Tuesday, 16 June 2009: News from France

50 angry farmers blocked shopping areas and supermarkets with 30 tractors, and dumped bundles of straw and litter on the car parks. They are protesting about their dwindling income. (Quimper in Normandy)
Traffic is partially flowing again on the Morlaix Viaduct (between Rennes and Brest, Brittany), which had been blocked until today, but there is a great deal of damage on the road (the milk producers had lit large braziers before leaving). They are likewise protesting about the drop in their income.
A dairy co-operative (Eolys in Guingamp) set off an alarm cry in defence of the milk producers (the board called a press conference).
The Organisation des Producteurs de lait (OPL) released a press statement to show that the majority federation is trying to channel the producers’ anger against the retail trade; on the other hand the focus ought to be on the price of milk and control of production.

Photos of several actions in France