the
time to organize the meetup anymore.</p>
<p>The FSF is willing to host the event in our office. If anyone wishes
to take over meetings, our mailing list, meetup.com page (which
predated our involvement -- we'd like the group to move away from
this), and gettogether.community page are open to moderation by the
new organizers.</p>
<p>If you're interested in organizing the group, or know someone who
would, please contact us at this mailing list:</p>
<p><a href="https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/civicrm-boston">https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/civicrm-boston</a></p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/tell-microsoft-to-upcycle-windows-7-set-it-free
title: Tell Microsoft to upcycle Windows 7. Set it free!
uri: Tell-Microsoft-to-upcycle-Windows-7-Set-it-free
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/tell-microsoft-to-upcycle-windows-7-set-it-free
content:
<p><img src="media/a4d530cd.winupcycle_text.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/windows/winupcycle_text.png" width="300" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></p>

<p>It was just last week that Windows 7 <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-windows-7-support">crossed into the afterlife</a>.
While we can't say we've been in mourning, we have spent that time
thinking back on Windows 7's <a href="http://windows7sins.org">legacy of abusing users</a>, and
reflecting on Microsoft's change in tone over the last few years. For
one, they now state clearly that Microsoft "<a href="https://pulse.microsoft.com/nl-nl/business-leadership-nl-nl/na/fa1-microsoft-loves-open-source/">loves open source</a>"
(<a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.en.html">sic</a>).</p>

<p>But things were not always this way, and we can thank software
activists around the world for making the message of software freedom
too loud to ignore. In the headlines we've seen many stories of people
feeling burned by the support cutoff, and justifiably angry by being
forced to upgrade. Microsoft is leaving its users high and dry, but
they don't have to. There is another option.</p>

<p>Microsoft has taken a few steps in the right direction, such as
releasing some small but important components of Windows as free
software. We want to push them to go further. We need Microsoft to
prove to the world that their "love" of free software isn't just an ad
campaign, and that they aren't just reaping the benefits of free
software in order to exploit users.</p>

<p>They can do this by releasing Windows 7 under a free software license.
The history of free software has shown us that software doesn't have
to expire, and can even be written to <a href="https://bytes.yingw787.com/posts/2020/01/13/50years/">last fifty years</a>. And now
that this version of their operating system has reached its
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-of-life_(product)">"end-of-life,"</a> they have no good reason not to.</p>

<p>We need your help to urge Microsoft to give Windows 7 to the
community. It is our aim to get 7,777 supporters to take a stand for
user freedom. <a href="https://fsf.org/windows/upcycle-windows-7">Sign the petition</a> here.</p>

<p>In addition to signing, you can:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Share the #UpcycleWindows7 <a href="media/a4d530cd.winupcycle_text.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/windows/winupcycle_text.png">image</a> to show your support of the
campaign.</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://fsf.org/share">Share on social media</a> that you've signed the petition. Write
your own message, or feel free to use ours:</p>

<p><strong>Microsoft's support of Windows 7 is over, but its life doesn't
have to end. Join me in calling on Microsoft to #UpcycleWindows7 by
signing <a href="https://u.fsf.org/upcycle">https://u.fsf.org/upcycle</a></strong></p></li>
</ul>


title: LibrePlanet 2020: We'll see you at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston, MA!
uri: LibrePlanet-2020-We-ll-see-you-at-the-Back-Bay-Events-Center-in-Bos
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-well-see-you-at-the-back-bay-events-center-in-boston-ma

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-well-see-you-at-the-back-bay-events-center-in-boston-ma

content:
<p>We at the Free Software Foundation (FSF) are excited to say that the
Dorothy Quincy suite of Boston's very own <a href="http://www.backbayeventscenter.com/">Back Bay Events Center</a>
will be the home of this year's <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020">LibrePlanet</a> conference! We've
taken the grand tour and couldn't be happier about our choice of
location. We're confident that the Events Center will be a great host
for the technology and social justice conference we've all come to
know and love. It's just the right place for us (and the movement) to
take our next steps in freeing the future.</p>
<p>The Events Center is providing LibrePlanet with its own entrance and a
dedicated and speedy Internet connection for the livestream, and is
close to both public transportation and the FSF headquarters itself.
As in past years, we'll have ample space for an exhibit hall and free
software workshops, as well as the ever popular "hallway track," where
you can engage with other attendees in conversations on contributing
to free software projects.</p>
<p>On the Events Center Web site, you will find accommodation and
transportation suggestions that will pair nicely with those we've put
up on the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/getting-around/">LibrePlanet 2020 site</a>. The Back Bay Events Center is
located at the corner of Berkeley and Stuart Street, and is close by
the Back Bay stop of the <a href="https://mbta.com/schedules/Orange/line">Orange Line MBTA train</a> and the Arlington
stop of the <a href="https://mbta.com/schedules/Green/line">Green Line MBTA train</a>.</p>
<p>If you have attended LibrePlanet in past years but are generally
unfamiliar with the Boston area, please note that LibrePlanet 2020
will be held in Boston and not the nearby city of Cambridge.</p>
<p>As in past years, you can expect the venue to be fully accessible, and
equipped with enough network horsepower to drive the conference
livestream. For more information on the venue's perks and services,
visit the <a href="http://www.backbayeventscenter.com/">Back Bay Events Center</a> Web site, or reach out to
<a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. And if you have yet to <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/event/info?id=87&amp;reset=1">register for the
LibrePlanet 2020 conference</a>, now is the time to do so!</p>
<p>LibrePlanet depends on the community for its success. One way you can
help us is by donating to help <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=60">sponsor an attendee</a> to come to
LibrePlanet, and assist us in making the conference a truly global
one. If you're interested in volunteering, please write us at
<a href="mailto:resources@fsf.org">&#114;&#101;&#115;&#111;&#117;&#114;&#99;&#101;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>
<p>All of us here at the FSF are deep in the planning process, but we
couldn't be more excited about seeing you in person -- especially if
it is your first time. (No worries, it's my first LibrePlanet
conference as well!) Let's use the time we have together to the
fullest, and make LibrePlanet 2020 go down in history as the place
where we made great strides to <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020">"Free the Future."</a></p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-16-new-gnu-releases-in-january
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 16 new GNU releases in January!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-16-new-GNU-releases-in-January
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-16-new-gnu-releases-in-january
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/">bison-3.5.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gmp/">gmp-6.2.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/health/">gnuhealth-3.6.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gnunet/">gnunet-0.12.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/grep/">grep-3.4</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gsasl/">gsasl-1.8.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/guile/">guile-3.0.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/help2man/">help2man-1.47.12</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/hyperbole/">hyperbole-7.0.8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/kawa/">kawa-3.1.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libredwg/">libredwg-0.10.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/make/">make-4.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/mes/">mes-0.22</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20200122</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/sed/">sed-4.8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/unifont/">unifont-12.1.04</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>. You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-needs-you-volunteer-today
title: LibrePlanet 2020 needs you: Volunteer today!
uri: LibrePlanet-2020-needs-you-Volunteer-today
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-needs-you-volunteer-today
content:
<p><a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020"><img src="media/0722ce70.Matt.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/Matt.jpg" alt="Volunteer at LibrePlanet 2020" width="400" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></a></p>

<p>The <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/">LibrePlanet 2020 conference</a> is coming very soon, on March 14
and 15 at the <a href="http://www.backbayeventscenter.com/">Back Bay Events Center in Boston</a>, and WE NEED YOU
to make the world's premier gathering of free software enthusiasts a
success.</p>
<p>Volunteers are needed for several different tasks at LibrePlanet, from
an audio/visual crew to point cameras and adjust microphones, to room
monitors to introduce speakers, to a set-up and clean-up crew to make
our conference appear and disappear at the Event Center, and more! You
can volunteer for as much or as little time as you like, whether you
choose to help out for an hour or two, or the entirety of both
days. Either way, we'll provide you with a VERY handsome <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/reserve-your-libreplanet-2020-t-shirt">LibrePlanet
2020 shirt</a> in your size, in addition to free admission to the
entire conference <em>and</em> lunch <em>and</em> our eternal gratitude.</p>
<p>Excited? If you're ready to help put on an excellent conference, we
are more than ready to show you how. One important step is to come to
an in-person training and info session at the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/contact/">Free Software
Foundation office</a>, in downtown Boston. We have scheduled six
training sessions beginning late February; the last one is the
afternoon of the day immediately before LibrePlanet, which is perfect
for people arriving from far away for the event. Please come to one if
you can! Some volunteer tasks (room monitors, A/V crew) require more
training than others, but there are some important things we need all
volunteers to know, and attending a training will ensure that you're
fully informed. The schedule for trainings is at the bottom of this
email.</p>
<p>You're interested? Wonderful. Please reply to this email or write to
<a href="mailto:resources@fsf.org">&#114;&#101;&#115;&#111;&#117;&#114;&#99;&#101;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. Let me know your T-shirt size (we'll have unisex
S-XXXXL and fitted S-XXXL) and which training you can make it to. You
can certainly volunteer without making it to a training -- I'll send
you some info via email -- but your role may be a little less
glamorous.  Please also feel free to contact me with any questions or
suggestions you may have; I will respond eagerly to your queries.</p>
<p>THANK YOU for supporting the Free Software Foundation and THANK YOU
for volunteering for an excellent LibrePlanet!</p>
<hr />
<h2>LIBREPLANET 2020 VOLUNTEER TRAINING &amp; INFO SESSION DATES:</h2>
<p>All except one of these take place from 6 PM to 8 PM at the FSF office, 51
Franklin Street, Fifth floor, Downtown Crossing, Boston:</p>
<ul>
<li>Wednesday, February 19     <br />
</li>
<li>Tuesday, February 25               <br />
</li>
<li>Thursday, February 27 (includes A/V training)                <br />
</li>
<li>Wednesday, March 4 (includes A/V training        <br />
</li>
<li>Tuesday, March 10 (includes A/V training          <br />
</li>
<li>Friday, March 13: This is an afternoon session for people coming to
town late, starting at 3 PM! It will also be at the FSF office, prior to the Friday night open house.</li>
</ul>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/thank-you-for-supporting-the-fsf
title: Thank you for supporting the FSF
uri: Thank-you-for-supporting-the-FSF
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/thank-you-for-supporting-the-fsf
content:
<p>On January 17th, we closed the Free Software Foundation (FSF)'s end of
the year fundraiser and associate membership drive, bringing 368 new
associate members to the FSF community.</p>
<p>This year's fundraiser began with a series of <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/badges">shareable images</a>
aiming to bring user freedom issues to the kitchen table, helping to
start conversations about the impact that proprietary software has on
the autonomy and privacy of our everyday lives. Your enthusiasm in
sharing these has been inspiring. We also debuted the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/presenting-shoetool-happy-holidays-from-the-fsf"><em>ShoeTool</em></a>
video, an animated short presenting a day in the life of an
unfortunate elf who is duped into forking over his liberty for the
sake of convenience. And we also sent out our biannual issue of the
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/fall/issue-35-fall-2019"><em>Free Software Bulletin</em></a>, which had FSF staff writing on topics
as diverse as ethical software licensing and online dating.</p>
<p>It is your support of the FSF that makes all of our work possible.
Your generosity impacts us on a direct level. It doesn't just keep the
lights on, but is also the source of our motivation to fight full-time
for software freedom. Your support is at the heart of our work
advocating for the use of <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/pragmatic.html">copyleft</a> and the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html">GPL</a>. It's also
what brought seventeen new devices to the <a href="https://ryf.fsf.org">RYF program</a> this year,
and is what drives our campaigning against <a href="https://defectivebydesign.org">Digital Restrictions
Management (DRM)</a>. We are deeply grateful for the new memberships
and donations we have received this year, not to mention the existing
members and recurring donors that have enabled us to reach this point.
And not to worry, we're working hard to send you the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal/2019-fall/strengthen-the-free-software-movement-join-the-fsf-today">premium
gifts</a> we offered as soon as possible!</p>
<p>2020 has started off strong already, with our <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/tell-microsoft-to-upcycle-windows-7-set-it-free">petition calling on
Microsoft</a> to "upcycle" Windows 7 by releasing it as free software,
which has reached more than 12,000 signatures in less than a week. And
there is much more to come. The campaigns, tech, and licensing teams
are all working on ambitious projects that we hope will drive the
fight for freedom forward, especially as the FSF enters its 35th year
of free software activism.</p>
<p>This year's <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/">LibrePlanet</a>: "Free the Future" conference is almost
upon us as well, and we're all putting our best into the planning
process. LibrePlanet 2020 will see keynotes from speakers including
Internet Archive founder <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/first-libreplanet-2020-keynote-announcement-internet-archive-founder-brewster-kahle">Brewster Kahle</a>, and there are still
more surprises to come. We hope to see you there.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/on-i-love-free-software-day-swipe-copy-left-on-dating-apps
title: On "I Love Free Software Day": Swipe (copy)left on dating apps
uri: On-I-Love-Free-Software-Day-Swipe-(copy)left-on-dating-apps
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/on-i-love-free-software-day-swipe-copy-left-on-dating-apps
content:
<p>Every year, <a href="https://fsfe.org/about/about.en.html">Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)</a> encourages
supporters to celebrate Valentine’s Day as <a href="https://fsfe.org/campaigns/ilovefs/">“I Love Free Software
Day,”</a> a day for supporters to show their gratitude to the people
who enable them to enjoy software freedom, including maintainers,
contributors, and other activists. It seems appropriate on this
holiday to <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/dating-is-a-free-software-issue">once again</a> address how seeking love on the Internet
is, unfortunately, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/fall/love-locked-why-online-dating-is-still-a-free-software-issue">laden with landmines</a> for your freedom and
privacy. But today, I’m also going to make the argument that our
community should think seriously about developing a freedom-respecting
alternative.</p>
<p>Before we get started, though: make sure to show your love and
gratitude for free software on February 14 and beyond! Share the
graphic below with the hashtag #ilovefs:</p>
<div style="width: 400px; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 4px; background-color: #EEEEEE; text-align: center; font-size: 75%;">
<img alt="fsfe free i love free software day banner" src="media/8eb2a9f1.ilovefs-banner-extralarge.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/ilovefs-banner-extralarge.png" width="400" />
</div>

<p>With that said: as you probably heard earlier this year, the
hydra-headed Match Group, which divides its customers among Tinder,
OKCupid, Match.com, Hinge, and others, as well as several other dating
companies, <a href="https://www.adweek.com/digital/grindr-okcupid-and-tinder-among-popular-apps-that-sold-user-data-report/">was revealed</a> to be sharing user information in
flagrant violation of privacy laws. OKCupid was caught sharing what
was described as “highly personal data about sexuality, drug use,
political views, and more,” and Grindr has been caught multiple times
sharing users' HIV status. All of these apps also tell Facebook
everything, whether a user has a profile or not (remember, even if
you're not a user, you probably have a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/11/17225482/facebook-shadow-profiles-zuckerberg-congress-data-privacy">shadow Facebook
profile</a>!). This is typical behavior for modern technology
companies, but the fact that it’s so ordinary makes it neither less
ugly nor less flagrant.</p>
<p>Why do people put up with this? It isn’t that they don’t know that
their personal information is being treated like candy tossed from a
parade float: in 2014, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/27/americans-complicated-feelings-about-social-media-in-an-era-of-privacy-concerns/">Pew Research Center</a> found that 91% of poll
participants “agree or strongly agree that people have lost control
over how personal information is collected and used by all kinds of
entities.” A 2017 survey found that only 9% of social media users felt
sure that Facebook and their ilk were protecting their data. And a
<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/08/10/theme-3-trust-will-not-grow-but-technology-usage-will-continue-to-rise-as-a-new-normal-sets-in/">2017 Pew study</a> led researchers to conclude that “a higher
percentage of online participation certainly does not indicate a
higher level of trust.” One anonymous commenter quipped, “People will
expect data breaches, but will use online services anyway because of
their convenience. It’s like when people accepted being mugged as the
price of living in New York.”</p>
<p>It turns out that even if they're aware of how these companies are
mistreating us, many people are making a cost-benefit analysis, and
perceiving the benefits they get from these downright skeevy programs
as valuable enough to be worth the ever-increasing exposure to the
advertisers’ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon">panopticon</a>. As one anonymous Web and mobile
developer from the Pew study said, “Being able to buy groceries when
you’re commuting, talking with colleagues when doing a transatlantic
flight, or simply ordering food for your goldfish right before
skydiving will allow people to take more advantage of the scarcest
good of our modern times: time itself.”</p>
<p>Here at the Free Software Foundation (FSF), we disagree strongly that
the tradeoff is worth it, and it’s central to our mission to convince
software users that letting developers pull their strings is
destructive to their lives and dangerous to our society. When you use
proprietary software, the program controls you, and the people who
develop that program can <a href="https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html">use it as a tool</a> to manipulate you in
many absolutely <a href="https://observer.com/2016/06/how-technology-hijacks-peoples-minds%E2%80%8A-%E2%80%8Afrom-a-magician-and-googles-design-ethicist/">terrifying ways</a>. The same can also be true of
services where the software is not distributed at all and is therefore
neither free nor nonfree; but step one is to ditch all of the
proprietary apps and JavaScript these companies try to get people to
use.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, our battle is going to be an uphill one when a majority
of people perceive conveniences to be worth the cost. In the case of
dating Web sites, by 2015, 59% of people <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/29/5-facts-about-online-dating/">polled by Pew</a> agreed
that “online dating is a good way to meet people.” And it’s perceived,
at least to some degree, as being effective: according to Pew, “nearly
half of the public knows someone who uses online dating or who has met
a spouse or partner via online dating.” eHarmony claimed, according to
<a href="https://www.datingadvice.com/online-dating/online-dating-statistics">this 2019 article</a>, that four percent of US marriages begin on
their site, while a poll by <a href="https://www.theknot.com/content/online-dating-most-popular-way-to-meet-spouse"><em>The Knot</em></a> found that twenty two
percent of spouses polled met online. (The eHarmony stats may be
questionable, but as part of a sales pitch, it definitely works to
draw people in.)</p>
<p>Conversely, the alternative to online dating doesn’t feel very rosy to
an increasing number of people. The same poll on <em>The Knot</em> found that
one in five couples polled were introduced in a more traditional way,
through their personal network, which sounds terrific, except for one
small problem: our IRL social networks are shrinking. In 2009,
<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-depression-cure/200907/social-isolation-modern-plague"><em>Psychology Today</em> reported</a> that 25% of Americans have not a
single friend or family member they can count on, and half of all
Americans had nobody outside of their immediate family. So, how do you
meet the elusive love of your life? It’s unsurprising that many people
reluctantly choose the less obvious potential harms of OKCupid over
<a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation">the more tangible harms</a> of isolation and loneliness. (After all,
they’re not exactly trumpeting on their front page, “We’ll help you
find a date, but in the meantime, we have information about what
you’re into in bed, and we’ll give it to whoever we like!”)</p>
<p>This quandary sets up an extraordinarily unfair proposition: nobody
should be forced to sacrifice their freedom in the name of a perceived
shot at happiness. At the end of the day, we maintain that it’s not
worth it, and you should keep <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2019/fall/love-locked-why-online-dating-is-still-a-free-software-issue">Mark Zuckerberg</a> as far away from
your love life as possible, but I don’t think we should stop there,
either. I believe that ethical, freedom-respecting online services
that facilitate people’s social lives, from finding someone to date to
staying in touch with friends far away, are an important social good,
and that the free software movement has something unique and important
to contribute.</p>
<p>Just as we have encouraged free software enthusiasts to <a href="https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority-projects/decentralization-federation">move their
social media presence</a> from the walled gardens of Facebook to
decentralized, federated services like <a href="https://joinmastodon.org/">Mastodon</a>, <a href="https://status.fsf.org/main/public">GNU
social</a>, <a href="https://pixelfed.org/">Pixelfed</a>, and <a href="https://framasphere.org/people/f494d9c0d927013528a62a0000053625">Diaspora</a>, we would love to be
able to point lovelorn free software supporters to an online dating
site that will treat them like a human being rather than a commodity
to be dissected into chunks of profitable data. So while we can’t
endorse a project that’s barely gotten started at all, much less one
that’s being built on <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2018/fall/escaping-the-javascript-trap-with-librejs">Kickstarter</a>, we were pleased to see a
Redditor introduce the idea of <a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/opensource/comments/ete9on/new_fully_opensource_online_dating_platform/">Alovoa</a>, which “<a href="https://github.com/Alovoa/alovoa">aims</a> to be
the first widespread free software dating Web application on the Web.”
Alovoa is licensed under AGPLv3, which is an excellent signpost for
ethical behavior in the future.</p>
<p>Is Alovoa the solution? It’s far too early to say -- but we <em>do</em> know
that the only acceptable solution will be a dating site that is 100%
free software. And we also know that the free software community
possesses the talent and conviction to make that alternative
happen. When you’re freely permitted to use, share, study, modify, and
share the modifications of the software you own, there are no shackles
on your creativity: you can build the programs that you need, and make
them available to everyone else who needs them. Perhaps we can solve
the problem of how to find love online without sacrificing your
privacy, and that’s only the beginning of the many problems we can
solve. If we can build free software that offers ordinary people the
conveniences they crave without the ethical tradeoffs, then someday,
we will have a future where all software is free.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/why-freeing-windows-7-opens-doors
title: Why freeing Windows 7 opens doors
uri: Why-freeing-Windows-7-opens-doors
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/why-freeing-windows-7-opens-doors
content:
<img src="media/bce18efa.windows_box4.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/windows/windows_box4.jpg" width="300" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" />

<p>Since its launch on January 24th, we've had an overwhelming amount of
support in <a href="https://www.fsf.org/windows/upcycle-windows-7">our call to "upcycle" Windows 7</a>. Truthfully, the signature
count flew far faster than we ever expected it to, even despite our
conservative (if aptly numbered) goal of 7,777 signatures. We have
seen the campaign called quixotic and even "completely delusional,"
but in every case, people have recognized the "<a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/pragmatic.html">pragmatic idealism</a>"
that is at the core of the FSF's message. Even where this campaign has
been attacked, it's nevertheless been understood that the FSF really
does want <em>all software</em> to be free software. We <a href="https://www.gnu.org">recommend</a> every
fully free operating system that we are aware of, and want to be able
to expand that list to include <em>every</em> operating system. So long as
any remain proprietary, we will always work to free them.</p>
<p>Over the last few weeks, we have been carefully watching the press
coverage, and are glad to see the message of software freedom popping
up in so many places at once. We received a lot of support, and have
responded to dozens of comments expressing support, concern, and even
outrage over why the FSF would think that upcycling Windows 7 was a
good idea, and why it was something we would want to demand.</p>
<p>Microsoft can free Windows. They already have all of the legal rights
necessary or the leverage to obtain them. Whether they choose to do
so or not is up to them. In the past weeks, we've given them the
message that thousands of people around the world want Windows to be
freed. Next, we'll give them the <em>medium</em>.</p>
<p>This afternoon we will be mailing an upcycled hard drive along with
the signatures to Microsoft's corporate offices. It's as easy as
copying the source code, giving it a license notice, and mailing it
back to us. As the author of the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html">most popular free software
license</a> in the world, we're ready to give them all of the help we
can. All they have to do is ask.</p>
<p>We want them to show exactly how much love they have for the "open
source" software they mention in in their advertising. If they really
do love free software -- and we're willing to give them the benefit of
the doubt -- they have the opportunity to show it to the world. We
hope they're not just capitalizing on the free software development
model in the most superficial and exploitative way possible: by using
it as a marketing tool to fool us into thinking that they care about
our freedom.</p>
<p>Together, we've stood up for our principles. They can reject us, or
ignore us, but what they cannot do is stop us. We'll go on
campaigning, until all of us are free.</p>


title: Register today for LibrePlanet -- or organize your own satellite instance
uri: Register-today-for-LibrePlanet-or-organize-your-own-satellite-insta
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/register-today-for-libreplanet-or-organize-your-own-satellite-instance

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/register-today-for-libreplanet-or-organize-your-own-satellite-instance

content:
<p><a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/">LibrePlanet</a> started out as a gathering of Free Software
Foundation (FSF) associate members, and has remained a community event
ever since. We are proud to bring so many different people together to
discuss the latest developments and the future of free software. We
envision that some day there will be satellite instances all over the
globe livestreaming our annual conference on technology and social
justice -- and you can create your own today! All you need is a venue,
a screen, and a schedule of LibrePlanet events, which we'll be
releasing soon. This year, a free software supporter in <a href="https://2020.libreplanet.ca/">Ontario,
Canada</a>, has confirmed an event, and we encourage you to host one,
too.</p>
<p>Of course, ideally you'll be able to join us in person for LibrePlanet
2020: "Free the Future." If you can come, please <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/event/info?id=87&amp;reset=1">register now</a> to
let us know -- <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join">FSF associate members attend gratis</a>. We are looking
forward to receiving the community at the newly confirmed <a href="http://www.backbayeventscenter.com/">Back Bay
Events Center</a> this year. We've put together some information on
<a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/getting-around/">where to eat, sleep, and park</a> in the vicinity of the new venue.</p>
<p>However, we know that not every free software enthusiast can make it
to Boston, which is why we <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/">livestream the entire event</a>. You can
view it solo, with friends, or even with a large group of like-minded
free software enthusiasts! It is a great opportunity to bring other
people in your community together to view some of the foremost
speakers in free software, including Internet Archive founder and
Internet Hall of Famer <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/first-libreplanet-2020-keynote-announcement-internet-archive-founder-brewster-kahle">Brewster Kahle</a>.</p>
<p>We will also host an IRC instance, <a href="https://webchat.freenode.net/">#libreplanet on Freenode</a>,
through which you can be in direct contact with the room monitors, who
can relay any questions you may have about the talks going on here in
Boston.</p>
<p>If you are working on getting a group of people together for the
event, please let us and others know by announcing it on the
<a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020/Satellite">LibrePlanet wiki</a> and the <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss">LibrePlanet email list</a>. If
you have any questions, if you need any help organizing, if you'd like
some free FSF sticker packs, or if you just want to let us know about
a satellite instance, email us at <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. We look forward
to receiving you here in Boston and all over the world.</p>
<h3>LibrePlanet needs volunteers -- maybe you!</h3>
<p>LibrePlanet has grown every year in size and scope -- and its
continued success is thanks to dozens of volunteers who help prepare
for and run the conference. Volunteering is a great way to meet fellow
community members and contribute to LibrePlanet, even if you can't
attend in person. And yes, remote volunteers are definitely needed to
help us moderate IRC chat rooms -- you can help us out from anywhere
in the world!</p>
<p>If you are interested in volunteering for LibrePlanet 2020, email
<a href="mailto:resources@fsf.org">&#114;&#101;&#115;&#111;&#117;&#114;&#99;&#101;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. We thank all of our in-person volunteers by
offering them gratis conference admission, lunch, and a LibrePlanet
T-shirt.</p>
<h3>Help others attend!</h3>
<p>Take your support for LibrePlanet to the next level by <a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&amp;id=60">helping others
attend</a>. We get a lot of requests from people internationally who
would like to attend the event. We try to help as many as we can, and
with your support, we can really put the "planet" in LibrePlanet.</p>
<p>We also hope that you'll spread the word about LibrePlanet 2020: write
a blog, or take it to <a href="https://www.fsf.org/share">social media</a> to let people know that
you'll be there, using the hashtag #libreplanet.</p>
<p>We hope to see you in March!         <br />
</p>


title: Charity Navigator awards the FSF coveted four star rating for the seventh time in a row
uri: Charity-Navigator-awards-the-FSF-coveted-four-star-rating-for-the-seve
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/charity-navigator-awards-the-fsf-coveted-four-star-rating-for-the-seventh-time-in-a-row

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/charity-navigator-awards-the-fsf-coveted-four-star-rating-for-the-seventh-time-in-a-row

content:
<div style="width: 400px; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px; padding: 4px; background-color: #EEEEEE; text-align: center; font-size: 75%;">
<img alt="charity navigator four star rating certificate" src="media/90584b0c.charity-navigator-certificate-2020.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/images/charity-navigator-certificate-2020.png" width="400" />
</div>

<p>Recently, we got some terrific news: Charity Navigator, an independent
evaluator of US-based nonprofit charities, awarded the Free Software
Foundation (FSF) a four star rating, the highest available.  According
to the confirmation letter from Charity Navigator president Michael
Thatcher, this rating demonstrates the FSF's "strong financial health
and commitment to accountability and transparency." A four star
charity, according to their ratings, "exceeds industry standards and
outperforms most charities in its cause."</p>
<p>This is our seventh time in a row receiving the coveted four star
rating! Only 7% of the charities that Charity Navigator evaluates have
gotten this many in a row, and they assess over 9,000 charities a
year. As Thatcher's letter says, "This exceptional designation from
Charity Navigator sets the Free Software Foundation apart from its
peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness." Even
better: our overall score went from 96.66 out of 100% last year, up to
98.55 this cycle.</p>
<p>We do score 100% in the transparency category, which we work very hard
at.  You can see all of our audited financials at
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/financial">https://www.fsf.org/about/financial</a>, and our yearly <a href="https://www.fsf.org/annual-reports/">annual
reports</a> give you even more details about our activities. It's nice
to see this effort pay off.</p>
<p>This is why you can be confident that when you <a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate">contribute to the
FSF</a>, we're going to turn your money into free software
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/the-fsf-cant-campaign-for-free-software-without-your-help">advocacy</a>, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/the-fsf-tech-team-doing-more-for-free-software">infrastructure</a>, and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2018/fall/how-and-why-the-fsf-drives-free-software-development">development</a> – and you
don't have to just take our word for it, either. We have a certificate
that says so! And if you need more confirmation, you can see Charity
Navigator's breakdown of our facts and figures on their <a href="https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&amp;orgid=8557">Free Software
Foundation summary page</a>.</p>


title: Hot off the presses: a sneak peek at the LibrePlanet 2020 schedule
uri: Hot-off-the-presses-a-sneak-peek-at-the-LibrePlanet-2020-schedule
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/hot-off-the-presses-a-sneak-peek-at-the-libreplanet-2020-schedule

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/hot-off-the-presses-a-sneak-peek-at-the-libreplanet-2020-schedule

content:
<p><a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020/program"><img src="media/4b12dbce.schedule.png" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/schedule.png" width="40%" align="right" hspace="20" vspace="20" /></a></p>

<p>On March 14th and 15th, 2020, the free software community will come
together at the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/getting-around/">Back Bay Events Center</a> to learn, exchange ideas, catch
up with friends, and plan the future of the movement.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/event/info?id=87&amp;reset=1">Register</a> today! As always, Free Software Foundation (FSF) <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join">associate members</a> and
 students attend gratis.</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020">LibrePlanet 2020</a> is organized by the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/">FSF</a>. Hundreds of
people from across the globe will converge to explore this year's
theme, "Free the Future." We'll be delving into the threats to
user freedom that we've all been reading about every day in the
media, as well as the unique role the free software movement
plays in solving these problems.</p>
<p>In addition to the first keynote we announced last month,
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/first-libreplanet-2020-keynote-announcement-internet-archive-founder-brewster-kahle">Brewster Kahle</a>, LibrePlanet 2020 will feature a panoply of
presentations. Our lineup includes some talks we absolutely can't
wait to see, and we think you'll feel the same way! 
You can <a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020/speakers">now dive in to the speakers already
confirmed</a> and start planning your itinerary. Make sure to
have a look at these highlights:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Executive director of Free Geek Toronto <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/speakers/#2334">Ryan Fukunaga</a> will focus
  on the positives, challenges, and ongoing conversation around
  using free software to expand access to technology in his presentation "Free
  software and the digital divide."</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Last year's keynote speaker <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/speakers/#2721">Micky Metts</a> will return with
  Keegan Rankin and Chris Thompson in an engaging session on
  surveillance capitalism and how users can seize control over
  their own data in "Platform cooperativism, surveillance
  capitalism, predictive analysis, and you."</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Purism CEO <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/speakers/#2464">Todd Weaver</a> will present the latest
  news on his company's attempts to create a truly free cell phone
  in: "Freeing the mobile phone: The story of the Librem 5."</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/speakers/#2775">DeeDee Lavinder</a> will help us explore the world of
  encryption in "Keeping secrets: What you need to know about
  encryption."</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>LibrePlanet newcomer <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/speakers/#2692">Lucy Ingham</a> will explore the continued domination of
  the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/who-does-that-server-really-serve.html">Service as a Software Substitute (SaaSS)</a> model in "Rented
  future: The dangerous rise of life as a service."</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Due to popular demand, this year features two(!) lightning talk
  sessions, which you can sign up for via the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020/Lightning_Talks">LibrePlanet wiki</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>LibrePlanet 2020 offers lots of opportunities for socializing,
too!  The annual FSF open house will take place on the evening of
Friday, March 13th, at the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/contact/">FSF office</a>. And the LibrePlanet
Saturday night party will feature a sparkling new location. As we
have in the past, we'll <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020/saturday_dinner">organize a dinner</a> specifically for
women, genderqueer, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming
attendees, please mail <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> if you're interested
in joining. If you are looking to organize your own dinner or
meetup, you can do so using the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020">LibrePlanet wiki</a> 2020
conference social and dinner pages as a central place for
communication about this. </p>
<h3>Pre-order a LibrePlanet 2020 T-shirt by February 26</h3>
<p>You can <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/reserve-your-libreplanet-2020-t-shirt">pre-order a LibrePlanet 2020 commemorative T-shirt</a>
from the GNU Press shop. Make sure you order
your shirt by February 26 to guarantee availability in your size.</p>
<p>We are planning a photo with people wearing LibrePlanet T-shirts
this year. So if you have a vintage LibrePlanet T-shirt, sign up
on the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020/Tshirtphoto">LibrePlanet wiki T-shirt page</a>, bring it and we will
take a snazzy group photo!</p>
<h3>LibrePlanet needs volunteers -- maybe you!</h3>
<p>LibrePlanet has grown in size and scope, and its continued success
is thanks to dozens of volunteers who help prepare for and run the
conference. Volunteering is a great way to meet fellow community
members and contribute to LibrePlanet, even if you can't attend in
person! If you are interested in volunteering for LibrePlanet 2020,
email <a href="mailto:resources@fsf.org">&#114;&#101;&#115;&#111;&#117;&#114;&#99;&#101;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. We thank all of our on-site volunteers by offering
them gratis conference admission, lunch, and a LibrePlanet T-shirt.</p>
<h3>Seeking sponsors</h3>
<p>LibrePlanet cannot exist without the support of the community. If
you or your company would like to <a href="media/7ca1f554.Sponsoring2020.pdf" data-original-source="https://libreplanet.org/2020/sponsors/Sponsoring2020.pdf">sponsor or exhibit at
LibrePlanet</a>, please email <a href="mailto:resources@fsf.org">&#114;&#101;&#115;&#111;&#117;&#114;&#99;&#101;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>
<p>Your support will help sustain, energize, and inspire the free
software community. Sponsoring provides you the unique
opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to free software, and
engage with hundreds of legal and policy experts, developers,
students, activists, free software and technology enthusiasts,
and potential employees with your organization.</p>
<p>Spread the word about LibrePlanet 2020: blog or <a href="https://www.fsf.org/share">microblog</a> to let
people know that you'll be there, using the hashtag #libreplanet.</p>
<p>We hope to see you in four weeks at LibrePlanet! </p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/coming-soon-a-new-site-for-fully-free-collaboration
title: Coming soon: A new site for fully free collaboration
uri: Coming-soon-A-new-site-for-fully-free-collaboration
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/coming-soon-a-new-site-for-fully-free-collaboration
content:
<p>As we said in an end-of-year <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal/">post</a> highlighting our work
supporting free software development and infrastructure, the Free
Software Foundation (FSF) is planning to launch a public code hosting
and collaboration platform ("<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forge_%28software%29">forge</a>"), to launch in 2020. Members
of the FSF tech team are currently reviewing ethical Web-based
software that helps teams work on their projects, with features like
merge requests, bug tracking, and other common tools.</p>
<p>The new site will complement the current <a href="https://savannah.gnu.org/">GNU</a> and <a href="https://savannah.nongnu.org/">non-GNU</a>
Savannah servers, which we will continue to support and improve, in
collaboration with their awesome volunteer team. (By the way, if you
want to volunteer, please email <a href="mailto:savannah-hackers-public@gnu.org">&#115;&#97;&#118;&#97;&#110;&#110;&#97;&#104;&#45;&#104;&#97;&#99;&#107;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#45;&#112;&#117;&#98;&#108;&#105;&#99;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a> with
a note about your interest!)</p>
<p>Infrastructure is very important for free software, and it's
unfortunate that so much free software development currently relies on
sites that don't publish their source code, and require or encourage
the use of proprietary software.  Our <a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/repo-criteria.html">GNU ethical repository
criteria</a> aim to set a high standard for free software code
hosting, and we hope to meet that with our new forge.</p>
<p>We plan on contributing improvements upstream for the new forge
software we choose, to boost its score on those criteria. Our tech
team is small for the size of the network we maintain, and we don't
have any full-time developers who work for the FSF, so we are limited
in the amount of time we can spend on the software we choose. We'll
communicate with the upstream developers to request improvements and
help clarify any questions related to the ethical repository criteria.</p>
<p>So far, we have been researching a list of candidate programs, and
analyzing them in terms of ethical and practical criteria. Some of the
software candidates we're looking at were found on the <a href="https://directory.fsf.org">Free Software
Directory</a>. We aim to initially reach a B rating on the GNU ethical
repository criteria, and then to work towards reaching an A rating
after we launch. Reaching a B will require <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-librejs-new-and-improved">LibreJS</a> support, no
third party tracking, proper license information, and more. We also
came up with a list of practical criteria, which includes two-factor
authentication (2FA), high performance, being well supported upstream,
and other common forge features.</p>
<p>We are filtering out systems that are targeted toward single
organizations or companies, because we want users to be able to sign
up and create their own repos on our site. If you're looking for a
system to handle your organization's source code management needs,
there are some fully free options out there for you, including
<a href="https://kallithea-scm.org/">Kallithea</a>, <a href="https://allura.apache.org/">Allura</a>, and <a href="https://phacility.com/phabricator/">Phabricator</a>.</p>
<p>We also hope that in the future we'll be able to see decentralized,
federated collaboration platforms that meet most needs. We will
continue to be interested in that direction, but we think the need for
this freedom-respecting forge is time sensitive, so we're going to do
it with the free software we have available right now. Allowing issues
and other data to be imported and exported is a feature that we want
in our new forge, because that will at least ensure that users can
move to another instance of the same platform.</p>
<p>We are tracking our <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Fsf_2019_forge_evaluation">ongoing analysis</a> on the LibrePlanet wiki,
and will continue updating the page with information pertaining to our
research about free software for our upcoming forge.</p>
<p>The project will operate with a high level of transparency: we will
publish the source code that runs on the server and document how we
run the system, and we welcome volunteers to help guide and improve
the project.  Reach out to us at the <a href="https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-dev">LibrePlanet developers mailing
list</a> if you're interested in participating.</p>
<p>Up next for the FSF tech team is to do more research about systems
that have met our initial requirements, in order to find the best
options available. Once we know what we're interested in, we'll start
trying them out and performing more extensive tests.</p>
<p>Stay tuned to hear from us about the software stack we end up
choosing, and for our site launch announcement!</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-22-new-gnu-releases-in-february
title: GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 22 new GNU releases in February!
uri: GNU-Spotlight-with-Mike-Gerwitz-22-new-GNU-releases-in-February
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/gnu-spotlight-with-mike-gerwitz-22-new-gnu-releases-in-february
content:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/binutils/">binutils-2.34</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/bison/">bison-3.5.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/datamash/">datamash-1.6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/ed/">ed-1.16</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/">gdb-9.1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libc/">glibc-2.31</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/health/">gnuhealth-3.6.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/guile-debbugs/">guile-debbugs-0.0.3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/gwl/">gwl-0.2.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/hyperbole/">hyperbole-7.1.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/jacal/">jacal-1c6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libmicrohttpd/">libmicrohttpd-0.9.70</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/libtasn1/">libtasn1-4.16.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/nano/">nano-4.8</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/ncurses/">ncurses-6.2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/">octave-5.2.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/parallel/">parallel-20200222</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/scm/">scm-5f3</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/screen/">screen-4.8.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/shepherd/">shepherd-0.7.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/slib/">slib-3b6</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/wb/">wb-2b4</a></li>
</ul>
<p>For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
mailing list: <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu">https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu</a>.</p>
<p>To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
<a href="https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/">https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/</a>, or preferably one of its mirrors from
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html">https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html</a>.  You can use the URL
<a href="https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/">https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/</a> to be automatically redirected to a
(hopefully) nearby and up-to-date mirror.</p>
<p>This month, we welcome Sanjay Bhatnagar as maintainer of the new package
fussy.</p>
<p>A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint</a> if you'd like to
help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html</a>.</p>
<p>If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like
to offer to the GNU project as a GNU package, see
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html">https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html</a>.</p>
<p>As always, please feel free to write to us at <a href="mailto:maintainers@gnu.org">&#109;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#116;&#97;&#105;&#110;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#64;&#103;&#110;&#117;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>
with any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/update-on-covid-19-and-libreplanet-2020
title: Update on COVID-19 and LibrePlanet 2020
uri: Update-on-COVID-19-and-LibrePlanet-2020
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/update-on-covid-19-and-libreplanet-2020
content:
<p><a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020">LibrePlanet</a> has an important role in building ties and
collaboration in the free software movement, and we know how much
many people look forward to it each year. The onset of the novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) is a stressful and devastating
development. We are considering all possible measures that might
need to be taken as we carefully track the latest news
updates. We are committed to the safety of our attendees,
staff, and their wider communities, so we are approaching these
decisions carefully.</p>
<p>At this time, the risk for Massachusetts residents remains low,
and there are <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html">no travel notifications</a> for the United States or
Boston, MA. The latest update from the <a href="https://www.who.int/ith/2019-nCoV_advice_for_international_traffic-rev/en/">World Health
Organization (WHO)</a> from February 29 continues to advise
against the application of any international travel restrictions,
based on current information available. For the time being, we
are remaining optimistic that LibrePlanet 2020 can continue as
planned.</p>
<p>We will continue to monitor public health notifications, using
information provided by the City of Boston, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, the WHO, and the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)</a>, which is charged with monitoring and
responding to the coronavirus in the US. We are coordinating with
the venue to increase the disinfecting of surfaces and to have
sanitizer on site. Please be assured that we care about your
safety just as much as your freedom, and are taking every
precaution to ensure that the event is as inspiring and
successful as ever.</p>
<p>If you have traveled to an area <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports">known to be at risk to
COVID-19</a> in the month leading up to LibrePlanet 2020, please
ensure that you have shown no flu-like symptoms in the last 14
days since your travel to that region. If you decide to cancel
your registration for any reason related to this situation,
please let us know at <a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>, so we are fully
aware of how many people are being affected. If your registration
was paid, we will refund it. The event will be streamed
live, so you will not have to miss out on the entire experience.</p>
<p>Should the situation worsen, forcing a cancellation of the
in-person event, an announcement will follow on <a href="https://www.fsf.org">fsf.org</a> and
<a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020">libreplanet.org/2020</a>. All registered conference participants
will receive an update via email. We are also preparing
contingency plans to be able to offer at least some talks via
remote streaming.</p>
<p>Please keep yourself informed, and remember to protect your
own health and others' by following <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public">basic best
practices</a>. Again, we are taking every step
that we can to make LibrePlanet 2020 a safe experience for all of its
attendees. </p>
<p>Thank you for your continued support and understanding.</p>


title: Celebrating women in free software for International Women’s Day
uri: Celebrating-women-in-free-software-for-International-Women-s-Day
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/celebrating-women-in-free-software-for-international-women2019s-day

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/celebrating-women-in-free-software-for-international-women2019s-day

content:
<p>International Women’s Day is coming up this Sunday, March 8, and it’s
the perfect opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of some of
the amazing women in free software we’ll be featuring at the
<a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/">LibrePlanet 2020 conference</a>, coming up next weekend (March
14-15). As you’ll see, many women are doing exciting and important
work that ties into our "Free the Future" theme, demonstrating how
free software has the potential to unlock a better future for us all,
and building projects that will help us get there.</p>
<p>If you haven’t registered for the conference yet, we encourage you to
<a href="https://my.fsf.org/civicrm/event/info?id=87&amp;reset=1">register today</a>. Registration is possible online until March 10,
10:00 a.m Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Walk-in registration is also
normally possible, but we can't guarantee it. Plus, registering in
advance helps us anticipate how many people to expect!  And remember:
if you are a student or a Free Software Foundation (FSF) <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join">associate
member</a>, you can attend the conference gratis.</p>
<p>With that said: as we <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/environmental-activist-shannon-dosemagen-joins-fsf-conference-keynote-lineup">recently announced</a>, we’re proud to be
welcoming <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/public-lab-and-karen-sandler-are-2017-free-software-awards-winners-1/">Public Lab</a> co-founder Shannon Dosemagen as one of our
keynote speakers. Protecting the planet -- whatever that might mean to
you -- is of increasing concern in the year 2020, so Shannon was a
perfect fit for this year’s lineup: we know that the philosophy of the
four freedoms has something special and crucial to offer every social
movement. Her work demonstrates how both scientists and ordinary
people can apply ethics inspired by the free software philosophy. As
an environmental health advocate and community science champion,
Shannon has a lot to say about how "freeing the future" will help to
ensure that we <em>have</em> a future at all.</p>
<p>Another extraordinary activist will be kicking off the conference on
Saturday morning as part of our initial keynote panel, featuring
talented young free software developers: Alyssa Rosenzweig, a college
student who <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/introducing-alyssa-rosenzweig-intern-with-the-fsf-tech-team">interned at the FSF in 2018</a>. She is currently
studying Applied Mathematics at the University of Toronto, while also
working at Collabora and leading the Panfrost project to build a free
graphics stack for Mali GPUs. As you can see from her <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/alyssa-rosenzweigs-summer-internship-wrap-up">internship
wrap-up post</a>, her commitment and contributions to the free
software movement are vast already, and we can’t wait to hear what
insights she’ll be offering at the conference.</p>
<p>Another activist who has long kept her eyes trained on the future is
Micky Metts, a worker/owner of Agaric (agaric.coop) and last year’s
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-day-2-welcoming-everyone-to-the-world-of-free-software">closing keynote speaker</a>. Micky is a veteran of the free software
movement and a perennial LibrePlanet speaker. Her work concentrates on
the intersection of free software, platform cooperativism, technology
networks, design justice, and cooperative development. Her talk,
<a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/speakers/#2721">"Platform cooperativism, surveillance capitalism, predictive
analysis, and you,"</a> will concentrate on how this work is our best
hope to protect our data from surveillance and the increasingly
Orwellian future she addressed in <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org/u/libreplanet/m/how-can-we-prevent-the-orwellian-1984-digital-world/">last year’s keynote</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/speakers/#2692">Lucy Ingham</a> is a comparative newcomer to the world of free
software, but as a technology journalist zeroing in on how technology
shapes the world we live in, she has spent a lot of time warning the
world about the dangers of what she describes as the "Life as a
Service (LaaS)" model. The abstract she submitted for her talk,
"Rented future: The dangerous rise of life as a service" shares many
themes with <a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/doctorows_novella_unauthorized_bread_explains_why_we_have_fight_drm_today_avoid_grim_future">Cory Doctorow’s novella "Unauthorized Bread,"</a>,
connecting that ominous near-future to the unsettling realities of the
present.</p>
<p>These are only a few of the women who will be bringing their insights
and their work to LibrePlanet 2020, and we hope you’ll join us to see
them all, here in Boston next week!</p>


title: LibrePlanet 2020: In-person component canceled, but we'll see you online
uri: LibrePlanet-2020-In-person-component-canceled-but-we-ll-see-you-onli
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-in-person-component-canceled-but-well-see-you-online

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-in-person-component-canceled-but-well-see-you-online

content:
<p>It is with deep sadness that we are canceling all of the in-person
events associated with LibrePlanet 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19
outbreak and our corresponding concern for the safety of this
community. This includes the conference sessions on March 14 and 15,
and all Free Software Foundation (FSF)-organized social events on
March 13, 14, and 15.</p>
<p>However, just because we won't be holding a conference in person this
year doesn't mean that we've given up our fight to "free the future."
Instead, LibrePlanet will be a <strong>fully free (as in freedom) virtual
conference and livestream</strong>. We had an extremely exciting program
planned, and we're going to try and maintain as much of that schedule
as possible with all of the speakers who are willing and able to
participate remotely. The resulting livestream will be run on and
entirely accessible via free software, so that you can enjoy these
amazing talks from the comfort of your home.</p>
<p>With our small staff and the immense amount of other work to be done
for free software this year, we decided that rescheduling to later
this year would not be feasible, and that a virtual conference would
be much more valuable.</p>
<p>We changed our plans since our announcement last week because, over
the weekend, the number of presumptive coronavirus cases reported in
Massachusetts <a href="https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-cases-in-massachusetts/download">grew to 40</a>. We also have been receiving a steady
flow of speaker and attendee cancellations, indicating concern. The
continuous spread of the virus, the daily changes to the situation,
and its confirmed growth in the Boston area all made it impossible for
us to sufficiently guarantee people's safety attending the event. With
this issue out of the way, we can now focus all of our energy to
deliver the best possible version of the event online.</p>
<p>This decision has not been made lightly; the financial costs already
incurred in terms of money and staff time are a heavy burden on the
organization. We ask you for your understanding, and to please
consider making a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/donate">donation</a> to the FSF, especially as we move
forward with our plans to bring the conference to thousands of virtual
participants around the world. To those whose travel plans were
disrupted, please accept our apologies.</p>
<p>More information will be forthcoming. For now, please follow the
<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019">World Health Organization</a> guidelines about keeping safe during
this difficult time. Again, thank you for your patience and
understanding.</p>


title: Everything you need to know about LibrePlanet 2020, now fully online!
uri: Everything-you-need-to-know-about-LibrePlanet-2020-now-fully-online
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/everything-you-need-to-know-about-libreplanet-2020-now-fully-online

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/everything-you-need-to-know-about-libreplanet-2020-now-fully-online

content:
<p>It's been a bumpy road, but in just three days, <a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020">LibrePlanet 2020</a>
will continue -- now <strong>online-only</strong> for the first time, and via a
fully free streaming setup. We are excited to hear from our fantastic
speakers and connect with the global free software community. Read on
to see how you can participate!</p>
<h2><a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-in-person-component-canceled-but-well-see-you-online">All in-person events canceled</a> and discouraged</h2>
<p>As a reminder, we have canceled <em>all</em> in-person events associated with
LibrePlanet 2020. This includes the "extracurricular" events like the
FSF office open house, as well as the women and nonbinary dinner.</p>
<p>In the interest of everyone's health, even if you are in Boston, we
ask that you don't visit the FSF office unless you make specific
advance arrangements with us (such as for streaming your talk). We
normally pride ourselves on welcoming visitors year-round, so this is
hard for us too, but we appreciate your understanding. If you have any
further questions, please don't hesitate to write to
<a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>.</p>
<h2>How to watch online</h2>
<p>Our tech team will be working tirelessly during the entire conference
to make the online experience of the event as smooth as
possible. Bookmark the <a href="https://www.libreplanet.org/2020/live">libreplanet.org/2020/live</a> page as your
starting point.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/program/">schedule for the online conference</a> will be sticking as
closely to the original schedule as possible, with some variation due
to speaker availability and technical requirements -- only this time,
instead of speaking from Boston, talks will be delivered from all over
the "libre" planet! Thankfully, barring any last-minute complications,
we still anticipate our three exciting keynote speeches, with
presentations by Internet Archive founder <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/first-libreplanet-2020-keynote-announcement-internet-archive-founder-brewster-kahle">Brewster Kahle</a>, Public
Lab co-founder <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/environmental-activist-shannon-dosemagen-joins-fsf-conference-keynote-lineup">Shannon Dosemagen</a>, and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/young-hackers-to-deliver-opening-keynote-for-libreplanet-conference">a panel of young
hackers</a> talking about their interpretations of the conference's
"Free the Future" theme. You also won't want to miss the announcement
of this year's Free Software Award winners on Saturday evening.</p>
<p>Please note that the United States has just transitioned into Daylight
Saving Time (DST), which may have put us an hour further away from
your region. All times listed in the schedule are given in terms of
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTC%E2%88%9204:00">UTC−04:00</a> timezone.</p>
<h2>Audience participation</h2>
<p>As in past years, remote participation will be facilitated via the
timeless IRC communication platform, but our plans are expanding this
year, as we expect increased virtual participation from both viewers
and speakers. IRC will enable you to mingle with other LibrePlanet
participants, and will allow even more attendees to participate in
each session's Q&amp;A section, since an FSF staff member or volunteer
will be present for every session to collect questions from the chat,
and relay them to our speakers (assuming the speaker provides time for
questions). FSF staff and volunteers will also be present to ensure
that the online conference adheres to the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/safe-space-policy/">Safe Space Policy</a>.</p>
<p>As people have already become familiar with them and to prevent any
confusion, we are keeping the planned channel names, which were named
for the rooms in the venue we had intended to use. After all, everyone
can appreciate "freedom!"</p>
<p>You can participate in the LibrePlanet IRC chat by joining one of the
following channels, all on the <a href="https://freenode.net">Freenode network</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li>General: #libreplanet</li>
<li>Back Bay Grand Ballroom: #libreplanet_room_grand</li>
<li>Patriot Room: #libreplanet_room_patriot </li>
<li>Freedom Room: #libreplanet_room_freedom</li>
</ul>
<h2>Lightning talks</h2>
<p>One good thing about moving the conference to cyberspace is the
increased opportunity it gives us for lightning talks! We'll be able
to accept prerecorded lightning talks this year, giving you an
opportunity to give the world a (brief!) introduction to your favorite
free software project, or your free software-related ideas and
obsessions.</p>
<p>Lightning talks can be submitted following the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020/Lightning_Talks">instructions</a> we
posted. In order to ensure that our schedule stays on track, you must
keep your talk <strong>below five minutes</strong> in length. To keep LibrePlanet
memorable and engaging, we also ask that any prerecorded talks be
videos that were recorded for the purpose of LibrePlanet streaming,
and not be videos of talks you have given at other conferences or
events.</p>
<h1>Social media</h1>
<p>Are you on GNU social, Mastodon, Diaspora, or another microblogging
platform? Please post <strong>I'm watching #LibrePlanet online! at
https://u.fsf.org/live</strong>, and share your experience.</p>
<p>We will be posting continual updates throughout both days of the
conference. Follow the Free Software Foundation on these microblog
services:</p>
<ul>
<li>GNU social at status.fsf.org/fsf        <br />
</li>
<li>Mastodon at @fsf@hostux.social             <br />
</li>
<li>fsf@framasphere.org on Diaspora        <br />
</li>
</ul>
<p>You can also find us on Twitter at twitter.com/fsf -- to read about
why we use Twitter, but only with caveats, see <a href="https://www.fsf.org/twitter">fsf.org/twitter</a>.</p>
<h2>Support the FSF by buying LibrePlanet T-shirts and other gear</h2>
<p>We're going to have to forego the famous GNU Press merchandise table
this year, but you'll still be able to order as many shirts, scarves,
books, and sundry items as you like from the <a href="https://shop.fsf.org">FSF's online
shop</a>. From there, you can get your souvenir shirt <a href="https://shop.fsf.org/tshirts-hoodies/libreplanet-2020-t-shirt">commemorating
the first ever fully online LibrePlanet</a>. If you have
pre-purchased a LibrePlanet 2020 T-shirt, expect to hear from us
soon. Your purchases are key to funding LibrePlanet and the rest of
the FSF's work.</p>
<p>In previous years, you've also been able to buy raffle tickets at the
GNU Press table to win great freedom-respecting prizes. While we won't
be able to hold a raffle online, we will be announcing prize giveaways
next week. Stay tuned!</p>
<h2>Requesting a registration fee refund</h2>
<p>If you're not an <a href="https://fsf.org/join">FSF associate member</a>, it's likely that you paid
for a conference registration. Before requesting a refund, we ask that
you keep in mind that the FSF is a nonprofit with a social mission,
and canceling an event the size of LibrePlanet places a large
financial and administrative burden on us. Please consider using the
price of your admission as a donation to the FSF to show your support.</p>
<p>At the same time, we understand that the conference you paid to attend
is no longer happening in the same way. If you would like to request a
refund, please email your request to <a href="mailto:info@fsf.org">&#105;&#110;&#102;&#111;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a></p>
<p>We look forward to seeing you online at this year's LibrePlanet! </p>


title: LibrePlanet day 1: Can free software carry an entire online conference? Yes, it can!
uri: LibrePlanet-day-1-Can-free-software-carry-an-entire-online-conference
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-day-1-can-free-software-carry-an-entire-online-conference-yes-it-can

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-day-1-can-free-software-carry-an-entire-online-conference-yes-it-can

content:
<img src="media/9c9ea6d4.team.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/team.jpg" alt="Photo of FSF tech team monitoring the conference streams" style="float: right; width: 250px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px;" />

<p>Sometimes, all of your best-laid plans can go awry, and when COVID-19
collided with <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/">LibrePlanet 2020</a>, the Free Software Foundation
(FSF) staff and management had to make an incredibly tough decision:
how were we to weigh the risk of a spreading pandemic against our most
important yearly event? Within the space of a week, we had to change
course from months of scrupulous planning and figure out how to ensure
that our carefully-composed program could move forward, giving the
worldwide free software community access to the experts, creators, and
enthusiasts we had planned to bring together in Boston. We were
incredibly excited to present this slate of free software luminaries
and newcomers, all eager to discuss what it will take to "Free the
Future," and we weren't about to let all of that effort go to waste.</p>
<p>Thankfully, free software activists aren't afraid of a little
adversity, and are accustomed to taking on challenges. In only a few
days, we fully shifted gears to deliver the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/program/">LibrePlanet 2020
program</a> remotely, with online talks streaming in from all over the
world. We're so grateful to our speakers, who have been so flexible,
and to the last-minute benefactors that volunteered to help fill any
gaps that might ensue. All this allowed us to present you with a
nearly full program for the event!</p>
<img src="media/913cb468.greg.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/greg.jpg" alt="Photo of FSF campaigns manager Greg Farough moderating remote panel" style="float: right; width: 250px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px;" />

<p>Usually the FSF office is packed to the seams with visitors from all
over the world during our Friday night open house and our Saturday
night hack night. While we had to discourage all visitors and
volunteers from coming due to the COVID-19 risk, the office was still
bustling all day, since it served as the home base for our online
conference operation. Our intrepid copyright and licensing associate
Craig Topham made a deep clean of the "<a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/fsf/status/1238494495425155073?p=p">pirate room</a>," and the tech
team worked practically overnight on our fully free <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020/Streaming">streaming setup
for 2020</a>. The conference was brought to viewers around the world
using entirely free software: our local <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jitsi">Jitsi</a> instance,
<a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Gstreamer">Gstreamer</a> and <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Icecast">Icecast</a>.</p>
<p>Today's program kicked off with a panel calculated to line up
perfectly with the conference theme: the "Free the Future" keynote
panel featured a group of talented hackers in their teens and early
twenties, interviewed by FSF campaigns manager Greg Farough. Speakers
Alyssa Rosenzweig, Taowa, and Erin Moon each shared stories of how
they discovered free software, and shared insights they feel are
essential to the future of the free software movement.</p>
<p>Alyssa, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/interns/2018/alyssa-rosenzweig">who interned at the FSF in 2018</a>, spoke eloquently about
how important it is for our community to come together: "We cannot let
fear of future dystopia drive us, quibbling over semantics of our fear
and burning out by the fires we chase, but rather must unite in
constructive optimism propelling us to free the future." She added,
"Optimism is also critical for we free software activists. We need to
empathize and support each other as a community, not demonize
imperfections. Measured against our dream utopia, none of us are
perfect. Judging others is emotional mutiny to the movement. Judging
ourselves, however, is a one-way ticket to activist burnout. But if we
focus on the constructive love of freedom instead of the destructive
forces we fight, our movement becomes sustainable..."</p>
<p>The morning's conversation turned on a variety of topics, including
free software community building, mobile phone freedom, and the unique
role decentralized (or "federated") social media plays when it comes
to bringing users freedom. Taowa shared his experiences as a
non-uploading Debian Developer, discussing the challenges of
organizing Debian's own conference, DebConf. Erin, who came to
free software by way of her work in digital signal processing, had
special insights to share on how free software is poised to being
people freedom on the Web.</p>
<p>The first morning session started on an creative note with a lesson in
"Digital painting with Krita on GNU/Linux: Cute creature concept art"
from French cartoonist David Revoy, whose Web comic <em>Pepper&amp;Carrot</em> is
created with an entirely free workflow. Revoy demonstrated the
capabilities of the free software painting program <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Krita">Krita</a> to draw
two adorable GNU from start to finish. Other sessions were a
presentation by journalist Lucy Ingham called "Rented future: The
dangerous rise of life as a service," and an expert overview of free
software in the US government by Karen Johnson and Fen Labalme.</p>
<p>In the next session, online viewers chose between learning about
encryption with engineer DeeDee Lavinder, about free software
community building in the US versus China with artist and programmer
Giselle Jhunjhnuwala, and methods for educating students about the
importance of ethical software with William Liggett. DeeDee gave
viewers a crash course into the "huge topic" of encryption, which
touches the lives of every software user, providing technical and
non-technical users alike with a conceptual overview of free software
encryption technology and its importance.</p>
<p>After a brief lunch break, sessions resumed with more lessons about
free software communities from developer advocate JJ Asghar, a visit
to the fascinating world of typography with Felipe Sanches, and a
passionate motivation for broader use of free software from local high
school student Ben O'Neill, who correctly points out that free
software provides a far more environmentally sustainable model for
computing than the "planned obsolescence" model embraced by most
proprietary manufacturers.</p>
<p>The next time slot lined up a choice of interesting questions for
online participants: would you prefer to learn about how copyleft can
be used to disrupt the "smart device" dystopia from former FSF
executive director Bradley Kuhn. Or, would you prefer to find out how
free software can improve the future of farming, with a dynamic panel
from the Gathering for Open Ag Tech (goatech.org)? Or, would you
prefer a freewheeling metaphor comparing bicycles and free software,
from perennial LibrePlanet speaker Wm "Salt" Hale? (Luckily, if you
were having trouble deciding, you don't have to miss out on any of
these -- videos of all of these talks will be available at the
<a href="https://media.libreplanet.org">LibrePlanet video library</a>).</p>
<p>Talks in the next session got down to practical nuts and bolts: where
is free software being used in real life, and by whom? Robb Ebright
explained how his community radio station uses LibreTime, an
AGPLv3-licensed radio automation system, while Paul Gazillo and Joshua
Santana explained how free software provides the best tools to enable
free scientific inquiry, and Camille Akmut presented their study of
exactly how diverse free software projects are (and aren't). All in
all, it was an engaging look into the practical "future" of free
software: both in terms of how we can welcome an ever-changing
userbase into the community, as well as how free software can be used
to transmit other kinds of messages out to the world.</p>
<p>The last multi-talk slot of the day included LibrePlanet 2019 keynote
Micky Metts digging deeper into her thoughts on how we can control our
own data, Document Foundation co-founder Italo Vignoli taking a look
back at ten years in the life of LibreOffice. Micky painted a somewhat
frightening picture about the future surveillance capitalism is
creating for us -- and what we can and must do to stop it. On the
other hand, Italo gave an overview of the successes the LibreOffice
project has seen in such a short time, becoming a free software
writing and presentation suite used by millions around the world.</p>
<p>Finally, the day ended with a keynote by FSF executive director John
Sullivan, including the bestowal of the 2019 Free Software Awards. The
winners had already been notified in advance (under ordinary
circumstances, they would have been present and would each be giving a
talk on Sunday). This gave the FSF the opportunity
to praise the accomplishments of the three winners: longtime free
software contributor and author Jim Meyering, talented newbie Clarissa
Lima Borges, and the Let's Encrypt project. Each winner chose the
person who would present them with the award. In fact, reaching out to
the community is something we plan to do even more as we move forward
with LibrePlanet 2021.</p>
<p>In his keynote address following the award presentation ceremony,
Sullivan announced the beginning of a new working group on free
software communication technology. True to the conference's mission to
"free the future," this working group will combine the free software
acumen of the FSF with experts working in the related fields.
Together, the working group will identify and publicly document the
most pressing issues facing the freedom of person-to-person
communication, with the goal of having ethical solutions to virtual
events, online education, and workplace collaboration. In a situation
like the present COVID-19 pandemic, these are precisely the tools that
we need.</p>
<p>This year's volunteering tasks were very different but no less
essential than in the past, and we're so grateful for all of the
volunteers helping out and taking the time to keep our IRC channels
peaceful and orderly. We're also grateful for raffle donors
Technoethical, Vikings, JMP, No Starch Press, and ThinkPenguin. Since
we weren't able to organize an online raffle, we're scheming some fun
ways to parcel out these goodies, so keep an eye on fsf.org for future
announcements!</p>
<p>Join us for the second day of <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/live/">LibrePlanet 2020</a>, streaming live to you
tomorrow at 09:30 EDT!</p>


title: LibrePlanet 2020 online: Second day of the conference closes on a high note
uri: LibrePlanet-2020-online-Second-day-of-the-conference-closes-on-a-high
feed_id:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-online-second-day-of-the-conference-closes-on-a-high-note

url:
http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-online-second-day-of-the-conference-closes-on-a-high-note

content:
<img src="media/105af58d.brickman.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/brickman.jpg" alt="Photo of a toy brick person viewing the LibrePlanet conference page" style="float: right; width: 250px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px;" />

<p>This followed on the heels of the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-day-1-can-free-software-carry-an-entire-online-conference-yes-it-can">previous day</a>'s
presentation of the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/lets-encrypt-jim-meyering-and-clarissa-lima-borges-receive-fsfs-2019-free-software-awards">Free Software Awards</a> to Let's Encrypt, Jim
Meyering, and Clarissa Lima Borges, along with Free Software
Foundation (FSF) executive director John Sullivan's announcement of a
new FSF-sponsored working group to document and address the problem of
proprietary communication tools. Just like the first day, the FSF
coordinated with remote speakers and viewers from around the world via
a <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020/Streaming">fully free streaming setup</a> which, while not without its
technical challenges, proved that putting on a high quality conference
using only free software is indeed possible. And in a look into the
future of LibrePlanet itself, FSF program manager Zoë Kooyman
announced the FSF's plans to create a LibrePlanet Community Council,
which could provide input on matters at the heart of the conference's
organization.</p>
<p>Appropriate to the conference theme of "Free[ing] the Future," Shannon
Dosemagen kicked off day two of the conference with her talk "For us,
by us: Free technology, community science, and the pursuit of
environmental problem solving." In a prerecorded talk delivered to the
conference, she speculated about free software's ability to lend
assistance to community science efforts aiming to address
environmental concerns. Drawing from her work with Public Lab, a
recipient of the 2017 Free Software Award for Projects of Social
Benefit, Dosemagen used the 2010 BP oil disaster as a lens to view the
progress of free technology for environmental monitoring. She then
joined the conference remotely via <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jitsi">Jitsi</a> to take questions from a
large audience in the LibrePlanet IRC channel on Freenode.</p>
<img src="media/9f8e066a.zoe.JPG" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/zoe.JPG" alt="Zoë Kooyman giving closing notes" style="float: left; width: 250px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px;" />

<p>Following Shannon was a presentation connecting the free software
movement with Mahatma Gandhi's Charkha movement, delivered by longtime
free software activist and Unmukti Technology founder Nishant Sharma.
Sharma was the first speaker that day to deliver a live talk and Q&amp;A
session from a remote location. Drawing parallels between the free
software movement and Gandhi's method of political organization that
prioritized self-sufficiency, Sharma discussed how the principles of
the Charkha movement and the principles of the free software movement
could mutually inform one another, creating the "Gandhian way to
freedom and privacy." Also in this block was Lex Pan Law founder McCoy
Smith's update on where the free software movement currently stands in
its fight to end software patents. As the mere existence of software
patents poses a threat to the continued success and longevity of free
software, Smith's comprehensive explanation of recent key legal cases
in the changing judicial interpretation of software patents was a
great help to both newcomers and longtime veterans of the fight for
user freedom.</p>
<p>"Community" is a concept we often highlight in discussions of free
software, but there are certain geographic and national contexts in
which adapting our work to every community becomes a challenge. How do
we, as free software contributors, approach communities where more
thank 25 different languages are spoken? Özcan Oğuz and Alper Atmaca
from <a href="https://oyd.org.tr/en/">Özgür Yazılım Derneği</a> addressed precisely this question,
detailing their work translating free software materials into the wide
variety of Anatolian languages, including Kurdish, Zazaki, Lazuri, and
Homshetsi. Before their work, many of these communities were unable to
use any type of software in their own language, let alone access
documentation. Oğuz, who delivered the session remotely, and Atmaca,
who was present in the FSF office, detailed their impressive work to
localize GNOME, Firefox, and other core GNU/Linux programs into all of
these languages.</p>
<p>While most of the conference focused on free software's moving
forward, developer Dennis Payne looks back. In a session titled "Free
software game restoration," Payne emphasized video games' importance
to the cultural and historical record, and highlighted the problem of
older free software games that no longer run on modern GNU/Linux
systems. By utilizing our freedom to study and modify these early
games, we can ensure that they're able to be played and enjoyed for
years to come.</p>
<img src="media/acfd7aec.alper.JPG" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/alper.JPG" alt="Photo of speaker and volunteer Alper Atmaca" style="float: right; width: 250px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px;" />

<p>The movement to free the future was brought much closer to home with
Sean O'Brien's presentation "GNU Health Embedded: An introduction,"
which gave an overview of recent updates to a version of the GNU
Health project designed to work on pocket-sized computers. Targeting
these platforms enables the program to be deployed into a wide variety
of different environments, and optionally, defend its users' privacy
through use of the Tor network. O'Brien gave several case scenarios
for GNU Health's use in embedded environments while, in another
session, recent <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards">Free Software Award</a> winner for Outstanding New
Contributor Clarissa Lima Borges explored the accessibility challenges
non-technical users face when first coming to free software. Drawing
from her work on improving user experience in GNOME, Borges's talk
told the "love story" between free software and its users, and
emphasized how relatively trivial changes to a program's visual design
can go a long way in improving the user experience for all.</p>
<p>An online conference is nothing without some technical glitches and
resolves. Speaker der.hans, whose talk was interrupted in the morning,
returned in the afternoon to consider the future from a social media
angle with his talk "Fediverse: Decentralized social networking and
services." Der.hans gave users who may not be familiar with the
federated Web's core concepts a crash course into popular free
software server software like Mastodon, PeerTube, and Pixelfed.</p>
<p>Following O'Brien in the "Freedom" room of the conference were Devin
Ulibarri and Walter Bender of Sugar Labs, who gave an overview of the
project's developers, teachers, and students coming together to work
on educational free software projects. Sugar Labs's application of
this community effort is widely varied, ranging from hacking on
introductory, visual programming languages to contributing to critical
components of the Sugar OS distribution of the GNU/Linux operating
system. This free spirit of collaboration continued on through Lori
Nagel's talk on the reliance free software games have upon free
cultural visual assets, the complex 2D drawings and 3D models that
often have entire teams working on them to deliver a memorable
experience. Notably, the focus of Nagel's talk was easy ways for those
who enjoy free software games to start contributing to their favorite
one, even if they currently lack programming skills.</p>
<p>In the "Patriot" room of the conference, developer Charles Lehner gave
viewers a summary of the Secure Scuttlebutt project, an
"offline-first" social networking protocol that allows its users to
disconnect from the wider "web" and resync at any time -- making it
ideal for those who live the nomadic, "solarpunk" lifestyle Lehner
went on to describe. But things in the movement aren't always fun and
games, and they aren't always especially clear either. Patrick Masson
brought participants back into the "Grand" room of the virtual
conference, delivering his talk "The Four Free-ums." As the movement
is growing each day and attracts attention from both curious onlookers
and big business, Masson reiterated the need for free software to
stick to its founding principles, and what sets of tests successful
free projects may have to overcome. He discussed how recent, "novel"
takes on software freedom from outsiders at best leverage, or at
worst, exploit the success of the four freedoms. This "free-washing"
behavior is exactly what we recently called Microsoft out on with our
<a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/tell-microsoft-to-upcycle-windows-7-set-it-free">Upcycle Windows 7 campaign</a>.</p>
<img src="media/47bb9c1f.ian.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/ian.jpg" alt="Photo of the FSF tech team coordinating with remote conference speakers" style="float: left; width: 250px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px;" />

<p>Just like any other social justice movement, the push for software
freedom has its share of conflicts and interpersonal rifts between
users and different projects. A past LibrePlanet speaker and free
software activist, Katheryn Sutter, addressed these issues in a
presentation entitled "Community healing: Re-establishing norms,
trust, and truth after crises." Using her years of experience in
grassroots organizations, Sutter shed light on how free software
activists can learn from the history of other political causes. In the
"Patriot" room the topic presented on was more "hands-on," with Marc
Jones and Robert Read giving viewers a demonstration of devices that
extend free software principles into the world of public invention
projects.</p>
<p>In his closing keynote, "Locking the Web open: A decentralized web
that can operate as free software does," Internet Archive founder
Brewster Kahle revisited the explosive growth of the Internet over the
first thirty years of its existence, and emphasized the importance of
ensuring its original values are encoded into the framework of the Web
itself. Kahle highlighted user privacy, free speech, and free access
to knowledge as the key concepts that drove its original growth. In a
big win for freedom, Kahle also announced that the Internet Archive
has placed all the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html">JavaScript</a> that it has written itself and
which it distributes to users visiting the Wayback Machine under the
<a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.en.html">AGPLv3</a>. "The Internet Archive generally distributes software
under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL), but has released
some software under other licenses," Kahle said. "In preparation for
LibrePlanet 2020, we have declared the AGPLv3 license on JavaScript
used on archive.org, web.archive.org (the Wayback Machine), and
openlibrary.org. Live free!"</p>
<p>As you have likely noticed, LibrePlanet 2020's second day was jammed
full with practical free software knowledge and inspiring calls to
further action and improvement, enough so that users in the IRC
conference rooms repeatedly expressed their anticipation of the final
recorded videos. We couldn't agree more, and are working on getting
the sessions transcoded and finalized as fast as we can! To help make
these talks accessible for everyone, we're dependent on volunteer
transcribers. Please send in any talk transcriptions to
<a href="mailto:campaigns@fsf.org">&#99;&#97;&#109;&#112;&#97;&#105;&#103;&#110;&#115;&#64;&#102;&#115;&#102;&#46;&#111;&#114;&#103;</a>. It's been an exhilarating trip to turn a
conference cancellation into a successful virtual conference in such a
short amount of time, and all of us at the FSF deeply appreciate our
speakers' and participants' <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/ways-to-donate/">support</a> and enthusiasm for the future
of free software. We'll see you at LibrePlanet 2021!</p>
<p>Stay well! </p>
<p>The LibrePlanet Team </p>
<p>Photo credits: Ruben Rodriguez, © 2020, Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International</a> license.</p>


feed_id: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/looking-back-at-libreplanet-2020-freeing-the-future-together
title: Looking back at LibrePlanet 2020: Freeing the future together
uri: Looking-back-at-LibrePlanet-2020-Freeing-the-future-together
url: http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/looking-back-at-libreplanet-2020-freeing-the-future-together
content:
<img src="media/bb5b517e.team2.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/team2.jpg" alt="LibrePlanet online" style="float: right; width: 250px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px;" />

<p>On March 14 and 15, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) held
LibrePlanet 2020: Free the Future online. The virtual edition of
LibrePlanet was nothing short of a success, and it was quite a journey
to get there.</p>
<p>Looking back to a week before the conference, we had an incredible
lineup, exciting plans, and more new program elements than we've ever
had before. With a new logo designed by <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/introducing-valessio-brito-intern-with-the-fsf-tech-team">campaigns intern Valessio
Brito</a>, a refresh to the <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/">LibrePlanet 2020 Web site</a>, renewed
focus on using the <a href="https://libreplanet.org">LibrePlanet wiki</a> to collaborate, and with a
new home at the Back Bay Events Center, we were ready to receive
hundreds of free software supporters in Boston for another successful
conference. And then everything changed.</p>
<p>Our in-person event suffered the consequences of the global COVID-19
pandemic, forcing us to make the difficult decision of bringing
LibrePlanet 2020 online in order to protect our supporters, staff, and
all the many interrelated communities. There was no time to pause and
mourn: instead, the FSF team put our heads together fast and charted a
new direction.</p>
<p>Within the scope of five days, we were able to move the conference
from an in-person experience to a live streaming event, thanks to the
heroic efforts of our talented tech team, our volunteers, and the
flexibility and cooperation of our scheduled speakers, even some
previously unscheduled ones. We hosted three sessions at a time for
both days of the conference, bringing viewers thirty-five streamed
talks from forty-five speakers, as well as eight lightning
talks. Technical difficulties were few and far between, and when one
of our speakers asked how many nations were tuning in, within the span
of eighteen seconds, twelve countries were identified.</p>
<p><figure>
<figure style="float: left; width: 250px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 10px;">
<img src="media/7f264c72.masterminignu.jpeg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/masterminignu.jpeg" alt="David Revoy minignu" style="width: 250px;" />
<figcaption><em>GNUess</em> created in the live Krita demonstration by <a href="https://www.peppercarrot.com/"><em>Pepper &amp; Carrot</em></a> artist David Revoy.</figcaption>
</figure style>
</figure></p>
<p>Hosting a fully virtual event was new for everyone involved, and <a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-day-1-can-free-software-carry-an-entire-online-conference-yes-it-can">on
Saturday</a>, we were happy to find out that everyone's efforts of the
week leading into the conference paid off. We hosted our own
<a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Jitsi">Jitsi</a> instance for remote speakers, using a screen capture of the
video call to stream out to the world via <a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Gstreamer">Gstreamer</a> and
<a href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Icecast">Icecast</a>. Speakers all logged in during the week for testing,
sometimes multiple times, to work through any technical difficulties,
and ensure a smooth experience for viewing. Some speakers prerecorded
their sessions and others joined live, but nearly all of them joined
in the Freenode <a href="https://webchat.freenode.net/">IRC channels</a> for their Q&amp;A sessions, which
created a positive interactive social experience.</p>
<p>We will post a more detailed technical explanation, and some advice
for other conference organizers based on our experience, soon. Our
tech team is currently processing videos of all talks, and we will
publish them for viewing in the <a href="https://media.libreplanet.org">conference video library</a>. Some
additional speaker resources have been <a href="https://libreplanet.org/wiki/LibrePlanet:Conference/2020/resources">posted</a> on the LibrePlanet
wiki. For the first time, by popular demand, we are also working on
getting the audiostreams for the talks up via RSS feed, so you can
discover talks or catch the ones you missed in your favorite
podcasting app or RSS reader.</p>
<img src="media/47671b90.Clarissa.JPG" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/Clarissa.JPG" alt="LibrePlanet online" style="float: right; width: 250px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px;" />

<p>The <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/lets-encrypt-jim-meyering-and-clarissa-lima-borges-receive-fsfs-2019-free-software-awards">winners of the 2019 Free Software Awards</a> all accepted their
awards by prerecorded video message. As the ceremony was conducted
virtually this year, each winner selected the person to present them
the award. Jim Meyering, who received the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/fs-award/">Award for the Advancement
of Free Software</a>, was virtually handed his award by founder of
the GNU Project and the FSF, Richard Stallman, and sent in his
acceptance speech from the UK. Clarissa Lima Borges, a young Brazilian
developer, was digitally awarded the golden record for the new <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/onfsc-award">Award
for Outstanding New Free Software Contributor</a> by Alexandre Oliva,
acting co-president of the FSF. Acting co-president and executive
director John Sullivan presented the <a href="https://www.fsf.org/awards/sb-award/">Award for Projects of Social
Benefit</a>, which went to Let's Encrypt, a nonprofit certificate
authority that hopes to make encrypted Web traffic the default state
of the entire Internet.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-online-second-day-of-the-conference-closes-on-a-high-note">On day two</a>, another diverse group of speakers called in to
discuss the future of free software, casting light on the topic from
their own individual fields of expertise. Licensing, government
integration, community building, and other free software topics were
discussed. Our speakers work with, and advocate for, free software in
many different disciplines. We value seeing people with a wide range
of perspectives commit to the core principles of free software. Over
the weekend, we noticed many sessions highlighting how a movement like
free software is carried by the strength of people who believe change
is necessary and achievable. Speakers discussed the developments of
federated social media and a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/first-libreplanet-2020-keynote-announcement-internet-archive-founder-brewster-kahle">decentralized Web</a>, teaching free
software to children, <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/young-hackers-to-deliver-opening-keynote-for-libreplanet-conference">engaging young developers</a>, community
healing, as well as different applications of <a href="https://www.fsf.org/news/environmental-activist-shannon-dosemagen-joins-fsf-conference-keynote-lineup">"public
invention"</a>.</p>
<img src="media/105af58d.brickman.jpg" data-original-source="https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/libreplanet/2020/communications/brickman.jpg" alt="Photo of a toy brick person viewing the LibrePlanet conference page" style="float: left; width: 250px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px;" />

<p>This focus on community and collaboration is a core idea behind the
LibrePlanet network and conference, and the FSF has been working on
plans to get the LibrePlanet community more involved in organizational
aspects of the conference in the future, including session
selection. This resonates with FSF executive director John Sullivan's
announcement of our plans to create a working group documenting the
obstacles facing free communication tools like Jitsi, which we used
for the livestream, and how to encourage our friends and loved ones to
turn away from chat and conferencing tools that do not respect their
freedom. We want the world to be able to host virtual conferences like
LibrePlanet without needing the technical expertise of an organization
like the FSF behind them. With your help, we aim to make it as easy as
getting some friends and participants together and pressing a button.</p>
<p>LibrePlanet 2020: Free the Future highlighted the capacity this
community has to empower each other. We are so grateful for the
support we received from our <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/speakers/">speakers</a>, our viewers, IRC
participants, <a href="https://my.fsf.org/join">associate members</a>, and everyone who recognized the
challenge we have been confronted with and decided to <a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate">donate</a>, as
well as our volunteers, and <a href="https://libreplanet.org/2020/sponsors/">exhibitors and sponsors</a>. All of this
support and enthusiasm made the disappointment of having to cancel the
in-person event fade quickly, in return for much needed excitement to
work tirelessly on this new challenge of streaming the entire
conference online.</p>
<p>We're so proud to have demonstrated what free software is capable
of. It would not have been possible without the extra work and
positive responses from our speakers, the flexibility and commitment
of our volunteers, or without the excitement, patience, and enthusiasm
of our online participants. We look forward to seeing you again, in
person next year, for LibrePlanet 2021!</p>
<p><em>Photo credits: Ruben Rodriguez, © 2020, Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International</a> license.</em></p>
<p><em>"GNUess" by David Revoy. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International</a> license.</em></p>


