French farmers light eight "fires of despair" across the Haut-Rhin region to protest against the ratification of a trade agreement pact between the European Union and four South American countries. The bonfires, spread across the area, aim to "defend our farmers and French food. And it's only a first step if they don't listen to us," says Pierre Meyer, farmer and national administrator for the French Young Farmers association (JA) as a fire burns in Oberhergheim. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES