<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Firstthingsfirst]]></title><description><![CDATA[FirstThingsFirstOK]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:57:32 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[New UBC Report "Who Bears the Load?" An Equity Lens on Residential Load Management and Electricity Rate Design in British Columbia]]></title><description><![CDATA[Graph of Barriers, Equitable Program Design and Long-Term Benefits to Rate Revisions Addressing Equity Clare Mengebier, UBC Sustainability Scholar who worked with Ecotrust Canada, wrote a report that explores and evaluates load management solutions through an equity and accessibility lens to come up with three recommendations for rate revisions that could better incorporate equity considerations. From the report: Introduction British Columbia is experiencing significant electricity demand...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/new-ubc-report-who-bears-the-load-an-equity-lens-on-residential-load-management-andelectricity-ra</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6abafa947955838657af31c7</guid><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:50:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_87c02ee3f73d473f9e5c0e44988f27ac~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_955,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA["We need to connect the dots" Forest fires are expensive and deadly.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Forest wildfires caused by fossil fuels are deadly and expensive. We need to connect the dots.]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/we-need-to-connect-the-dotsforestfiresareexpensiveanddeadly</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a84d98f8cfa01baa5a19c26</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 22:35:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_8e593bf725f848a4885dad2759b40005~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_720,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Change is here. Why wait to act?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Our Earth's atmosphere is heating up from burning fossil fuels.]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/change-is-here-why-wait-to-act</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a83680c39491b7d1ae3b3b6</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 20:05:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_850c35acae1a4a00a1dcbb726b924433~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Forest Practices That Cause Fires and Floods]]></title><description><![CDATA[snow accumulation and spring runoff are impacted by clear-cut logging.]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/forest-practices-that-cause-fires-and-floods</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7f703e5e4e8f3e84164e2f</guid><category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:55:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_4b5f5a356056447598eef6bfb81cfd40~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_640,h_480,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cities need consistent funding to adapt to climate disasters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Summerland Fire 2026 screenshot Programs 'yanked' away Kristy Dyer - Aug 11, 2026 There’s a difference between a lottery ticket win and a pension. A lottery ticket win is a one-off. It’s out of the blue (well, you did buy a ticket). You could use that money to invest in the future—a downpayment on a car or pay off a credit card—but it is a one time deal. On the other hand a pension is something you can count on. You can make long term plans, look down the road 10 or 20 years, maybe even...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/cities-need-consistent-funding-to-adapt-to-climate-disasters</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7b73a32ca7f56c717d30b6</guid><category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:20:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_23bf4367a854459dab710d0a4cf2eca9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_688,h_942,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Roundabout anxiety]]></title><description><![CDATA[Roundabout anxiety ]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/roundabout-anxiety</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a74d43c7e238b0b8adacbc8</guid><category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Active Citizens ]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:43:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_9d8463fd9a1c4e74b6d8f9b671d0a4bd~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_640,h_480,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Children and Climate Change]]></title><description><![CDATA[Be Careful You Don't Burn Yourself]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/children-and-climate-change</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a70d1508766cba726b458cb</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:44:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_cb11b1ac51c54c2b8504276cd8dff5a6~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_768,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Okanagan Pollinators and HEAT]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bees and other pollinators struggle in extreme heat]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/okanagan-bees-pollinators-and-heat</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a677a99b59210289e9570d5</guid><category><![CDATA[Climate Actions At Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Science]]></category><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:40:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_371dbfccf9d6460d84a84e77ae6e3396~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_768,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is a Heat Pump right for you?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Heat pump discussion for retrofitting an older home in BC]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/heat-pump-go-or-no</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5c25d75e7d848635e2d945</guid><category><![CDATA[Climate Actions At Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:29:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_1b78de9845414cc39e54d86f67ed8bf0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Floods &#38; Clear-Cut Logging Red Flag]]></title><description><![CDATA[New study finds clear‑cut logging can dramatically increase flood risk Published: July 6, 2026 12.11pm EDT The ability of the forests to mitigate or heighten flood risk depends greatly on how logging takes place across an area. (Peter Robbins/Unsplash) In September 2025 Dr. Younes Alila came to Penticton with Daniel Pearce, the director of Trouble in the Headwaters, a documentary of the cause of the Grand Forks floods.  Dr. Alila is a hydrologist at UBC and travelled over 20,000 sq km to find...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/floods-clear-cut-logging-red-flag</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4d35eaa79e22eec792a0cd</guid><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:59:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_7c969e5d0c924b4fac597f98f776f38e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sustainable Summer Reading for Kids]]></title><description><![CDATA[So many books tackle the issue of climate for kids of all ages.  Summertime is  a good opportunity to share reading and have discussions about solutions we all can do. Visit the Penticton Public Library or order books to come to your library from the Okanagan Regional Library or BC Libraries.  Check out your local used bookstore and street-level free libraries to see if there are more options. Raising Global Kidizens creates and curates resources to raise the next generation of responsible...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/sustainable-summer-reading-for-kids</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3d5be4faba6cee57d8b0d2</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:53:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_b14b9d102f324e2ea6b5191cd6490264~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Oil &#38; Gas Taxes Could Be a Game-changer]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Tyee article by Emiko Newman, BC Climate Emergency Campaign co-ordinator offshore oil rig in the waters of Ras Laffan, Qatar. (Anoop PS, Pexels) In the past, excess profits taxes have helped Canadian citizens. The taxes have not harmed industry which makes huge profits for foreign investors. Let's see the government tax big corporations fairly while putting those dollars into climate solutions and towards rebates for Canadians suffering under inflated prices. Emiko Newman says: While...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/oil-gas-taxes-could-be-a-game-changer</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3817d56eab84e6060735f5</guid><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 17:08:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_b463ade26a44499792487c4848a9af9c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_640,h_853,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fumes in your kitchen?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A June 12 article by Kristy Dyer, Natural gas appliances are bad for your health, exposes the risks caused by gas stoves in homes. Gas flame kitchen stove If you flambé, sear, broil or fry in your kitchen, please invite me over for dinner. The Maillard reaction makes the food delicious but it can produce deadly chemicals, not to mention the particulates that set off your smoke detector. If you have a natural gas stove (or other natural gas appliances), combusting natural gas creates nitrogen...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/fumes-in-your-kitchen</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a355638bfacb36e353ec773</guid><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:53:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2f89e28abe3340078588f4ff4ab4ebda.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Climate Reporting and Public Trust]]></title><description><![CDATA[On May 21, Jaclyn Whittal joined First Things First Okanagan for a Deep Dive in Climate Reporting and how the public is affected by weather events and how news is shared. Jaclyn Whittal is the Founder and CEO of One Earth Communications with nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of climate science, extreme weather, and public trust. She brings a distinctive combination of scientific expertise, frontline reporting, and executive-level communication strategy. ​ ​A trained...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/climate-reporting-and-public-trust</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a26e4bd7af0f73356986539</guid><pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:12:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_245ced49a78c45d790ae3f175a1f5100~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reducing carbon emissions and building more homes are NOT mutually exclusive goals — Better North Shore]]></title><description><![CDATA[BC building codes can create more homes while reducing emissions]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/reducing-carbon-emissions-and-building-more-homes-are-not-mutually-exclusive-goals-better-north-sh</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a15bdff96a9edf7cb1ef0fa</guid><category><![CDATA[Climate Actions At Home]]></category><category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 15:56:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_cf6583f2d7e34e978af76bb993cb0676~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seniors for Climate protects a village]]></title><description><![CDATA[The sun was darkened by wildfire smoke in the whole of BC in 2021.]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/seniors-for-climate-protects-a-village</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69fc8de9ff1f32555729a172</guid><category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Active Citizens ]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 13:18:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_a4ff648cc24e4fed8451666ce4c210af~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_768,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[You aren't alone feeling anxious about climate change.]]></title><description><![CDATA[nelsonstar.com By Laura Sacks, West Kootenay Climate Hub, and Dr. Kyle Merritt, Doctors &#38; Nurses for Planetary Health Kootenay-Boundary No reason to feel alone this Earth Day if you care about climate change Wednesday, April 22, 2026 If you are concerned about climate change and the world we are leaving our children, you are not alone. Survey after survey finds that the vast majority of us are concerned and want our governments to do more. Yet most Canadians greatly underestimate how much...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/you-aren-t-alone-feeling-anxious-about-climate-change</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ef95297cb0726b2da7e1aa</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:07:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_a2c3a686375f4e3f952f48863504a8e7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Have a Heat Pump Party?   Why Are Heat Pumps So Hot Right Now?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Treat yourself to an open conversation about the mysteries and excitement of heat pumps at a Heat Pump Party. It is kind of like a Tupperware party but to demystify how heat pumps can heat AND cool a house.  Heat Pump costume for a party "Not many people know what a heat pump is. A bunch of neighbours are gathering to learn the challenges, to extol the virtues, and basically understand why heat pumps are so important in this day and age." Very fun and very informative. Although Ontario...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/have-a-heat-pump-party-why-are-heat-pumps-so-hot-right-now</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69debc9e934ce577916c888d</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:50:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_5c2b09cd0b6645dea757324520e860f2~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_726,h_368,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Better House: the power of interconnectivity (and its rewards)]]></title><description><![CDATA[betternorthshore.ca Apr 10 Written By Claudia Cornwall 13–16 minutes This is a continuation of the journey Claudia and Gordon took to retrofit their North Vancouver home. When we were building our new all-electric house,  my husband, Gordon, had the idea of getting a house battery for backup in case of power outages. Our old house had a wood fireplace in our living room that we could use for heat during blackouts, when the old gas furnace didn’t work, but the new house relies entirely on...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/a-better-house-the-power-of-interconnectivity-and-its-rewards</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69dbd77a515c02011a11c5b1</guid><pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:38:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_94ce8d9362e948b3b50f06e7a16ef6c2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let’s Talk Climate: Power, Privilege and the Planet]]></title><description><![CDATA[saltspringexchange.com Kelda Logan Transition Salt Spring Climate Prayer Flag of Hope Penticton, BC 8–10 minutes Let’s Talk Climate: Power, Privilege and the Planet Part 2: Structural Inequity Conversations about climate change often stall, even among people who share a deep concern for the planet. The silence doesn’t come from apathy; it comes from the weight and complexity of the problem itself. At its core, climate change is not just an environmental issue but a structural and systemic...]]></description><link>https://www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com/post/let-s-talk-climate-power-privilege-and-the-planet</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d957e64750526d40bd69c4</guid><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:10:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/aba76f_a9303de5061a4ef6bec8435bbd955023~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>FTFO</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>