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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> |
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<html newsdate="2022-01-21"> |
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<version>1</version> |
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<head> |
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<title>20 Years FSFE: Interviewing past interns</title> |
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</head> |
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<body> |
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<h1>20 Years FSFE: Interviewing past interns</h1> |
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<p> |
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In the final publication about 20 Years FSFE, we want to thank |
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everyone who has worked for the organisation in an internship |
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position. We contacted eight former interns and asked them about |
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their time at the FSFE and their current involvement with Free |
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Software. |
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</p> |
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<figure> |
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<img |
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src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/96209609ac28be2d5d2674978abf95a7.png" |
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alt="Picture with 8 people"/> |
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</figure> |
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<p> |
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These interviews are only a glimpse of the many people who have |
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helped shaping the FSFE with their contributions in an internship |
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position. <a href="/about/jobs/internship">An internship in the |
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FSFE</a> can be an intensive yet enriching experience. It |
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familiarises people with the use of Free Software and it helps them |
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networking with the Free Software community. We have asked eight of |
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our former interns about their time at the FSFE and how they are |
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doing today: Diego, George, Lucile, Lyudmila, Martin, Matti, Polina, |
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Stian. |
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</p> |
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<p><strong>Diego</strong> Naranjo is the head of policy in the European Digital Rights (EDRi) organisation.</p> |
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<p><strong>George</strong> Brooke-Smith focuses on Risk Management in the KPMG company.</p> |
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<p><strong>Lucile</strong> Falgueyrac is a Parliamentary assistant in the European Parliament.</p> |
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<p><strong>Lyudmila</strong> Vaseva is a software developer at ctrl.alt.coop eG.</p> |
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<p><strong>Martin</strong> Husovec is an assistant professor and academic specialising in IP law at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).</p> |
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<p><strong>Matti</strong> Lammi is a System Specialist at ETLA Economic Research.</p> |
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<p><strong>Polina</strong> Malaja is a Policy Director in the CENTR organisation.</p> |
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<p><strong>Stian</strong> Rødven-Eide is a Doctoral researcher in computational linguistics at the University of Gothenburg.</p> |
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<h3>Looking back, what did the FSFE inters learn during their internship?</h3> |
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<div class="icon-grid one-per-row"> |
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<ul> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/9f59304f932c08f20ee336768a3fea07.jpg" alt="picture of Diego" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Diego</h3> |
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<p> |
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From this internship I gained more insight into how the |
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Free Software community organises, how to organise |
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campaigns and workshops, and how to deal with <strong>legal |
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issues</strong> related to Free Software. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/3fa6479f6bebcd2aaf6b57f275b6dbd4.jpg" alt="picture of George" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>George</h3> |
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<p> |
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It was more about who the Free Software community was for |
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me. I got to know a great group of people from all over |
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the world. I won't forget that. Doing an internship |
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at the FSFE makes you more competent to <strong>tackle IT |
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collaboratively</strong>. And moreover the four software freedoms |
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(use, study, improve, and share) can be applied in all |
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walks of business. In this way, I have felt it was |
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fundamentally helpful. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/bd1a209e71a478f378f288f905967e22.jpg" alt="picture of Lucile" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Lucile</h3> |
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<p> |
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During my internship I learned much about how Free |
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Software is made and used. I came for the policy and |
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political relevance to resist mass surveillance, and |
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learned much about technology and infrastructure. I |
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learned a lot about <strong>campaigning</strong> and |
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<strong>community organising</strong> during my |
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internship at the FSFE. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/e9a472131c10fc6d9f2861183a8bc45a.jpg" alt="picture of Lyudmila" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Lyudmila</h3> |
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<p> |
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My first conscious contact with Free Software was some 14 |
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years ago. It was my second semester at uni and a friend |
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wouldn't stop bugging me to install Ubuntu on my |
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laptop, because it was, you know, "<strong>cool for |
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political reasons</strong>". At the end, we spent an evening |
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with the institute's Linux user group since back in |
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the day stuff mostly didn't just work and the <strong>sound |
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and wireless cards needed some extra persuasion</strong>. I |
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eventually stopped booting up the windows entirely and up |
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to this day cannot begin to fathom how one does software |
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development or network stuff on a windows machine. |
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(Although I've heard, that's bettered in recent |
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years.) |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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With time, I grew more aware about political issues |
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surrounding software and computers, about privacy, |
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security, re-usability and community. I then gradually |
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started <strong>advocating</strong> for the usage of Free Software myself |
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(because it was cool for political reasons), and was |
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hence delighted when the opportunity presented itself to |
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intern with the FSFE for a while. There, I got to know |
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some wonderful people and had the chance to do important |
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political work with like-minded folks. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/a0e9b68b04171db44fb634724994fedb.png" alt="picture of Martin" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Martin</h3> |
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<p> |
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My internship at FSFE was a very pleasant experience. I |
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just came out of law school, hungry for some technology |
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law experience in Germany. And I landed in Berlin in |
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2011. What could go wrong? Intellectually, what stuck |
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with me the most was how differently Free Software |
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activists thought about the world of legal rules. For a |
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fresh graduate of law, rules were set by someone else. |
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TRIPS Agreement was an unchangeable fact. The |
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<strong>vocabulary</strong> was not a choice. Not for |
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these activists. Throughout my internship, I better |
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understood why and how <strong>concepts and labels drive |
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political outcomes.</strong> I learned to appreciate what |
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civil society does for legal change and how much work and |
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discipline this requires. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/f63e765c965b15487f72409fda2b7434.jpg" alt="picture of Matti" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Matti</h3> |
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<p> |
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To my surprise, the FSFE had much fewer staff members at |
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the Berlin office than I had expected. Yet, they have |
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done a lot for software freedom over the years. This |
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shows what <strong>dedication</strong> can achieve. A |
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good lesson for all of us. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/2c7f2bf216ddd487ad4e8509f85111f4.png" alt="picture of Polina" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Polina</h3> |
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<p> |
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Free Software is so much more than a software licence or |
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publicly available source code. It is a <strong>social |
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movement</strong> and a community that strives for more |
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equal and just society. After completing my internship at |
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the FSFE, I continued my path in the FSFE as an employee, |
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leading its both legal and policy areas. My time in the |
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FSFE contributed immensely for my <strong>professional |
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and personal growth</strong>, setting my course on the |
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topics and areas I am involved in my current professional |
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environment outside of the FSFE i.e. EU digital policies |
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and regulation. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/c7189e890dc5a12a2880bbc4832ebd84.jpg" alt="picture of Stian" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Stian</h3> |
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<p> |
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My first and main task as an intern for the FSFE was to |
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organise FSCONS. After my internship ended, I continued |
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being involved with the conference for <strong>eight more |
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years. </strong> The principles of Free Software |
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resonates with a lot of modern philosophy and can be |
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applied to almost anything. This has guided my life and |
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my personal philosophy since, especially the idea that |
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with cooperation and sharing, everyone will be better |
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off, than with competition and secrecy. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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Following my internship, I started a Free Software |
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cooperative along with like minded friends, offering |
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consultancy and support for organisations that wish to |
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transition from proprietary software. While I like to |
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think that we did manage to achieve some good during the |
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four years the cooperative existed, we probably learned |
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more than anything about the many obstacles that remain |
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for Free Software to become ubiquitous. It became clear |
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that <strong>we need to promote Free Software on many |
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fronts, politically and practically</strong>, and how |
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vital organisations like the FSFE are to this. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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</ul> |
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</div> |
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<h3 id="are-former-interns-still-active-in-software-freedom-">Are former interns still active in software freedom?</h3> |
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<div class="icon-grid one-per-row"> |
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<ul> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/9f59304f932c08f20ee336768a3fea07.jpg" alt="picture of Diego" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Diego</h3> |
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<p> |
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Free software is an every day topic for EDRi. On a |
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practical level, we use as much Free Software as we can |
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(operative systems, server applications, apps on our |
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phones…). Furthermore, <strong>we advocate for Free |
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Software</strong> whenever a European legislative file we follow |
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involves the use of software. We referred to the |
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public money, public code campaign in several occasions |
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and that framing is still an important part for EDRi’s |
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framing our technology and the role of public |
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infrastructures. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/3fa6479f6bebcd2aaf6b57f275b6dbd4.jpg" alt="picture of George" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>George</h3> |
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<p> |
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My involvement is to <strong>donate</strong> now and |
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then, and to raise the issue with friends and family. I |
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haven't done much volunteering since the internship. |
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I'd have to get good permission from my employer to |
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do that. (So fingers crossed). |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/bd1a209e71a478f378f288f905967e22.jpg" alt="picture of Lucile" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Lucile</h3> |
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<p> |
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<strong>I use</strong> Free Software personally but not |
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professionally. I do get a Free Software link when we |
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discuss bigger political questions about privacy or |
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strategic independence - I know that without independent |
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technology and infrastructures it is impossible to reach. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/e9a472131c10fc6d9f2861183a8bc45a.jpg" alt="picture of Lyudmila" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Lyudmila</h3> |
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<p> |
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Since I'm a software developer, Free Software is an |
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important part of my day-to-day work — any |
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developer's job would look quite differently and be a |
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great deal more tedious if we weren't able to |
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<strong>rely on the myriad of FLOSS libraries</strong>, |
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tools and frameworks out there. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/a0e9b68b04171db44fb634724994fedb.png" alt="picture of Martin" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Martin</h3> |
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<p> |
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Since I teach and research intellectual property and |
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technology law, one could say I remain somewhat involved |
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in the Free Software issues. I do not think of myself as |
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a hard-core expert on Free Software licensing, but I |
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continue to <strong>research</strong> many issues of the digital ecosystem |
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that are relevant to the FSFE’s mission. I still benefit |
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from the broader technological outlook that I was |
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introduced to at the FSFE. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/f63e765c965b15487f72409fda2b7434.jpg" alt="picture of Matti" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Matti</h3> |
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<p> |
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When choosing software, we lean towards Free Software |
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solutions by default. Often, we end up choosing a free |
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solution unless specifically requested otherwise by the |
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upper management or business needs. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/2c7f2bf216ddd487ad4e8509f85111f4.png" alt="picture of Polina" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Polina</h3> |
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<p> |
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After my time in the FSFE, I still strongly stand for the |
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values of Free Software, continuing as a |
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<strong>volunteer</strong> in the FSFE CARE Team, the |
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European Core Team and the General Assembly. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/c7189e890dc5a12a2880bbc4832ebd84.jpg" alt="picture of Stian" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Stian</h3> |
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<p> |
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At my department at the University of Gothenburg, we |
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<strong>publish all code, and most data, under a free |
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licence</strong>. Researchers in our field are usually |
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quite knowledgeable about Free Software, as we need to |
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know exactly what a program does to the data and be able |
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to share and improve it in order to reproduce and further |
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the research. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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Outside of work, my volunteering efforts are these days |
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limited to the democratic e-mail association Fripost.org. |
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It started out as a project of our local FSFE chapter ten |
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years ago, but has since evolved into its own |
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organisation. In addition to running an e-mail service |
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for our members, we have had many outreach programs and |
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community events centred around Free Software. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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</ul> |
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</div> |
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<h3 id="what-do-former-fsfe-interns-wish-for-the-future-of-the-fsfe-">What do former FSFE interns wish for the future of the FSFE?</h3> |
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<div class="icon-grid one-per-row"> |
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<ul> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/9f59304f932c08f20ee336768a3fea07.jpg" alt="picture of Diego" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Diego</h3> |
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<p> |
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I would love two things. First, I would love the FSFE |
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to go beyond software and <strong>embrace issues |
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related to hardware</strong>, infrastructure and |
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generally digital sovereignty. We need a European |
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federation that takes a holistic approach to how |
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technology should be a tool for fundamental rights, and |
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focusing only on software leaves out many of the |
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fundamental questions we’re facing today such as the |
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power of Big Tech, surveillance capitalism, mass |
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surveillance, surveillance-based advertising and |
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planned obsolescence of our devices. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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Second, I would love the FSFE to become even more |
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involved in EU policies. For example, the FSFE has been |
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involved in issues related to artificial intelligence |
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where the FSFE expertise has been very valuable. We |
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need more of this knowledge-sharing between the FSFE |
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and EDRi and make more connections between Brussels and |
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FSFE chapters. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/3fa6479f6bebcd2aaf6b57f275b6dbd4.jpg" alt="picture of George" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>George</h3> |
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<p> |
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The FSFE is inclusive and puts the learning perspective |
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at the heart of its mission. So I hope it thrives for |
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many years to come, inspiring people like it inspired me. |
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<strong>GNUtopia here we come!</strong> |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/bd1a209e71a478f378f288f905967e22.jpg" alt="picture of Lucile" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Lucile</h3> |
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<p> |
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Continue linking tech, policy and ethics, and outreaching |
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to people who are not IT professionals. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/e9a472131c10fc6d9f2861183a8bc45a.jpg" alt="picture of Lyudmila" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Lyudmila</h3> |
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<p> |
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I wish the FSFE to keep up the good work, keep spreading |
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the word of the advantages of Free Software, and <strong>keep |
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pushing for more just regulations</strong> on political level such |
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as the Public Money? Public Code! campaign. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/a0e9b68b04171db44fb634724994fedb.png" alt="picture of Martin" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Martin</h3> |
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<p> |
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I wish the FSFE many bright young people who will be |
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attracted to its vision. On many levels, <strong>we are |
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currently designing our digital future</strong>. Having |
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the FSFE’s voice when building its infrastructure, will |
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be critical. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/f63e765c965b15487f72409fda2b7434.jpg" alt="picture of Matti" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Matti</h3> |
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<p> |
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<strong>Keep advocating</strong> for software freedom especially at EU |
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level and public sector. Institutional changes can and |
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must be achieved. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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|
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/2c7f2bf216ddd487ad4e8509f85111f4.png" alt="picture of Polina" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Polina</h3> |
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<p> |
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I wish the FSFE to continue to be the voice of Free |
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Software users in Europe and beyond. Free Software stands |
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on the shoulders of all the great people being part of a |
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social movement that should not forget about its heroes. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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I wish the FSFE to be strongly rooted in its beginnings |
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but at the same time to not be afraid of change and |
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developments of a fast-paced digital society. Free |
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Software has become a critical part of both business and |
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end-user experience in every day life. It is no longer an |
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“alternative” solution but a standard empowering our |
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society today. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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However, have we achieved a more just society as a result |
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of more wide-spread adoption of Free Software? <strong> |
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Is this the end-goal of the movement to retain the status |
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quo and not to bother about wider ethical issues? |
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</strong>Or should we as citizens and contributors of the |
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movement that rose out of a need for more freedom strive |
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for a better and more sustainable future, where Free |
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Software is just a part of a puzzle? I think we should be |
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asking ourselves these questions and seek answers that |
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may help us in bridging the gaps between Free Software |
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and how the ‘four freedoms’ can support fundamental |
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rights. As a civil society actor, I hope the FSFE will be |
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in the lead here for many years to come, including on the |
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side of potential regulatory change in Europe. |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
|
|
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<li> |
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<img class="img-circle" src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/c7189e890dc5a12a2880bbc4832ebd84.jpg" alt="picture of Stian" /> |
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<div> |
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<h3>Stian</h3> |
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<p> |
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I wish for the FSFE to finally cease operations. That |
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is, to say “<strong>Our work here is done. All software |
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is now free. Let’s go celebrate!”</strong> |
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</p> |
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</div> |
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</li> |
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</ul> |
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</div> |
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<h3>Thank you!</h3> |
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<p> |
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Thanks Diego, George, Lucile, Lyudmila, Martin, Matti, Polina, |
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Stian, and all FSFE interns during these 20 years. Everyone who |
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uses and develops Free Software, everyone who researches and |
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advocates for Free-Software-related issues, everyone who donates |
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and volunteers in the FSFE, is irreplaceable and takes software |
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freedom a step further. |
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</p> |
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<h3 id="related-articles">Related articles</h3> |
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<p> |
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With this article we conclude the celebrations for the twenty years |
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since the founding of the FSFE in 2001. 20 years FSFE was an |
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opportunity to thank everyone who has helped the organisation since |
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the beginning. You might also be interested in the interviews with |
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the <a href="/news/2021/news-20210204-01.html">founder |
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of the organisation, Georg Greve</a>, the former <a href="/news/2021/news-20210204-01.html">Financial |
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Officer Reinhard Müller</a>, the <a href="/news/2021/news-20210420-01.html">founder |
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of the FSF Latin America Fernanda Weiden</a>, or the <a href="/news/2021/news-20210625-01.html">creator |
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of the Free Your Android campaign Torsten Grote</a>. |
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</p> |
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<tags> |
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<tag key="front-page"/> |
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<tag key="fsfe20">20 Years FSFE</tag> |
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<tag key="internship">Internship</tag> |
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<tag key="interview">Interview</tag> |
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</tags> |
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<discussion href="https://community.fsfe.org/t/792"/> |
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<image url="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/96209609ac28be2d5d2674978abf95a7.png" alt="Picture with 8 people"/> |
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