CIMA Law Group Blog

The Environmental Impact of Cruises

Recently I had a conversation with a friend that has really stuck in my head. Mostly because she had some pretty ignorant things to say and then thought that I was in the wrong, but I digress. The conversation was about cruises which my friend plans to go on in the upcoming summer. Insert my opinion here____. Cruises are bad for the environment and are an unnecessary luxury.

Cruise ships are huge vessels that carry 100s of people and a lot of supplies. This kind of vehicle uses a lot of fuel. 250 tons a day to be more precise, and the waste that it produces is over a ton a day. For one, that is a lot of fuel for a vessel who’s primary use is to let people party on the water. Imagine the amount of pollution this causes. One study claims that cruise ships can have a carbon footprint greater than 12,000 cars.

The cruise industry took a big hit during peak COVID-19, but they are once again gaining their momentum. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced that it will be working to get its cruise ships to achieve net-zero carbon by 2050. That’s about 30 years away which means that until then, the pollution will continue, maybe even getting worse. My personal solution is to not go on cruises. If this still hasn’t convinced you, doing research on what vessels are being used on your cruise could help reduce your personal carbon footprint. Or, you could hop on a commercial flight and go visit a different country this year. More culture, more experiences, and more fun.

This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.

Andrew Callaghan’s Documentary Release on ‘This Place Rules’

Andrew Callaghan’s start to fame was a Youtube channel, ‘No Gas No Breaks‘. Traveling across the country, documenting American politics. Callaghan and his team took a step back to start, ‘Channel 5,’ to independent journalism.

Callaghan’s new documentary ‘This Place Rules‘ features interviews of many organizations that were incentives of the January 6th capital riots. The interviews show how many Americans in our country have created radial organizations from misinformation. The documentary allows viewers to form their opinion.
The thousands of comments on his Youtube channel discuss his approach to journalism. He’s the ability to show no reaction to the interviewed subjects and allows them to continue to speak with his hesitation to ask questions. The American Journalist has been a guest on mainstream media platforms, exposing their antics to viewers and correcting their questions about his documentary.

Callaghan’s humble beginnings as a smaller Youtuber while using his approach to subcultures and politics. The power of Youtube has given him and his team to strive forward with the ability to expose January 6 events and mainstream media. Articles continue to be published about, ‘This Place Rules,’ unraveling Andrew’s context on the film and how he is using the media platforms.

I love Andrew Callaghan and his team. He inspired me to push myself to continue to read, write and do research on our country. I look forward to seeing more of his work.

New Year’s Resolution

According to the all wise Mr. Google, the top 5 most common New Year’s Resolutions are exercise more, lose weight, get organized, learn a new skill or hobby, and live life to the fullest. There’s something about a new January that makes us feel as though we can start over fresh and forget what the last year did to us. Here’s the thing though, usually by February or March, we’ve forgotten or given up on our resolutions. The years no longer fresh, we can’t see an end in sight, and it’s just not as easy as we hoped.

So here’s how we’re going to tackle this year’s resolutions. Make your goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound (SMART)Don’t just say I’ll exercise three times a week. Instead, say “I’ll exercise on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.” This way, you don’t give yourself too much leeway to choose not to. Tell a bunch of people what you are going to so that you have accountability. Tell people who like to see you fail, that’ll get you up and moving! Forgive yourself. Too often, we give up on our goals entirely because we messed up one time, two times, or even three times. What you need is consistency, consistently getting back up when you’ve fallen off. You got this!

The School Meals System and Why Income Shouldn’t Matter

A study by the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that in 2021, 10.2% of households were classified as food insecure. This means 13.5 million households had difficulty providing food, and 2.3 million families with children could not provide adequate meals for them. 274,000 households with children are classified as having very low food security. This means children skipped meals or went a whole day without eating due to a lack of money for food.

For this reason, it is crucial for schools to provide meals for children who just cannot concentrate on empty stomachs. Those who go hungry should be able to eat at least at school along with their peers. In the U.S., lunches were provided free for all children regardless of household income during the Covid-era policy adjustment. However, these policies are starting to go back to a pre-Covid state, and many schools are back to charging certain families for meals and having others apply for free- or low-priced breakfasts and lunches if they can’t afford it.

With some families being less financially secure or just above the threshold which would qualify their children for reduced or free lunch, it could create financial hardship. Depending on free lunches makes a difference when some families just cannot afford to spend money five days a week while already struggling to put food on the table at home. Parents have to apply for reduced or free lunch, but this isn’t the case everywhere. “Community eligibility provision” is something that high-poverty districts where at least 40% of students qualify for free lunch can participate in. Once the districts opt to participate, parents no longer need to apply. This universal-styled food system creates relief should the households barely cross over the financial line that would cut them off from a free or reduced lunch. That extra help could make a difference in their budgets at home.

Inflation has only increased the struggle as food prices rise. This also means many school districts have increased their meal prices and cut items off the menu as they struggle with competitive labor wages for those operating the food system.

Programs like Farm to School support communities and their access to fresh and nutritional food for schools. This is beneficial not only for hunger relief, but in educating the students on agriculture, nutrition, health, and food as they have the opportunity to get hands-on learning in the school gardens that the program implements. It is also beneficial for the local economy as the program supports local purchasing of foods through farmers – the backbone of a community. Grants from the USDA are crucial for the Farm to School program to support state, regional, and local organizations in their implementation of this amazing effort.

From *Northwest Florida Daily News.* Students at McIntosh Middle School in the school garden which provides fresh produce for the cafeteria through the Farm to School program.

A better effort needs to be made by governments – local, state, and federal – to support the meal system for children in schools regardless of income, as the financial status of their household shouldn’t fall on them and their eligibility to eat at school. They spend the whole day five days a week at school where they are learning and growing into future generations – they need nutritional food that will keep them full and fuel their minds.

The $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Bill Passed – Shutdown Avoided

The House of Representatives passed the $1.7 trillion spending bill to fund the federal government through the next fiscal year by 225 votes to 201. Averting a shutdown, this is expected to be the last major bill of Congress before Republicans take control of the House in January. After months in the making, the bill has passed both the Senate and House and was signed by President Biden before midnight on Friday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a trip to D.C. from Ukraine to plead for support, saying that it is “not charity. It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.” The funding will assist with the military and deliver humanitarian aid as well as strengthen any other responses from Washington to the war. The bill also tackles some policy issues not related to spending, but addressed with importance.

The spending bill includes:

$45 billion in support for Ukraine

Clarification of the role of the US vice-president in tallying and certifying Electoral College votes.

A plan to ban downloads of the app TikTok – owned by its Chinese-based parent company ByteDance – on government-owned phones and other digital devices amid national security concerns.

A plan to ease the Covid-19 era provisions that allowed more flexibility in eligibility for Medicaid.

An amendment dubbed the “Pump Act”. Expands legislation that extends protections for new parents who need to breastfeed their babies or pump at work.

A provision in the package delays by six years of new rules for lobster fisheries aimed at protecting the endangered right whale from becoming entangled in fishing gear.

A lengthy battle between the states of Maryland and Virginia over where to relocate the current Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters – currently in Washington DC – is pushed down the road, with text in the bill allowing for further consultation on future sites.

A 4.6% wage increase for members of the military.

A $132 million increase in the budget for capitol police support

$2.5 million to improve security at senators’ residences

Congress plans to increase the maximum Pell Grant award – annual funding for low-income undergraduates – by $500 to $7,395.

A 30% increase of funding – to $8bn – for the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

A $576 million increase in the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ancient Rome: How Much Do You Know?

The Roman Empire is the model and the subject of much fascination for the western world for centuries. This empire lasted almost 1,500 years and saw the birth of Jesus and Christianity, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and many important architectural advances. While to Roman Empire fell over 1,500 years ago, there are still movies, books, and tv shows made about it. Even so, how much do you really know about the Roman Empire?

The Romans didn’t come up with many original ideas, however, they did take many old ones and improve them. Many have heard about the aqueducts, the colosseums, and the Pantheon with the largest free-standing dome. What do all of these have in common, Roman Concrete. Roman concrete was a mix of volcanic ash, lime, and water. This was then mixed with other small rocks, and once hardened, became concrete. The strength of the Roman concrete is part of the reason why so many of their buildings are still standing thousands of years later.

Julius Caesar is probably one of the most famous leaders of the Roman Empire, known for naming himself emperor, his love affair with Cleopatra, and being killed by his Senate. But there are many other ways that his decisions still affect us today. Caesar was the first to implement a standard calendar that is now known as the Gregorian Calendar and is used by many countries. It is known as Gregorian as Pope Gregory XIII made some alterations, but it is mostly true to the original. The month of July was originally named, Quintilis, and was Caesar’s birth month, so in his honor, the name was changed. While Caesar did name himself ruler of the Roman Empire, he named himself “Dictator Perpetuus” or dictator for life. Caesar never claimed the title of emperor, which would later become a common misconception. Caesar’s life came to an end when he was stabled to death 23 times by many of his advisors. Julius Caesar’s life was full of major historical events and his brutal ending seems fitting for his brutal nature. Caesar shows his importance, even now, with a month and a pizza place named after him.

Prison Educational Programs and Their Benefits

The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation has generously given a $1 million grant, to be provided as $100,000 annually for Augustana College’s Prison Education Program in Rock Island, Illinois. This support will allow access to better resources such as libraries, internship opportunities, technological resources, guided research, and programs designed to prepare students to return to careers. The college hopes to add more majors with the grant provided – majors such as American Studies to join along with their offered major of Communication Studies.

This program is incredibly beneficial for everyone involved – research shows those who graduate from prison education programs, such as APEP, are 20 times less likely to return to prison after serving their time.

The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation provides grants for the purpose of bettering higher education through student experience and learning environments. The foundation was established in 1981 by Austin E. Knowlton, a community leader who has left a lasting impact on students around the country.

A system in which we support inmates’ education and overall well-being in preparation for re-entering society can lead to positive outcomes. Expert on public policy, Professor Larry Brewster of the University of San Fransico has said there are numerous benefits for those who participate in these programs. Professor Brewster emphasized the results of better time management skills, the ability to regulate emotions and self-confidence, and an increase in motivation to pursue further educational or vocational programs.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics finds that the average person in prison has a 10th-grade education level. Through the study, it was observed that incarceration is tied to poverty and the systems surrounding it. Focusing on socioeconomic factors can greatly improve the neglect the systems of poverty face and give people a better chance to get out of a cycle that is difficult to break without support.

An acrylic painting from a talented artist within the Sierra Conservation Center prison. Credit: Peter Merts

Learning How to Let Go

First, take a deep breath. This one is for the control freak that has to have their hand in everything or nothing will go right. I think it is time to step back and reevaluate. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to control a situation. What would happen to the world if there were no control freaks? Chaos, am I right? The problem is that you will burn yourself out. So here are a couple of things you can do to prevent the inevitable.

Evaluate all the things that you have your hand in. Seriously, step back and look at all the stuff you have to have control over. I bet there is at least one thing that you can let go of. There’s at least one thing that is stressing you out to the point of driving you crazy. Concentrate on what you can influence. Concentrate on what will have a direct effect on your life and career goals.

Let it go. I, your fellow control freak, have found that the reason I need to control things is because of prior experience. While you should always let your experiences teach you, you have to understand that not every experience can translate to the one you are dealing with now. Spend some time on self reflection and think about the life experiences that are causing to be the person you are today. Be gentle with yourself. My personal mantra for when I micromanage is ” It’s not that deep.”

Perhaps It’ll Be A White Winter

This could be a White Christmas for some!

Forecasters “are warning of dangerously cold conditions for much of the nation as an arctic air mass is expected to spread across the southern United States this week”. For those living in the Lower 48 states, it is expected that temperatures will plunge to 32°F or below for this week.

That being said, it might be time to hit the stores. Though the forecasters know much about the winter storm that’s coming, there’s also much that’s to be unexpected. By Thursday night, “temperatures will plunge as low as 13 degrees in Jackson, Miss.; and around 5 degrees in Nashville, Tenn.” The idea, and threat of snow, has not been completely ruled out yet.

Please stay safe out there!

Kroger and Albertsons’ $24.6 Billion Merger – Concerns Over Pricing, Labor, Shoppers, and Food Access

On November 29th, both Kroger Co. Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen and Vivek Sankaran, President and CEO of Albertsons Companies went before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee to testify and clarify concerns regarding the merger of the two largest supermarket chains in the U.S. A significant concern was the impact on consumers and employees of the companies as it would lead to higher prices and “food deserts”. Kroger and Albertsons defended their proposal by saying it would put the combined company at a better advantage to compete with giants like Amazon, Walmart, and Costco.

Consumer rights advocate and Senior Researcher of Technology Competition at Consumer Reports, Sumit Sharma, explained that “food deserts” are essentially situations in which prices increase and consumers are left with fewer choices and reduced supermarket access. He elaborated on this by explaining that the merger between Kroger and Albertsons would only serve to over-concentrate grocery retail which makes the situation worse as competition becomes lessened with these two competitors joining as one.

However, Kroger Chairman and CEO McCullen pointed out the very reason for the merger: since 2010, online retailers have increased their share of grocery sales by more than 14% and those increases often come at the expense of companies like Kroger. He also states that Kroger is ranked fourth in total revenue among the U.S. grocery retailers, and will remain fourth after merging with Albertsons. The merger would boost its ability to compete better with the other giants, Walmart, Costco, and Amazon.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), chair of the subcommittee expressed concern over how the impact would be on the prices for consumers should the merger follow through. Mr. McCullen pointed out various financial commitments the company has made for the merger, including $500 million for lower prices, $1.3 billion for employee and customer experience improvement, and $1 billion for raising employee wages and benefits. These investments would take effect on day one of the companies merging, he explains.

The merger is still a ways away – Kroger and Albertsons have said the expectant year of the close would be 2024, pending federal and state regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. Wall Street analysts say since this is the largest U.S. supermarket merger ever, clearance on the transaction will take longer, possibly up to two more years.

The concerns from legislators are the impacts on shoppers, labor, food access, and grocery retail competition. Both CEOs are assuring it will run smoothly and are strategizing ways to accommodate everyone and everything that is a part of the merger. Will this create better competition with other players in the game? Or will it create a “food desert” leaving out the incentive to compete? Only time will tell.