THE LASTING IMPACT OF THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL LEGAL IMPLICATIONS WE CAN STILL SEE TODAY
Although not many people realize it, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill greatly affected many aspects of the legal system we rely on today. The head of litigation for BP at the time, James J. Neath, says the case was a “life- changing event.” For over a year and a half, BP’s large internal and external legal teams worked continuously on the crisis response 16 hours a day, seven days a week. Neath describes the workstream as “devoted to identifying, preserving, and ‘live-streaming’ video footage of the ongoing leak.” On top of the overwhelming data, public actors from every level of government were involved. Furthermore, the case affected international claims ranging, according to Neath, from “class actions in Mexico to U.K. pension fund securities claims to litigation in the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court.” Neath adds that the sheer scale and reaction to this crisis pushed the legal industry in ways we can still see today. For one, the practice of law has rapidly globalized. Because the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill case affected people nationally and internationally, it’s more common for victims outside the U.S. to seek compensation within the U.S. justice system. However, protecting data across borders poses an increasing challenge. Cooperation among international government regulators may be more common for private plaintiffs’ counsel, but globalization and shifting feelings about nationalism can interfere with the strict standards of electronic data privacy and security. This means complex cases must rely on a proactive and professionally managed data strategy plan. Second, due to tremendous political polarization over the past few decades, local relationships are more important than ever. U.S. states, counties, and municipalities have become more independent, and “it’s more common for ills to be litigated independently at all levels of government,” Neath says. The affected U.S. Gulf Coast states and surrounding counties each influenced the outcome of the Deepwater Horizon claims. Since the oil spill, we have recognized the importance of carefully considering the relationships between each party.
Third, Deepwater Horizon has popularized the creation of internal business functions for investigating internal business safety and integrity. These departments are often established separately from the business to avoid any profit bias. Fourth, speed, professionalism, and expertise when handling data and technology in a legal operation have become more crucial than ever before. While investigations are “growing [in] importance,” even Neath believes that the “greatest challenge is data.” While he acknowledges that data experts often speak different languages, seasoned data professionals with legal backgrounds should still manage the data. With the lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the U.S. legal system is better prepared to handle future hurdles that may come its way.
HOLD THE SALT Don’t Let Food Seasonings Sabotage Your Health
With so much emphasis on what foods you should eat to be healthy, it’s easy to overlook an important element of the cooking process: seasoning. You can find thousands of premixed seasonings on the market, and although adding dashes to your food seems inconsequential, the seasoning may actually turn your healthy foods into unhealthy foods. And the main culprit, in this case, is salt. Salt is a popular component of many premade seasonings because of its flavor-enhancing abilities. The label on your favorite mix should tell you exactly how much salt it contains. If it’s high on the ingredient list, you’re better off finding a substitute. High-sodium seasonings will promote water retention if used too liberally, which may lead to weight gain. The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 2,300 mg of salt a day. Ideally, adults would consume only 1,500 mg of salt daily. Removing salt from your seasoning repertoire may be difficult because it does enhance flavor. But alternative spices, when paired with the right food, can be great substitutes and have numerous health benefits. Here are a few. • For beef: bay leaf, marjoram, nutmeg, pepper, sage, thyme • For chicken: marjoram, oregano, paprika, rosemary, tarragon, chili powder • For pork: garlic, onion, sage, pepper, oregano
• For fish: curry powder, dill, dry mustard, marjoram, paprika, pepper • For vegetables: pepper, parsley, cumin, dill, chives, basil, paprika
Try not to use more than 1/4 teaspoon of dried spice or 3/4 teaspoon of fresh spice per pound of meat or veggies. And for the best flavor, add ground spices to your food about 15 minutes before the end of cooking time. Add whole spices at least one hour before. Remember, salt doesn’t have to be the enemy — in moderation, it helps your body stay properly hydrated and helps deliver nutrients more efficiently. But too much can quickly lead to negative side effects, and with granules that are hard to see, it can be easy to go overboard. Instead, experiment with the hundreds of incredible spices available, and you might just open up a whole new world of great flavors and healthy habits.
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