CIMA Law Group Blog

100 days of war

It has been 100 days since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. In this time period at least 4,169 people have lost their lives, with 268 of them being children. Ukraine has put up an incredible fight so far with help from NATO countries who have pitched in financially to help combat the Russian forces. Even with the financial help, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says Russia has seized 20% of Ukraine. If Ukraine can continue to mobilize its citizens and sustain their army’s strong presence, they can suppress Russia’s movement West and protect key cities such as Kharkiv and Kyiv.

Economically, this war has caused turmoil throughout the world, including an increase in food prices, ultimately pushing millions of people into hunger. Additionally, a large portion of the world has placed sanctions on Russia, causing gas prices to surge because Russia is the second-largest producer of natural gas and third-largest producer of oil in the world.

In the first 100 days we have seen how strong the military and the citizens of Ukraine are. They will not go down without a fight and are unwilling to concede any land in exchange for peace. Zelenskyy believes that Ukraine will emerge victorious.

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.

New Era of Driverless Taxis

Those from many generations ago were convinced that there would be flying cars roaming our streets by now. Although there is rumor of such advancements, there is no sight of tireless, floating cars just yet. For now, imagine a world where you can hail a taxi without the worry of encountering an awkward conversation with a stranger. Now, imagine a world where this became more normal than a taxi with a human driver.

Well- that world may not be too far behind us.

California regulators officially gave life to Cruise’s idea on Thursday by granting approval to launch its driverless ride-hailing service. Specifically, the company gained access to a driverless deployment permit, being California’s first recipients. This is the first of many companies to actually be approved to attempt such services in California, especially within an area such as San Fransisco where it is rarely not congested. The first stage in this approval will allow these robotic taxi’s to operate from 10 pm to 6 am in order to minimize the chances of possible property damage, injuries or even death. This first stage will also allow these regulators to assess the idea’s overall effectiveness, and further determine its practicality.

The autonomous car company, Cruise, aims to implement action into their overall main goals through this project- to save lives, save the planet, and to save people time and money. This interest in driverless cars is nothing new, however. According to McKinsey, more than $100 billion has been invested into this sort of advancing technology since 2010, in a major attempt to get these vehicles on the roads.

Beyond the obvious convenience that this service provides, what it really is aimed to do is to help reduce congestion on the city streets, give alternative for those unable to drive themselves, as well as decrease the amount of crashes and the injuries coming from such. These vehicles are equipped with technologies- such as cameras, radar sensors, and object recognition- in order to efficiently produce such safety precautions and statistical improvements.

This could possibly be the definitive step for a surge of driverless cars to be permitted into the streets of the United States- or it could be the provisional step.

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.

No SWIFT way around a Security Dilemma

Mounting pressure against the Kremlin continues as the European Union agrees to block more than two-thirds of Russia’s oil imports. This action, compounded with the EU’s decision to cut Russia’s largest bank from the global SWIFT economic system, brings heavy consequences to Putin as his forces move through the Donbass. But is it too late?

When the war broke out, I recall global conversations circling on the points of SWIFT and other more crippling sanctions on Russia in order to prevent the volume of aggression from exploding across the country. Now, Putin’s forces have largely captured the Donbass region in the east after three months of brutal fighting, pillaging, and death. It seems now in retrospect that these recent acts of punishment upon Russia were not swift enough themselves and should have been done long ago.

Yet, it is important to consider the nuance of making decisions on the world stage. Russia, being a nuclear power with an unstable leadership, must be looked at not just presently but in the context of future actions as well.

There is a concept in international relations called the “security dilemma”, that as one actor arms themselves in protection from the other, their opponent will match in response. This leads to both actors having to outbid themselves defensively, leading to a potentially deadlier outcome should one pull the trigger.

This has been the attitude the world has taken to dealing with Putin, especially given his capabilities to wage war beyond the regions of Ukraine and the reason why it has taken this long to issue such economically devastating sanctions such as cutting off SWIFT.

There’s no better example of this than the recent shipment of heavy weaponry to Ukraine by the United States, in which it was assured by Secretary of State Blinken and President Joe Biden that no missiles capable of targeting Russia would be sent. At first glance, this doesn’t seem fair– Russia has been repeatedly striking at Ukraine from sea and air. Yet, if the United States were to supply weapons that target Russia, Putin’s response would have to be in greater magnitude– weapons that strike beyond Ukraine and into NATO countries.

This is the game that must be played. As much as the west is holding back when they can end the suffering of the Ukrainian people, a full ushering of force would only be met with a world war. It is through strategic release of weapons and military aid that Ukraine can be helped along with economic and cultural affliction.

It is true– the only way to win is not to play. But, we are a global community that must uphold the norms we’ve preserved since the end of the Second World War. This means playing a risky balancing act that could be too late or right on time, but it’s the best way to ensure we don’t lose a lot more.

Wimbledon Bans Russian & Belarusian Players From Competing

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian players will not be allowed to compete at Wimbledon this year, following advice from the U.K. government. Wimbledon is without a doubt the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. The Russian government has been known to use sporting events and the success of their athletes as propaganda. With this in mind, Wimbledon wanted to avoid the possibility of a player from Russia or Belarus holding the trophy at the end of the tournament. Some notable players that will be affected are Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, both top ten ranked men in the world, and Aryna Sabalenka, ranked number seven in the women’s rankings. In a statement from the Association of Tennis Professional s (ATP), the men’s body said it could “set a damaging precedent for the game.” Adding that “discrimination based on nationality also constitutes a violation of our agreement with Wimbledon that states that player entry is based solely on ATP rankings.” The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) said it was “very disappointed.”

The disagreement over how to navigate the complex situation of politics and sport has divided the tennis world. High profile names criticized Wimbledon. Men’s world number one Novak Djokovic called the the decision “crazy” and Martina Navratilova, who won a record nine Wimbledon singles titles, said excluding Russian and Belarusian players was “not the way to go.” On the other hand, Ukrainian world number 25 Elina Svitolina supported the decision and has called for a ban on all Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in all tennis events.

The ATP and WTA, who award ranking points to tournaments, made the decision to strip Wimbledon of ranking points. Players will not be rewarded with an increased world ranking for going further in the tournament. Djokovic, the defending champion, will lose his number one ranking after the tournament. This has created a rather awkward and ironic situation where Russia’s Daniil Medvedev will become the new men’s world number one.

What’s Next?

After the horrific school massacre that occurred at Robb Elementary on May 24, some of the students affected might be thinking, what’s next?

The survivors of this horrific incident are now left with an unexplainable trauma that could potentially affect the rest of their school experience. However, at one point or another, these victims must return to class. The decision of whether or not Robb Elementary will reopen is still up for debate, however, there are talks about potentially rebuilding the school entirely.

President Joe Biden has recently visited Robb Elementary and stated to Texas State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, “we’re going to look to raze that school, build a new one.” In order for Robb Elementary to be razed, there is a federal grant process that must take place after a mass shooting, Gutierrez stated. This was the case for a previous school shooting that occurred in Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012. Sandy Hook Elementary was razed and entirely rebuilt four years after the massacre took place.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia explains how a mass casualty like a school shooting can leave a profound impact on the victims involved that can then, “pervade every aspect of school, family and community life.” That is why it is important to continue to honor those victims who have passed away as a result of this tragedy, but we must also keep in equal mind, the victims who are still alive and suffering. The psychological casualties can be just as damaging as the physical ones.

Guns v. Children

Oh what a world we live in. Children are dying and gun restrictions are almost nonexistent. Uvalde Texas suffered such a loss in their town after Salvador Ramos killed 19 children while attending school . Ramos is an 18 year old who was able to get access to a gun at 18 years of age no one can drink. How could an 18 year old be able to have a gun in hand but not an alcoholic beverage? How could the legal age to drink be higher than to own an item that can kill many people at once?

There is no reason that an 18 year old could justify having to murder 19 innocent children. The mother of Salvador Ramos plead to the public to forgive her and her son as it was ought to believe that ‘he had his reasons’. There is no mercy to be shown to someone who blatantly attacked an elementary school. Ramos prior to the shooting at the elementary school had even shot his own grandmother.

After turning 18, Ramos hours later obtained a gun. His family had said to the reporters that he would not have been able to get ahold of a gun due to his past criminal record. Unfortunately for the community tragedy struck days later. Salvador’s family says that they do not like weapons and that they would have reported him themselves if they had known about such thing.

In the end, how could a major criminal record not automatically disqualify someone from obtaining a firearm? How can someone of 18 years of age and having a criminal record still be accounted as safe when purchasing a firearm? How does being 18 years old qualify someone as having the right knowledge about how to even operate a gun safely? It doesn’t. Our country need to stop taking spreading condolences and start spreading legislations. No more, ‘our country has suffered a great loss’ and more of ‘our country has now been able to…’ we need more action. We need greatness, not just the shadow of it in the distance.

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.

A Never Ending Nightmare: The Longevity of COVID Restrictions in China

Mass lockdown, social distancing, N-95 masking requirements sound like the nightmare that was March 2020 around the world. Much of the world was completely locked in their house (by their own will or were required to). But, in some parts of America today, you cannot even tell that there is a pandemic occurring. Masking is seldom, there are no social distancing requirements, no one is in isolation. Despite our positive return to normal, people across the Pacific still have not woken up from this nightmare.

China has a “zero-Covid” policy. This means that their goal is to completely eradicate the disease that started in 2019. With a spike in COVID cases in March, the government in Shanghai and Beijing initiated a complete lockdown, meaning all residents were forced to stay within the confines of their homes, which are typically smaller apartments in these metropolitan areas. This means that in many cases they cannot even step outside for a walk around the block.

People both in China and out have been questioning this controversial policy. Many have even been questioning COVID restrictions at all. Across America, there are very little COVID restrictions. An Axios poll found that one in three Americans believe COVID is over. With approximately 110,000 cases a day in the United States, COVID is certainly not over. But, Americans treating COVID as a major threat is over. With the newer Omicron variant coupled with the widespread availability of boosters and people just being fed up of not living their B.C. (before COVID) lifestyle, attitude towards mitigation of this virus has changed.

The lockdowns that are occurring in China would occur in America mainly due to the thought that COVID is no longer a real threat. Many fear that the lockdowns that places like China are doing is creating a larger threat: deterioration of mental health. In China, the term “psychological counseling” has appeared in search queries 250 percent more than the previous month. The correlation between this search trend and the intense lockdowns must not be ignored.

As COVID progresses into the “endemic” phase–making it clear that it is not going away–government leaders around the world must begin to weigh the mental health impacts of COVID restrictions along with the physical health risks of the virus itself. Surely, it is a big task to approach, but one that must be done to ensure the wellbeing of many.

Fashion on and off the Runway

Have you ever wondered why fashion shows are so odd? Certainly, even the most extravagant celebrities do not wear such unwearable clothing. It is not because brands expect to see their designs worn out in the streets, but rather fashion shows are an opportunity for designers to display their talent, creativity, and technic to the rest of the fashion world. Runway shows are more of an art exhibition than a marketing strategy. These same fashion brands design clothing more suitable for consumers’ day to day which at times do have a touch of their runway collections.

How then do fashion trends start? Socio-economic classes and cultures play an important role on how fashion trends start. More commonly than not trends begin within the middle and lower class and expand upward to higher classes. Other times, the upper class, especially celebrities start trends that spread downward. Lastly, other trends begin in one specific class and spread only within that class. Unlike common perception, fashion brand’s role in fashion more than to start trends is to provide consumers with already trendy pieces with their brand’s own touch.

Fashion is an expression of culture, socio-economic class, interests, and beliefs. The influence of fashion goes far beyond the streets and social media. What you wear is a reflection of your role in society. First responders are instantly recognized and respected because of what their uniform represent. A white lab coat gives medical credibility to who wears it. Social experiments suggest that a safety vest and a clipboard can get you into almost any venue because of what they suggest of those who wear them. Whether you agree with it or not, people are treated based on their external image. The way you dress may have an impact on the opportunities that are offered to you and the doors that are opened before you.

The legal battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has come to a close

After seven weeks of televised trial proceedings in the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard trail, both sides have finally rested their case and jury deliberations have begun.

Johnny Depp (left) and Amber Heard (right) in court

For the past 4 years, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp have been suing and counter-suing each other for libel and defamation. It all started after a brutish divorce in 2015 and escalated when Amber Heard accused Johnny Depp of domestic abuse in a 2018 Washington Post article. This resulted in Mr. Depp losing top roles in the Fantastic Beasts and The Pirates of the Caribbean franchises among others.

In the following defamation lawsuit, Depp sued Ms. Heard for $50 million with Ms. Heard counter suing for $100 million. The trial began on April 11, 2022 and concluded on May 27, 2022 receiving 564 million views on YouTube alone. The story was also reposted on social media sites such as Twitter, Snapchat, and Tik Tok. Through all of these methods, striking details have been revealed surrounding the two’s 15 months of marriage and prior relationship.

The legal team representing Amber Heard accused Depp of being controlling, manipulative, and a raging alcoholic whilst Depps legal team countered that Depp was actually the victim in this case and Amber was the aggressor.

Evidence was brought to light regarding Ms. Heard’s involvement in severing Mr. Depp’s finger while the two were in Australia as well as an alleged purposeful defecation on Mr. Depp’s side of the bed.

Evidence in favor of Ms. Heard included detailed text exchanges between Mr. Depp and one of his friends threatening to kill Ms. Heard in gruesome fashion as well as photos of cuts and bruises on Ms. Heard’s body.

While the Jury has been out deliberating for the last two days, the public has shown overwhelming support of Mr. Depp with 4.4 million people signing a petition to have Amber Heard removed from Aquaman II. On Tik Tok and other social media platforms, there have been videos circulating of the mistakes Ms. Heard and her legal team have made, with the famous music video “Objection! Hearsay” receiving almost 350,000 views.

After seven weeks of trial, the jury has a lot of evidence and testimony to sift through to finally conclude one of the most watched legal battles of all time. Hopefully, more will be known in the coming days.

No More National Hamburger Days

Spain has Paella; France has Pot-au-feu; and The United States has the hamburger. May 28th is National Hamburger Day- and not only do we pride ourselves in this simplistic meal, but many would argue that we would unambiguously not be America without it.

However, is it possible that we may have to test this arguments validity sooner than we thought?

Recent studies have shown a frightening pattern in climate change, which could significantly change the access we have to creating our beloved hamburger. The impact that this change in climate is making on our cattle and crops could mean the end of National Hamburger Days in the United States for good.

The most important aspect of the hamburger that is being affected is the beef. Just as it is a concern for humankind, cattle is greatly affected by the rise in temperatures and increased presence of droughts. These patterns show the tremendous likelihood for an increase in the intensity of droughts due to the rising global temperature, which is already proving to lead to heat stress. While more obviously the increase in droughts has led to greatly affect grazing lands, additionally this heat stress increases the possibility for disease in the cattle- leaving less and less cows available to provide the hamburgers most important ingredient.

The next vital ingredient in our national dish that is being greatly affected is the bun- more specifically being wheat. According to NASA’s department of Global Climate Change, the change in crop fields yield on account of projected increases in temperature, shifts in rainfall patterns and elevated surface carbon dioxide concentrations due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast from the deficiency that this will cause in terms the ability to grow maize/corn, this rise of temperature actually expands the range of growth for wheat- as the rise in temperatures directly correlates to rainfall patterns. With that being said however, when this rainfall inevitably levels off, it will simply lead to a severe water shortage in the future.

Although climate change is the most concerning long-term threat, the war in Ukraine is also playing a role in accessibility to these products, and those related. Food prices all around the globe have undergone a significant increase due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine- with wheat being at the forefront. The Russian-Ukraine War has specifically disrupted Black Sea exports from a region that provides more than 1/4 of the worlds wheat exports. Although according to Joseph Glauber the lack of global supplies created high prices even prior to the invasion, the invasion has only heightened this spike in prices.

Putting a halt to the Russian-Ukraine War might be out of the realm of “doing our part”, the chilling predicted results due to current climate change patterns is not. If change is not implemented quickly, the loss of our adored hamburger will be the least of our problems.