= 20 Years FSFE +++ Finland achieving Router Freedom +++ microFSFE =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/nl/nl-202107.en.html ]
In our July Newsletter, we invite our community to join the celebrations
of 20 Years FSFE, we applaud Finland for securing Router Freedom, and we
look into Free Software activities for children. We are getting ready
for German elections and invite you to help us support Free Software
demands for public administration during the election campaign.
== FSFE: 20 years of empowering people to control technology ==
Long before the first smartphone was introduced, it was evident to the
FSFE's founders that it is the people who should be in control of
technology and not vice versa. In 2001, Free Software experts around
Europe created the Free Software Foundation Europe.
20 years is a long time in computing history and although technology is
ever-changing, our values have been consistent. The core of our work is,
in a nutshell: educating people on the nature of Free Software,
highlighting its political implications, and simplifying its legal
preconditions. Matthias Kirschner, President of the FSFE since 2015,
explains [1] this in his own words in a short video.
Our work throughout the years would not have been possible without the
help of our European community. Whether you have translated our news,
used your voice to share our message, helped us financially, or
participated in one of our public events, you have helped our cause to
take a step further.
Would you like to share your thoughts about your time with the FSFE? We
are looking forward to hearing from you. Also we would love to see
pictures from your activities in the past and share them with the
community. Or, if you are feeling creative, you can send us a birthday
video, just as the science-fiction author Cory Doctorow did. Do not miss
watching it and finding out more on how to share your throwback on our
birthday page [2].
== Router Freedom achieved in Finland, as the most fair and efficient practice ==
Finland recognises Router Freedom as a digital right, setting an example
for the EU. Net neutrality is ensured by EU Regulation. Net neutrality
means that users have the right to use terminal equipment of their
choice, such as a phone or modem. For Finland, this is clear. Traficom,
the national agency dealing with transportation, communications, and
networks, has a noteworthy stance on the issue, protecting [3] the
rights of end-users.
We interviewed [4] Klaus Nieminen, Chief Specialist of Traficom. In his
view, Router Freedom benefits end-users, fosters competition in the
telecommunications terminal equipment markets, and complies with the
Open Internet Regulation 2015/2120 of the EU. He shares that there is no
technological necessity to justify limiting end-users' rights to choose
their own equipment. Traficom arrived at this conclusion after an
objective assessment. Finally, he explains that in Finland Router
Freedom also applies to new technologies such as 5G.
== Listen to our Podcast ==
This is the first time since the launch of the Software Freedom Podcast
that a FSFE staff member gives an interview in our podcast series. Max
Mehl, FSFE Programme Manager, has been with the FSFE since 2011 and has
worked on numerous campaigns. With this episode [5] Bonnie Mehring and
Max Mehl provide a nice and easy entrance to the very complex world of
software licensing.
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This year the FSFE celebrates its 20th anniversary. Support our work for
the next 20 years to come [6]
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== microFSFE ==
Early programmers deserve a spotlight too. From kids to teenagers, the
FSFE welcomes early programmers and all beginners in its community.
=== Teaching Free Software to children ===
In Kreuzlingen, a city in northern Switzerland, five children had the
chance to participate in a 4-day course on Free Software development.
The course was free of charge, and it was offered thanks to the
creativity and pedagogical skills of FSFE supporter Peter Bittner. The
kids had no prior experience using Linux, so the course started with
booting GNU/LINUX from a USB stick, and quickly advanced to working in
the terminal using Bash commands and coding Python.
'We need our kids to know what school doesn't teach them' says [7] Peter
in his blog about this course. 'Pupils are being taught "products" of
the technology giants ("Safari", "Word", "Excel", "PowerPoint") instead
of information technology concepts (web browser, text processor,
spreadsheet, presentations)'.
=== microfashion ===
According to scientists, early "nerdiness" can lead to a 10% increase in
happiness later in life ; )
So do not miss to starting early and get one of our fork T-shirts. They
are available for ages 5 to 12 [8], as well as in a bib [9] for babies!
=== Teenagers ===
This autumn, the FSFE will launch a new activity for teenagers. Our goal
is to share the values of Free Software with young developers. So if you
are a young person experimenting with software development, or if you
know one, stay tuned.
== Upcoming event ==
- On Wednesday August 4th, we are organising an online workshop (DE) to
prepare the promotion of our 'Public Money? Public Code!' campaign
during the last weeks until the German elections. We need your support
to spread our message. If you would like to be involved in this
process, please register [10] and join our workshop for in-person
discussions.
== What we have done: ==
- On June 23rd, Max Mehl, Programme Manager at the FSFE, presented REUSE
in the “Leveraging Open Source Responsibly” session [11] at OW2con’21.
In his presentation, he explained how REUSE makes it easier for
developers to declare the licensing and copyright situation for their
code. The presentation is available on Peertube [12]. This session is
part of a long-term effort by OW2 to promote best practices and good
citizenship in open source governance.
- On July 6th and 7th, Bonnie Mehring and Alexander Sander presented our
German federal election campaign to the local groups of Nordhessen and
Frankfurt. If you are interested in participating in such a workshop
check our upcoming event.
- On July 22nd, Bonnie Mehring presented our 'Public Money? Public
Code!' campaign in the FSFE women [13] monthly meeting. Also, they
discussed what the plans are with respect to the upcoming election
campaign of the federal parliament in Germany 2021. The FSFE women
group is open to all women who are interested in Free Software and
technology; meetings take place online.
- On July 24th, translators met online to get to know each other and
learn valuable tools for their work, such as the webpreview tool, the
translation wiki, and Git. The meeting was hosted by Bonnie Mehring,
coordinator of the FSFE translator group [14] team, and Luca Bonissi,
who has created the webpreview tool.
- Alexander Sander, our Policy Consultant, contributed to a report on
the use of Free Software in local administrations which was released
by the German association for municipal government. The association,
'Kommunale Gemeinschaftsstelle für Verwaltungsmanagement (KGSt)',
published the report [15] [DE] titled 'Open Source in Kommunen – Ein
Baustein für mehr Digitale Souveränität.'
== Legal and Licensing Workshop 2021 ==
On July 14th, the Online Legal and Licensing Workshop 2021 was
completed. The FSFE's Free Software Legal and Licensing Workshop (LLW)
[16] has been held annually for the FSFE's Legal Network [17] since
2008, and serves as a conference for legal experts in the field of Free
Software to debate issues and share best practices surrounding Free
Software licenses. Instead of a one-time conference, this year LLW
offered online presentations, discussion panels, and workshops
continuously from March to July.
We are very happy to have put up an online edition of the LLW, and we
are also looking forward to organizing next year's edition of the LLW,
to be held hopefully in person, to continue building a robust Free
Software legal community.
== Get active for the Federal election in Germany ==
On 26 September, a new Bundestag will be elected in Germany. We are
engaged around the election and want to ensure with our activities that
"Public Money? Public Code!" plays an important role for the next
government. Therefore we want to make sure that our "Public Money?
Public Code!" demands will be included in the coalition agreement of
Germany's next government. To achieve this we need your help and
support. We created an activity package [18] [DE] for you and will also
present it during a workshop on 4 August 2021. If you want to
participate, register now [19].
== Contribute to our newsletter ==
If you would like to share any thoughts, pictures, or news, please send
them to us. As always, the address is newsletter(a)fsfe.org. We're looking
forward to hearing from you! If you also want to support us and our
work, join our community and support us with a donation or a monthly
contribution [20]. Thanks to our community and all the volunteers,
supporters, and donors who make our work possible. And thanks to our
translators, who enable you to read this newsletter in your native
languages.
Your editor, Fani Partsafyllidou
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The biggest financial impact the FSFE faces in these times of physical
distancing is the cancellation of Free Software conferences, including
our own events. To keep the software freedom movement solid and alive,
please consider donating a part of your conference budget to Free
Software organisations, including the FSFE [21].
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Discuss this [22]
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1: https://fsfe.org/2021/news-20210721-01.en.html#a-birthday-message-from-our-…
2: https://fsfe.org/activities/20years/20years.en.html
3: https://www.traficom.fi/en/communications/communications-networks/open-inte…
4: https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20210629-01.en.html
5: https://fsfe.org/news/podcast/episode-11.en.html
6: https://my.fsfe.org/donate?referrer=newsletter
7: https://ferienpass.gitlab.io/blog/
8: https://fsfe.org/order/index.en.html
9: https://fsfe.org/order/2017/baby-bib-pink-large.png
10: https://registration.fsfe.org/btw21-Workshop
11: https://www.ow2con.org/view/2021/Abstract_Community_Day#23061545
12: https://peertube.social/videos/watch/a3cb5598-7d97-479e-851c-9dee96bc278f
13: https://wiki.fsfe.org/Teams/Women
14: https://wiki.fsfe.org/Teams/Translators
15: https://www.kgst.de/doc/20210706A0006
16: https://fsfe.org/activities/ln/llw.en.html
17: https://fsfe.org/activities/ln/ln.en.html
18: https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Bundestagswahl_DE
19: https://registration.fsfe.org/btw21-Workshop
20: https://my.fsfe.org/donate?referrer=newsletter
21: https://my.fsfe.org/donate?referrer=newsletter
22: https://community.fsfe.org/t/709
