understandably said realist. just so you know, the organizers of this event have been doing this event consecutively every year with the purpose of speaking to the people/community of Livermore, not necessarily to the lab employees or funders. most lab employees are not even there these days. the point is not so much to protest as to educate and remind people in the Livermore community (visually, verbally, and artistically) about Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the realities of what are being produced at the lab. This event's focus is education and rememberance (resistance too), not so much as a protest. also, do you know about tuesdays direct action (54 people arrested at the LL gates on a working day)? This action, complete with civil disobedience, served more as a direct and visible protest. I will say, since i'm assuming you weren't, there it was not a useless event. every event like this (with lots of participating organizations) is a great networking and solidarity building opportunity (which this event was for those of us that attended).

i understand the source of your criticism and am constantly evaluating, for myself, what i believe to be effective, for myself and my community. the answers are differnt for everyone and constantly subject to re-evaluation. it's a good point in general about tactic and the diversity of opinion about what is affective, impactful, etc.

I will ask you, as i ask myself when I criticize someones tactics or efforts, what do you suggest??? it's not too fair to criticize without some constructive ideas for addressing the issue you criticize. what are you willing to do?????