Are protests worth doing?

[AB Asks]

Police have being keeping a close eye on a camp set up by climate change protesters near Heathrow airport. 250 protesters have turned up to complain peacefully about the impact that air travel has on the environment and the proposed expansion of the airport. Do protests work in achieving their goals? Do they make politicians rethink their decisions? Or are they a waste of time?

[jake-the-peg]

How do you think women got the vote?

[China Doll]

Ever heard of Martin Luther King?

[NJOK]

The very fact you're discussing it means that it's achieved something.

[Gromit]

It is part of the democratic process. Citizens should exercise their right to protest if there is something they disagree with. Apathy is unhealthy.

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, i heard the last time these protesters were somewhere, they left loads of non-biodegradeable waste behind.
Also apparently the scaffolding they have errected now at heathrow originally fell down and killed 2 rabbits and itheir offspring. Apparently some animal rights activists are on their way down there to 'sort them out'.
The misleading info is that the police are watching the friends of the earth closely, but what they are not telling you is that its because they expect trouble from the two factions.
Whats worse is, it showed them burning the rabbits instead of burying them.
Hows that protecting the environment?

[kwicky]

If the protesters are quite happy to have their mug shots on police computers let them get on with it. There is no difference nowadays between peaceful protests and placing a bomb on the London underground as both are regarded as terrorist activities. Did you see that protester wearing an inflamatory tee shirt recorded for posterity on a street surveillance camera? What type of country are we becoming?

[Loosehead]

it's worse than I thought, you mean women can vote jake? next you'll be telling be non land owners can vote, and what's this extremist nonsense I hear about abolishing slavery?

[Loosehead]

they may be a bunch of hairy arsed lefty eco warriors on very dodgy scientific ground but I defend their right to protest. Protests can change minds but they have to be a lot bigger and they have to have a credible argument.

[Lady Muck]

I may be about to start one along the lines of 'Free the China Doll'... You want to get in on it and see if this protest works?

[Reverandfunk]

Am I missing something??

Have we only just noticed that planes pollute the atmosphere?

I remember 30 years ago asking my dad what the smoke that a plane left behind was.

As far as the protest goes, it won't do jack. Too much at stake I would imagine and I hope none of the protesters are seeking job seekers allowance lol.

[Lady Muck]

Save the China Doll!