CIMA Law Group Blog

The Congo Free State and Leopold II

Many history books fail to mention the horrible treatment and abuse that the people of the Congo Free had to endure under Belgium King Leopold II who should go down in history as one of the worst despots and leaders that the world has ever seen. Inspired by the travels of well known world-explorer, Henry Livingstone, and the general scramble for ownership of Africa that was taking hold of Europe, Leopold saw his chance in the kingdom of the Congo. Being the sneaky businessman that he was Leopold hired American reporter and world explorer Henry M. Stanley to go around the Congo and convince tribes to sign treaties giving their land to him in exchange for guns, cloth, or alcohol. As opposed to a colony like the other super powers of Europe Leopold wanted to set up the Congo as a Free State, where he was the absolute monarch, and where he could do whatever he wanted without any government oversight from Belgium.

Before he could have all this unclaimed land though Leopold had to convince the world that his efforts were pure. During this time Europe and the United States were against the idea of slavery, England and the United states had outlawed it. In order to stop the entire world from hating him and protesting his “project”, which required a lot of slave labor, Leopold established several humanitarian groups whose supposed purpose was to bring liberation to oppressed people in Africa and try to help them. Leopold simply wanted the land to civilize the people, spread Christianity, and trade with the natives. All of his efforts payed of and at “1884-85, a conference held in Berlin, Germany, decided the colonial status of central Africa. Suspicious of each other’s ambitions in the region, the European powers and the United States agreed to grant Leopold possession of the Congo River basin.” Under the banner of a yellow star on a blue background Leopold officially became the ruler of the ironically named Congo Free state

Now it was time for the real work to begin in the Congo. Originally Ivory was the only good that was extracted from the Congo but soon rubber was discovered to be an amazing material that could be used for tires, insulation for wires, and shoes. Rubber soon became the most lucrative good that came from the Congo. “Leopold’s reign over the Congo Free State, however, has become infamous for its brutality.” Utilizing slave labor Leopold forced very male had to fulfill a quota of rubber set by Leopold and his Force Publique (Public Force). Who were holding the men’s wives and children captive. If the men didn’t die from the hard labor they were malnourished, killed, or tortured by Belgian officials(a favorite of the Belgians was to beat the slaves with a whip made of hippo hide called a chicotte). Another cruel feature of the Congo was that when there were rebellions against the the Force Publique the officers had to bring back the literal right hand of rebels that they had killed, they also had a quota of rebels that had to be met that they killed. So, when officers didn’t meet the quota they cut the right hand of any Congolese person regardless if they were women, children or even rebels.

It is estimated that Leopold received about 220 million francs($1.1 billion in today’s money). So what amazing things did Leopold spend his newfound wealth on? He commissioned several buildings around Belgium, created a greenery in the middle of Brussels, bought castles all along the French Riviera, renovated his palace, built statues of himself, and bought his young mistresses whatever their hearts desired. None of the money was used towards helping the Belgium people at all and in the end when he lost the Congo Free State he sold it to Belgium, costing his country millions of francs once more.

The catalyst that was finally able bring an end to Leopold’s brutal regime was the English shipping clerk turned reporter Edmund Morel, who noticed that the ships traveling between Liverpool and the Congo never took goods back to the Congo, indicating that no trade was happening between Europe and the Congo. Irish diplomat Roger Casement, after having worked in the Congo witnessed firsthand the abuses committed by the Force Publique to the Congolese Natives. Soon after reading articles written by Morel both men were able to meet. Both men dedicated all their time to bringing these injustices to light. They worked tirelessly writing hundreds of articles, giving presentations to large gatherings of very prominent people all over Europe and the USA, and giving first hand accounts from native Congolese people of their ordeal in the Congo Free state. After several years and a counter campaign from Leopold, who tried to show that he was supposedly helping the Congolese people once again. “Pressure from Britain and the United States eventually forced Leopold to turn over ownership of the Congo Free State to the Belgian government in 1908.” The Free State of the Congo, became the Belgian Congo this time officially being a Belgian colony, controlled by the Belgian government, it was not until 1960 that the nation became the Republic Congo, finally under native Congolese control. Then under the brutal dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko the nation became Zaire. Finally it became the country that it is now the: The Democratic Republic of the Congo. As for Leopold II he died on 1909 at the age of 74 without his precious Congo and hated by most of the world and even his Belgian subjects, his body was booed while his funeral caravan was going through Brussels

This is a CIMA Law Group blog entry. CIMA Law Group is located in Arizona and specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations. If you live in Arizona and need legal assistance CIMA Law Group can help.

Ukraine behind recent explosions at Russian military sites in Crimea

Explosions were heard at military depots and air bases in Crimea over the past week, proving that the Ukraine’s military and its backers have the capacity to strike deep behind enemy territory.

The blasts took out 9 airplanes according to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. In addition to taking out half of the Black Sea fleet’s naval jets, the hope of this attack is to change up their military strategy by undermining Moscow’s ability to hold the front lines ahead of an eventual Ukrainian counteroffensive to reclaim territory.

Officials have said setbacks have forced Ukraine to adopt a defensive position, and this recent attack may have done just that. Crimea was formerly seen as a place that couldn’t be touched by the Ukranian’s. Tourists and citizens of Russia just witnessed this attack and have fled to Moscow causing a psychological aspect to this war.

This post is a part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are in the Phoenix area looking for aid in criminal defense, personal injury, or immigration, contact CIMA Law Group today to get your worries squared away.

Can Humans Handle Climate Change?

Our generation has grown up with cautionary tales of climate change, an image that has been so ingrained into our mindset that it feels more like a fairy tale than real life. However, with new data showing that humans may not be able to handle temperature extremes as well as was previously thought, those fairy tales may become our new reality sooner than expected.

Scientists tracked a number of healthy participants and their responses to extreme heat. Before this experiment, it was noted that humans could adequately survive 35C conditions (about 95F) for an extended period of time with low activity. However, their research shows that the number was actually closer to 31C (88F) in humid conditions and 27C (81F) in dry conditions.

This new research is especially concerning with recent climate news. 2022 has so far been filled with record-breaking temperatures, not to mention extreme heat waves in Japan and Europe.

In response to recent climate concerns, Biden has passed a health and energy bill that aims to decrease the United States’ dependance on fossil fuels. This bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, will seek to do this by investing in low-emission energy sources. It is predicted that it will cut emissions by around 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. Hopefully, this initiative, and others like it, will reduce the risk of unbearably high temperatures from climate change.

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.

Little League World Series Player Takes a Fall

After falling from his dormitory bunk bed, 12-year-old Little League World Series player is suffering serious conditions.

Easton Oliverson is a part of Utah’s Snow Canyon Little League. As a result from his fall, he now has a fractured skull. Oliverson fell from his bunk bed while sleeping. Luckily, the fall was heard by his teammates and they were able to react quickly, if not, the outcome could be very different.

After being transported to the hospital, he underwent surgery in hopes to stop the bleeding. The bleeding was caused from an artery being punched outside the brain. He was then medically induced in a coma.

However, things are starting to turn around as the neurosurgeon explained to the family that his CT scan looked great. He is slowly being weening off from the painkillers and is responding as he should. Although he is not all the way in the clear, he is on track to be in the future.

Biden to Sign the Largest Climate Legislation in U.S History

Less than three months before the midterm elections, President Joe Biden plans to sign the Democrats’ expansive climate, health, and tax measure into law on Tuesday at the White House. This will be a significant victory for his domestic agenda.

This piece of legislation would cap the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries at $2,000 per year in out-of-pocket expenses and would feature the largest federal investment in history in the battle against climate change, totaling $375 billion over a ten-year period. It would also continue subsidies offered during the coronavirus outbreak, aiding an estimated 13 million Americans in paying for health insurance.

The President will conduct a Cabinet meeting focused on executing the Inflation Reduction Act, travel the nation to highlight how the law will benefit the American people, and host an event to commemorate the bill’s passing at the White House on September 6th according to a White House advisor.

Remembering the Farewell Address

On September 17th, 1976 on the 9th year anniversary of the constitution George Washington published his now so famous farewell address, also known as, the Constitution day address. It has been recited over 120 times since then by other presidents and congress members as they leave their seats in government. The address was mostly written by Alexander Hamilton, however, all the ideas in its content came from George Washington himself. At the time he was six months from the conclusion of his second term as the first president of the United States.

He starts his address by informing that he will not seek another reelection and the decision to do so had come to his mind at the conclusion of his first term. However, the challenging times the country was going through at the end of his first term and the suggestions of his advisors persuaded him to remain another term. There was no law that established the limit on terms a president could serve. George Washington, nonetheless, established the non-written rule that all presidents followed with the exception of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served 4 terms. After FDR’s presidency, the 22nd amendment established a two-term limit for future presidents. George Washington recognized that he and all those who eventually would take his place were nothing more than citizens serving their fellow men and women rather than members of an elite group. He argued that power is only given to those who deserve it. He continues by admitting that he did his best effort to serve his country despite his many imperfections.

Later he acknowledged God’s importance in the establishment and development of the country. He expressed his hopes for heaven’s blessings to continue pouring down on the nation. G.W. then exhorted his fellow citizens to cherish the Constitution and its beauty in their life and to recognize and protect the Constitution from enemy attacks. Crafty men and women will try to deceive others to drift away from the importance of the Constitution. Protect the people’s freedom and as a mother bear protects her offspring.

George Washington advised us to hold dear our Constitution which is the foundation of the country, “the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize.” He then mentioned again the “crafty men and women” (which he mentions several times) that will try to deceive and people from the constitution in order to obtain power. As he said, the name American given to citizens by birth or by choice should be a reflection of our common identity as patriots.

The first POTUS then starts to warn us about dangers that can arise if we do not harken to his words. One of the first most important warnings is to refrain from factions. His words teach us that the North, the South, the East, and the West should all benefit from each other, and together as a whole, we can achieve greater strength and security rather than if we are divided. He reminds us that the local and state government is to govern closely to the affairs of the people while the federal government serves to connect the whole.

He warned about falling into a two-party system and political parties in general because we will begin to love our parties more than we love the country. At the time when George Washington publishes his address in major newspapers, political parties are already starting to form and disagree on various matters. The two main movements were the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party. The Federalist party was led by merchants & bankers living primarily in Northern cities. They favored a strong central government and interpreted the Constitution loosely. They generally were Pro-England because they believe they were more like them than any other nation. The Federalist party also favored Hamilton’s financial policies (Support Bank of U.S.). They hoped the nation would once become the trade center of the world through industry and self-sufficiency. The Democratic-Republican party was led by farmers & wage earners living primarily in the South and West. They favored strong state governments and interpreted the Constitution strictly. They generally were generally Pro France because the supported the French Revolution, unlike the Federalists. The Democratic-Republican party opposed Hamilton’s financial policies (against Bank of the U.S.). They hoped the nation would once become a strong agricultural society with little trade and industry. These divisions among parties started to be more and more visible at that time and Washington viewed it as alarming.

The address then continues stating that the government which people choose (a federalist government) was created under inspiration and great analysis. Nonetheless, he knew changes to the constitution would become necessary. He stipulated that all changes must be made under the amendment process and it is the right of the people to make amendments and ratification to the constitution. Again, he warns that there will be groups of deceiving people who will try to circumvent the constitution so that a minority can enforce its will over the people. His warning is to be alert of those who interpret the constitution to their benefit. Washington makes the point that there is a great need for well-educated citizenship. Without a well-educated society, the nation cannot prosper and protect its country from its enemies.

Elected officials must respect and stay within the constitutional sphere they have been elected to. It is in men’s nature to be a prone lover of power and to abuse it. For that reason, the president must be overbalanced from evil. Each branch of the government (legislative, executive, and judicial) is responsible for guarding the Constitution unlike the popular belief that the Supreme Court is the only unit responsible for protecting it from being overlooked.

George Washington then introduces the importance of morals and religion among the people. He argues that they are indispensable dispositions and habits that are needed for the political prosperity of the nation. True patriots hold these two concepts in his or her life. He asks, what would anchor people’s disposition for security, for property, for reputation and for life without religion? If there is no God, anything is permissible. Because of that, virtue and morality are essential in a self-governing society.

He then makes the assessment that debt should and must be avoided. The government should not be in the business of spending money irrationally. It should be frugal in non-indispensable expenditures. The government must not ruin the nation’s credit by falling into too much debt. Having low or no debt provides national strength and security. A nation that is drowned in debt is a slave to its creditor. It is clear that debts will accumulate in times of war to protect and defend the people. In times of prosperity and peace debt must be paid off as soon as possible. Revenue is necessary for a prosperous nation to arise. The government must cover its operation cost and pay its debts. Taxation on the people is necessary for this purpose. However, taxes should not be a burden or an incommodity to citizens.

The last warning George Washington shares in his farewell address is regarding foreign relations. First, he makes these next statements. Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations. Cultivate peace and harmony among each other. Be an example to other nations by being people who always are guided by high standards and morality. After, he warns that foreign attachments can tangle the nation with unnecessary problems. He said to avoid permanent treaties that are not for the benefit of the country. Many nations will take advantage of us even if they become our allies. This idea of restraining from non-beneficial relations with other countries brought about the concept of isolationism. He warned that foreign attachments could lead politicians to get campaign funds from foreign companies or countries, lead companies to sell technology and trade secrets that compromise national security, and maybe even lead judges to look to foreign law to support their rulings in the U.S. in order to gain popularity and acclaim. He specifically advised to stay away from European matters. He was seeing issues with foreign alliances at that time with England building forts in the west, disrupting trade, and arming Natives. Spain was banning American shipping along the Mississippi. France was demanding repayment and restricts trade in the West Indies. Also, Native Americans were resisting in the old Northwest.

Washington finalizes his address by expressing his hopes that his words and thoughts may be in some way productive and beneficial for future generations. He then turned back to his confessions, acknowledging his imperfections and asking God to help mitigate the effects of the possible errors he might have unconsciously committed. Lastly, he said goodbye and hoped to join his fellow citizen under the presidency of his successor.

Many people hold his address dearly for his strong words of caution and empowerment. There are some things from his address that would be of value to analyze for our present day. First, our Congressmen and other governmental leaders should understand the important legacy that Washington left of selfless service. Many congressmen hold their seats in congress because of their love for power. A righteous leader understands that they must open the way for new generations of leaders who in return will serve them and their country. We must consider his warnings as words of an exceptionally wise man.

Sadly, many of his warnings have become a reality such as entanglements with foreign nations, divisions among people, debt, greedy leaders, crafty men and women who deceive, and a loss of morals and values. In the past two decades, the United States has been involved in international conflicts that had nothing to do with the country, and because of its involvement, other issues have raised. In recent years, the two main political parties, Democrat and Republican, had greatly divided the nation. The national debt is currently above 25 trillion dollars. Past presidential elections have been more about choosing the bad from the worse instead of choosing the best from the good. International influence in elections have brought to light those crafty men and women who deceive the nation from the core principles of the constitution. Values and morals have been evermore wavering in society, the BLM movement sheds light on one of the aspects where the nation has lost its morals. Law enforcement is killing and committing acts of brutality among innocent people. If we desire the nation to be as great as we claim it to be, we must turn back to the teachings of our first president, George Washington.

A Pillow Probably Would’ve Been Better

I assume the push back might have been slightly different if former President Trump had taken a favorite white house lounge chair or a decorative pillow back home to his estate in Mar-a-Lago. But why would he ever make it that easy? Right, he wouldn’t. So, instead, he took classified documents.

Last week, Federal agents executed a search warrant, removing boxes of materials from Trump’s Florida estate, making this the first time in American history that a former president’s home was searched as part of a criminal investigation.

As CNN reports, it all started in May of 2021 when an official from NARA (The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration) contacted Trump’s team after realizing that several important documents weren’t handed over before Trump left the White House. The plot thickened in January of 2022 when NARA finally retrieved 15 boxes of Trump White House records from Mar-a-Lago after multiple discussions with his team. In a statement, NARA said that some of the records it received were “torn up by former President Trump,” making it so White House officials had to attempt to tape them back together— not all of which could be reconstructed. Some materials were part of “special access programs,”— a classification that includes protocols to significantly limit who would have access to the information.

As of two days ago, following the unsealing of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant, we now know the Justice Department is looking into possible legal violations. Of the three laws that the court papers list as central to the investigation, one of which involves obstruction of federal probes, and a second of which cites a law that makes it a crime to conceal, remove, or mutilate government records. Finally, a part of the Espionage Act is referred to that involves gathering, transmitting or losing sensitive information related to national defense. Breaking any one of these laws could result in prison time.

Trump and his allies first suggested the FBI had planted evidence, but what would history tell us about nearly anything Trump claims when he’s in trouble? Evidently there is no evidence of such. They’ve also claimed that former President Obama took 30 million documents, many of them classified, to Chicago upon leaving the White House. Another claim of which is easily refuted— The Associated Press (AP) reports that NARA confirmed (in more detail than I find necessary to insert here) that that is simply not true.

Trump supporters also argue that this is no big deal because Trump himself declassified these documents. AP reports that it isn’t evident Trump has any paperwork to back up those claims. And legal experts say that it may not matter if the material has been declassified. You still can’t take it home with you. And when the government asks for it, you need to give it back.

So, a decorative pillow? I think not.

Pigs are healing the blind

Nope, pigs still can’t fly- but apparently their skin can bring sight back to the visually impaired.

Researchers, specifically from Linköping University in Sweden, have found that the skin of pigs has become an extremely influential factor is their new widely affordable corneal implant that treats the eye disease Keratoconus. Keratoconus is a disease where the cornea of the eye thins and bulges, causing vision loss. This eye disease effects 50 to 200 of every 100,000 people globally, according to the Cornea Research Foundation of America.

There was previously minimal treatment for this disease, as the treatment did not work for all people. Besides the previous treatment to regain ones vision, which may or may not have worked, the only other option would require getting a corneal transplant- however it is not quite that simple. An estimated 12.7 million people are currently waiting for a corneal transplant. With that being said, these researchers have now bio-engineered a new corneal implant made of pig skin, alongside designing a “less invasive” method for performing this surgery.

Pig skin is easily accessible according to these researchers, as it is a byproduct of the food industry. In addition, while doctors must use human corneas within two weeks, pig skin based implants can be stored for up to two years.

Following a pilot study that was initiated in India and Iran, 20 recorded patients that were blind or close to being so due to this disease, 2 years later now have their eyesight restored. The research team also reported there to be no immediate complications following the procedure, and even after 2 years post-op. The question that still lies unanswered- how?

A large portion of the cornea is made up of collagen, and as previously mentioned the original method of treatment was extremely tedious and did not work for everyone. However, this pilot trial and alternate corneal material, made from highly-purified collagen molecules of pig skin, has proven to be a highly effective and widely affordable method of restoring the vision of those diagnosed with Keratoconus.

President Biden Signs CHIPS ACT

“Today America is delivering, and I honestly believe that 50,75,100 years from now, people who will look back on this week, they’ll know that we met this moment.” Said President Biden in reference to the ACT getting signed into law Tuesday. The main purpose behind this ACT is to strengthen U.S. competitives with China by investing billions of dollars in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and science research.

The bill includes more than $52 billion for U.S. companies producing computer chips, as well as billions more in tax credits to encourage investment in semiconductor manufacturing. It also provides tens of billions of dollars to fund scientific research and development and to spur the innovation and development of other U.S. tech.

The law emerged after a chip shortage made it clear how much US industries and the US military rely on processors made overseas. Specifically in Taiwan and Samsung in South Korea took the lead. The chip shortage frustrated consumers eager to buy electronics during the COVID-19 pandemic and shuttered US auto plants as crucial electronic components stalled manufacturing. The ACT passed in rare bipartisan support passing the Senate in a 64-33 vote. Showing that some legislation goes beyond party lines.

Disney+ Prices Rise

Disney+ has announced a price change for their customers. On December 8, customers will begin paying $7.99 a month, but with ads.This is what current customers are paying, however, without any ads. The premium subscription, without any ads, will now cost $10.99 a month.

The company’s overall earning for their second quarter has gone up 26% from last year, they have earned $21.5 billion in revenue.

Disney+ will not be the only thing going up. Since Hulu is mainly owned by Disney, their prices will also be going up.

As Disney+ tries to maintain their audience entertained, they are spending millions, if not billions of dollars to do so by creating new content. Their hard work has paid off through their constant streaming growth. Unlike one of the most popular streaming companies, Netflix. Netflix’s has lost subscribers two quarters in a row.

In order to keep obtaining streaming growth, companies need to accumulate more and more revenue, raising their prices is Disney+’s way to do so.