No Limits Beat: Issue #2 (December 2019)

News

We Will Be Heard: Key Message Spotlight

By: Rachel Waugh

In this issue, we are highlighting our environmental impact’s key message: Tobacco industries harm the environment, from the process of growing tobacco to the byproducts from the user.

Lately, the fight for a better world is all over the news and social media. As we look to reduce environmental threats such as plastic bags and straws, it is vital to recognize tobacco’s negative impact, too. Billions of cigarettes are smoked each year in the United States, making them the most littered item in the country. The waste from cigarettes can leach toxic chemicals into the environment, leading to land, water and air pollution and causing damage to the world we live in and the habitats of powerless organisms. It is our responsibility to leave the world better for those to come. It is also our responsibility to advocate for the voiceless and innocent animals of our world.

Learn more about tobacco’s impact on the environment, as well as our two other key messages here.


Advocating for Change

By: Rosie Nelson

Knowing I was a catalyst for this potential policy change is an incredible feeling. If you want to enact change in your community and build confidence in your presentation skills, presenting to your city council is a great way to do it. Your city council will be so excited that youth in the community are engaged and want to enhance the community, so they will be apt to listen and be encouraging of your efforts. My biggest piece of advice is to do your research before talking to your council. If you get caught in a lie about a made up statistic, everything you worked to change will be lost. Change may not occur right away, but if you do nothing, things may never change.


School Spotlight: North Bend Central

By: Elaina Riley

Jacey (Youth Board Co-chair) and I presented an overview of Big Tobacco and their new vaping devices to approximately 330 junior and senior high students at North Bend Central in October. It’s always fun to introduce our peers to the deceptive ways tobacco companies are targeting youth through their marketing, especially Juul and similar companies. You could see the questions and energy rise in the audience as the students became angry upon learning of the industry’s attempts to get our generation addicted to their deadly products. We introduced a number of activism ideas, so I hope they use that passion to implement activities that fight Big Tobacco’s efforts in their community.

We love doing outreach events like this – it’s such a great feeling to know that we are part of the movement in our generation to stop Big Tobacco from continuing to harm humans and the environment. Would your school be interested in having No Limits Youth Board members come present? We’d love to meet you. Fill out a “Contact Us” form on our website.


Southeast Regional Training Highlights

November 19, 2019

Nineteen youth from Beatrice, Crete, Syracuse, Tri-County, Wilber-Clatonia, O’Neill, Crofton and Johnson-Brock public schools gathered in Lincoln for a full day of workshops to learn more about how to stop Big Tobacco’s attempts to target youth. At the end of the day, participants applied what they learned to create action plans to put their ideas into motion back in their communities. To see pictures of the event, click here.


They Said What?!

“Half our customers are drunk and vaping like mo-fo’s. Who…is going to notice the quality of our pods?”
— Kevin Burns, former Juul CEO, in response to learning of contaminated mint pods. Read more here.


Upcoming Event: Kick Butts Day Youth Rally

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • When: March 17-18, 2020
  • Where: Lincoln, NE
  • Cost: FREE (We’ll even pick you up!)

Big Tobacco has a long history of deceiving the public, hiding the truth and targeting youth with its marketing. And now they are introducing new tactics, clearly still appealing to youth.

As youth, we have the power to change the influence Big Tobacco has on Nebraska. Come to the No Limits Kick Butts Day Rally to meet new friends, have fun, learn how to fight Big Tobacco, meet with your senator and make your voice heard! Big Tobacco, you can’t silence us!

Click here to apply. Applications are due Wednesday, February 12, 2020.