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Dear Free Software Supporter,

> *"John F. Kennedy once said that a farmer is the only person
> 'in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything
> at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.'*
>
> *This exploitation has extended into the age of data, where
> corporate agriculture tech giants sell proprietary software to
> farmers that funnel enormous amounts of valuable data into
> closed and proprietary databases, which is then used to sell
> more seed, inputs, and hardware back to the farmers. Free
> software offers a way to give back control to the people in
> this economy who produce valuable resources like food, and the
> environmental and agricultural knowledge surrounding it.*
>
> *Working together, we can ensure that this knowledge is put
> toward the benefit of everyone, not just a small set of large
> company shareholders. This is how we will achieve true
> sustainability in the coming centuries."*

The above is a statement from [Michael Stenta][1], lead developer
of [FarmOS][2], and a [LibrePlanet 2020 speaker][3]. He
submitted his thoughts for us to add to the ["Working Together
for Free Software" pages][4], which we have been updating as part
of a [summer push][5] highlighting "free software in action."
On these pages, we explore the different reasons why people dedicate their time
to free software, and highlight all the different ways that user
freedom is important to them.

[1]: [link removed]
[2]: [link removed]
[3]: [link removed]
[4]: [link removed]
[5]: [link removed]

With each submission that comes in, we realize again just how far
the fight for software freedom stretches. Thankfully, like
Michael and many other community members that we have [spoken to
recently][6], there are people all over the globe and in many
industries, who are fighting for justice.

[6]: [link removed]

Right here in the Boston area, [Micky Metts][7] (also known as
[FreeScholar][8], and a member of [Agaric][9], a worker-owned
cooperative of Web developers), is working with the Boston Public
School system to host an online Learning Management System (LMS),
as schools will not be open for the summer, and possibly not even
in the fall. Agaric is using some packages the FSF put together
with [Canvas][10] as the LMS and BigBlueButton as the video
chat/whiteboard. On Micky's ["Working Together" page][7], you can
find more information about the timely and relevant work that
Agaric does with free software in education, immigration, and
community engagement.

[7]: [link removed]
[8]: [link removed]
[9]: [link removed]
[10]: [link removed]

When asked why free software is so important, Micky tells us:

> *"When data consumption and data breaches at large corporations are at
> an all-time high, organizations need to understand that using
> proprietary solutions for their customers and clients puts everyone at
> a great disadvantage."*

Even where the FSF is not directly involved, our broad work
advocating for the principles of free software and best practices
in its licensing and development help make and hold the space for
others to accomplish impressive feats for freedom. We will
continue to give people like Michael and Micky [a platform][11],
and, most importantly, we help grow the community of people that
are taking on this important work of defending user freedom in
this time when proprietary software corporations are exploiting
the consequences of the virus in more ways than we can imagine.

[11]: [link removed]


Your support has helped drive the FSF forward. Can you take the
next step by [joining us][18] as an associate member? You can start
for as little as $10 per month ($5 for students), or $120 per
year. You'll be able to enjoy all the [member benefits][19], which
includes merchandise discounts, a bootable membership card, and now,
access to the [FSF videoconferencing][20] server.
[18]: [link removed]
[19]: [link removed]
[20]: [link removed]

FSF members do not just support our work financially, which will
help us weather the challenges of this year, but also help us
launch new initiatives, and put weight behind our campaigns,
licensing, and technical work. This summer, our goal is to reach
200 new associate members.

You can also share your own story about your field or industry,
and how you are using free software to defend \#UserFreedom via
social media, in our [LibrePlanet mailing][21] list, or, if you
are an FSF associate member, on [the forum][22]. Knowing that
there are people standing up for freedom all over the world is
inspiring. Connecting with the community over your challenges and
successes will help us all get stronger.

[21]: [link removed]
[22]: [link removed]

The [FSF is also taking action][23] to defend
students' \#UserFreedom. Read more, and [sign the petition][24] for
freedom in the classroom.

[23]: [link removed]
[24]: [link removed]

Thank you for being part of this fight.

Zoë Kooyman
Program Manager

--
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<[link removed]>, Diaspora at <[link removed]>,
and on Twitter at <[link removed]>.
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Sent from the Free Software Foundation,

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