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Read and share online: https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/your-fsf-membership-will-help-us-build-a-stronger-future-for-software-freedom/
Dear Free Software Supporter,
This year-end, we are putting emphasis on one of the four freedoms,
sharing, to help remind everyone that our work to defend computer
users everywhere can effect change in all areas where software touches
modern life. However, we can only achieve this if we do it
together. We have a goal of gaining 455 new associate members
before December 31. The deadline is only one day away! — and we
are behind on this goal. We need your support to reach this
number. The more members we can count, the better equipped we are to
defend important freedoms such as the #FreedomToShare, and educate
people about its importance.
We're so grateful for your commitment to free software. If you can
afford to, we hope you'll consider helping us even more, by turning
this commitment into an associate membership for as little as $10
per month ($5 for students), or $120 per year. You can also help bring
us one step further to software freedom by sharing your
commitment, along with this article, with people in your community
and on your social media using the #FreedomToShare hashtag. By
inspiring others to join, we can continue to help computer users find
freedom everywhere. Below is a message from our president, Geoffrey
Knauth, reflecting on the FSF's mission to protect software users
everywhere.
2022 was a year that saw many conflicts over rights and
freedom. We have seen abuse of power, displacement of people, and
violence spreading globally. These conflicts have directly
affected people's representative rights, worker's rights,
privacy, and bodily rights. The powerful perpetually seek control
over individuals.
In the world of computing, there are always forces that seek to make
you, the user or developer, subservient and dependent on the will of
others. You have to ask yourself, who is there to protect your
individual freedom, your individual rights, and your privacy against
those who would seek to control and direct you to serve their
interests at the expense of your own?
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) was created in 1985 specifically to
guarantee you, the individual person, the rights you deserve as
enshrined in the four freedoms, against forces that seek to limit and
take away your rights and to make you a servant. You are not a
servant! You are a free person. You must remain free to use, adapt,
develop, and share the joys of computing as you wish.
The birth of the free software movement created the FSF. Now, decades
later, there are a few organizations that have goals very close to
those of the FSF, both spinoff and grassroots efforts of persons
animated by the ideals of computing freedom and not by territorial
ambitions of control. I urge you to lend your support, enthusiasm, and
generosity to FSF and to other organizations where you see the values
of individual freedom upheld the most. We must stick together and
support each other to prevail.
Of course, I specifically ask and hope that you will continue to
support the FSF. The free software community is dedicated to the four
freedoms. Our staff works very hard on a daily basis to advocate
for you. A major success is the annual LibrePlanet conference the
staff organizes. People who come to work or volunteer at FSF have a
sense of idealism and vision that you don't see in the ordinary
corporate world. They work hard and often make significant
sacrifices. They have done and are doing this for you. That is why I
appeal to you to support the FSF, so it can continue the work that
empowers you and protects your rights against those who would deprive
you of your freedom.
I also ask that as we enter 2023, you, free software citizens, will
participate in community discussions and decisions, lending your voice
and wisdom. We must ensure that the FSF, and the movement, will always
be guided by principles that put your individual computing rights
first. There will always be interests that seek to dilute, diminish,
or eliminate rights you have now and must always have. It is our
collective responsibility to make sure these rights are preserved for
generations to come.
Be well and be free,
Geoff Knauth
President
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