2023 -- H 6384

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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 RACE”, 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

“Ocean Race” which is on a six-month journey to circumnavigate the globe, making stops in only

eight cities worldwide and a fly by at one additional city, with Newport being chosen for the start

of Leg 5 of the race; and

     WHEREAS, The Ocean Race is one of the toughest team sports, requiring epic sailing

skill and coordination, while enduring extreme mental and physical challenges during an

extended six-month period; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s 11th Hour Racing Team onboard Malama, is one of four

IMOCA high-tech boats in the race, and is being skippered by Charlie Enright of Bristol; and

     WHEREAS, The Ocean Race has put sustainability at its heart and took action with two

teams collecting water samples along its route during the first edition of the Race in order to

analyze and develop a map of plastic in the ocean in order to help form an understanding of how

microplastics transfer into marine ecosystems and with the 11th Hour Racing Team taking

measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2), sea temperature, PH levels and salinity - key indicators

of climate change; and

     WHEREAS, The Ocean plays a critically important role in climate regulation by

providing half of the world’s oxygen, sequestering carbon dioxide and regulating climate. It is a

source of food and livelihood, and provides jobs and socioeconomic support for billions of

people. However, many of the present economic activities and practices related to the Ocean are

unsustainable; and

     WHEREAS, The Ocean Race’s innovative science program was developed in

collaboration with 11th Hour Racing, Premier Partner of The Ocean Race and Founding Partner

of the Racing with Purpose sustainability program; and

     WHEREAS, The wellbeing of Rhode Islanders is inextricably linked with the health

integrity and functioning of the Ocean, including the physical systems, ecosystems, species and

constituting elements; and

     WHEREAS, The inclusion and respect for diverse values, knowledge and practices,

including Rights of Nature, can advance equity, justice and sustainability in the blue economy

while preserving the health of the Ocean; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders recognize that our natural environment is one of our most

valuable cultural and economic assets not just locally, but nationally and globally; with more than

400 miles of coastline, bringing more that 12 million annual visitors, the blue economy alone

generates approximately $5 billion and 36,500 jobs; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island must regularly evaluate whether its plans, laws, and programs

are sufficient to meet the growing environmental crisis, including climate change and biodiversity

loss, and must explore all means of addressing them; and

     WHEREAS, In fifty years, national and state governments have attempted to address the

crisis by adopting specific environmental protection laws, such as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air

Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, that limit pollution and consumption, but these

laws have largely proven inadequate to provide long-term protection of our right to clean air,

water, and soil, sustainable food systems, and the rights of natural ecosystems; and

     WHEREAS, Over 200 laws and policies in nearly 40 countries have recognized that

Nature has inherent rights, and that human society has the responsibility to protect and steward

Nature in a manner consistent with our interconnected relationship; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

welcomes The Ocean Race to Newport, our City by the Sea, and whole-heartedly supports and

recognizes both the rights of natural communities and ecosystems within Rhode Island to exist,

flourish, evolve, regenerate, recover, and be restored, and the rights of the people and

communities that make up Rhode Island to live in a clean and healthy environment; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Charlie Enright, Skipper of the 11th Hour

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Racing Team, and Brad Read, Executive Director of Sail Newport.

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