Solar panels for peace! Wind mills for peace!

Reposting two comments I left on a Juice Media youtube video about #NoDAPL. In summary, I was replying one person was concerned about the affordability of going green, and another person concerned that the "liberals" would invade more countries in the Middle East. Edited for formatting, but you can go see the original conversations here if you like. I put this on Medium as well.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step." -- Lao Tzu

It would seem that switching to green electricity -- wind, solar, etc. -- would come before worrying about the cars, as a matter of practicality. Switching to electric cars while the electricity is still made from fossil fuels and nuclear fission seems unlikely to accomplish much. (Please note that natural gas is indeed a fossil fuel and not green, in spite of being falsely marketed as such sometimes -- see Josh Fox's Gasland and Gasland 2 for details. That is, unless they are talking about gas from plant matter, but normally that is referred to as "biogas" to avoid confusion.) SolarCity, Sungevity, others, offer deals where where they front the cost of the solar panels and let you buy the electricity -- and the solar panels too, over time -- for more or less the price you are paying now (often less), and without the risk of the price increasing over time as it might with your electric utility. 

If you're a hands-on type person, and can afford a small up-front investment, it's also possible to make solar panels.

It's also possible you might get more bang for your buck installing a solar water heater before solar panels.

Micro wind might be a good option for some people.

If you don't own your roof, or if you can't install enough solar panels up there to cover your electric use, another option is to purchase green electricity via your utility, which generally doesn't cost that much more than your current prices. Conservation measures, even little things like unplugging appliances that are not in use, can help counteract that by bringing your prices down. If you live in the United States, there's a lot of information here, for Australians here, for those in the UK here, and an example of one Canadian green electricity provider here.

So far as your car goes, there aren't really any options for going green on that which are affordable to those who cannot afford a substantial up-front investment. Otherwise, the most you could probably do (without giving up your lifestyle) would be to buy solar or wind offsets from time to time, maybe just $40 or so at a time, and perhaps switch to walking or biking for short-distance trips. Buying offsets is also a good option for people who do not pay separately for their electricity, or whose utility does not offer an option to buy green electricity instead. Indeed, many of the programs through utilities are offsets anyway, unless they specifically say you are buying local green electricity. In the long run, fuel cell vehicles will probably be better than electric ones. In any case, Sterling Planet and the New England Wind Fund are two options in the United States for wind offsets.

Ultimately, though, the water protectors are not accountable to the affordability of electricity and gasoline, but rather, to their own well being, and to the well being of the millions of people who depends on that river for water. They need not willingly sacrifice the water supply for millions of people just so that some other people can have cheap electricity and gasoline.

If you want to avoid wars for oil and other fossil fuels everywhere, against Middle Eastern countries, against indigenous nations here on Turtle Island (what you call North America), and against anyone else, the answers are solar, wind, and other renewables. The cause of avoiding war in the Middle East does not justify war against American Indians any more than the cause of avoiding war against American Indians justifies war in the Middle East. Solar panels for peace! Wind mills for peace!

Also, not that it's news or anything, but if by "liberals" you mean "Democrats", the Democrat party has always been at best a fake green party -- to point to an obvious examples, bombing other countries is not green. True, a few green politicians may have infiltrated the Democrat party, and some greens may vote for them for "lesser evil" reasons, but the Democrat party as a whole are fake greens, not real ones. So it should come as no surprise that the Democrat party doesn't care about #NoDAPL either. Warmongers abroad, warmongers at home.

What are the police doing that they won't even let NBC see what's happening?

NBC asked Kevin Gilbertt if he knew any eyes and ears on the ground at Standing Rock because apparently their reporters were banned from entering.

NBC is mainstream media -- if they don't even what NBC to see this, what in God's name is going on there?

We already heard Eric Poemz crying out, "It hurts! Y'all broke my hip!" towards the end of this video. Unicorn Riot published a picture of the incident.

Much love to our brothers and sisters on Sioux treaty land right now.

A Reply To Robert P. Murphy On Clean Air

The actual letter is published here, but since actual lists of references (as opposed to inline links) are apparently against beinglibertarian.com editorial policy, and some of the references are offline, plus a references list gives me the chance to direct you to particular chapters, pages, or segments, here is the references list.

References



1. Mosbergen, Dominique. "Chen Guangbiao, Chinese Millionaire, Sells Canned Fresh Air To Combat Pollution (VIDEO)." Huffington Post, January 29, 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/29/china-canned-air-chen-guangbiao-chinese-millionaire_n_2574901.html (accessed December 30, 2016).
2. Garnaut, John, and Liu, Sanghee. "Canned air for sale in China, as blanket of smog returns." The Sydney Morning Herald, January 29, 2013. http://www.smh.com.au/world/canned-air-for-sale-in-china-as-blanket-of-smog-returns-20130128-2dht3.html (accessed December 30, 2016).
3. 孙昌銮. "陈光标17日北京开卖“新鲜空气”引争议." 新华新闻, September 18, 2012. http://news.xinhuanet.com/energy/2012-09/18/c_123728793.htm (accessed December 30, 2016).
4. Wight Hat Ltd. "US Fluid Ounces to Liters." Metric Conversions. http://www.metric-conversions.org/volume/us-ounces-to-liters.htm (accessed January 1, 2016).
5. InfoSpace Holdings LLC. "How much oxygen does a person consume in a day?" HowStuffWorks. http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/respiratory/question98.htm (accessed January 1, 2017).
6. Adams, William C et al. "Research Note 94-11: Topic = How Much Air Do We Breathe?" California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board, August 1994. https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/resnotes/notes/94-11.htm (accessed January 1, 2017).
7. Google. "1 Chinese Yuan equals 0.14 US Dollar." Google. https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=yuan+to+dollars (accessed January 2, 2017).
8. Hunt, Katie. "Canadian start-up sells bottled air to China, says sales booming." CNN, December 17, 2015. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/15/asia/china-canadian-company-selling-clean-air/index.html (accessed December 30, 2016).
9. Mertz, Emily. "Alberta company sending thousands of bottles of Banff air to China." Global News, December 16, 2015. http://globalnews.ca/news/2406077/alberta-company-sending-thousands-of-bottles-of-banff-air-to-china/ (accessed December 30, 2016).
10. Vitality Air. "Vitality Air - This is your life." Vitality Air. https://vitalityair.com/ (accessed January 2, 2017).
11. Aqicn.org. "Beijing US Embassy Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI)." Aqicn.org. http://aqicn.org/city/beijing/us-embassy/ (accessed January 2, 2017).
12. Campbell, Charlie, et al. "Beijing’s Air Pollution is Frightening. This Video Shows Just How Bad It Gets." Time, December 21, 2016. http://time.com/4607605/china-beijing-pollution-smog-environment-video/ (accessed January 3, 2017).
13. Fox, Josh et al. "China." How to Let Go of the World and Love All The Things Climate Can't Change. Online streaming. Directed by Josh Fox. Brooklyn: International WOW Company, 2016. ~1:15:00-1:41:00.
14. Yongqi, Hu. "Beijing sets population ceiling of 23 million." China Daily, January 23, 2016. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-01/23/content_23215065.htm (accessed January 2, 2017).
15. World Population Review. "Beijing Population 2016." World Population Review. http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/beijing-population/ (accessed January 2, 2017).
16. Wasserman, Ric. "The world's 'Solar King'." Nepali Times, December 2011. http://nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=18853 (accessed January 3, 2017).
17. Hadfield, Peter et al. "The Sun King of China." BBC World Service Discovery. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04cy929 (accessed January 3, 2017).
18. Solar Valley China. "Discover How the World’s Leading Solar / Renewable Energy Entrepreneur Built his Company… Discover How One Man is Changing the World!" Solar Valley China. http://solarvalleychina.com/about/ (accessed January 3, 2017).
19. Rohde, Robert A, and Muller, Richard A. "Air Pollution in China: Mapping of Concentrations and Sources." PLOS ONE 10, no. 8 (2015). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135749. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0135749 (accessed January 3, 2017).
20. Levin, Dan. "Study Links Polluted Air in China to 1.6 Million Deaths a Year." The New York Times, August 13, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/world/asia/study-links-polluted-air-in-china-to-1-6-million-deaths-a-year.html (accessed January 3, 2017).
21. Jing, Chai et al. "Chai Jing's review: Under the Dome – Investigating China’s Smog 柴静雾霾调查：穹顶之下 (full translation)." Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6X2uwlQGQM (accessed January 3, 2017).
22. Wong, Edward. "China Blocks Web Access to ‘Under the Dome’ Documentary on Pollution." The New York Times, March 6, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/world/asia/china-blocks-web-access-to-documentary-on-nations-air-pollution.html (accessed January 3, 2017).
23. Chang, Louise (reviewer). "Air Pollution's Health Risks Underestimated?" WebMD Health News, October 3, 2005. http://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20051003/air-pollutions-health-risks-underestimated (accessed January 3, 2017).
24. Boston Globe. "How Many Pints Of Blood Are There In The Human Body?" SunSentinel, March 1, 1992. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-03-01/features/9201110556_1_donors-clot-pints (accessed January 3, 2017).
25. Town of Dish. "Oil and Gas Development." Town of Dish. http://townofdish.com/index.php?id=EKC4LS3O4 (accessed January 3, 2017).
26. Town of Dish. "RESOLUTION NO. 07-08A: A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF DISH, TEXAS OPPOSING THE CONTINUED PREEMPTION OF MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF CERTAIN INTRA-STATE GAS UTILITIES; URGING LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO PERMIT GREATER LOCAL REGULATORY OVERSIGHT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." Town of Dish. http://townofdish.com/objects/07-08A_Resolution.pdf (accessed January 4, 2017).
27. Tillman, Calvin et al. "Gas Pipeline Resolution." Youtube, November 8, 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2dMm6ovR7c (accessed January 4, 2017).
28. Wolf Eagle Environmental. "Town of DISH, Texas Ambient Air Monitoring Analysis Final Report." Town of Dish, September 15, 2009. http://townofdish.com/objects/DISH_-_final_report_revised.pdf (accessed January 4, 2017).
29. Wolf Eagle Environmental. "Dispersion Modeling of Emissions From Natural Gas Compressor Stations, Town of DISH, Texas." Town of Dish, December 2009. http://townofdish.com/objects/DISH_Report.pdf1.pdf (accessed January 4, 2017).
30. Fox, Josh et al. "Interview with Calvin Tillman, Mayor of Dish." Gasland. Online streaming. Directed by Josh Fox. Brooklyn: International WOW Company, 2010. ~1:13:35-1:16:25.
31. Fox, Josh et al. "Dish, Texas interviews." Gasland 2. Online streaming. Directed by Josh Fox. Brooklyn: International WOW Company, 2013. ~0:33:56-0:36:28. ~1:35:34-1:38-47.
32. Environmental Film Festival. "2016: Closing Night: How to Let Go of the World." Youtube, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XCCGTLPoh4 (accessed January 10, 2017). ~38:08-38:31
33. Goodman, Amy et al. "Pittsburgh Ban on Natural Gas Fracking Faces Challenge from State Authorities." Democracy Now!, September 14, 2012. https://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/14/pittsburgh_ban_on_natural_gas_fracking (accessed January 10, 2017).
34. Baptist, Edward. The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism. New York: Basic Books, 2014. p. 352.
35. Giles, Waldron H. "Slavery and the American Economy." ChickenBones: A Journal. http://www.nathanielturner.com/slaveryandtheamericaneconomy.htm (accessed January 10, 2017).
36. The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd. "In 2016, we estimate that 45.8 million people are in some form of modern slavery in 167 countries." The Global Slavery Index. http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/ (accessed January 10, 2017).
37. True Vision of London. Slavery: A Global Investigation. Vimeo/Free the Slaves, 2001. https://vimeo.com/39383629 (accessed January 10, 2017).
38. Free the Slaves. "Slavery in the Congo." Free the Slaves. http://www.freetheslaves.net/where-we-work/congo/ (accessed January 10, 2017).
39. Friends of the Congo. "Crisis In The Congo: Uncovering The Truth." Youtube, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLV9szEu9Ag (accessed January 10, 2017).
40. Kara, Siddharth. "Tainted Carpets: Slavery and Child Labor in India's Hand-Made Carpet Sector." Harvard University, 2014. https://cdn2.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/04/Harvard-Report-042814.pdf (accessed January 10, 2017).
41. Fitzpatrick, Terry. "2016 Highlight: Rescue Frees 11 Boys from India Carpet Slavery." Free the Slaves, December 21, 2016. http://www.freetheslaves.net/2016-highlight-rescue-frees-11-boys-from-india-carpet-slavery/ (accessed January 10, 2017).
42. Anderson, Becky et al. "Carpet Slavery in India". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/videos/bestoftv/2014/01/22/exp-cnni-indian-carpet-slavery.cnn (accessed January 10, 2017).
43. True Vision of London. "Carpet Slavery in India." Slavery: A Global Investigation. Vimeo/Free the Slaves, 2001. https://vimeo.com/39383629 (accessed January 10, 2017). ~39:28-528:22.
44. Pattisson, Pete. "Revealed: Qatar's World Cup 'slaves.'" The Guardian, September 25, 2013. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/revealed-qatars-world-cup-slaves (accessed January 10, 2017).
45. ESPN UK. "'A 21st Century slave state' | Qatar World Cup 2022." Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjqQLVRZyyw (accessed January 10, 2017).
46. Raghavan, Sudarsan, and Chatterjee, Sumana. "A Taste of Slavery." Knight Ridder Newspapers, June 24, 2001. http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/atasteofslavery.html (accessed January 10, 2017).
47. Sapoznik, Karlee. "'When People Eat Chocolate, They Are Eating My Flesh': Slavery and the Dark Side of Chocolate." ActiveHistory.CA, June 30, 2010. http://activehistory.ca/2010/06/%E2%80%9Cwhen-people-eat-chocolate-they-are-eating-my-flesh%E2%80%9D-slavery-and-the-dark-side-of-chocolate/ (accessed January 10, 2017).
48. True Vision of London. "19 Freed Chocolate Slaves." Slavery: A Global Investigation. Vimeo/Free the Slaves, 2001. https://vimeo.com/39383629 (accessed January 10, 2017). ~14:50-21:30.
49. Sultzman, Lee. "Wampanoag History." Tolatsga.org. http://tolatsga.org/wampa.html (accessed January 10, 2017).
50. Honor the Earth. "Sustainable Tribal Economies: A Guide to Restoring Energy and Food Sovereignty in Native America." Cloudfront. http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/themes/524d95ff9670a41eab000002/attachments/original/1388422349/Sustainable_Tribal_Economies_HTE.pdf?1388422349 (accessed January 8, 2017).
51. Laduke, Winona. "Uranium Mining, Native Resistance, and the Greener Path." Orion Magazine. https://orionmagazine.org/article/uranium-mining-native-resistance-and-the-greener-path/ (accessed January 9, 2017).
52. Lakota Solidarity Project et al. "Interview with Charmaine White Face." Red Cry. Youtube, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfvAqCHpXgA (accessed January 9, 2017). ~39:45-40:20.
53. Meldrum-Hanna, Caro et al. "Australia's Shame." ABC, July 2016. http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2016/07/25/4504895.htm (accessed January 11, 2017).
54. Epictetus. Written down by Arrian. "Book 1, Chapter 1." Discourses. The Internet Classics Archive. http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/discourses.1.one.html (accessed January 15, 2017).
55. Chomsky, Noam. "Starving the Poor." Khaleej Times, May 15, 2007. https://chomsky.info/20070515/ (accessed January 11, 2017)
56. Salas, Carlos et al. "NAFTA at Seven: Its impact on workers in all three nations." Economic Policy Institute, April 26, 2001. https://secure.epi.org/files/page/-/old/briefingpapers/nafta01/nafta-at-7.pdf (accessed January 11, 2017).
57. Salas, Carlos et al. "Revisting NAFTA: Still not working for North America's workers." Economic Policy Institute, September 28, 2006. https://secure.epi.org/files/page/-/old/briefingpapers/173/bp173.pdf (accessed January 11, 2017).
58. Hannam, Peter. "Temperatures off the charts as Australia turns deep purple." The Age, January 8, 2013. http://www.theage.com.au/environment/weather/temperatures-off-the-charts-as-australia-turns-deep-purple-20130108-2ce33.html (accessed January 11, 2017).
59. Revkin, Andrew. "Australian Forecasters Add New Colors to Temperature Charts to Capture Record Heat." The New York Times, January 8, 2013. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/australian-forecasters-add-new-colors-to-temperature-charts-to-capture-record-heat/ (accessed January 11, 2017).
60. James, Lauren et al. "See for Yourself: How Arctic Ice Is Disappearing." National Geographic, December 14, 2015. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/arctic-ice-shrinking-graphic-environment-text (accessed January 11, 2017).
61. Vidal, John. "'Extraordinarily hot' Arctic temperatures alarm scientists." The Guardian, November 22, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/22/extraordinarily-hot-arctic-temperatures-alarm-scientists (accessed January 11, 2017).
62. Google. "'climate change' 'uneven warming.'" Google. https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=uneven+warming#q=%22climate+change%22+%22uneven+warming%22 (accessed January 11, 2017).
63. Norton, Ben. "Libertarian superstar Ayn Rand defended Native American genocide: 'Racism didn’t exist in this country until the liberals brought it up.'" Salon, October 14, 2015. https://www.salon.com/2015/10/14/libertarian_superstar_ayn_rand_defended_genocide_of_savage_native_americans/ (accessed January 11, 2017).
64. Rothbard, Murray N. "Relations with the Indians." In Conceived in Liberty. 1979. Reprint, Auburn: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 2011. pp 85-92. https://mises.org/system/tdf/Conceived%20in%20Liberty_Vol_2_2.pdf?file=1&type=document (accessed January 9, 2017).
65. Pettigrew, William A. "One - The Politics of Slave-Trade Escalation, 1672-1712." In Freedom's Debt: The Royal African Company and the Politics of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1672-1752. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2013. p. 25.
66. Quiggin, John. "John Locke Against Freedom." Jacobin, June 28, 2015. https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/06/locke-treatise-slavery-private-property/ (accessed January 11, 2017).
67. Rothbard, Murray N. "Robert Nozick and the Immaculate Conception of the State." In The Ethics of Liberty. 1982. Reprint, Auburn: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 2016. pp. 238-240. https://mises.org/system/tdf/The%20Ethics%20of%20Liberty_0.pdf?file=1&type=document (accessed January 11, 2017).
68. Farbota, Kim. "Black Crime Rates: What Happens When Numbers Aren't Neutral." The Huffington Post, September 2, 2016. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-farbota/black-crime-rates-your-st_b_8078586.html (accessed January 17, 2017).
69. Rothbard, Murray N. "Conservation, Ecology, and Growth." In For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto. 1973. Reprint, Auburn: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 2006. pp 301-327. https://mises.org/system/tdf/For%20a%20New%20Liberty%20The%20Libertarian%20Manifesto_3.pdf?file=1&type=document (accessed January 12, 2017).
70. Means, Russel. "For America to Live, Europe Must Die." Information Clearing House, July 1980. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19048.htm (accessed January 13, 2017).
71. Ambrose, Stephen. Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors. 1975. Reprint, New York: Open Road Media, 2014.
72. Fox, Josh et al. "Amazon." How to Let Go of the World and Love All The Things Climate Can't Change. Online streaming. Directed by Josh Fox. Brooklyn: International WOW Company, 2016. ~0:39:00-58:28.
73. People of Saryaku. "I am a Defender of the Rainforest." Youtube, November 1, 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEFYnLxKlwY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3drT9njZgAI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmQtUyMClbQ (accessed January 13, 2017).
74. Thorton, Russell et al. "Population History of Native North Americans." In A Population History of North America. pp. 12-13.
75. Huey, Aaron. "America's native prisoners of war." TED, September 2010. https://www.ted.com/talks/aaron_huey (accessed January 13, 2017).
76. Roach, John. "Superdirt Made Lost Amazon Cities Possible?" National Geographic News, November 19, 2008. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/11/081119-lost-cities-amazon.html (accessed January 13, 2017).
77. Coyote, Peter et al. Secret Cities of the Amazon. Directed by Philip J. Day. Washington: National Geographic, 2010.
78. Fortune, Jack et al. The Secret Of Eldorado. Directed by David Sington. BBC Horizon, 2002. Transcript: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2002/eldoradotrans.shtml (accessed January 23, 2017)
79. de Carvajal, Gaspar. Relación del nuevo descubrimiento del famoso río Grande que descubrió por muy gran ventura el capitán Francisco de Orellana. Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes. http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/03697390899115328732268/p0000007.htm#I_60_ (accessed January 22, 2017) Alternatively: de Carvajal, Gaspar. Relación del nuevo descubrimiento del famoso río Grande que descubrió por muy gran ventura el capitán Francisco de Orellana. Archive.org. https://archive.org/stream/raha_103310#page/n253/mode/2up (accessed January 22, 2017)
80. RT. "Police shoot rubber bullets at Dakota Access Pipeline protesters." RT, November 2016. https://www.rt.com/usa/365133-dakota-access-pipeline-standoff/ (accessed January 13, 2017).
81. Mullen, Mike. "Hennepin County Sheriff's deputies use batons on Dakota Access Pipeline protesters; 141 arrested [VIDEO]." City Pages, October 28, 2016. http://www.citypages.com/news/hennepin-county-sheriffs-deputies-use-batons-on-dakota-access-pipeline-protesters-141-arrested-video/399029131 (accessed January 13, 2017).
82. Goodman, Amy et al. "Standing Rock Special: Unlicensed #DAPL Guards Attacked Water Protectors with Dogs & Pepper Spray." Democracy Now!, November 24, 2016. https://www.democracynow.org/2016/11/24/standing_rock_special_unlicensed_dapl_guards (accessed January 13, 2017).
83. Johnson, Margaret E. "A Home with Dignity: Domestic Violence and Property Rights." Bringham Young University Law Review (2014): p. 11. http://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2911&context=lawreview (accessed January 13, 2017).
84. Rothbard, Murray N. For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto. 1973. Reprint, Auburn: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 2006. https://mises.org/system/tdf/For%20a%20New%20Liberty%20The%20Libertarian%20Manifesto_3.pdf?file=1&type=document (accessed January 12, 2017).
85. Seneca. "Moral letters to Lucilius/Letter 47." Wikisource. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_47 (accessed January 15, 2017). 
86. Luther Standing Bear. "Chapter I: The Sioux." In My Indian Boyhood. 1931. Reprint, Lincoln: Bison Books, 2013.
87. Uenuma, Francine, and Fritz, Mike. "Why the Sioux Are Refusing $1.3 Billion." PBS, August 24, 2011. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/north_america-july-dec11-blackhills_08-23/ (accessed January 13, 2017).
88. Abbandonato, Aisling. "John Locke, homesteading and other topics, in retrospect." Blogspot. http://environmentalistreflections.blogspot.com/2016/12/john-locke-homesteading-and-other.html (accessed January 13, 2017).
89. Tzu, Sun. Translated by Giles, Lionel. The Art of War. The Internet Classics Archive. http://classics.mit.edu/Tzu/artwar.html (accessed January 13, 2017).
90. Rothbard, Murray N. "Law, Property Rights, and Air Pollution." Cato Journal 2(1) (1982): pp. 55-99. https://mises.org/system/tdf/Law%2C%20Property%20Rights%2C%20and%20Air%20Pollution_2.pdf?file=1&type=document (accessed January 22, 2017).
91. US Department of Energy. "Can I Buy Green Power in My State?" US Department of Energy. http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml (accessed January 15, 2017).
92. Business Wire. "New Data Shows 97% of Americans Overestimate the Cost of Installing Solar Panels." Business Wire. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120424006063/en/Data-Shows-97-Americans-Overestimate-Cost-Installing (accessed January 14, 2017).
93. Plutarch. Translated by Dryden, John. Solon. The Internet Classics Archive. http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/solon.html (accessed January 13, 2017).
94. Greekboston.com. "Solon Reforms Athens' Judicial System." Greekboston.com http://www.greekboston.com/culture/ancient-history/solon-reforms-judicial/ (accessed January 13, 2017).
95. Todd, S.C. et al. "A Glossary of Athenian Legal Terms." In Athenian Law in its Democratic Context. Stoa, March 16, 2003. http://www.stoa.org/projects/demos/article_law_glossary?page=16&greekEncoding=UnicodeC (accessed January 13, 2017).
96. Rothbard, Murray N. "Barter" and "Indirect Exchange". In What Has Government Done to Our Money? 1963. Reprint, Auburn: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 2010. pp. 5-10. https://mises.org/files/what-has-government-done-our-moneypdf-0/download?token=BiNxrL2F (accessed January 14, 2017).
97. Free the Slaves. "Becoming a Slavery-Free Business." Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/37626566 (accessed January 16, 2017).
98. Ludlam, Scott. "The Homeless, the Liberals and their investment properties." The Greens, February 23, 2016. http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/articles/homeless-liberals-and-their-investment-properties (accessed January 16, 2018)
99. Thucydides. Translated by Crawley, Richard. "CHAPTER XVII. Sixteenth Year of the War - The Melian Conference - Fate of Melos." In History of the Peloponnesian War. The University of Adelaide. https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/t/thucydides/crawley/chapter17.html (accessed January 14, 2017).
100. Martin, Judith. "Miss Manners: What’s the difference between politically incorrect and rude?" The Mercury News, February 2, 2016. http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/02/02/miss-manners-whats-the-difference-between-politically-incorrect-and-rude/ (accessed January 15, 2017).
101. Ackroyd, Peter. "1 - Hymns of Stone." In Foundation: The History of England from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors. 2011. Reprint, New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2012.
102. Strabo. "Book IV Chapter 5." Geography. University of Chicago. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/4E*.html (accessed January 15, 2017). Alternatively: Strabo. Translated by Hamilton, H.C. et al. Strabo's Geography. "Chapter V Britain." London: George Bell & Sons. p. 297-298. https://archive.org/stream/bub_gb_Yv1fAAAAMAAJ#page/n307/mode/2up/ (accessed January 16, 2017).
103. Ackroyd, Peter. "2 - The Roman Way." In Foundation: The History of England from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors. 2011. Reprint, New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2012.
104. Faulkner, Neil. "Overview: Roman Britain, 43 - 410 AD." BBC, March 29, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/overview_roman_01.shtml (accessed January 15, 2017).
105. Plutarch. "The Life of Crassus." In The Parallel Lives. University of Chicago. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Crassus*.html (accessed January 15, 2017). Alternatively: Plutarch. Translated by Bernadotte, Perrin. "The Life of Crassus." In Plutarch's Lives. London: William Heinemann Ltd. p. 337 https://archive.org/stream/L065PlutarchParallelLivesIIIPericlesFabiusMaximusNiciasCrassus/L065-Plutarch%20Parallel%20Lives%20III%20Pericles%20%26%20Fabius%20Maximus%20Nicias%20%26%20Crassus#page/n349/mode/2up (accessed January 16, 2017).
106. Museum of London. "Roman-era slave bill - AD 80 - 100." BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/KSqXFEQTRPqRBLuT0IV_5A (accessed January 15, 2017).
107. Ibeji, Mike. "After the Romans." BBC, February 17, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/late_01.shtml (accessed January 15, 2017).
108. Dutchak, Pat. "The Church and Slavery in Anglo-Saxon England." University of Alberta. https://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/pi/article/viewFile/1430/970 (accessed January 15, 2017).
109. Ine. Translated by Attenborough, F.L. The Laws of the Earliest English Kings. London: Cambridge University Press, 1922. pp. 36-37. https://archive.org/stream/lawsofearliesten00grea#page/36/mode/2up (accessed January 15, 2017).
110. Ine. Translated by Attenborough, F.L. The Laws of the Earliest English Kings. London: Cambridge University Press, 1922. pp. 38-39. https://archive.org/stream/lawsofearliesten00grea#page/38/mode/2up (accessed January 15, 2017).
111. Æthelberht. Translated by Attenborough, F.L. The Laws of the Earliest English Kings. London: Cambridge University Press, 1922. pp. 14-15. https://archive.org/stream/lawsofearliesten00grea#page/14/mode/2up (accessed January 15, 2017).
112. William of Malmesbury. Translated by Sharpe, John et al. William of Malmesbury's Chronicle of the kings of England. From the earliest period to the reign of King Stephen. Finsbury: J. Haddon. p. 279. http://archive.org/stream/williamofmalmesb1847will/#page/278/mode/2up (accessed January 16, 2017).
113. Ibeji, Mike. "Key Events of the Conquest." BBC, February 17, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/key_events_01.shtml (accessed January 16, 2017).
114. Douglas, David C. "Chapter 12 The Royal Administration." In William the Conqueror: The Norman Impact Upon England. Berkely And Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1964. pp. 311-312
115. Olusoga, David. "The history of British slave ownership has been buried: now its scale can be revealed." The Guardian, July 11, 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/12/british-history-slavery-buried-scale-revealed (accessed January 16, 2017).
116. Cranmer, Frank, and Pocklington, David. “Manorial rights: Justice Committee report.” Law & Religion UK, January 22, 2015. http://www.lawandreligionuk.com/2015/01/22/manorial-rights-justice-committee-report/ (accessed January 16, 2017).
117. Gosden, Emily. "Fracking fears as landowners lay claim to ancient rights." The Telegraph, January 15, 2014. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/10575318/Land-Registry-receives-73000-land-rights-claims-minister-reveals.html (accessed January 16, 2017).
118. Bureau of Land Management. "Do you really OWN the minerals under your land?" BLM Montana State Office. https://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/mt/blm_programs/mining.Par.72349.File.dat/minerals.pdf (accessed January 16, 2017).
119. MacGraw, Ali et al. Split Estate. Online streaming. Directed by Debra Anderson. Santa Fe: Red Rock Pictures, 2009.
120. Baca, Marie C. "Forced Pooling: When Landowners Can’t Say No to Drilling." ProPublica, May 18, 2011. https://www.propublica.org/article/forced-pooling-when-landowners-cant-say-no-to-drilling (accessed January 16, 2017).
121. Fox, Josh et al. "Interviews with the Lipskys." Gasland 2. Online streaming. Directed by Josh Fox. Brooklyn: International WOW Company, 2013. ~0:29:56-0:33:57, 1:53:28-1:54:51.
122. Solomon, Dan. "The Texas Supreme Court Rules That a Fracking Company’s Defamation Suit Against a Guy Who Claims His Tap Water Is on Fire Can Proceed." Texas Monthly, April 28, 2015. http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/the-texas-supreme-court-rules-that-a-fracking-companys-defamation-suit-against-a-guy-who-claims-his-tap-water-is-on-fire-can-proceed/ (accessed January 23, 2017)
123. Hargrove, Brantley. "How One Man's Flaming Water Fired Up a Battle Between Texas and the EPA." Dallas Observer, April 26, 2012. http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/how-one-mans-flaming-water-fired-up-a-battle-between-texas-and-the-epa-6425305 (accessed January 23, 2017).
124. Rothman, Lily. "That ‘A System Cannot Fail…’ Quote? It’s Not From W.E.B. DuBois." Time, November 25, 2014. http://time.com/3604241/w-e-b-dubois-quote-ferguson/ (accessed January 17, 2017).
125. Davidson, Helen. "Pacific Islanders blockade Newcastle coal port to protest rising sea levels." The Guardian, October 17, 2014. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/17/pacific-islanders-blockade-newcastle-coal-port-to-protest-rising-sea-levels (accessed January 16, 2017).
126. Kirkwood, Ian. "Protesters arrested as hundreds of canoes blockade Port of Newcastle in climate change protest." Herald, May 8, 2016. http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3894510/coal-protest-shuts-harbour-poll/ (accessed January 16, 2017).
127. Doyle, Mark et al. "350 Pacific Climate Warriors: Canoe Blockade." Youtube/350 Pacific, March 5, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daId0hrwcAw (accessed January 16, 2017).
128. 350 Pacific. "350 Pacific: 'We are not drowning -- we are fighting!'" Youtube, June 25, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xZlswE7IVI (accessed January 16, 2017).
129. Fox, Josh et al. "Australia/Pacific Island Nations" How to Let Go of the World and Love All The Things Climate Can't Change. Online streaming. Directed by Josh Fox. Brooklyn: International WOW Company, 2016. ~1:03:13-1:15:00.
130. Robertson, Joshua. "Adani coalmine activists gear up to fight: ‘This will dwarf the Franklin blockade.’" The Guardian, January 14, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/14/adani-coalmine-activists-gear-up-to-fight-this-will-dwarf-the-franklin-blockade (accessed January 16, 2017).
131. The Guardian. "'Leave our land alone': Queensland traditional owners vow to fight Adani's Carmichael coalmine – video." The Guardian, March 25, 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2015/mar/25/aboriginal-adani-carmichael-coalmine-queensland-protest-video (accessed January 16, 2017).
132. Haas, Benjamin. "China riot police seal off city centre after smog protesters put masks on statues." The Guardian, December 12, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/12/china-riot-police-seal-off-city-centre-after-smog-protesters-put-masks-on-statues (accessed January 16, 2017).
133. Long, Qiao. Translated by Mudie, Luisetta. "Smog in China's Sichuan Sparks Protests From Students, Elderly." Radio Free Asia, December 9, 2016. http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/smog-protest-12092016121841.html (accessed January 16, 2017).
134. Global Witness. "On Dangerous Ground." Global Witness, June 20, 2016. https://www.globalwitness.org/en/reports/dangerous-ground/ (accessed January 16, 2017).
135. Ross, Alexander R. "Algeria: fracking and the Ain Salah uprising." Ecologist, March 14, 2015. http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2792950/algeria_fracking_and_the_ain_salah_uprising.html (accessed January 16, 2017).
136. BBC. "Algeria's Fracking Frontline - BBC World News." Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CGlfFj8phQ (accessed January 16, 2017). ~0:45-1:05
137. Youtube. "Rascoala de la Pungesti." Youtube, December 7, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL5ec0D9i9s (accessed January 17, 2017).
138. Besliu, Raluca. "Pungesti: Romania's battlefield against Chevron." Al Jazeera, December 2013. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/12/pungesti-romania-battlefield-against-chevron-201312117349323363.html (accessed January 16, 2017).
139. Leahy, Stephen. "Canada's environmental activists seen as 'threat to national security.'" The Guardian, February 14, 2013. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/feb/14/canada-environmental-activism-threat (accessed January 17, 2017).
140. Bennett, Nelson. "Shuswap activist group occupies Imperial Metals office." Business in Vancouver, August 9, 2016. https://www.biv.com/article/2016/8/shuswap-activist-group-occupies-imperial-metals-of/ (accessed January 17, 2017).
141. RT. "DAPL war rages on: 'Water protectors' arrested as protests continue." RT, December 30, 2016. https://www.rt.com/usa/372202-arrests-opposition-dapl-council/ (accessed January 17, 2017).
142. Banks, Ashlee et al. "'Show of force’: National Guard deploy surface-to-air missile systems at DAPL protest (VIDEO." RT, January 2017. https://www.rt.com/usa/374297-dapl-surface-to-air-missile-systems/ (accessed January 23, 2017).

On the risks of homelessnes and the risks of being housed, and "society's" responsibility on the matter.

Repost of something I wrote on Medium. You can read the comment I am replying to here, but this is fairly generic and could've been a reply to more or less anyone questioning other peoples' choices regarding homelessness.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You seem to be operating under the premise that being homeless is always risking “greater insecurity” and “suffering the indignities and physical risk associated with homelessness”. You leave out the risks of being housed. While the risks of being housed vary from person to person, they can potentially include being beaten, being raped, being physically tormented in other ways, being poisoned, being locked in a basement, being chained or handcuffed, and being killed— often in private, where there are no witnesses (although for references, I chose a number of examples that actually were published in the news, although such attention is really the exception rather than the rule).(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) A lot of people feel safer in a public area like a tent city where there are others around to intervene if things get out of hand, or in a place cheap enough that they can afford it on their own like a self-storage that they don’t have to share with anyone potentially violent, or else just finding hiding spots and being able to sleep in different places/run away more easily.

Yes, being homeless is dangerous too, but all risk is relative, and sorting out the risks is for each person to decide for themselves. If a person feels physically safer or happier or even just financially more secure being homeless than not being homeless, who are you to tell them whether or not that choice is in their best interest, in the short run or the long run?

I don’t know about homeless students specifically, but an estimated 44% of homeless people actually do work.(25) Personally, I suspect that number is a vast underestimate because a) those who are not certain that their work is legal or are sure it isn’t (consider sub-minimum-wage jobs, some that pay only in food, self-employment without the appropriate licenses, unreported bartering, etc.) are likely to report as unemployed, and b) the employed homeless are likely to be better at hiding and thus less likely to be interviewed to begin with.

So, many of the homeless students likely do some sort of work, and even if they don’t, it’s not as if re-prioritizing would be any guarantee of being able to afford a home. If they feel their long-term chances are better with a college degree, they might be right.

Society’s responsibilities? At the very minimum, “society”, for some definition of “society”, is responsible for normalizing violence against the homeless by criminalizing homelessness.(26) In Brazil and some other countries it’s common to just kill homeless people.(27)(28)(29) Violence against the homeless at the hands of police and other authorities leads to even more violence as it causes people in domestic violence and other dangerous situations to be less likely to leave (for fear of what the police and others will do to them if they do) and also causes existing homeless people to be far less likely to report violence committed against them because of lack of trust in police (many homeless will not report even rape, for example). And thus, thanks in part to “society”, violence is rampant and normalized. You yourself suggest “medical intervention” which is vague, but immediately calls to mind forced institutionalization and forced drugging. 

“Failure” to self identify? More like success at keeping a secret that could well endanger a person if entrusted to the wrong individuals.

1. Hanford Sentinel staff. “Corcoran man allegedly beat, assaulted live-in girlfriend.” Hanford Sentinel, January 16, 2017. http://hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/crime/corcoran-man-allegedly-beat-assaulted-live-in-girlfriend/article_e1848a8f-ccaa-5554-a2b0-92eff1bdcde9.html (accsesed February 4, 2017).
2. Marsh, Julia, Keldy Ortiz, and Rebecca Rosenberg. “Elderly tenant claims super attacked her so she’d move out.” New York Post, September 27, 2016. http://nypost.com/2016/09/27/elderly-tenant-claims-super-attacked-her-so-shed-move-out/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
3. Clarridge, Christine. “Homeless woman says rape was price of a night’s shelter.” The Seattle Times, April 29, 2009. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless-woman-says-rape-was-price-of-a-nights-shelter/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
4. Lynott, Laura. “‘My life is a living hell’, says homeless rape victim Aisling left with nowhere to turn.” Independent.ie, November 25, 2016. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/my-life-is-a-living-hell-says-homeless-rape-victim-aisling-left-with-nowhere-to-turn-35244120.html (accessed February 4, 2017).
5. Demarest, Erica. “Landlord Rapes Tenant While Collecting Rent, Prosecutors Say.” DNAinfo, August 26, 2015. https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150826/south-deering/landlord-rapes-tenant-while-collecting-rent-prosecutors-say (accessed February 4, 2017).
6. Holley, Peter. “Man accused of waterboarding girlfriend to determine whether she was being unfaithful.” The Washington Post, March 2, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/02/man-accused-of-waterboarding-girlfriend-to-determine-whether-she-was-being-unfaithful/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
7. Dunya News. “Influential landlords torture tenant in Muridke.” Dunya News, January 9, 2017. http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/369447-Influential-landlords-torture-tenant-in-Muridke (accessed February 4, 2017).
8. Towner, Myriah. “Psychology professor facing life in prison for TORTURING his wife by strangling her and bending her fingers back.” Daily Mail, November 24, 2016. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3969052/Psychology-professor-facing-life-prison-torturing-wife.html (accessed February 4, 2017).
9. Asad, Malik. “Police name judge, spouse as suspects in child maid’s abuse case.” Dawn, January 25, 2017. http://www.dawn.com/news/1310596 (accessed February 4, 2017).
10. Nawaiwaqt Group of Newspapers. “Police rescues 29 forced laborers from private jail in Badin.” The Nation, December 31, 2016. http://nation.com.pk/national/31-Dec-2016/police-rescues-29-forced-laborers-from-private-jail-in-badin (accessed February 4, 2017).
11. CBS Television. “Burn Victim Creates Powerful Make-Up Tutorial to Call for an End to Acid Attacks.” Inside Edition, September 3, 2015. http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/11775-burn-victim-creates-powerful-make-up-tutorial-to-call-for-an-end-to-acid-attacks (accessed February 4, 2017).
12. MacGraw, Ali et al. Split Estate. Online streaming. Directed by Debra Anderson. Santa Fe: Red Rock Pictures, 2009.
13. Kirk, Tristan. “Wife poisoned husband’s Christmas Day Lambrini with antifreeze then wrote fake ‘suicide’ note.” Mirror, November 24, 2015. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/wife-poisoned-husbands-christmas-day-6885690 (accessed February 4, 2017).
14. Rood, Lee. “Beaten and locked up: Another abuse case raises questions about Iowa’s response.” The Des Moines Register, January 21, 2017. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/readers-watchdog/2017/01/21/iowa-beaten-locked-up-another-abuse-case-raises-questions-natalie-finn/96413476/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
15. Angel920. “Control, Control, Control.” Drphil.com, April 28, 2007. http://stage29.drphil.com/messageboard/view.user/342082/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
16. Pennsylvania College of Technology. “Roundtable to Focus on ‘Civil Discourse’ in Political Conversation.” PCToday, October 16, 2008. https://pctoday.pct.edu/roundtable-to-focus-on-civil-discourse-in-political-conversation/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
17. Hoye, Sarah. “Landlord finds mentally disabled people locked in basement; 3 arrested.” CNN, October 17, 2011. http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/16/justice/pennsylvania-disabled-chained/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
18. BBC. “Cellar slave girl: Salford couple must pay victim £100,000.” BBC, October 15, 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-29559771 (accessed February 4, 2017).
19. Smith, Devin. “Beastly Husband — ‘Psycho’ Chained Me Up With Leopards: Wife.” New York Post, May 31, 2005. http://nypost.com/2005/05/31/beastly-husband-psycho-chained-me-up-with-leopards-wife/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
20. Briggs, Zack. “Domestic violence victims break their silence to raise awareness.” News 4 Tucson, 2016. http://www.kvoa.com/story/33437243/tucsonans-break-their-silence-on-being-victims-of-domestic-violence (accessed February 4, 2017).
21. Saavedra, Tony, and John Asbury. “Suspect in sex worker killings has violent record.” The Orange County Register, April 15, 2014. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gordon-609806-wife-pummell.html (accessed February 4, 2017)
22. Mills, Chellie. “Logan County investigates child handcuffed at home.” NewsChannel 4, July 8, 2013. http://kfor.com/2013/07/08/logan-county-investigates-child-handcuffed-at-home/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
23. Martindale, Mike. “Prosecutor, lawyer agree: Man killed wife with bat.” The Detroit News, February 3, 2017. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2017/02/03/prosecutor-lawyer-agree-man-killed-wife-bat/97447438/ (accessed February 4, 2017).
24. Chinese, Vera, Rocco Parascandola, and Barry Paddock. “Landlord-tenant dispute gets ugly as man is killed after dispute over only $100 in rent.” http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/landlord-shoots-tenant-dead-article-1.1284499 (accessed February 4, 2017).
25. Burt, Martha et al. “Homelessness: Programs and the People They Serve.” National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients, December 1999. http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/310291-Homelessness-Programs-and-the-People-They-Serve-Findings-of-the-National-Survey-of-Homeless-Assistance-Providers-and-Clients.PDF (accessed February 4, 2017).
26. Spurr, Lauren. “Criminalization of homelessness on the rise in U.S. cities.” MSNBC, July 18, 2014. http://www.msnbc.com/hardball/criminalization-homelessness-the-rise-us-cities (accessed February 4, 2017).
27. Sandy, Matt. “In Brazilian city, homeless face ‘extermination.’” Al Jazeera, October 25, 2014. http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/10/25/brazil-homeless-killings.html (accessed January 7, 2017).
28. Kaplan, Michael. “Road To Rio: Police Sweep Away ‘Street Children’ Ahead Of Brazil Olympics.” International Business Times, April 18, 2016. http://www.ibtimes.com/road-rio-police-sweep-away-street-children-ahead-brazil-olympics-2353865 (accessed January 7, 2017).
29. Human Rights Watch. “BOGOTÁ.” Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/reports/1994/colombia/gener1.htm (accessed January 7, 2017).

Yes, homelessness can be a positive experience, and more people ought to know about it.

The following is a comment I left here, in response to another comment by one Ms. Lesley Haddock, development coordinator at the Coalition on Homelessness, who was in turn responding to this lovely article entitled, "Why I Became Intentionally Homeless in San Francisco" by one Ms. Kristin Hanes, which was picked up by Ms. Julie Bort over at Business Insider.  I am reposting my own reply to Ms. Lesley Haddock here because the topic is rather important to me. One Mr. Mike Zine also took a verbal shot at Ms. Hanes, Ms. Hanes apologized here, and I told her she had nothing to apologize for here.

Testimonials and pictures of the fall of Aleppo

Just collecting information from various places for reference and trying to transcribe things for people who are better at reading than listening. (And preserving it I suppose in case twitter decides to start taking things down.) Note well: Some people have been accusing twitter activists of being a propagandists and others seem to think many of their facts match up. (Questions: are the two mutually exclusive? How much does it even matter? Shouldn't all witnesses be heard?) Managed to find some brief interviews conducted by Russian journalists as well. These quotes are presented for the reader's own judgement.

Work in progress.

• "To everyone who can hear me, we are here exposed to a genocide in the besieged city of Aleppo. This may be my last video. More than 50,000s of civilians who rebelled against the dictator Al-Assad are threatened with field executions or dying under bombing. According to activists, more than 180 people have been field executed in the area that the regime have [recently?] to control by other gangs and the militias that support them. The civilians are stuck in a very small area that doesn't exceed two square kilometers. With no safezone, no life. Every bomb is a new massacre. Save Aleppo. Save humanity." -- Lina Shamy on December 12. On December 14, "Criminal Assad regime and the Iranians have broken the ceasefire and they were back to attack the civilians and continue the genocide. Civilians are stuck again in the city. Uh, no one could have leaved the city under this agreement. How can you trust Russia after they have promised that this agreement will [inaudible] and that no one will attack the civilians. How can you trust Russia? The revolutionaries will, uh, fight, 'til the last breath, uh, protecting the civilians here in the city and, uh, they will continue fighting as long as regime and Iranian will keep attacking us." Earlier December 14, "On behalf on myself and those who are still besieged in Aleppo city, I want to thank those who are still protesting in front of the Russian embassies and consulates all over the world. Understand that your stand with us gives us strength and renew our belief in our collective humanity. Please do not stop. Do not stop to post, to tweet, to speak, to shout. Now, after Iranian militias have revoked the cease fire we need you more. You already did a great job by moving the negotiations into a positive level. We need you now to the streets now, do not surrender, do not stop until the last person is evacuated to safety from the city. God's bless you all." On December 19, "These are our last moments in this tired city, in this exhausted city. We are leaving with a huge grief because we have lived in this city our best moments owning our freedom and dignity. We may not come back unless we liberate this land again. This is not the end of the journey. We will keep calling for the rights of the Syrians to live in freedom, dignity, and justice. And victory to the great Syrian revolution."
• "They're all dead. We were just walking, and the terrorists started to shoot at us. We started running until we got to a checkpoint, and they caught us there. They beat my parents and told me to go. [Did you see them kill your parents?] Yes. I was walking away, there were a lot of bodies, and then the snipers started to shoot at me. I ran behind a wall and got to a place where there were no snipers. Then I met a man who took me to Aleppo." -- a boy from Aleppo, translation from RT subtitles
• "Sorry for [inaudible] it's cut off. What I want to say is don't believe any more in United Nation. Don't believe anymore in the international community. Don't think that they are not [satisfied?] with what's going on. They are [satisfied?] that you are being killed. That we are facing one of the most difficult or the most serious or the most horrible massacre that is in that, in your history. [Rashad?] doesn't want us to go out alive. They want us dead. Assad is the same exactly as today there were many celebration on the other part of Aleppo. They were celebrating on our bodies. It's okay, this is live. But at least we know that we were a free people. We wanted a freedom. We didn't want anything else but freedom. You know, this world doesn't like freedom, it seems. Don't believe that you are a free people in your countries anymore. No, this world doesn't want freedom, doesn't like freedom. Maybe, maybe if you want freedom all this means that you think. [I hope?] something can be done. And you can't leave it, you can't speak. Together, once more. If you say that, if you can do something, yes, no one can do nothing, you can't do anything, you can't go out the streets. You can't, you can't call to stop this madness. This is at least what you can do. If your governments don't, uh, respond to your requests, you know, what you want, I hope in the future you are going to be the government. And you are not going to have any connection with Russia and with Assad. I hope you can remember us. Uh, I don't know, thank you very much." -- Mr. Alhamdo   From December 7, "About, uh, the amount of bombings that we receive every day from planes, artillery shillings, Assad allies forces, Assad allies militias. Of course, uh, Assad militias and uh are, uh, do nothing but burning all the land before they make the [progress?]. So, uh, all kinds, uh, habit, this was always going. Uh, what happens here, the rebels who are, uh, not only the rebels I mean [zem?]. Uh, I was living in a house which has got five families, now it has about twenty-five families. Every now and then, just, they knock my [video cuts off]." On December 16, "Sorry for, uh, because the internet was off. So, what I, what I wanted to say that many people, uh, missed their children and uh, so I saw many many families asking me about if their children are there, if they, I saw their, their son, their daughter. It was like the [doomsday?] when you just rush, don't know who is beside you. Your brother, your mother. You don't know him. Okay, I will tell you exactly what happened with, with my wife. I wasn't exa- at that point, at that moment because I just was looking for something to, to feed my daughter. But unfortunately, when I was there away of my uh wife and my family and I saw many people are, are running. So I, uh, directly ran towards my wife, but I couldn't find, but I couldn't find her, and couldn't find my daughter after, uh, about half an hour I could find them. Fortunately they were okay. Uh, my wife told me that, uh for that, they ran for many meters and forgetting my daughter. She was putting her with my bags, and she uh. When she saw those people running and crying and uh the fires were so close so she ran. She doesn't know. She forgets everything. She said, 'what should I do I forgot myself'. So, uh, then her mother, I mean, my mother-in-law told her, 'where is your daughter?' She said, 'Oh my god I forgot her.' Then she get back and find her crying. She get, take her and she ran. This is exactly what happened to [many?] people. It's a kind of a human relation. I guess, I confess. Russia and Assad succeeded in humiliating us. They succeeded in humiliating the international community because they don't care for anything. Uh, the only thing that they care is humiliating us killing us [transcription in progress]" On December 17, "[video of small child laughing] My daughter, my daughter today, uh, after we came back from the corridor and we couldn't go out, they stopped the corridor, uh, I'm glad that she's, uh, she's laughing."
• "They're all dead. They were killed by terrorist shelling." -- Aleppo orphan, translation from RT subtitles 
• "A missile just fell, uh, on the roof, uh, of my building. [And now?] other people who were waiting, waiting uh the bus have uh [inaudible] for their [inaudible] and find, uh, [inaudible]." -- Mostafa Mohammediyan, December 14
• "My dad died five days ago. [What happened to your dad?] He was killed by a mortar shell." -- a girl from Aleppo, translation from RT subtitles 
• "Salem [something in Arabic?]. I am Abul Kareem and we are in the [Ramussa?] section of, uh, what is left of eastern Aleppo. Now, you'll notice these cars that are right here. There are a sea of cars with fighters and their families and they are and have been waiting for some time to get out. Just about fifty to seventy-five meters that way are a row of buses, and they're all filled with people and they are ready to go but the problem is, is that they have been sitting there since yesterday. So there's not a lot of movement that's happening here in eastern Aleppo. The cars are here, fighters, and their families, everybody's waiting to go. As you can see, it's snowing and the intense cold has been sapping the strength of all of the people who are impatiently waiting here." -- Bilal Abul Kareem, December 21. "Salem [something in Arabic?]. I am Bilal Abdul Kareem and the fighters are now preparing to leave the city of of Aleppo. Now, if you can get a little bit closer here and you will see what this is. This is an explosive belt. And, as you can see, this is what he's wearing. This is what a lot of the fighters are wearing. Why? Because don't feel that they can trust the regime to maintain its word that they will have the safe passage to leave. And if they are stopped, they are prepared for a fight." -- on December 20. "Okay listen everybody, I wanna show you how cold it was last night. Now look at this. Now I'm going down here. Now this is somebody's bag that was here all night, you see? That's frost. Frost was on it all night long. That shows you how cold it is here with people staying, just trying to stay warm, just trying to get next to a fire. Look, you can see this frost on it. And that's even with the sun up and the sun beaming down on it. So when you're at home and you're thinking about what it is here in Aleppo, these are the images that should burn in your mind." -- on December 19. "Salem [something in Arabic?]. I am Bilal Abdul Kareem for On the Ground news. We are still in besieged Aleppo. Temperatures are freezing today hovering around the zero degree mark and are set to go way below zero in the coming hours and overnight. There's limited food, almost no available drinking water, and people are trying to go across, but apparently there's been, uh, a development in the uh buses that were on their way to evacuate, um, those Shia residents from [Kafriyya?] as a part of the deal that involved [Medany?] [Zebodaya?] [Kafriyyar?] and Aleppo. The buses were attacked and there were, uh, and the buses were burned by unknown assailants. OGN's correspondent was there and filmed it as we put on twitter and he uh actually um witnessed some of the burning. Now, there's supposed to be a discussion that's supposed to be held about whether the United Nations uh would play a role, an observatory role in the situation of, uh, of the people coming out of the different territories. I would say unequivocally, yes, it must be an outside force observing because there have been, uh, deaths, robberies, assaults and everything else that has been going on. So the international community has gotta get involved here. Stop having a hands-off approach. Get involved. Understand that there are hundreds of thousands of lives that hang in the balance. So, everybody needs to have a cool had and needs to realize that there has to be observers observing exactly what goes on during these exchanges. Salem [something in Arabic?]." -- on December 18. "Salem [something in Arabic?]. I am Bilal Abdul Kareem for On the Ground news. Look around me. Look at what we have here. I want everybody to take a look. This is what's left of the hospital. Look. Can y'all see that? Blood all over the floor. Injured people all over the place. You understand? This is the situation that's here. Now, everybody has to understand that you've gotta play a role here, whether it's retweet, share, uh, call up people to get the Russians and the Iranians to fulfill their obligations. Everybody's got to become involved. Get educated. Stay engaged. Be involved in solving the problems that are here. This is ridiculous. I-I've never seen anything like this. Just people, just on the floor, uh, with blood all over the walls and they've been here for days." -- on December 17. "Salem [something in Arabic?]. I am Bilal Abdul Kareem for On the Ground news and I want everybody to understand something. Today was supposed to be the day that was supposed to see the fighters and their families and the rest of the civilians to leave eastern Aleppo. Russia today, Russian government is reporting that they've all left and it's all over. Well, I'm still here. And there are thousands upon thousands of people who are still here. Myself today, I saw approximately fifty thousand people. They were so many, they looked like ants, and they were turned back and told that they cannot leave today. Some were told, meaning from the civilians that some buses were going to come. To my knowledge, up until now, they have not come. So I am making it clear to everyone, retweet, uh-uh repost, uh, forward, share on Facebook that there are thousands of people that are here. I am afraid if the Russians are successful in convincing the world that everybody has left, you can guess what's going to happen to the rest of us. [something in Arabic?] We have no one rely on except Allah, and then after him, you. Salem [something in Arabic?" -- on December 16. "Salem [something in Arabic?] I am Bilal Abdul Kareem and everyone knows I am from On the Ground news and I am in the besieged areas in, here in eastern Aleppo. Uh, I, it is very important that everybody, everybody, everybody knows and understands the situation here on the ground. Um, uh, RT, Russia Today dot com is is reporting that the evacuation is over and the people have left eastern Aleppo. This is not true at all. There are thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children that are here. The fighters were not allowed to leave. I repeat, they were not allowed to leave today and nor were their families. There are four which are dead. There are twenty which I have just been informed have been taken prisoner by the Lebanese group known as Hezbollah and the situation is very difficult. I need everybody to retweet this message and to make as much noise as you can because if the world thinks that everyone who wanted to leave as Russia Today wants them to believe then that would mean they could exterminate all of these people and there will be no account for it." -- on December 16.
• "There was no food and no water. The children couldn't go to school. If a child was sick, we were in despair and there was nowhere to buy any medicine." -- a woman from Aleppo, voiceover translation by RT
• "I will not appeal to the UN. The UN buries its head in the sand like an ostrich. I will not appeal to Arabs. The most they do is express their sadness and concern for Aleppo." -- Halab Today, incomplete translation from BBC captions. Note: Halab Today has a lot of footage. Hardly anything is in English, but you can still watch what's happening even if you can't understand what is being said. 
• "It was a nightmare. The terrorists beat us regularly." -- a man from Aleppo, voiceover translation by RT 
•  "This is the last video I post. We are tired of talking. We are tired of speeches. This message comes from a broken heart. I will stop talking. Here comes the barrel bomb. This will end my video." -- Joud al-Khatib, incomplete translation from BBC captions
• "We were just happy and living well, and then the war started. [And your family?] They're all dead, they were killed by terrorist shelling." -- a boy from Aleppo, translation from RT subtitles
• "This is the ongoing situation we are living through in Aleppo. This is part of the death we are living." -- Omar Arab, translation from BBC captions
• "They starved us. We suffered a lot. I cried day and night." -- a woman from Aleppo, voiceover translation by RT
• "We don't want Assad's Syria. We want a free Syria. No one stood with us. No one helped us." -- Salah Ashkar, translation from AJ+ captions

Some pictures

Decided to go though Halab Today's twitter and select some photos / screenshot some videos that I think folks should look at even if we don't know Arabic. Note that they sometimes show pictures from solidarity protests held elsewhere in the world, even though Halab Today does appear to be a local Aleppo news source. May add pictures from other sources later.

 December 10, Halab Today TV

December 12, Halab Today TV

December 12, Halab Today TV

December 12, Halab Today TV

December 13, Halab Today TV

December 13, Halab Today TV

December 16, Halab Today TV

December 17, Halab Today TV

December 16, Halab Today TV

December 16, Halab Today TV

December 15, Halab Today TV

December 17, Halab Today TV

December 17, Halab Today TV

December 16, Halab Today TV