05-R 197

2005 -- H 6395

Enacted 04/26/05

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING APRIL, 2005 TO BE "EARTH MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE

ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Malik, McNamara, Rose, and Ginaitt

Date Introduced: April 26, 2005

     WHEREAS, The celebration of Earth Day began in 1970 as a long-term endeavor to

awaken all people to an understanding of the necessity for working together in order to save our

planet, and to develop sustainable practices that will protect our health, welfare and insure lasting

prosperity; and

     WHEREAS, State and local governments currently participate in numerous recycling

endeavors, energy and water conservation, hazardous waste programs, and bay and watershed

planning efforts that depend on widespread understanding and community participation in order

to be successful; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout the course of a very short history we have made tremendous

progress. No longer do our rivers catch on fire, our skies are cleaner, and our environmental

expertise and technology for preventing pollution and sustaining natural resources are in demand

throughout the world. Still, so much work remains to be done; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, officially nicknamed

the "Ocean State," has a long and proud maritime history and culture which includes many

present day industries that are part of the marine cluster; and

     WHEREAS, We recognize the current and continuous need to integrate the management

of our living and nonliving marine, estuarine and terrestrial resources; and

     WHEREAS, We are aware of the need for quality science and technology in all that we

do. The University of Rhode Island, with its land and sea grant system and its Graduate School

of Oceanography, provides the ever-expanding base of our knowledge. Brown University, Roger

Williams University, the Rhode Island School of Design, and Salve Regina University, along

with many other private and public educational institutions and nongovernmental organizations,

are engaging in marine science, technology, policy, research, and education that will transfer

better solutions ensuring restoration, conservation, management and sustainable development of

our natural resources; and

     WHEREAS, We acknowledge the value of the opportunity provided to us with Bob

Ballard joining the faculty at the University of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, The Ocean State is looking ahead with the design and construction of

integrative systems that require us to neither assume pollution must happen nor depend on the

assimilative capacities of the sea, air and land. Doing so represents a quantum leap from the

present, where the ability of the sea and air to absorb innumerable land-based sources of harm has

been too long assumed; and

     WHEREAS, "Earth Month", 2005 rejuvenates the original spirit of Earth Day, endowing

individuals with the resources they need to make the vision of a cleaner, healthier planet for the

21st Century a reality; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representative of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April, 2005 to be "Earth Month" in Rhode Island and

calls upon its citizens to observe this month with programs, ceremonies and activities that

celebrate this remarkable and vital endeavor to save our planet.

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LC03116

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