IMHO there hasn't been an effective protest or march that's been able to attain it's goal since the 60's. Some points have already been made, "Free Speach Zones", "divide & conquer", being able to stay focused, "toy issues", groups not being able to come together for a main cause. Look at our last 2 elections & compare us to the storm brewing overseas protesting election fraud. Who deceided that "free speach zones" for protesters was to be the proper mode for voicing a decenting opinion & who of the desenters deceided that this would a policy that they could live with. As to costing a corporation or a government money or to paint them in an evil image is to protest against their policies & practices, it's not terrorism. Terrorism like war, one is akin to the other, is the last form of desent that should ever be considered. But then there is no real protesting here, not even a peep about boycotts. It's a cosy life when you only have to give lip service to the wrongs done in our name rather than having to actually put yourself in front of path of what might eventually be a tank. We deal with those in power as if we've sat down to hammer out some sort of agreeable rules where protesters can't take off the white kid's gloves & we're to do as directed by those that actually represent or are agents of those that the protesters are in an actual "direct confrontation" with. Kind of like asking the fox how we chickens should behave once we've opened the coop door to let him in. We are fighting on the fox's turf when the confrontation should be made outside of the established box or coop long before the fox sit's down to direct the proper way all matters of protest should be handled. Lastly, since when does the investment of 3 large companies or for that matter any sort of financial gain becomes a gauge to measure what's the right thing to do or not. "The future of protest" what's a protest mommy? What's a protester, an activist, an extremist & a terrorist all have in common? A desenting voice or action all devoted towards a some form of change, only the means & method vary in degrees.

Barry