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Read and share online: https://www.defectivebydesign.org/blog/fsf_giving_guide_its_thought_counts_so_think_freedom

Dear Ruben Safir,

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Even though we're still in the midst of the pandemic, the holiday
season is upon us, and with it comes the time people around the world
give gifts to show their appreciation. Companies are starting their
sales early this year, and as usual are focusing heavily on tech
gifts. But before you buy anything, you should make sure that that
gift isn't putting your friend or family member under unjust control.

Each year, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) publishes a new version
of our Ethical Tech Giving Guide as a way to help concerned
individuals make sure that the presents they plan on giving their
loved ones don't come with dangerous consequences for their
freedom. Many of these devices have been through our Respects Your
Freedom (RYF) certification program, meaning that they and the
retailers that offer them have been held to the highest scrutiny when
it comes to matters of software freedom.

In the last year, some of the devices on this list have become
scarcer, highlighting the pressing need for more hardware that is
compatible with a fully free system. Some devices we recommend may
only be available from a certain retailer. While it may not be readily
available in local stores, offering a gift like the Libiquity Taurinus
X200 is perfect for someone who has just become aware of free
software's importance and is interested in going further, or for the
free software activist in your life who would love for you to support
a company trying to do the right thing. Even better, by avoiding
popular but ethically unacceptable devices from manufacturers like
Apple, you're letting your loved ones know that you care about
them too much to compromise their freedom. By choosing a device like
the upcoming Librem 5 mobile phone from the Giving Guide, you're
walking a different path from everyone else, choosing the road to
freedom instead of subjugation.

Next steps

The Giving Guide is our way of giving people concerned for their
freedom a practical way to spread the message to others. Will you help
us spread the message of freedom by becoming an associate member
today? Your associate membership helps us defend everyone's freedoms
against the largest corporations and governments on the planet, who do
not hesitate to violate ethical principles in response to
pandemic-driven technology needs. Achieving our fall fundraising
goal of 500 new associate members will be an important next step
forward. Plus, becoming an associate member will give you the gift of
our member benefits, including our new free "as in freedom"
video conferencing server so you can stay in touch with your friends.

We also encourage you to share this Guide with your friends and
family. Use the hashtag #UserFreedom on your favorite microblogging
site to help spread awareness on the issue.

We've all seen how the novel coronavirus pandemic has impacted our
freedom. Many are now dependent on proprietary software for remote
education, or as part of working remotely. Choosing a gift from
the Giving Guide and using it to tell others about the importance of
their freedom can go a long way in combating this. By selecting a gift
that puts your loved one's freedom first, you are -- most importantly
-- treating your loved ones with respect. You are also helping to
spread the message and inform a wider audience than ever before about
the vital role the free software movement plays in a modern digital
society.

Whether or not you're celebrating a holiday this winter, we hope that
you'll take the time to share the Guide with your friends and
family. Now is the time to share resources like this one, as large
retailers like Amazon are already starting their Black Friday sales.
Once it's safe to resume meeting in person, we also encourage you to
use the printable version of the Guide as a practical way to get
conversations on freedom started. Even now, maybe there are local
takeout businesses that will let you leave a stack out for patrons to
browse while they wait. If you think of a creative way to share the
Guide, have a success story, or have any feedback on how we can
improve our suggestions, don't hesitate to write to us at
campaigns@fsf.org. These steps toward freedom might seem small now,
but we've seen how small steps taken by our global community have made
a sustained and positive impact on freedom for all. The Giving Guide
is just one example of this, and with your help, we can help make the
holiday season free for all.

Happy holidays,

Greg Farough

Campaigns Manager

Illustration Copyright © 2020, Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
license.