What is the most effective form of political protest?

In order to effect positive change, more equality, and a fairer society what do fellow posters consider to be the best means of achieving this? How can people make their voice heard, noted, and actually acted upon by government?

Peaceful protest marches? Civil unrest and rioting? Blogging? Letters to mp's and the press? Union action - strikes, work to rule, etc? Sit ins / occupation of public spaces / buildings? Sticking with, and having faith in our present brand of democracy, and voting at election time? Forming an alternative political party / movement? Or any other suggestions posters might have?

What is the most effective form of political protest?
 
As a preliminary stage to answering the question cogently, it may be helpful to begin by enumerating the forms of political protest LEAST likely to succeed - foremost among which must be wringing our hands in despair or sitting at home writing letters to the media.
 
As in "How do I get a job? -type questions",  some kind of direct personal involvement is probably likely to be effective. Our colleague Redflag travelled to a key by-election and joined the Labour Party. That's the kind of thing that produces results.

Prior to protesting after the fact, perhaps people (whatever their loyalties) should insist that their mp lived local to the area they represent for a minimal period so they have a better appreciation of what the area feels strongly about and isn't parachuted in just to be an mp. They should be somebody with at least 5 years work experience outside politics. The problem being of course is that the majority are so disillusioned with politicians generally that they believe not voting will change things.

QUOTE: ".... people (whatever their loyalties) should insist that their mp lived local to the area they represent ..."

They usually do, tlttf. See if you can name an MP who does NOT have an address within the constituency which they purportedly "represent".

The real problem arises from political boundaries which mean that about two-thirds of English constituencies elect the same colour rosette every time. This makes it easy for the Party concerned to "select" someone they're keen to have as an MP simply by leaning on a flexible local committee.

Thanks OW, shame you didn't add "for a minimal period" to the quote!

I'd say it entirely depends on the situation.

If you've got a large Tesco opening that's going to kill off smaller businesses, then I'd think the best form of protest would be to march around the construction site and deter the project. On the other hand, if there's a national policy that you don't like, maybe it would it would be best to write a blog or hand out leaflets.

There's no reason why all of these protest types can't be used in a single movement. In fact, some of the most successful movements are the ones that make use of all of the available tools available to them. Some of my favourite being the People's Assembly and the TUSC.
http://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/
http://www.tusc.org.uk/

Mere words are inadequate to describe how we feel about an attack on so many of our young females. But if the culprit(s)' intention was to get maximum publicity it certainly worked.

Perhaps if we hadn't interfered quite so determinedly in the affairs of Iraq, Syria and the rest ....

But that's water under the bridge now, isn't it?

I'm inclined to think you're right about the interference OW - we are perhaps reaping the whirlwind - one of the really awful things is that the 'terrorist' attacks are committed by British nationals - what sort of failure are we as a country that young people born and brought up here feel compelled to acts of criminal violence in the name of a foreign power?
Boys brought up in England used to feel a sense of pride and belonging

Today, I'm rather ashamed to be English - especially when I read mainstream papers

Perhaps if we hadn't interfered quite so determinedly in the affairs of Iraq, Syria and the rest

Saudi Arabia provided 19 of the 20 terrorists involved in the 9/11 outrage. Saudi Arabia has been bombing Yemen recently, often killing civilians, including children. If the UK and the USA weren't so keen to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, which they use to create more refugees (none of which have they've resettled), then perhaps, just perhaps, Europe might not be the primary target of terrorist attacks. There will always be those who want to destroy our way of life, but there's no need to provide what to them is some sort of justification for their appalling outrages.