On Saturday, March 29th, Extinction Rebellion Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (XR BCP) and Extinction Rebellion Wimborne (XRW) joined forces in a powerful protest at Poole Quay, marking the second anniversary of the Poole Harbour oil spill caused by French oil company Perenco.
The demonstration featured the rhythmic beats of XR BCP’s drumming band, striking banners and flags, and interactive public engagement through an outreach stall and leaflets. Protesters also created a thought-provoking tableau of an oil-polluted beach, complete with artificial “oiled” seabirds, to illustrate the devastating future that could await Poole Harbour if Perenco is allowed to continue drilling. The non-toxic, biodegradable materials used in the display were fully cleaned up after the event.
Daniel Glennon, a customer service professional from Bournemouth, said:
“Two years after the oil spill, Perenco is still drilling in Poole Harbour, still making vast profits at the expense of our environment, and still polluting communities across the world. We are here to say: enough is enough. Perenco must go.”
Joanna Bury, a writer from Wimborne, continued:
“The Poole Harbour spill should have been a wake-up call, but instead, Perenco continues business as usual. Dorset Council, the Environment Agency and the Health & Safety Executive must stop prioritising corporate profits over the health of our waters, wildlife, and future generations and revoke Perenco’s licence to operate in Dorset “
Extinction Rebellion Wimborne’s pink rebels made their demands in song, their unique lyrics included;
Perenco, Perenco,
Where’s the oil?
Where’s the oil?
You leaked it in Poole Harbour
You leaked it in Poole Harbour
Shame on you
Shame on you
The protest not only commemorated the environmental damage caused by Perenco in Dorset but also highlighted the company’s harmful operations in the Global South, where weaker regulations and lower public scrutiny leave communities and ecosystems at even greater risk.
Liz Brereton, a counsellor from Bournemouth, added:
“Perenco’s operations in the Global South have left a trail of environmental devastation and community harm. In Gabon, a pipeline failure in February 2023 resulted in tens of thousands of litres of oil contaminating the Rembo-Kotto river and surrounding marshes, devastating local ecosystems and depriving communities of clean water and fish. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Perenco faces legal action over pollution linked to its oil activities, with communities suffering from ecological damage and health issues. These incidents underscore a pattern of negligence and exploitation that cannot be ignored.”
This action followed another protest on the actual anniversary of the spill, March 26th, when a new activist group, Citizen’s Arrest Network, staged a dramatic “citizen’s arrest” of Gilles d’Argouges, Perenco’s Group Chief Financial Officer, outside the company’s London offices in Hanover Square. Mr. d’Argouges was accused by the group of having oversight and making decisions related to the extraction, distribution and sale of more than 174 million barrels of oil, leading to the release of more than 85 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This activity would knowingly cause a risk of serious harm to the public.
XR BCP, XRW and their allies remain committed to holding Perenco accountable and demanding an end to oil extraction in Poole Harbour and greater accountability everywhere they operate.
