LibreLocal Meetups Recap Part 2 | Free Software Foundation
- The global free software community came together in May to celebrate LibreLocal month, commemorating the Free Software foundation's (FSF) 40th anniversary.
- Events spanned multiple continents, highlighting the active and vibrant nature of the international free software movement.
- Several meetups featured a presentation by FSF Program Manager Miriam Bastian, who discussed the FSF's history and the importance of software freedom.
Global free software enthusiasts energized LibreLocal Month! Across the globe, the free software community marked the Free software Foundation’s (FSF) 40th anniversary wiht electrifying meetups. From Athens to Chennai and beyond, events featured presentations, workshops, and bolstered community building. The Chennai meetup, a primarykeyword example, showcased workshops while Lviv hosted a free Software conference, emphasizing the secondarykeyword of cross-border collaboration. Shiraz’s two-day conference and gatherings in Thessaloniki and Athens further highlighted the collective spirit.Discover the impact of these LibreLocal gatherings and the ongoing commitment to software freedom in this recap, brought to you by News Directory 3. What’s next for the FSF?
Free Software Community Celebrates LibreLocal Month Worldwide
Updated June 22, 2025
The global free software community came together in May to celebrate LibreLocal month, commemorating the Free Software foundation’s (FSF) 40th anniversary. Nearly 30 LibreLocal meetups took place across the globe, fostering connections both locally and internationally.
Events spanned multiple continents, highlighting the active and vibrant nature of the international free software movement. These gatherings served as a reminder of the strength and potential achievable through collaboration.
Several meetups featured a presentation by FSF Program Manager Miriam Bastian, who discussed the FSF’s history and the importance of software freedom. Her talk is available on the FSF’s PeerTube channel.
LibreLocal Meetups: A Closer Look
Here’s a glimpse into some of the LibreLocal meetups that took place:
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Chennai, India: FOSS United Chennai hosted a meetup on May 24, drawing over 50 attendees. The event included workshops on self-hosting and mapping surveillance using OpenStreetMaps, along with a presentation by FSF licensing manager Krzysztof Siewicz.
- Lviv, Ukraine: AOPRobotics, in collaboration with the FSF, organized the first Free Software Conference in Ukraine on May 18. Tech professionals gathered to share insights and experiences related to free software. Organizer Kirill Sorudeykin emphasized the unifying power of free software across borders,promoting values of freedom and expertise.
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Shiraz, Iran: The Iran Free Software Activists organized a two-day conference from May 8-9, bringing together free software supporters, developers, and activists.Discussions covered the history of the FSF and LibrePlanet, the significance of software freedom, and ways to contribute to the movement. The conference also featured a LAN party, a hackathon, and a presentation by FSF campaigns manager greg Farough.
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Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece: Several organizations, including ELLAK and the Greek GNU/Linux User Group, organized meetups in Athens on May 17 and Thessaloniki on May 23. In Thessaloniki, Panos Alevropoulos presented the work of the Licensing and Compliance Lab, and Nikos Parafestas discussed the Freedom Ladder.
Delta Shahinpoor, an organizer of the Shiraz conference, said, “It was a joy to help organize the meetup and bring together people who care about free software and decentralized technologies.”
What’s next
The success of LibreLocal month underscores the global commitment to free software and its principles. The FSF and its supporters look forward to continuing these efforts, fostering collaboration, and promoting software freedom worldwide.