

Samantha-Lynn Martinez
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 831 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0advocacy actioncompleted
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UP TO298pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO3.0documentarieswatched
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UP TO3.0hoursvolunteered
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UP TO260milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO2.0treesplanted
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UP TO2,055minutesspent learning
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UP TO450gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO3.0community eventshosted or attended
Samantha-Lynn's actions
Nature
Leave No Trace
I will practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace when doing nature activities alone or with family and friends to minimize my downstream impact in my watershed.
Food
Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty
I will watch 3 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.
Education
Share my connection with Orcas through art
I will make a piece of art that connects my life to the life of Orcas and Salmon, and share it on social media.
Transportation
Learn about boat noise impacts
I will spend 120 minutes learning about how boat noice impacts Orcas and then I will change my boating habits to reduce my impact.
Community
Remove invasive weeds
Recruit 2+ friends/family/neighbors and together remove invasive vegetation from our home/apartment building/neighborhood that is in a watershed upstream of downstream salmon and orcas.
Community
Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns
I will spend 45 minutes researching environmental justice concerns that effect people and the connection to downstream fish and wildlife, their causes, and local initiatives to address these concerns.
Community
Support Environmental Initiatives lead by People of Color
Racial inequity is both a sustainability and justice problem. I will support and seek out conservation organizations lead by people of color in my community, as their efforts address environmental justice, Puget Soundand/or Pacific Ocean health.
Water
Install a Low-Flow Showerhead
I will save up to 15 gallons (56 L) of water a day by installing a low-flow showerhead.
Transportation
Drive Less
I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips thus avoid sending exhaust particles and tire pollution into stormwater that impacts Orca and salmon health.
Food
Smart Seafood Choices
I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean since the Puget Sound is connected to all!
Transportation
Use a Carwash
When I wash my car I will always take it to a commercial car wash facility to avoid driveway drainage of toxic chemicals entering the storm drain and local waterways, poisoning fish and Orcas in Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean.
Education
Participate in Orca Trivia Night
Get your trivia on! In partnership with Northwest Straits Foundation, Whidbey Island Conservation District is holding a trivia night themed all things Orca, Salmon, and Marine Habitat. Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7pm.
Nature
Organize a Trash Cleanup Event
I will organize a trash clean up effort with friends, family, and neighbors at my favorite local trail or salmon stream to keep trash from flowing downstream via storm drains to Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean.
Nature
Join An Outdoor Project
I will join an outdoor restoration project in my community.
Nature
Plant Trees
I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard to combat climate change and reduce stormwater impacts to Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean.
Participant Feed
Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportationWhere does the greywater go after you wash your car in a driveway? Did you know that most of our street sewage heads to the Puget Sound?
Samantha-Lynn Martinez 11/03/2020 11:41 PMIn the driveway, all of the water from washing your car goes straight into storm drain and systems that lead right into waterways. Having nearly no filter, this water carrying harmful chemicals can harm the marine and wildlife of our surrounding environments. These chemicals can disrupt biological functions of these animals, and can ultimately decimate an ecosystem. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONNatureHow well do you know the area you live in? In what ways is a deep knowledge of your surroundings -- known as a 'sense of place' -- important to you?
Samantha-Lynn Martinez 11/03/2020 11:38 PMI'm quite familiar with my surroundings, especially since I've grown up in the same neighborhood since I was little. I think being familiar with the world around you is very important because it helps me notice a change or the environment slowly showing signs of damage. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFoodMany states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
Samantha-Lynn Martinez 11/03/2020 11:36 PMPersonally, I find that I don't eat as much seafood as the rest of my family, but when we do eat seafood together, we make sure to keep an eye out for where the food is coming from is if they are good alternatives for human consumption. My parents and I made a pact to not eat Chinook Salmon for at least a year, and longer if it's possible! It's so helpful to have the Seafood Watch App! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportationDo you know how orcas communicate? If you found your food, communicated with your family, learned of safety all through sound, but that sound was interrupted or muffled on a regular basis, would you imagine that to impact your ability to eat and navigate?
Samantha-Lynn Martinez 10/07/2020 11:50 AMOrcas communicate/find food mainly by sound/echolocation (alongside occasional tactile touch). This reliance on sound and the dynamics of sound is often threatened by vessel noise and disturbance, and I can imagine that impacts nearly every aspect of their daily life and survival. I think vessel noise is an essential topic piece for orca and marine mammal conservation, and sometimes it is not spoken about enough. Initiatives like BeWhaleWise.org and other organizations educating people on vessel noise/disturbance are amazing for boaters/non-boaters alike!-
Nora Nickum 10/08/2020 1:53 PMGreat points! And so important right now when the orcas are spending some time in the inland waters where there are lots of boats!
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REFLECTION QUESTIONTransportationHow has your access to various kinds of transportation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?
Samantha-Lynn Martinez 10/07/2020 11:38 AMI can certainly say that as I've gotten older and more independent from my parents, the options of transportation have become wider, but I chose to keep it to carpooling and public transportation as much as I possibly can. I'm thankful that I live in a region/city where public transportation serves as the circulatory system of my community, so getting around with an Orca Card is extremely helpful to me and my commitment to public transportation. Opportunities in my school district also offer free orca cards to high school students, so there is a general reliance and support for taking public transportation whenever possible. Plus, it is always fun to run into a couple of friends on the bus on the way to school/work! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunityWho is most affected by environmental degration and/or environmental irresponsiblity in your community? How are they affected?
Samantha-Lynn Martinez 10/07/2020 11:31 AMAt my school's environmental club, we have been tackling these issues of environmental degradation and its effects on people of color, and how it disproportionately affects them at higher rates than other communities and white communities. Understanding the ever-present impact of racism in every bit of life including environmental issues is absolutely crucial to gaining a broader perspective on what needs change. Low-income neighborhoods are often close in proximity to harmful facilities where aire or water is polluted, and the health of these communities is the number one indicator of where we are at our fault. A fight for our environment and our orcas is also a fight for racial and social justice, and that is something everyone must recognize for us to make a change in our communities, our sound, and beyond.