Knowledge shouldn't be allowed to be monopolized, and need to remain open to everyone. Access to knowledge needs to be considered a basic human right, since knowledge is vital to improve not only the quality of life of the individual. It's also a way to improve the quality of life of the communities, since it allows to improve almost every aspect of life, by giving better tools and understanding of how things work.
Knowledge belongs to humanity at large, and we all should not only be allowed unrestricted access to any part of it that we need. We also need to be guaranteed the ability to modify it in order to make better use of it, and to share with others freely those improvements.
People, and communities, are empowered by knowledge. They become more readily able to better cope with any problem that comes their way, and to learn from their mistakes. Knowledge gives people the freedom to take on life on their own, and thus depend less on outside help to solve problems. Not that they won't need help from other persons in their communities, but they will be better able to do something to solve their problems.
Now, more than in any other time in history, access has been democratized by the Internet in ways that where hard to imagine a few decades ago. Yet, to keep this access like this we need to keep the Internet open to all. Access needs to be open, and control over by governments or similar entities, should be kept to a minimum.
Knowledge belongs to those who seek it, and they should always be allowed to find it.
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