CIMA Law Group Blog

Anne L’Huillier: Beating the Odds

Consistently, research shows that sexism has a distinct impact on women in STEM fields. Gender stereotypes, male-dominated cultures, fewer role models, and math anxiety contribute to the fact that women make up only 28% of the STEM workforce. Furthermore, once women overcome these odds, their salaries are nearly $15,000 less than their male counterparts.

With all of these challenges, it is even more impressive when a woman finds a way to shine in a STEM field. Anne L’Huillier is one of the incredible women who faced this adversary head on.

L’Huillier recently won the 2022 Wolf Prize in Physics for “pioneering contributions to ultrafast laser science and attosecond physics.” The physicist created an entire new field of physics, forming the foundation for studying ultrafast physics (on the scale of the movement of electrons).

L’Huillier advises women who want to follow fields in physics to “follow your intuition, and do what you want to do.” She also notes that women should be especially confident in their abilities, and to not listen to those who say that a woman only got a job because of her gender.

There is still a long way to go for complete equality in STEM fields. However, women like L’Huillier prove that the end goal is a possible and worthy cause.

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.

Colombia Elects First Left-Wing President

Gustavo Petro, a former member of the M19 guerilla movement and mayor of Bogota, will become the first president of Colombia from a leftist party. In another historic first, Petro’s running mate, Francia Marquez, will be the first Afro-Colombian vice-president. Petro previously ran for president in 2010 and 2018, but failed to persuade voters who believed he was a radical left-wing outsider. This time around he has surrounded himself with more traditional politicians who could build bridges with the establishment. In April, he signed a pledge not to expropriate any private land if elected. He’s also tipped a moderate to be his economic minister, and has sought to make international ties with new progressives, such as the Congressional Progressive Caucus in the U.S. As president, Petro said he intends to renegotiate Colombia’s trade deals with the US and also plans to open dialogue around three main issues: protection for the Amazon rainforest; ending the war on drugs; and moving the Colombian economy away from fossil fuels. Colombia has been facing a worsening socioeconomic situation, including deteriorating living conditions, made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of the war in Ukraine, leading to millions of young and poorer voters to look for someone different.

For more than two centuries, Colombia was considered a steady conservative country in Latin America. Even as leftist governments came and went across the region, a center-right political establishment remained in control, which is what made Colombia an important ally for the U.S. One area of policy differences with the U.S. is Venezuela. Petro does support recognizing Nicolas Maduro as the country’s president, something the White House is firmly against. However, Biden and Petro might still find common ground in areas such as environmental protections and the energy transition.

This election in Colombia continues to signal a frustration by voters in Latin America with center-right and right-wing politics. It happened in Peru, where voters last year elected Marxist schoolteacher Pedro Castillo. In Chile, the free-market model of the region, where 36-year-old former student activist Gabriel Boric became president. The same can be said in Bolivia and Argentina where the left returned to power following a brief period of right-leaning politicians. All eyes are now on Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, where former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva leads polls to unseat President Jair Bolsonaro in October. A victory for Lula would mean all of the largest countries in the region, including Mexico and Argentina, are led by leftist presidents.

Who Will Refuse Abortion Bans?

About a month ago, a leaked draft memo was released announcing that the Supreme Court was initiating conversation surrounding enactments that would overturn the court decision of Roe v. Wade (1973)– the monumental court case that has given women the legal freedom of choice over their bodies for generations, by granting abortion as a constitutional right. Overturning this court decision would eliminate the current federal protections around abortion and the ability to receive one in many states, as it would give states the power to decide the legislation surrounding the future power, or the lack thereof, that women will have over their bodies.

Since this possible overturning, there have been daily releases of updates surrounding the Supreme Courts actions, and relatively the actions that states have simultaneously been taking. After the leak, many states within the US have given great signal as to whether or not they would restrict or ban abortion in coordination to the national decision. Not surprisingly, the overturning of Roe v. Wade would essentially create a country divided upon banning, or not banning, abortion.

According to NPR.com in early May of this year, 18 states have “trigger laws” to ban abortion after Roe v. Wade is overturned (Figure 1.1). To clarify, trigger laws are laws placed ‘in the books’ to be implemented after the overturning; however, it is important to note that different states have different implementation mechanisms for said trigger laws.

More recently, in opposition as of June 18th, 2022, a list of 8 state and local officials- including some within states that have ‘trigger laws’ in place- have publicly announced that they do not plan on enforcing abortion bans. These locations include: DeKalb County, GA; Orleans Parish, LA; Michigan; Durham County, NC; Radnor Township, PA; Austin and Bexar County, TX; Fairfax County, VA; and Wisconsin, according to the Hill.

Updates on the status of states in regards to their stance on abortion policy, and the announcement of such stances, are changing daily. Overturning the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade would be a country altering decision- one on behalf of the United States Federal Government.

Inflation and US Response Explained

Inflation and the resulting government response has been at the forefront of recent news yet some people may be wondering: what does it all mean?

Inflation is the devaluing of a currency over the course of time. Put simply, inflation is when money can be used to purchase less and less goods and services because of higher prices.

Causes:

The primary causes can all be traced either back to the COVID pandemic or the war in Ukraine. Both of which have resulted in massive supply chain issues which cause prices to rise. The most notable “cost-push” factor that is driving up prices is oil.

Crude Oil is a major commodity that is used to produce gas and plastics. Right now, it is selling for $113 a barrel, up from around $68 where it was this time last year. The major reason is the loss of Russian oil due to NATO and other countries sanctions. Russia exports an average of 8% of the global oil and natural gas resources used by the world. As a result of the loss, prices are expected to rise and remain high until the war is over.

A common phrase used by corporations to justify rising prices is “supply chain issues”. These issues are often ones that are started due to shortages enacted by the COVID pandemic restrictions. The shortage of the workforce during the pandemic and the loss of trade on top of the rising gas prices have contributed to products not being able to be assembled or delivered in time.

First it was toilet paper and lumber, then it was baby formula and gasoline. Now it’s tampon products as well. These items seem to be uncorrelated but essential for daily life. The scarcity of these items are making their prices rise; further escalating the problem of inflation. Unless these products and supply chain issues clear up quickly, it is unlikely that inflation will be going away any time soon.

The economy’s recovery coupled with the ongoing war on Ukraine has moved the US yearly inflation rate to 8.6%. It is widely accepted in economics that the ideal inflation rate should remain at only around 2%. To lower the inflation rate, requires a government response.

US Government Response:

When inflation is high, the Fed does one of its only tricks it has in the book: It raises interest rates. As of July 16, the Fed has announced that the interest rate will rise by 75 percentage points; the highest increase since 1994.

Interest rates have been at near zero levels since 2008. So, while this is the largest interest rate hike the Fed has taken since 1994, this isn’t the highest interest rates have ever been. The highest the rate has ever been was 14.6% in 1980.

What raising interest rates does is it strengthens the value of the US dollar around the world and thereby increases the desire for US dollars for foreign investors. The reasoning is that if the bond interest rates are higher, more investors will want to buy them and therefore want more US dollars.

What occurs is overseas investors selling more goods to Americans to receive more US currency. The problem is that this will in turn increase the trade deficit and throw a considerable amount of people out of work. But, if successful, the economy slowing down will decrease inflation.

The Fed is walking a tightrope of controlling inflation whilst also preventing a recession. Unless the war in Ukraine improves and supply chains are restored, the interest rate hike may not be enough to stop inflation from rising in the future.

Will the Coconino County National Forest Shutdown?

Flagstaff if one of the most populated small towns in Arizona, also dedicated to being a residence to thousands of college students. In recent news Flagstaff has been going through not one but three national forest fires. In earlier month this year, Flagstaff evacuated over 200 homes due to a fire near the Northeast side of the Peaks. Last weekend Flagstaff suffered an awakening of a 23,000 acre forest fire and growing. This fire was caused by a pipeline that officials say will continue to grow with the current climate conditions. Only 50 percent of the fire has been contained since last Wednesday afternoon.

Secondly two smaller fires began a couple days after the Pipeline Fire, the haywire and double fire were ignited and eventually combined together creating a 5,000 acre fire. Officials say that these fires have at least 11 percent contained as of last Monday.

Since Flagstaff is such a closeknit town all the communited in danger of the fire are as follows, “Creighton Estates, Forest Hills, Cheshire, Coyote Springs, Anasazi Ridge, Coconino Estates, Ridge Crest, Rock Ridge Estates, Clark Homes, Flagstaff Townsite, North End, Downtown Flagstaff or Southside”. Officials also recommend getting flood insurance because the Homeowners insurance will not cover any damage made. These neighborhood are in more danger of experiencing flood damages after the Pipeline Fire has ran it course. The fight still continues to this day to contain these fires and until then everyone should be ready mode to evacuate.

If you or someone you know has been in an accident and need assistance, CIMA Law Group is here to help. CIMA specializes in personal injury, criminal defense and immigration and are here to provide to you the quality assurance you need.

Si usted o conoce a alguien que necesitan asistencia, CIMA grupo de abogados está aquí para ayudar. CIMA se especializa en lesiones personales, defensa criminal y inmigración y están aquí para proporcionarle la garantía de calidad que necesita.

California Celebrates First State Park’s Week

June 14th marks the start of a historic week in California’s history. The state, which is home to 279 state parks, invites the public to celebrate the first annual California State Parks Week through the 18th.

The state seeks to continue the impact of COVID on park visitation. 2020-2021 saw increased visitation to parks throughout the United States, particularly benefiting California, the oldest state parks system in America. State park week looks to capitalize upon that by scheduling programming to interest old visitors and draw in new ones.

The state released virtual and in-person programming to increase knowledge and involvement around state parks, with each day dedicated to a different facet of the park’s natural and cultural history.

June 14th: Land Acknowledgement Day Celebrate, elevate, and honor Indigenous voices
June 15th: Kids Career Day Invite kids to explore career opportunities with California State Parks
June 16th: Health and Wellness Day Explore the overlap between well-being and the outdoors
June 17th: Stewardship Day Get involved in efforts to protect your state parks
June 18th: Volunteer / Partnership Day Learn about the roles businesses, nonprofits, volunteers, and community organizations play in sustaining California State Parks

The series of events is modeled after the National Park Service’s National Park Week in April of each year.

Would Boycotting Gas Help?

Do you miss the days when gas prices were at $3? Several viral videos on TikTok are inviting consumers to boycott the pumps from July 3rd to July 5th. It is suggested that such a boycott would bring the demand of gas down and consequently the prices of gas, a basic supply and demand concept. Allegedly, in April 1997 a similar boycott brought down gas prices 30 cent over night. However, Politifact has assured that there is no evidence of a successful boycott in 1997. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gas prices remained consistent in April of 1997.

Experts suggest that boycotts of a few days have no real impact on the price of gas. Boycotts do not reduce the demand of gas, instead consumers simply shift demands to other days by fill up a day or two before or after the boycott. Rather, a consistent reduction in demand over several weeks would be necessary to see a decrease in prices. The current war in Ukraine and the reduced capacity at refineries are driving gas prices upward. Unless there are changes in these two factors we will not see prices decrees in the near future.

DACA’s Changing Status

DACA, also known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides two things for undocumented immigrants: protection from being deported (under certain conditions) and a work permit. The work permit is valuable for undocummented immigrants as those trying to make a living–which is absolutely necessary–is difficult as undocummented people do not have the necessary identification numbers/permits to be able to work. The DACA program was started in June 2012 by the Obama administration and it has certainly served its purpose, giving work permits to over 643,560 recipients who paid over $9.4 billion in taxes each year.

Additionally, DACA has stringent qualification requirements, such as proving presence from a specific date in 2007 until now, that you came to the US at a certain age, etc. So, it is already difficult to qualify.

But, in July 2021, those who were planning to apply to DACA received bad news: a Texas judge ruled the program unconstitutional. What does that mean? How does it affect undocumented imimmigrants? The ruling prohibits new DACA applications from being processed, but renewals will be processed and accepted. You can send in a DACA application, but they will sit there in processing.

Will this ever change? The answer is that we do not really know. There are efforts to appeal the decision by the Biden administration, so we have to wait for those processes to play out and see where it goes. Historically, DACA has been challenged multiple times. The best advice is to reach out to an attorney who specializes in DACA-related cases to see its status.

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.

What the Sriracha Shortage Tells us About Climate Change

Huy Fong Foods, the makers of Sriracha, announced in late April that it will be halting its Sriracha production for the next few months. The panic among spicy food lovers is nearing the pandemic levels of the toilet paper shortage. Grocery stores are beginning to run low on stock and restaurant owners are encountering a significant increase in price, one restaurant owner paying nearly $20 more than normal for the sauce.

According to NPR, all of the chilies used in Sriracha come from northern Mexico— chilies that need very controlled conditions, especially continual irrigation. Considering northern Mexico is in its second year of a drought, the water required for this irrigation is scarce, a result of which is this year’s failed chili pepper harvest.

Although all of this frenzy over a hot sauce is admittedly comical, it does point to the more serious concern of climate change. Paste Magazine calls the Sriracha shortage “… just one more canary in the coal mine-turned-yellow bird sanctuary,” noting that key grains in our diets, like that of corn, rice, and wheat, are likely to experience shortages in the foreseeable future too.

The Press and Journal has a solution for this current debacle: Make your own Sriracha using locally-grown chili peppers! Although it may not be as good as the special, red jalapeños, The Press and Journal reports that shopping local is more important now than ever as the pollution from transporting food from overseas is a major contributor to green house gas emissions.

If we don’t eliminate or reduce the impact of this potential problem, these food shortages will become more alarming. We’ll no longer be laughing at individuals stocking up to personally avoid the ramifications, but rather trying to convince society to react differently to these crises so everyone can still survive.

Is Stephen Curry the G.O.A.T?

Yesterday, the Golden State Warriors won their 7th NBA championship in franchise history. With that win, Stephen Curry earned his first finals MVP trophy propelling him into consideration as one of the best players of all time. Curry became just the sixth player in NBA history to win four titles, multiple league MVPs and a Finals MVP– joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Tim Duncan.

Full disclosure- I am a Stephen Curry fanatic. Growing up in the Bay Area, I have been an avid fan dating back to the “we believe” years in 2007. I have grown up watching Stephen on the court, and seeing him transform basketball with his ability to knock down 3s. While being a class act, both on and off the court.

Curry had already cemented himself as the greatest shooter in history when he took the all-time 3-point record from Ray Allen last December. Curry has been with Golden State for thirteen years and has brought the franchise 4 championships in 6 playoff appearances– solidifying his status into the greatest of all time conversation.

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.