[smc-discuss] Fwd: Free Software Supporter Issue 146, June 2020

Tue Jun 2 05:39:43 PDT 2020

ന്യൂസ്‌ലെറ്റര്‍ കിട്ടിയിരുന്നെങ്കിലും വായന കഴിഞ്ഞിരുന്നില്ല. ശ്രദ്ധയില്‍പ്പെടുത്തിയതിന് നന്ദി.

On 02/06/20 2:22 pm, Pirate Praveen wrote:
> It mentions SMC and our work.
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Free Software Foundation <info at fsf.org>
> Subject: Free Software Supporter Issue 146, June 2020
> Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2020 19:27:18 -0400
> To: praveen at onenetbeyond.org
>
> Read and share online:
> https://www.fsf.org/free-software-supporter/2020/june
>
> Welcome to the Free Software Supporter, the Free Software Foundation's
> (FSF) monthly news digest and action update -- being read by you and
> 227,711 other activists. That's 315 more than last month!
>
> FSF gives freedom-respecting videoconferencing to all associate members
> From May 28th
>
> The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is now offering all FSF associate
> members free "as in freedom" videoconferencing via an exclusive FSF
> Jitsi Meet instance as an additional associate member benefit. In
> order to be able to provide a sustainable and reliable service, we are
> offering the ability to create conversations on the server exclusively
> to associate members. Members can create a channel using their member
> credentials, but then any person or group can participate in the
> conversation. Nonmembers can be invited, but cannot start a channel.
>
> Information about how to use the FSF videoconferencing instance for
> associate members
>
> This is just one of many efforts we've made in the past months to push
> back against increased societal pressure to use nonfree software to
> communicate with collaborators, friends, and loved ones during the
> COVID-19 pandemic, and after.
>
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/fsf-gives-freedom-respecting-videoconferencing-to-all-associate-members
> https://www.fsf.org/news/free-software-foundation-announces-freedom-respecting-videoconferencing-for-its-associate-members
>
> TABLE OF CONTENTS
> Don’t miss your chance to win fabulous prizes: Get your friends to
> join the FSF! Remote education does not require giving up rights to
> freedom and privacy A roundup of recent updates to our licensing
> materials: November 2019 to April 2020 Microsoft Build: Same old
> recycled stuff, no upcycling A new way to enjoy LibrePlanet 2020
> sessions: Podcast format FSFE nudges emergency ventilator project
> towards a free software license Apple whistleblower goes public over
> "lack of action" Introducing Amin Bandali, intern with the FSF tech
> team Patent case against GNOME resolved (and more GNOME news)
> MediaGoblin 0.10.0 released Introducing Inkscape 1.0 This free
> software collective is taking Malayalam computing to the next level
> GCC 10.1 released SeaGL going virtual due to COVID-19 aka novel
> coronavirus HOPE 2020 will be an online event: Call for sessions open
> May GNU Emacs news Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free
> Software Directory LibrePlanet featured resource: Activism Guide GNU
> Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 12 new GNU releases! FSF and other free
> software events Thank GNUs! GNU copyright contributions Translations
> of the Free Software Supporter Take action with the FSF!
> View this issue online here:
> https://www.fsf.org/free-software-supporter/2020/june
>
> Encourage your friends to subscribe and help us build an audience by
> adding our subscriber widget to your Web site.
>
> Subscribe: https://www.fsf.org/free-software-supporter/subscribe
> Widget: https://www.fsf.org/associate/widget
> Miss an issue? You can catch up on back issues at
> https://www.fsf.org/free-software-supporter.
>
> Want to read this newsletter translated into another language? Scroll
> to the end to read the Supporter in French, Spanish, or Portuguese.
>
> Don’t miss your chance to win fabulous prizes: Get your friends to
> join the FSF!
> From May 26th
>
> The LibrePlanet 2020 Virtual Raffle has been extended to June 7th! In
> order for you to qualify to win a prize, new members have to sign up
> using your referral link. You will find your personal referrer link on
> the dashboard after logging in at https://my.fsf.org/. To see the
> prize list, and find out how many referrers you need for each prize,
> check out our original announcement of the raffle at
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/virtual-libreplanet-raffle-encourage-others-to-join-fsf-and-win-prizes.
>
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/don2019t-miss-your-chance-to-win-fabulous-prizes-get-your-friends-to-join-the-fsf
>
> Remote education does not require giving up rights to freedom and privacy
> From May 14th
>
> The increased use of proprietary test-administering software and other
> proprietary educational software is a dangerous development, both
> because of the software's proprietary nature, and because of its
> inherent purpose of exposing a student's, or in some cases a family's,
> data to the proctor. In schemes like these, the user ends up
> sacrificing both personal information and biometric data. Because the
> software is proprietary, there's no possibility of understanding how
> it works -- besides leaking personal data, it could also create
> security concerns or deliver bad quality tests (and results).
> Requiring students to cede control over their entire computer to a
> test proctoring company is fundamentally unjust. Worse, we cannot be
> sure that any of these nonfree software dependencies and their
> accompanying surveillance techniques will be rolled back after social
> distancing guidelines are no longer enforced.
>
> It is important that decisions made in the education sector are first
> and foremost ethically motivated. Here at the FSF, we have started a
> free communications working group. Initiatives include a remote
> communication email list, as well as a collaborative resource page for
> documenting and sharing free communication tools to help spread
> awareness of the ethical choices that can be made. We have also been
> assisting educational professionals in offering their classes online
> using only free software. And we have been reading many stories about
> activism in education from the larger community, and want to share
> those with you. They have inspired and motivated us. We need more
> people like this around the world to be vocal and critical about
> infringements on user freedom in the area of remote learning.
>
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/remote-education-does-not-require-giving-up-rights-to-freedom-and-privacy
>
> A roundup of recent updates to our licensing materials: November 2019
> to April 2020
> From May 7th
>
> We recently added a new license to our our list of Various Licenses
> and Comments about Them, as well as a few other minor updates to that
> page. We also revamped our materials on seminars on free software
> licensing and GPL compliance. What follows is a brief rundown of those
> changes.
>
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/licensing/a-roundup-of-recent-updates-to-our-licensing-materials-november-2019-to-april-2020
>
> Microsoft Build: Same old recycled stuff, no upcycling
> From May 21st
>
> Often, a proprietary software company's silence can speak as loudly as
> their latest campaign against a computer user's right to freedom. This
> is the case with Microsoft's developer-centric "Build" event. While
> Microsoft announced a few more welcome additions to its free software
> output, it missed the opportunity to demonstrate a real commitment to
> user freedom by upcycling its recently abandoned Windows 7 operating
> system under a free software license.
>
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/microsoft-build-same-old-recycled-stuff-no-upcycling
>
> A new way to enjoy LibrePlanet 2020 sessions: Podcast format
> From May 8th
>
> Looking for some audio entertainment to get you through a slow
> afternoon, or to accompany you on a walk through the park? LibrePlanet
> 2020: Free the Future sessions are now available as audio files! We
> have uploaded them in conjunction with an RSS feed you can import into
> your favorite podcasting app or RSS reader, enabling you to discover
> new talks and catch all of the ones that you might have missed using a
> free podcast app like AntennaPod via Android, or gPodder, if you are
> on your desktop computer.
>
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-audio-now-available-online
>
> FSFE nudges emergency ventilator project towards a free software license
> From May 14th by Nico Rikken
>
> After a nudge by the FSFE, the Dutch OpenAIR initiative has provided
> licenses on their material to support reuse.
>
> In the Netherlands, the OperationAIR initiative was started to cope
> with COVID-19 by developing an easily producible emergency ventilator
> for which parts could mainly be sourced locally. This project was
> started on March 16 by Professor Jaap Harlaar and students of the
> Department of BioMechanical Engineering of Delft Technical University
> in order to ensure enough ventilator capacity for treating COVID-19
> patients. The team intended their design to be publicly available for
> reuse. All documentation, technical design, and source code was
> published in a coherent fashion on their Web site.
>
> https://fsfe.org/news/2020/news-20200514-01.en.html
> Apple whistleblower goes public over "lack of action"
> From May 20th by Alex Hern
>
> A former Apple contractor who helped blow the whistle on the company’s
> program to listen to users’ Siri recordings has decided to go public,
> in protest at the lack of action taken as a result of the disclosures.
>
> In a letter announcing his decision, sent to all European data
> protection regulators, Thomas le Bonniec said: “It is worrying that
> Apple (and undoubtedly not just Apple) keeps ignoring and violating
> fundamental rights and continues their massive collection of data."
>
> “I am extremely concerned that big tech companies are basically
> wiretapping entire populations despite European citizens being told
> the EU has one of the strongest data protection laws in the world.
> Passing a law is not good enough: it needs to be enforced upon privacy
> offenders.”
>
> Continual, flagrant privacy violations are far from the only reason to
> avoid Apple products: read more about how Apple routinely tramples
> user rights at
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/apple-app-store-anniversary-marks-ten-years-of-proprietary-appsploitation.
>
> https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/may/20/apple-whistleblower-goes-public-over-lack-of-action
>
> Introducing Amin Bandali, intern with the FSF tech team
> From May 29th
>
> Hi there, I'm Amin Bandali, often just bandali on the interwebs. I
> wear a few different hats around GNU as a maintainer, Web master, and
> Savannah hacker, and I'm very excited to be extending that to the Free
> Software Foundation (FSF) as an intern with the FSF tech team for
> spring 2020.
>
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/sysadmin/introducing-bandali-intern-with-the-fsf-tech-team
>
> Patent case against GNOME resolved (and more GNOME news)
> From May 20th by the GNOME Foundation
>
> The GNOME Foundation, Rothschild Patent Imaging, and Leigh M.
> Rothschild are pleased to announce that the patent dispute between
> Rothschild Patent Imaging and GNOME has been settled.
>
> In this walk-away settlement, GNOME receives a release and covenant
> not to be sued for any patent held by Rothschild Patent Imaging.
> Further, both Rothschild Patent Imaging and Leigh Rothschild are
> granting a release and covenant to any software that is released under
> an existing Open Source Initiative approved license (and subsequent
> versions thereof), including for the entire Rothschild portfolio of
> patents, to the extent such software forms a material part of the
> infringement allegation.
>
> Neil McGovern, executive director for the GNOME Foundation said “I’m
> exceptionally pleased that we have concluded this case. This will
> allow us to refocus our attention on creating a free software desktop,
> and will ensure certainty for all [free] software in [the] future.”
>
> It's been a big few months for GNOME, and there are several exciting
> initiatives afoot, including funding for a new campaign in Africa.
> GNOME also welcomed their Google Summer of Code students, including
> Free Software Award winner Clarissa Borges.
>
> https://www.gnome.org/news/2020/05/patent-case-against-gnome-resolved/
> https://www.gnome.org/news/2020/05/growing-together-with-gnome/
> https://www.gnome.org/news/2020/05/gnome-welcomes-google-summer-of-code-2020-students/
> MediaGoblin 0.10.0 released
> From May 1st by Ben Sturmfels
>
> We’re pleased to announce the release of MediaGoblin 0.10.0! It’s been
> a while between releases for MediaGoblin, but work has continued
> steadily. Highlights of this release include a new plugin for
> displaying video subtitles and support for transcoding and displaying
> video in multiple resolutions. There have also been a large number of
> smaller improvements and bug fixes which are listed in the release notes.
>
> After enabling the new subtitles plugin, you can upload and edit
> captions for your videos. Multiple subtitle tracks are supported, such
> as for different languages. This feature was added by Saksham Agrawal
> during Google Summer of Code 2016 and mentored by Boris Bobrov. The
> feature has been available for some time on the master branch, but it
> definitely deserves a mention for this release.
>
> https://mediagoblin.org/news/mediagoblin-0.10.0-release.html
> Introducing Inkscape 1.0
> From May 4th by the Inkscape team
>
> After a little over three years in development, the team is excited to
> launch the long awaited Inkscape 1.0 into the world. This
> volunteer-built free software vector editor is used and recommended by
> the FSF.
>
> Built with the power of a team of volunteers, Inkscape represents the
> work of many hearts and hands from around the world, ensuring that it
> remains available free for everyone to download and enjoy. In fact,
> translations for over 20 out of all 88 languages were updated for
> version 1.0, making the software more accessible to people from all
> over the world.
>
> A major milestone was achieved in enabling Inkscape to use a more
> recent version of the software used to build the editor's user
> interface (namely GTK+3). Users with HiDPI (high resolution) screens
> can thank teamwork that took place during the 2018 Boston Hackfest for
> setting the updated-GTK wheels in motion.
>
> https://inkscape.org/news/2020/05/04/introducing-inkscape-10/
> This free software collective is taking Malayalam computing to the
> next level
> From May 6th by Azmia Riaz
>
> Swathanthra Malayalam Computing (SMC) is a free software collective in
> India that was created with the intention of enabling the use of
> Malayalam script in computers and mobile devices. Set up in 2002 by
> Byju Muthukadan, a graduate of NIT Calicut, it espouses the ideology
> of the FSF. The idea is not to simply make software free of cost, but
> also to uphold the freedom behind how the language is incorporated
> into technological devices. And SMC wants the community of Malayalam
> speakers involved in the solution. (Malayalam is one of 22 scheduled
> languages of India, spoken by nearly 2.88% of Indians; it is also
> spoken by linguistic minorities in neighboring states.)
>
> https://www.edexlive.com/people/2020/may/06/this-free-software-collective-is-taking-malayalam-computing-to-the-next-level-11834.html
>
> GCC 10.1 released
> From May 7th by GCC
>
> The GNU Project and the GCC developers are pleased to announce the
> release of GCC 10.1.
>
> This is a major release, containing new features (as well as many
> other improvements) relative to GCC 9.x.
>
> GCC is one of the oldest programs in the GNU operating system, having
> released its first version more than 33 years ago.
>
> https://gcc.gnu.org/gcc-10/
> SeaGL going virtual due to COVID-19 aka novel coronavirus
> From June 1st by SeaGL organizers
>
> We have made the exciting decision to take SeaGL entirely virtual. We
> are happy to follow in the footsteps of other terrific open source
> conferences who also want to keep our communities together during this
> time. The coronavirus has outlasted early predictions, so we are
> taking steps to ensure the longevity of SeaGL as a community in the
> event that we are still (or again) under shelter-in-place orders or
> need to avoid gatherings. The conference will be held online on
> November 13-14, 2020.
>
> https://seagl.org/news/2020/05/05/virtualconf-2020.html
> HOPE 2020 will be an online event: Call for sessions open
> From May 19th by HOPE organizers
>
> The 2020 Hackers On Planet Earth conference (HOPE) will take place
> online from July 25 through August 2, 2020. Hackers from around the
> world will convene virtually for nine days of online presentations,
> workshops, collaboration, and entertainment.
>
> Health risks in 2020 make large gatherings and travel impractical for
> attendees. Simultaneously, there is tremendous need for the creativity
> and skill that hackers offer. HOPE 2020 will showcase the efforts
> hackers are making to seek solutions to today's biggest challenges.
>
> Shifting to an entirely online format means HOPE attendees from around
> the world will convene from wherever they are to experience the same
> types of great presentations and workshops that HOPE is known for.
> This is a different way of doing things, and the HOPE community will
> be there to help presenters do a good job.
>
> Check out the link below to find out how to submit a talk!
>
> https://www.hope.net/news.html
> May GNU Emacs news
> From May 25th by Sacha Chua
>
> In these issues: the state of Emacs Lisp on Guile; GNU Emacs raison
> d'etre; analyzing data science code with R and Emacs; and more!
>
> 2020-05-25 2020-05-18 2020-05-11 2020-05-04
> Join the FSF and friends in updating the Free Software Directory
> Tens of thousands of people visit directory.fsf.org each month to
> discover free software. Each entry in the Directory contains a wealth
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> control, IRC channels, documentation, and licensing. The Free Software
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>
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>
> The next meeting is Friday, June 5, from 12pm to 3pm EDT (16:00 to
> 19:00 UTC). Details here:
>
> https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Main_Page
> LibrePlanet featured resource: Activism Guide
> Every month on the LibrePlanet wiki, we highlight one resource that is
> interesting and useful -- often one that could use your help.
>
> For this month, we are highlighting the Activism Guide, which is a
> how-to guide for software freedom, digital rights, and free culture
> activism. You are invited to adopt, spread and improve this important
> resource.
>
> https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Activism_Guide
> Do you have a suggestion for next month's featured resource? Let us
> know at campaigns at fsf.org.
>
> GNU Spotlight with Mike Gerwitz: 12 new GNU releases!
> 12 new GNU releases in the last month (as of May 26, 2020):
>
> bison-3.6.2 denemo-2.4.0 emms-5.4 freeipmi-1.6.5 gcc-10.1.0 gdb-9.2
> gnuastro-0.12 gnuhealth-3.6.4 mediagoblin-0.10.0 nano-4.9.3 nettle-3.6
> parallel-20200522
> For announcements of most new GNU releases, subscribe to the info-gnu
> mailing list: https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/info-gnu.
>
> To download: nearly all GNU software is available from
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> https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html. You can use the URL
> https://ftpmirror.gnu.org/ to be automatically redirected to a
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>
> A number of GNU packages, as well as the GNU operating system as a
> whole, are looking for maintainers and other assistance: please see
> https://www.gnu.org/server/takeaction.html#unmaint if you'd like to
> help. The general page on how to help GNU is at
> https://www.gnu.org/help/help.html.
>
> If you have a working or partly working program that you'd like to
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> https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.html.
>
> As always, please feel free to write to us at maintainers at gnu.org with
> any GNUish questions or suggestions for future installments.
>
> FSF and other free software events
> July 22-28, 2020, online, GUADEC 2020 October 18-20, 2020, Raleigh,
> NC, ATO November 13-14, 2020, online, SeaGL
> Thank GNUs!
> We appreciate everyone who donates to the Free Software Foundation,
> and we'd like to give special recognition to the folks who have
> donated $500 or more in the last month.
>
> https://www.gnu.org/thankgnus/2020supporters.html
> This month, a big Thank GNU to:
>
> Dario Armani David Klann Ken SENOO Ron Hume
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>
> GNU copyright contributions
> Assigning your copyright to the Free Software Foundation helps us
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> have assigned their copyright to the FSF (and allowed public
> appreciation) in the past month:
>
> Bryan Wyatt (GDB, GCC, Binutils) Dima Akater (Emacs) James Thomas
> (Emacs) John Ravi (GCC) Juan Luis Rizos Garcia (Gnuastro) Kevin Foley
> (Emacs) Michael Builov (Gawk) Michael Weghorn (GDB) Naoya Yamashita
> (Emacs) Nicolas Bértolo (Emacs) Roland Coeurjoly (Emacs) Stephen
> Casner (Binutils) Yoosuk Sim (GCC) Yuuki Harano (Emacs)
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