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].