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Dear Free Software Supporter,

"Free the Future" will be the theme for the twelfth annual LibrePlanet
conference on free software, to be held in March 2020, in the Boston
area. The call for sessions is now open. General registration,
exhibitor registration, and sponsorship opportunities will open soon.

**The [Free Software Foundation (FSF)][1] 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 [submit a
proposal][2] for a session at our twelfth annual social justice and
technology [LibrePlanet conference][3]. 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.**

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

*[Submissions to the call for sessions][2] are being accepted through
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 12:00pm Eastern Standard time (17:00
UTC).*

Over the last decade, LibrePlanet has blossomed from a small gathering
of FSF associate 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
<[link removed]>.

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 [proprietary "smart" personal
assistants][4]. 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.

[4]:[link removed]

Surveillance developments are becoming more and more unsettling
because of the use of [facial recognition by state and county
agencies][5]. The [FBI is planning to actively monitor our social
media activity][6] in the name of "safety." Can free software help
defend our rights?

[5]:[link removed]
[6]:[link removed]

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 [International Day Against Digital Restrictions Management
(DRM)][7], 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.

[7]:[link removed]

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 **"Free the Future."**

---

#About LibrePlanet

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 [presentations and videos][8] from previous years.

[8]:[link removed]

From a LibrePlanet visitor: *"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."*

----

#What kind of sessions are we looking for?

* Examine free software through this year's theme, **"Free the
Future,"** in the broader spheres of education, licensing, medicine,
government, business, art, or social movements

* Share an update on your free software project

* Present strategies for strengthening the free software community

* Explore current topics in free software licensing and copyleft, or
give a great licensing tutorial

* Host a workshop on how to use a free software tool, free software
program, or free hardware project

* Explore a free software concept in an interactive session

* Lead a project "sprint" (a group work session)

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 [conference site and session videos][9].

[9]:[link removed]

----

# Need help attending LibrePlanet?

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 [help others attend][10].

[10]:[link removed]

----

#Office hours on IRC

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 [IRC channel][11] on
Freenode. They will continue every Thursday until the call for
sessions closes on November 20th.

[11]:[link removed]

Times are the following:

* October 3rd - October 31: from 13:00 - 14:00 Eastern Daylight time
(17:00 UTC)

* November 7th - November 14th: 13:00 - 14:00 Eastern Standard time
(18:00 UTC)

----

#Video coverage and remote participation

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 [LibrePlanet
wiki][12] 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
<[email protected]> or visit our #LibrePlanet IRC channel on Freenode.

[12]:[link removed]

----

#Sponsor LibrePlanet

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.

For information on how your company can sponsor LibrePlanet or have a
table in our exhibit hall, please email <[email protected]>.

Kind regards,

Zoë Kooyman
Program Manager

--
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Sent from the Free Software Foundation,

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