Help the FSF stay strong for 30 more years

[Ole Tange]

GNU Parallel is free software and would not have been possible to
build without a lot of other free software tools.

The Free Software Foundation has been defending your freedoms as a
computer user for 30 years.

https://my.fsf.org/donate/
https://www.fsf.org/appeal/

We have never done this work alone. There are hundreds of GNU projects
out there, creating and maintaining software that gives us complete
freedom and independence. There are hundreds of thousands of activists
all over this planet, standing up against powerful opponents to fight
for a better future. There are teachers, lawyers, librarians, web
developers and researchers who all understand that without free
software, we cannot have a free society. We are a community.

The Free Software Foundation is the bedrock of this community. We
protect the GNU General Public License and help its use spread. We
carefully monitor everything that governments, standards bodies, and
hardware and software companies do. When we detect a threat, we sound
the alarm, develop a well-informed strategy, and coordinate the
community, who stand with us to demand change. We devote staff time
and resources to supporting free software projects, helping them
thrive.

For 30 years we have worked toward the goal of complete and ubiquitous
freedom for software users. We have done this work in a rapidly
shifting industry, where big money has fueled big technological
advances and even bigger destruction of our freedoms. Despite new
threats that force us to play whack-a-mole, to be nimble and ever
vigilant, we have made great strides since 1985. Today, it is possible
to use a computer with complete freedom, and free software powers vast
portions of the Web. The world is becoming more and more aware that
technology is not neutral--it can be used for great good or great
evil. There is more interest than ever before in software that will
protect activists and whistleblowers who speak out, that won't sell
our personal information to the highest bidder, and that will teach
our childrento cooperate, share, experiment and explore.

In another 30 years, we believe that we can achieve our goal. We
believe that free software can be everywhere, and that proprietary
software can go the way of the dinosaur. With the experience we've
gained, and our community surrounding us, we can win this.

Will you help us win by contributing to our goal to raise $525,000 by
January 31st?

https://my.fsf.org/donate/

Every donation and membership you give during the next two months will
help us begin our 30th year poised for victory. You can become a
member of the FSF for just $10/month ($5/month for students); when you
join, you'll get avariety of benefits, including:

* An ultra slim, credit-card-sized, 4GB card loaded with Trisquel
Live, a fully free GNU/Linux distribution
* An FSF member button for your web site
* Up to five email aliases in the member.fsf.org domain to forward to
other addresses
* Free entry to the LibrePlanet conference
* 20% Discount on FSF merchandise (30% through January 31st!)
* Receive our biannual FSF Bulletin by mail
* An IRC cloak
* Use of an XMPP/Jabber Server so you can chat freely
* Digital Credit Union eligibility
* Tax deduction in the USA

This season we're also launching another way you can help free
software find new supporters.

In this appeal, we have written about why we think free software is
important. But maybe you have a different way of explaining the
issues, or maybe there are different aspects of free software that are
close to your heart.

Now you can create your own personal contribution page, a space where
you can, in your own words, encourage your friends, family,
colleagues, and social media networks to support the cause. You'll get
credit for all the donations that come from your page. In addition to
knowing that you've directly helped secure the future of computer user
freedom, you'll be in the running for some freedom-friendly prizes!
Everyone who raises at least $250 will receive a $25 gift certificate
to GNU Press. Those who raise $1000 or more will receive their choice
of a combo pack of ThinkPenguin router and USB Wifi adapter or a $100
gift certificate to GNU Press. The person who raises the most money
over $1000 will win the grand prize; a special autographed gift along
with her choice of $500 travel scholarship to LibrePlanet 2015 or a
Respects Your Freedom-certified laptop!

We want to be here for another 30 years, fighting for free software,
and winning. Please, give what you can, become a member of the FSF,
and do what you are able to do to encourage others to give. The past,
present, and future staff of the Free Software Foundation are grateful
for your support.

https://my.fsf.org/donate/


/Ole