2023 -- H 6384
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING AND WELCOMING “OCEAN RAC E”, A GLOBAL MARATHON SAILING
RACE AND THE FIRST CLIMATE-POSITIVE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT TO
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND ON MAY 11TH – MAY 21ST, 2023
Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Cortvriend, Abney,
Chippendale, Tanzi, Shallcross Smith, Ajello, and Phillips
Date Introduced: May 09, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, On May 11, 2023, Rhode Island will have the honor of hosting the 2023 1
“Ocean Race” which is on a six-month journey to circumnavigate the globe, making stops in only 2
eight cities worldwide and a fly by at one additional city, with Newport being chosen for the start 3
of Leg 5 of the race; and 4
WHEREAS, The Ocean Race is one of the toughest team sports, requiring epic sailing 5
skill and coordination, while enduring extreme mental and physical challenges during an 6
extended six-month period; and 7
WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s 11th Hour Racing Team onboard Malama, is one of four 8
IMOCA high-tech boats in the race, and is being skippered by Charlie Enright of Bristol; and 9
WHEREAS, The Ocean Race has put sustainability at its heart and took action with two 10
teams collecting water samples along its route during the first edition of the Race in order to 11
analyze and develop a map of plastic in the ocean in order to help form an understanding of how 12
microplastics transfer into marine ecosystems and with the 11th Hour Racing Team taking 13
measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2), sea temperature, PH levels and salinity - key indicators 14
of climate change; and 15
WHEREAS, The Ocean plays a critically important role in climate regulation by 16
providing half of the world’s oxygen, sequestering carbon dioxide and regulating climate. It is a 17
source of food and livelihood, and provides jobs and socioeconomic support for billions of 18
people. However, many of the present economic activities and practices related to the Ocean are 19
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unsustainable; and 1
WHEREAS, The Ocean Race’s innovative science program was developed in 2
collaboration with 11th Hour Racing, Premier Partner of The Ocean Race and Founding Partner 3
of the Racing with Purpose sustainability program; and 4
WHEREAS, The wellbeing of Rhode Islanders is inextricably linked with the health 5
integrity and functioning of the Ocean, including the physical systems, ecosystems, species and 6
constituting elements; and 7
WHEREAS, The inclusion and respect for diverse values, knowledge and practices, 8
including Rights of Nature, can advance equity, justice and sustainability in the blue economy 9
while preserving the health of the Ocean; and 10
WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders recognize that our natural environment is one of our most 11
valuable cultural and economic assets not just locally, but nationally and globally; with more than 12
400 miles of coastline, bringing more that 12 million annual visitors, the blue economy alone 13
generates approximately $5 billion and 36,500 jobs; and 14
WHEREAS, Rhode Island must regularly evaluate whether its plans, laws, and programs 15
are sufficient to meet the growing environmental crisis, including climate change and biodiversity 16
loss, and must explore all means of addressing them; and 17
WHEREAS, In fifty years, national and state governments have attempted to address the 18
crisis by adopting specific environmental protection laws, such as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air 19
Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, that limit pollution and consumption, but these 20
laws have largely proven inadequate to provide long-term protection of our right to clean air, 21
water, and soil, sustainable food systems, and the rights of natural ecosystems; and 22
WHEREAS, Over 200 laws and policies in nearly 40 countries have recognized that 23
Nature has inherent rights, and that human society has the responsibility to protect and steward 24
Nature in a manner consistent with our interconnected relationship; now, therefore be it 25
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 26
welcomes The Ocean Race to Newport, our City by the Sea, and whole-heartedly supports and 27
recognizes both the rights of natural communities and ecosystems within Rhode Island to exist, 28
flourish, evolve, regenerate, recover, and be restored, and the rights of the people and 29
communities that make up Rhode Island to live in a clean and healthy environment; and be it 30
further 31
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 32
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Charlie Enright, Skipper of the 11th Hour 33
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Racing Team, and Brad Read, Executive Director of Sail Newport. 1
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