Orphanage.

Many Orphans are placed in an orphanage because they have either lost their parents, been abandoned, been abused or have a lack of proper care. When children radically change their living environment, they can suffer physical and psychological problems.  For example, they can experience such things as poverty for the first time. Some orphanages themselves don't help to make the child feel like home.  Beginning with the building itself which may not be appropriate due to hygienic issues or crowding.  A lack of natural light and ventilation can cause moisture and mould issues which in turn causes health issues for the children.  Planning of such buildings may not have always been thought well.

Sometimes the person opening the orphanage only want to benefit from it financially or to achieve some sort of "hero" status rather than actually wanting to help these children. These children should be allowed to grow up as healthy adults in a healthy environment.   Imagine losing your parents.  The shock of the situation, having to accept such a drastic change and then to continue this nightmare they put you in a place that makes you feel more miserable, insecure and unwelcome. 

The authorities invest so much money on tourist attractions.  They should be helping these children by having a better environment that helps them control their physical and psychological problems. It is our duty to make a donation and fight for their rights.  

Reference:

James Sengendo and Janet Nambi, 1997. The psychological effect of orphanhood: a study of orphans in Rakai district *. [pdf] Health Transition Review. Available at: <http://ceped.org/cdrom/orphelins_sida_2006/pdf/sengend1.pdf> [Accessed 26 November 2016].

Ali Ferzat visit. 

On 17th November 2016 Ali Ferzat visited our school, MCast Institute of Creative Arts, Mosta, Malta. I lightly researched Mr Ferzat in an earlier blog. Although I read that he made many sacrifices for his country, as I heard him speak I could feel his pain for the country he loved so much, Syria, for which all he wishes is peace. He spoke about some other country, protesting for issues that aren't as important as the Syrians fight for liberty. His wish was for Syria to be free. He could not handle the pain of seeing the slavery that Syria is going through. His mission is to make politicians lives miserable, just as they are doing to Syrians.

Why Farzat choose Art to fight with?

Art is a very powerful thing in the world. Farzat explained that he doesn't carry guns or any other machinery that kills, he only carries a pencil to draw that maybe will send his message to politicians. The duty of his art is to change from dictatorship to democracy, Farzat explained.

Demonstrators in Syria protested holding his drawings. This shows that his drawings carry power along with the aspirations of the people. He chose art to fight because he didn't want to be like the politicians, fight to kill, he wants to use art as a weapon to give his message. An artist must practice what he teaches otherwise he has no credibility.

He explained that in Syria there are two different issues going on, the real non political revolution, in another word, the general revolution which people are fighting for freedom. On the other hand there is the international fight in Syria, outsiders  try to create war inside Syria to benefit from it. Right now people are misleading by saying that there is a civil war going on in Syria. He questions how can it be civil war when there are so many different religions and sects?

I felt that the main reason he came to our school, wasn't just to talk about his drawings, but to express the misery that Syria is going through and maybe as a whole world we could all fight together and make a difference. In fact he ended the talk by saying "Syria will forever remain for the Syrians."(Ali farzat. 17th november,2016)  

Ali Farzat 17th november 2016.

Reference:

James Sengendo and Janet Nambi, 1997. The psychological effect of orphanhood: a study of orphans in Rakai district *. [pdf] Health Transition Review. Available at: <http://ceped.org/cdrom/orphelins_sida_2006/pdf/sengend1.pdf> [Accessed 26 November 2016].

Ali Ferzat. 

Ali Ferzat is a sixty two years old political cartoonist. He is one of the most important artists of our time, especially in the Middle East. From the 1960's he drew cartoons of political figures in fact, because of some of these drawings, he was banned in several countries.  Through his drawings he was criticising country leaders which they didn't accept these drawings.  

The Syrian government forced Ferzat to work with them with one condition that he didn't mark any one individual. This ended in 2011. 

            "I wanted to Show people that they did not need to be scared any more" Said by Ali Ferzat in a 2013 interview with The Guardian.

The drawing symbolises Bashar that as shown in the drawing, could not sit comfortably in the chair. Apparently situations were

            "giving him a pain in the arse" said Ali Ferzat.

Ali Ferzat., 2011. “chair of power". Drawn  in: Syrian

This drawing brought consequences to Ferzat.  In August 2011 Ferzat was beaten on the street of Damascus by some militia group that were ordered by Assad. In 2011 Ferzat   "the Sakharov prize" for unity and in 2012 he was one of the most influential person that helped people.  

            "If there is no mission or message to my work I might as well be a painter and decorator." Ali Ferzat said two years after he was injured.

I admire this artist because it's rare that you find people that are willing to sacrifice their jobs and even their live's to help those less fortunate.  Although he was part of the "power from below" because he was even a slave of the government.  

Reference:

the guardian, 2013. Ali Ferzat, cartoonist in exile. [online] Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/19/ali-ferzat-cartoonist-exile-syria> [Accessed 9 November 2016 ].

the guardian, 2013. Ali Ferzat's cartoons – in pictures. [online] Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2013/aug/19/ali-ferzat-cartoons-in-pictures> [Accessed 9 November 2016 ].

Power From Below.

At first I thought that  "Power from below"  was the power of nature, such as earthquakes etc and how they affect people.   However, there was no relevance at all. .

Frances Fox Piven came up with the power from below theory.  Frances Fox Piven explained using peoples power can solve actions on society rights. There was a debate sharing Frances Fox Piven theory to provide solutions for societies actions. They talked about people working together to fight against those above them.

So if people cooperate and fight for what they believe in they could have power over the government.

For example in Malta a thousand of Maltese protested, towards the proposed construction of a private university on vacant public land in Zonqor at Marsacala.
They all fought together to stop the government from developing this project and ruin the green space that is located in the south of Malta.

After the protest the government  found suitable solution and reduce the area from the original concept. Although the investors wanted the project on one site they found a solution agreement divided the project in two separate sites.

In my opinion, this is an evidence through this example, that if people work together on a common cause, they can succeed. 

Reading about the power from below reminded me of a phrase that we used to study at school in Maltese literature.

​​​"U l-Kotra qamet f’daqqa – u għajtet: “Jien Maltija!
​​​Miskin min ikasbarni, - miskin min jidħak bija!”"

By the poet Ruzar Briffa named "Jum ir-rebh."

Reference:

PUBLIC SOCIOLOGY, LIVE!, 2012. Frances Fox Piven. [online] Available at: < https://isapublicsociology.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/frances-fox-piven/ > [Accessed May 1, 2012].

independent, 2016. Updated: PA approves Phase 1 of American University of Malta campus in Cospicua. [online] Available at: < http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2016-08-25/local-news/Planning-Authority-to-discuss-Phase-1-Cospicua-AUM-campus-today-6736162884 > [Accessed 25 August 2016,].

independent, 2015. Updated: Government will take heed of other people’s opinions, PM says on environment protest. [online] Available at: <http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-06-21/local-news/Government-turned-the-tables-as-pledged-PM-says-on-Malta-s-excessive-deficit-procedure-exit-6736137654 > [Accessed  21 June 2015].