Pelican - civil disobedience is an acceptable term.. same term was applied to Ghandi's protests.. but as a matter of interest what would you call such actions?

Point well made Curmudgeon. It tends to get used as a negative - when sometimes it can be for a good cause depending of course on one's own ideological stance

There's a significant lack of climate change denial in these comments. I demand this is rectified to keep Online Opinion's reputation upheld!

Ta da! - found the program on the Hunter asthma Curmudgeon http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2010/s2867659.htm

Of couse it's by the radical leftwing ABC and OOL's reputation may never recover from the quoting of such sources, but I'll risk it and post it. I watched that program expecting to be seeing activist faces. I was wrong, and it was full of concerned people who work in the coal industry who are worried about their families.

As for not finding any homes around the mines, go for a drive around Singleton or Jerry's plains some time. At Ulan too the open cut mines are expanding rapidly into areas where there are farms and businesses. They seem to be popping up like rabbits. Hopefully they won't get into the Mudgee winery area as it would completely change the dynamic of the area from clean and green to heavy industry that many people argue is incompatible with the wineries, livestock, and tourist ventures.

Last time I was out that way, driving along the road I could see dust being pulled up by the wind and blown out of the mine. Okay to drive though once or twice, but I wouldn't want to be down-wind in the long term.

If you are very lucky and sitting out there in the Hunter and worried about your kid's health, a ABC team from 4 corners might just swing by or a member of the Government or public service who really intended to do something about the problem. I suspect you would be waiting along time though, which is why non violent civil disobience is seen as appropriate to highlight the issue.

The people of the Hunter put up with a lot from the mines, noise, dust, increased traffic, health concerns and not everyone is going to see a benefit from having the mines there. The coal company seeking compensation against individuals in this case is making it personal against opposition and is in a position of strength against the individuals who aren't. It doesn't make them a good player or neighbour in my view.

Heavens above! What a quiet tread! No one has yelled about Socialists or God yet.

Anyway another thought as to why this company in my opinion, should not be seeking compensation against these activists. This company which is making a very healthy profit from the coal business no doubt in Australia is receiving a lot of uncosted benefits. That is a stable government, a healthy, educated, peaceful, honest, work force, thanks to this being a free and stable democracy and having the worker's welfare invested in from birth to a pretty high degree on a world scale, having services such as police, fire and rescue at their call for free (which is how it should be if we allow companies to do business here), the use of our roads, rail, port services etc. Sitting in the Bylong valley once, I saw a rail repair team (presumably state rail) pulled off the work for hours waiting for a coal train. In other countries they may be having to supply a lot of these services themselves and maybe not be so secure with a stable government.

Part of living in a this democracy is the understanding that it's citizens may protest you by peaceful civil disobience. If it happens it will be understood that the police and the courts will do what is appropriate in the eyes of the government, and if we the Australian people don't like that we can vote the government out. To seek personal compensation is overkill in my opinion. The amount of money is chicken feed to the company, but huge to individuals such as a school teacher.

Anyway at least the activists in court most likely have some consolation that the bad publicity to the company is going to worth far more than the cash that is being sought from them.

While the use of thermal coal will have to eventually stop due to climate change effects, ironically the mining of coal is a non-toxic exercise, and closed mines can be re-habilitated for pastoral useage, the aquifers will re-charge etc. The Asthma thing sounds improbable and is probably a beat up...In this the protesters have committed political hara-kiri by trying to make too many points - my advice to them, just stick to the "climate change issue" - you'll make more mileage!
My main point is that the take up of rural acreage in NSW by the coal mining industry is facilitated by the marginal viability of farming in many areas. The sale of the family farm to a coal company is to many farmers financial salvation while at the same time being less than appealing to their ( former ) neighbours. Within all of these communities the rural landholders themselves seek employment offered at their local mine to supplement falling farm incomes.Policies which could lead to increased profitability of the farming sector and therefore increased land values would be reflected as a reduction in the changing land and water useage towards coal mining. Many of these policies require national technological investment in the rural sector which presently is not on the political radar.While the global coal demand is strong it can be impacted by organized protest. I think the land use and local health issues are driven by local economic and political factors, and it looks as if the local communities in NSW and QLD have already cast their votes.