I've always felt that, unless protest songs (however you define them) are sung AT the people you're protesting about - or sung in such a public manner that they can't be ignored - they're a waste of time.

Singing about political or social issues in a folk club is just singing another song. Singing out like Pussy Riot gets you in jail... but you get lots of publicity.

Which is more effective - if anything sung is ever effective in this world?