Processes of a Crime Scene Investigator

Processes of a Crime Scene Investigator Intro The main aim of my extended project is to find out what processes a Crime Scene Investigator goes through from the crime scene to court and how a forensic scientist analyses the evidence. The start of this essay answer this question, but then later on I will explain how my project developed and changed into a new outcome. What processes does a CSI go through from a crime scene to court. At the Crime Scene: Scene Recognition When a CSI first arrives at the scene of a crime it is important that they start to develop an understanding of what took place at the location, before they start to retrieve the evidence. This is crucial as if they jump straight into the collection they could easily destroy some evidence. Other officials at the scene may also destroy or damage evidence unintentionally, so the CSI’s first priority is to secure the area in which the crime took place. This could range from just one room, to a whole neighborhood depending on how large an area the crime took place upon. For example if the crime was a car robbery, the crime scene may just be inside the car and the surrounding area, however if someone was murdered there may be evidence scattered around the vicinity, such as a blood trail. The core crime scene will be blocked off initially by the first officers that arrive on the scene; however it can be helpful to secure an area that is larger than the crime scene, so most CSIâ€⠄¢s will block off an even larger area once they arrive. This is to ensure that all evidence linked to the investigation can be collected without it becoming tainted. It is imperative that a CSI follows correct legal protocol throughout the examination of the scene, so once the scene is secure they may need to contact the local magistrate. This is because if the evidence is located in a place that is classed as someone’s personal property, such as on their body or in their car or house, they have the right to refuse a search. With a warrant present the officer can search the area without permission; it also means that its admissibility cannot be questioned as easily in court. Once a search warrant has been obtained the CSI can begin their initial walk through of the scene. This is where they follow a pre-decided path either through or around the scene. The path is chosen based on where evidence is least likely to be, so that there is as little disturbance of the scene as possible. During the walk through they take notes on details that will only be present for a limited time, these can be things such as what can be smelt, what can be heard, what are the conditions, such as temperature, weather and time of day, and are there any potential hazards which need to be addressed immediately. Once they have gaged the scene, they decide whether they need to contact specialists or get any specific equipment, for example if there is blood spatter on the ceiling it can be easier to for an expert to analyses it at the scene, rather than to deliver a large section of the ceiling to the laboratory. During this time they may also take time to talk to the first responders, to find out if they touched anything at the scene and to gather anymore information that may be useful whilst analyzing the scene. Also if the detectives have begun interviewing witnesses, they may also offer some more advice as to where may be the best place to look for evidence first. Most CSI’s do not talk to witnesses as they deal with physical evidence. All the information that is gathered helps the CSI to develop a logical approach and form a plan as to how to collect the evidence and in which order, but first they must document every aspect of the scene. This is called the scene documentation stage or the second walk-through. At the Crime Scene: Scene Documentation The main aim of scene documentation is to create a record of how they scene appeared visually at the time of arrival. This is so that the forensics lab and the prosecution team can understand what the scene looked like, even though they may have never been there. To do this the CSI uses a range of equipment such as a sketchpad, graph paper, pens, pencils, measuring tape, rulers and a note pad so that they can accurately draw a representation of the scene. The most detailed form of representation is by drawing a sketch of the scene. This can include specific details that can be important to the case, such as room dimensions, locations of important evidence and pathways that may have been taken through the house. This is important so that we gain an overall view of what may have taken place at the scene and in which order. As well as drawing sketches, they must photograph the scene using a digital or film camera with a range of different lenses and filters. They must do this before they touch or move anything so that they have an accurate representation of how the scene was left after the incident. These are less accurate than sketches when representing the location of items as it can be hard to display numerical distances in photos. The CSI must ensure that they take a range of photos from close up shots, to long shots, so that they have a range to use as evidence. Long shots show the exterior of the crime scene or the view of an individual room from one corner, whereas close up shots show individual pieces of evidence. All photos that are taken must have a number included in the picture, and then be recorded in a log. The CSI must log each photo that they take and then include details such as the photograph number, the date and time, the location and a description of what is in the photo. To accompany the photos, especially in a case that takes place over a large surface area, a video may also be recorded that will involves full a walkthrough of the scene. This can help give a better understanding of the layout of the scene, as it includes details such as time distances between certain locations Detailed notes must also be written at the scene, which include all details of the CSI’s observations. It is paramount that they remain objective whilst writing notes and that they stick to clearly stating the facts, rather than forming conclusions before scientific proof. For example if there is a pool of a reddish liquid surrounding a body, they must state that it is a reddish-brownish liquid, and not blood because it may be some other substance which has a similar appearance to blood. Once all the documentation is complete the CSI can begin to determine how and in which order they are going to process the evidence. Examining the scene Before ploughing straight in, the CSI must decide which pattern of evidence collection they are going follow. By following a strategic pattern, it ensures that all areas of the scene are analyzed and that nowhere is missed out or forgotten about. This is important so that evidence if collected effectively and no evidence gets damaged during the process. There are many different methods that can used to search different types of scenes but there are 5 that are used on a main day-to-day basis. These are: Parallel Grid Zone Inward Spiral Outward Spiral The parallel search involves a team of CSI’s forming a line against one side of the scene and working their way across the scene whilst staying in their parallel lines. It can also be done by one individual if they start in one corner and keep repeating the process a little further along the boundary each time, till they reach the parallel corner from where they started. A grid search consists of two parallel searches, one in the horizontal direction and one in the vertical direction. This method is more accurate than a parallel search as the scene is searched more thoroughly, meaning that it is likely that more evidence may be found. During a zone search the scene is divided into different sections, which are each numbered for a reference. Each zone can be searched by a different CSI, so the search is completed much faster, or a single CSI can search each zone one at a time. If multiple CSI’s are searching different zones, after the first search they may swap round so as to ensure that the area has been search effectively, and that nothing has been missed. The inward spiral and outward spiral both follow the same principles, just in different directions. During the inward spiral process the CSI starts at the perimeter of the scene and works their way inwards, towards the center of the scene. However during an outward spiral, the CSI starts at the center of the scene, and works their way out towards the perimeter. Both of the spirals can be performed clockwise or anti-clockwise depending on the scene and the CSI completing the search. When completing the search the CSI must remember to look at the scene from all angles as different shadows may help to display more evidences that may have otherwise been missed. They must also make sure they remember to look up as the crime scene will be three dimensional. When all of these processes have been completed the CSI can begin to collect the physical evidence. Throughout the process they must find, collect, and then correctly package all of the evidence so that it doesn’t get damaged during transportation back to the lab. This is important as it may need to be examined in court if it links a suspect to the crime. There are five main types of evidence, which are: trace evidence, impressions, body fluids, weapons/ firearms and documents. These can all play an important part when identifying what took place at the scene and who was involved. Evidence There are 5 main categories of evidence that a CSI will search for though-out the crime scene. These are: Trace Evidence Weapons Impressions Body Fluids Questionable Documents For each of these different categories the CSI will implement a range of different techniques to recover the evidence. Weapons Weapons may be the first item collected at the scene, so that they do not cause harm to any of the officers on the scene. Weapons come in a range of Impressions When weapons are used it can leave behind an impression. ‘Impression evidence includes any markings produced when one object comes into contact with another, leaving behind some kind of indentation or print. Common such evidence encountered includes footwear impressions, tire marks, and markings created by tools and similar instruments.’ (http://forensicsciencecentral.co.uk/impressions.shtml) When tools or weapons are used in a crime more often than not marks will be left behind. There are two categories that frequently used tools fall into, cutting instruments and levering instruments. Cutting instruments are items such as a knife, saws and cutters, whilst levering instruments are items such as screw drivers or crowbars. When these instruments are used it is often with force. This means that a distinctive pattern or indentation can be left at the scene. This pattern can be cast using a silicon rubber. The cast can then be analysed and linked back to the object that caused them, hence linking a suspect to a crime. Footwear impressions can be 2 or 3 dimensional and link people to the scene of a crime, as each time someone takes a step they may have left an impression behind. 2D impressions can be lifted in a similar way to fingerprints by using chemicals, dyes and fine powders. 3D prints can be created when someone steps on a soft surface, such as soil. A frequently used method of recovering 3D prints is to create an impression using a casting material such as plaster of paris. When the mixture is poured into the impression it hardens so that it can be removed and then analysed. Impressions can be very delicate so have to be handled carefully, especially when they are in dust. These types of impression can however be lifted using electrostatic treatment. This involves placing a thin layer of conductive film over the impression, then a voltage is passed through it, causing the particles to jump onto the film. This results in an image of the impression left on the film, which can be used for comparison. Impressions in snow can also be very delicate, so in this case Snow Impression Wax is used. It is applied to the impression multiple times every couple of minutes and then left to dry. Once dry it can be cast like any other 3D impression. Footwear impressions can carry a large amount of information with them as different under soles have distinct patterns. These patterns can be linked to a specific brand of shoe, and a specific individual as different shoes have different degrees of wear. This is because when someone wears the shoes, specific damage can be caused depending on the way in which they walk. If there is a suspect, a sample of their footwear can be obtained, and compared to the impression left at the crime scene. Due to the specificity of different shoes, if the suspects shoe impression matches the impression left at the scene, they must have been there. Tire impressions can also link a vehicle to a scene, just like a footwear impression links a person to the scene. If a vehicle has drove over a soft surface at the scene then an impression can be left of the tyres. These can be lifted in the same way as footwear impressions and then compared to the suspect’s vehicle. If a vehicle is linked to scene it can then be examined in the same way you would examine a location, to see if there is any evidence present. Fingerprints As well as footwear impressions, a suspect can be linked to a crime scene using their fingerprints. The human skin is made up of 3 layers which each come together to form a pattern of ridges and furrows, which are your finger prints. They are fully formed by the time you are 24 weeks old, as they develop whilst you are in the womb. The pattern of ridges is determined by how much you moved around when you were in the womb, and this explains why everyone’s fingerprints are completely unique. Each ridge contains a row of pores, through which we sweat. This is why when we touch a surface the pattern of ridges is left behind. Even though everyone has completely different finger prints, they have been categorised into seven different shapes. Loop Central Pocket Loop Double Loop Plain Arch Tented Arch Plain Whorl Accidental Loops are categorised by a ridge that crosses from one side of the pattern, loops around and exits on the same side. Whereas an arch is a ridge that enters on side of the pattern and exits the other side. Fingerprints that are left at the scene of a crime can be found in three forms, visible, plastic or latent. Visible prints are those that can be seen because they have been left in a dried substance such as paint. Plastic prints can also be seen but are in a soft surface, such as putty and latent prints are left by sweat and other oils on the skin, and cannot be seen without treatment. For a latent print to be recovered for comparison and analysis it needs to be treated. The method in which it is treated depends on the surface that it has been left on and the environment. If the print has been left on a non-absorbent surface, the most common method of collection is using powders or fuming. Once the CSI has decided they are going to powder a print, they must next decide which method they are going to use, and which powder. There are many different forms of powder that are all used for different situations and for against different colour backgrounds. For example the black powder may be used to develop a print on a light surface, but you may have to use a fluorescent powder against a darker surface. Alternatively the CSI may choose to use a Magna brush with a magnetic powder. This is more accurate than using a brush as there are no bristles so there is less chance of the print being smudged or overdeveloped. If either of these happen the print cannot be used as it is damaged. To develop a print a very small amount of powder is placed on the brush, which is then gently swept across the print. The powder sticks to the body oils that are in the print, making it visible. Once the print has been powdered, it can be lifted using clear tape. The tape is carefully placed over the fingerprint; this leaves an imprint of the fingerprint on the tape. The tape is then placed on top of a plastic cover this preserves the print so it can be transported back to the lab for analysis safely. Once back at the lab the print can be scanned and converted into a digital image which can be used for comparison. Another method that is commonly used is the application of ninhydrin or triketohydrinene. These react with the amino acids that are in the print to produce a purple colour. Once the colour has developed, around two hours after application, the image can be lifted like a powdered print. A more complex method is the fuming method, which can be done using either superglue or iodine crystals. This has to be completed back at the lab as it involves heating the substance so that the vapours combine with the print, making it visible. The print has to be photographed immediately as the image only lasts for a limited amount of time. For a print to be linked to a suspect in court it needs to be analysed by two CSI’s. If they both match the collected print to the suspects print, then the suspect must have been at the scene of the crime. Why I chose to research Forensic Science Due to the soar of television programs around the subject of crime, the job of a CSI can often be confused between reality and what we watch on TV. The role of CSI’s and a forensic scientist is very important as they perform many tasks that are important in today’s society. Recent examples of CSI Interesting to others too Through-out my research I have continuously discovered a range of fascinating facts that I didn’t know before I set out on my project. This made me realise that due to popular TV series such as CSI and silent witness, there are many misconceptions around how the process of Forensic Science actually takes place. I feel that due to its importance in today’s society, it would be a great idea for me to share some of my knowledge with others as I am certain that they would find it as fascinating a subject as I am. This prompted me to find a way to educate others about Forensic Science so when the opportunity arose for me to run a weekend cub scout camp, with a theme, I jumped at the chance. The first thing I had to do was come it with a suitable programme. This meant that I had to decide carefully which out of all the topics I could cover would be the most education and interesting to the cubs. The first topic I decided to defiantly include was fingerprints. This was my first choice as I had already done some quite detailed research into the different types and shapes of prints but also because I knew I could involve some fun activities into the session. I started by teaching them how are fingerprints are developed Planned a course for students to learn from my research Conclusions Ideas for future In the future I hope to continue developing my understanding of Forensic Science and Crime scene investigation and I believe that the degree that I will be studying in September will quench my thirst for this. Also I would like to continue teaching others using the knowledge that I have already gained, as the weekend away proved to me that many people out there don’t have a true understanding of what Forensic Science actually is, and that many people other than myself see it for the fascinating and intellectually exciting subject that it is.

John Lennon: Biography Essay -- essays research papers

John Lennon: Biography I, John Winston Lennon, was born in Liverpool, England in 1940. I was the founding member of a group called the Beatles, which was the most popular music group in the history of rock and roll (World Book 197). The group included George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and myself. We originally formed in 1958, but it wasn't until 1960 that we decided to name ourselves the Beatles (World Book 191). My philosophy of the Beatles was, "when you said it, it was crawly things; when you read it, it was beat music (The New Book of Knowledge 108). I, along with Paul, wrote most of the Beatles' music. Songs that were written primarily by myself include "Help," "All You Need is Love," and "A Day in the Life."(World Book 197). In 1970 we decided to break up for a number of artistic, business, and personal reasons (World Book 190). I, like the other former Beatles members, continued to perform as a solo artist. Yoko Ono, whom I married in 1969, became my partner (World Book 197). Yoko and I, being extremely opposed to the war, performed together making peace our theme (Rolling Stone 229). As our taste for war bittered, Yoko and I became involved in many anti-war protests. We recorded "Give Peace a Chance" in our hotel room in Montreal, and I had it rush released (Rolling Stone 229). In January of 1970 I wrote and recorded &qu...

Queen Liliuokalani Essay -- Liliuokalani Hawaii Polynesian

Queen Lili'uokalani had ambitious plans for the nation of Hawaii, and wanted to see the rightful power of the monarch restored. Even though she was doing what she thought was best for the people of Hawaii, her dream was never meant to be. She would become known as the last queen ever to reign over the Hawaiian Islands. In the beginning, Hawaii was unknown to any humans. Polynesians eventually came across its islands, and decided to make it their home. In the early days, each island was ruled by a chief, and many times the islands were in conflict with each other. Centuries like this passed, but then "in 1782, [Queen Lili'uokalani's] cousin Kamehameha set out to conquer and unite the islands". Thirteen years later, in 1795, Kamehameha finally fulfilled his vision of a unified Hawaiian state, and he became king. The nation was then to be ruled by Kamehameha's sons. (Guzzetti 10) Queen Lili'uokalani's biological parents were Chief Kapaakea and Chiefess Keohokalole. Because it is a Hawaiian custom to give children to other couples for raising, as the Hawaiians believed it brought different families closer together, Lili'uokalani was given to Paki and Konia. She attended the Royal School, where she met many people, some who became friends, and some who she had already been acquainted with, such as her foster sister, and her biological brother, who would eventually be her predecessor, King Kalakaua. (Guzzetti 10, 12, 28) The Royal School was a new experience for her. At home, she was used to walking around barefoot and wearing as little as possible to keep cool in the warm Hawaiian climate. Because the school was administered by the Cookes, who were missionaries from New England, she had to wear western clothing, meaning she ha... ...illed and Lili'uokalani began to have more patriot feelings for the United States, instead of resentment. She even had the flag of the United States flown over her home, and the Hawaiian one lowered. 1917 Not much later, Lili'uokalani died at the age of seventy-nine. Works Cited Daws, Gavan. The Illustrated Atlas of Hawaii. Honolulu: Island Heritage, 1970. Day, A. Grove. Hawaii: Fiftieth Star. New York: Meredith Press, 1969. Day, A. Grove. Hawaii and Its People. New York: Meredith Press, 1968. Day, A. Grove and Ralph S. Kuykendall. Hawaii: A History. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1961. Guzzetti, Paula. The Last Hawaiian Queen: Liliuokalani. New York: Benchmark Books, 1997. Pratt, Julius W. Expansionists of 1898. Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1964. Tabrah, Ruth M. Hawaii: A Bicentennial History. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1980.

Carl Sandburgs View of Language Essay -- Poem Poet Essays

Carl Sandburg's View of Language Carl Sandburg's poem Languages is a poem about how languages can change over time. On the surface level, it compares the evolution of language to the formation of a river. At the same time, however, it makes a statement on why languages are difficult to label and mark. The lines dividing languages blur very easily. Languages There are no handles upon a language Whereby men take hold of it And mark it with signs for its remembrance. It is a river, this language, Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course Changing its way to the ocean. It is mountain effluvia Moving to valleys And from nation to nation Crossing borders and mixing. Languages die like rivers. Words wrapped round your tongue today And broken to shape of thought Between your teeth and lips speaking Now and today Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now. Sing-and singing-remember Your song dies and changes And is not here tomorrow Any more than the wind Blowing ten thousand years ago The first three lines of the poem talk about how man has no firm grip on language. It is clearly not a physical thing to be grasped, and it cannot be marked as such. There is an attachment between men and language, but it is not clear. This may be a statement on the many different languages humans speak. It may not be clear when a language has completely changed into something different, or when it is merely a different dialect. It is hard to tell where the boundaries are, which is why it is described as having no handles for men to take hold of and mark it with signs for its remembrance. These difficulties arise because exactly what makes a language is difficult to determine. Sometimes it can be... ...guage dies. In its entirety, this poem describes how a language can evolve or die, and how things said in this language can change or die with it. Boundaries between languages may not be clear. Like rivers they can travel close together, or merge completely. All languages, however, act as rivers. They start at a source and travel. They then travel, merge, or fade away. Upon closer examination, the poem also says why languages are difficult to label. The reason is that they change with time. The English language of today is not the same English language spoken hundreds of years ago. As all languages evolve similarly, this applies to all languages. Subtle changes in gestures, writing, or spoken language eventually add up. After a long enough period of time it is as though an entirely new language has formed, but kept the same name as the previous language.

Venice Commentary

Tyler Every March 25, 2013 Written Commentary 6: Venice by Jan Morris The author’s purpose is to describe the setting by contrasting her culture to Venice and by using irony to display the people, surroundings and daily life. A mother who just started living in Venice is telling us about the setting and her life in Venice. She uses irony, humor and contrast to build the imagery of the city and people. Throughout the passage the author uses irony to convey the surroundings and the image that the city is not somewhere you would want to live in.The irony of her arguments is that her reasoning in why Venice isn’t a pleasant city to live in, because it is â€Å"inescapably urban,† (line 8) and that there are no gardens for kids to play. A worthy excerpt is â€Å"It is not altogether an easy city for children to live in. It has no dangerous traffic and few unspeakable rascals; but Venice is inescapably urban, and only lucky children with gardens, or with parents indul gent enough to take them to the distant park, have somewhere green to play† (Lines 7-9).She uses false dilemma by focusing only on the black and white of Venice. She focuses on that Venice has no garden, so that she still misses her culture and country. She focuses only on the immoral instead of the safety or great things about Venice. She sees Venice being inescapably urban as a gigantic dilemma while she says it is a rigid city to live in; it has no dangerous traffic and rascals. Here the mother uses sarcasm to present humor during the passage. The protagonist also uses irony when describing actions, people and the setting.Morris uses two words in pair like sickly intensity, unashamed delight, exquisitely ludicrously, inescapably urban, blithe pathetic, lugubriously assure, dauntingly spotless and frighteningly well informed. Using two words that are opposite, Morris creates irony. By juxtaposing these words, Morris also creates imagery. It creates an image of what the mothe r sees as an outsider. Through her eyes we see Venice as a city filled with buildings and houses and no green gardens because of the surrounding buildings.The author uses detail and diction to indicate her attitude toward the Venetian people. She does this mostly in the first and second paragraph. â€Å"Venetian mothers show signs of instant cardiac crisis if little Giorgio ventures within six feet of water† (line 2-3), she makes fun of venetian mothers by pointing out that they will have a cardiac crisis when their children are close to the water, they are to over protective of their children. The humor in this is that Venice, Italy is surrounded by water, and so Venetian mothers would be losing their cool for their little Giorgio.With these details and diction, she is making a mockery of the Venetian people. â€Å"Venetian children are exquisitely, if sometimes rather ludicrously dressed: the minutest little baby girls† (lines 3-4), minutest means extremely small, by using repetition, the author is emphasizing the point that the mother doesn’t like the Venetians because she criticizes them throughout the passage. Using exquisitely and ludicrously who are on complete other spectrums in terms of meaning. The children are beautiful, but at times foolish. Blithe but pathetic are the groups of urchins to be found entertaining themselves† (line 10) blithe and pathetic are two contrasting words. The mother also stoops so low by calling the children urchins again going to mischievous and raggedly dressed. The author also uses humor to appeal to our sense and keeping us attracted. Humor is present in â€Å"When the Doge’s palace was burnt in 1479, the only record left of Petrarch’s inscriptions upon the walls was the notebook of Marin Sanudo, who had taken the trouble to copy them down when inspecting the palace at the age of eight. He went on to write a history of the world in fifty-five volumes)† (lines 30-33). It mad e me laugh the thought of seeing little Giorgio next to the water while his mother loses her cool. The last two sentences leave us with a wisecrack about the Venetians. When the Doge’s Palace burnt they had no copies of Petrarch’s inscriptions except the one of a child’s notebook. It is hilarious to think that they had to copy someone’s notebook’s writing or put that as their historical record. Also saying that this kid went on to write the history of the world in fifty-five volumes is absurd.Who would ever do this? The mother leaves us with this remark again mocking the Venetians for their â€Å"lack of intellect and absurdity† and reliance on a kid’s notebook. When reading that this kid later writes the history in fifty-five volumes, the author creates this image that the Venetians lack the purity of Petrarch’s records and that their claimed knowledge from the child’s notebook might be terribly wrong. Thus, leaving us laughing at the Venetians and proving her point of mockery.

Cyprus Financial Crisis Essay

I. Introduction With a population of only 1 million and no more than half a percent of Euro zone economy, it is surprising to find out that the financial crisis in a tiny country called â€Å"Cyprus† has enormous global implications (Long 2013). It cannot be also denied that the â€Å"Subprime Mortgage Crisis† of the US in 2008 has its downbeat domino effect to the world including European Union and Cyprus. In this report, not only the most critical reasons but also the aftermath of Cyprus financial crisis and possible alternatives which could have been done to ease such economic downturn will be carefully examined. II. Body 1. Main Reasons The root of the crisis lies when Cyprus experienced a terrible recession in 2009 when the country’s economy was diminished by 1.67% including significant reduction in tourism and shipping which obviously caused high unemployment rate (CIA 2013). Since then, the country’s economy worsen and with the 30% decline of the real estate market has put enormous pressure on a rise in non-performing loans of banking system (The World Bank 2013). Therefore, the banks ended up with Greek Private Sector debt of Euro 22 billion and accumulated $120 billion inclusive of $60 billion from Russia according to Jolly and Castle (2012). Furthermore, it is the direct result of the crisis in Greece known as Greek Debt Crisis where the second biggest retail bank in Cyprus over-invested in Greek Bonds and as a result of this, Cyprus failed on its recapitalisation where the Government is left with limited time and option as mentioned in Aljazeera news podcast (2012). Besides, Hans Humes pointed out during an interview conducted on 21 February 2012 that one of the significant reasons that led to a threat in collapse of the Cyprus Banks is 50% haircut in 2011 during Greek Crisis. Next, Cypriot Banking system is in shortage of at least 10 billion Euros in new capital plus 8 billion to satisfy public debts (Long 2013) and to make matter worse, the government has not got enough money to help out as it is impossible to raise money in bond market due to high level of borrowing rates. The country’s credit rating was rated CCC by Standard & Poor’s in September (Bases 2013) and this left the country with no benefits but high rise in percentage of yields on long term bond. This can be added as a reason to confirm that the country is not in the position to calm down its banking sector. They also made a wrong step in refusing UN’s plan for uniting their island which clearly annoyed their E.U partners and caused weak strategic position (Dixon 2013).The country’s economy could be a lot healthier if it had restructured the banks. 2. Consequences The consequences of the Cyprus financial crisis has had a surprising impact on the eurozone and raised concerns about the euro currency in the market. The two main financial institutions in Cyprus were both effected by the Greek financial crisis due to their operation heavily in the Greek Government Bond & the Greek Debt. The two largest banks in Cyprus, the Bank of Cyprus and Laiki Bank were both heavily impacted by the Greek financial crisis through exposures to their own operations in Greece and to Greek sovereign debt. According to the latest confirmation of GDP data, Cyprus is gliding deeper into recession and no sign of financial stress in economy is abating (Ernst & Young 2013). The Cyprus financial crisis have had helped driving the value of the euro currency to fall down from $1.36 at Feb to $1.28 at the end of March and lead to rising unemployment caused industrial unrest. Many workers struggle against wage cuts. However, the unemployment rate will likely continue to rise and wages fall, contributing to reduced consumption in the next few years (Ernst & Young 2013). To resolve the nation debt a solution was introduced by the government to force depositors and savers to scarify 10% of their life savings. As part of the Government’s austerity program, the VAT rate was raised from 17% to 18% in January 2013. The Inflation rate under impact of higher VAT was also increased from 1.5% in December to 2% in January (Ernst & Young 2013). That decision let Cypriots themselves furious and they have responded by trying to clear out their accounts and that will negatively impact on the deposit security or stability. Apart from any possible instability in deposit base, Eurozone banks may see their ability to rise unsecured funding deteriorate. Cyprus became the first ever Eurozone country to apply capital controls with limits on credit card transactions, daily cash withdrawals, foreign money transfers and cashing cheques. This is a clear indication of the severity of the situation and, effectively, at least temporarily devalues Euros located in Cyprus as they are now less easy to transfer. More than a thousand bank employees marched in the capital Nicosia on Saturday, angry that their jobs could be lost in the forced restructure of the island’s economy — and that the government had proposed to nationalise pensions in order to fund the bailout. That option was later rejected. Some protests to express Cypriots’ indignation happened on the street, while parliament voted overwhelmingly to reject the tax on bank accounts. Furthermore, Banks have been closed for more than a week, to prevent depositors moving their money off the island, which would have caused the banks to collapse and made the entire situation worse. However, ATMs were still opened, and they were quickly ran out of money as everyone tried to withdraw as much as possible (Ghostagenda 2013). Many businesses are refusing to take credit cards. Retailers have faced cash-on-delivery demands from suppliers, the Cyprus Mail reported, and shelves are emptying. Some are running out of coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and soft drinks. European governments rejected taking money from depositors in order to pay for necessary bailout packages. The fact created a panic, led to emergency negotiations. For example, the discussion happened between the Cypriot government and the troika in an attempt to reach a deal which was successfully achieved that managed to save the country from bankruptcy at the 11th hour (Ghostagenda 2013). Nobody doubts that, after such this financial crisis Cyprus will be pushed into a harsh recession. According to forecast in the troika’s source, GDP will shrink by about 10% before any hope of recovery. 3. Strategies In order to overcome the current financial crisis, focusing on the economic itself is not enough. Policymakers should include the full range of factors which interact the country’s financial situation- such as economic security policies, investment, interest rate, inflation, employment, etc. (The Star, 2009). In general, developed countries need to save their incomes more and consume less; developing countries, in contrast, have to boost their domestic demand as well as export. However, Mohsen, Abdulla & Jalal (2011) states that it is much easier said than done in the real circumstance. Iqbal (2010) suggests some strategies to overcome such difficult situation and avoid this particular issue in the future: †¢ The existing financial structure of related countries is required to modify. †¢ Creating and monitoring an effective exchange rate policy. †¢ The accounting standards need to be customised to fix the global economic situation, for instance: the convergence of United State and international accounting standards in terms of changing from fair value measurement back to historical value measurement. †¢ Globally coordinated and huge fiscal stimulus †¢ More transparency in the operation of financial institutions. Application in real situation of Cyprus: The Cyprus’s banking system has done a huge number of works in order to reduce the impact of financial crisis on its economy. Encouraging international investors to invest in Cyprus is one of its most effective policies which were proved to boost its economy. By providing â€Å"attractive† policies and tax, more and more Chinese investors are interested in putting their money into this market in many different sectors, for example: shipping, construction and energy industry. They also offer the opportunity to become a permanent resident to foreigners who purchase  £300,000+ in value of property. According to the Cypriot embassy in Beijing, more than 500 properties had sold to Chinese investors so far (Shengnan, 2013). Cypriot government is also seeking the financial assistance to solve their current debt crisis, primarily happened as a result of over-invested in Greek banks. European Union (EU) is a main target which Cyprus considers as its assistance for such an issue. On 25/3/2013, Greek-Cyprus government and EU singed a commitment which stated that EU would provide â‚ ¬ 10 billion bailout fund associated with some conditions: reducing money laundering, increasing the corporate tax and the one-off tax on bank deposits (Burgin, 2013). This was planned to catch â‚ ¬5.8 billion contribution for the bailout packages from internal resources. The Cypriot government has also declaredspecial fiscal measures with the aim of improvement the investment into their main industries such as tourism and construction. However, there is no empirical evidence on how it worked for their own circumstance (The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited, 2009). In addition, government also boost the guarantee on deposit to â‚ ¬100,000. This action encourages foreign investors to deposit in Cyprus banks as the EU guarantee was only â‚ ¬50,000 (7/10/2008). Furthermore, the It is estimated that Gas revenues will be an important factor in solving Cyprus’s the economic malaise forecast for the next few years. The Government agreed to set up a resource fund to cope with the expenditure from gas exploitation. They hope that Cyprus can start exporting the natural gas in 2019. This should contribute to stronger growth in the medium term (Ernst & Young 2013). III. Conclusion To conclude, this is a difficult stage for Cyprus. There is still some argument on how will affect government debt sustainability when this country borrow under the economic adjustment programme and how the government debt burden can be reduce from the income of natural gas exploration and exploitation. However, the agreement was reached with the troika is a significant step in restoring the country’s economy. Everyone has shown understanding, consensus, readiness and elasticity to adopt a programme of financial reform, fiscal and structural amendment in accordance with the needs of the country. In the future, it is estimate that the Cyprus economy as well as its financial sector will overcome the current crisis and become stronger than before. The economic reform program is seen as an effective way to strengthen and stabilize the macro economy and the domestic financial. It also contributes to the revival of private economic activity, promotes economic growth and creates more jobs for labors. Moreover, in longer term, Cyprus may have good prospects for growth in the shape of its offshore gas reserves, which could help lower the debt burden of future generations (Central bank 2013).

Learning Team A- Value Alignment Paper Essay

Origins and subsequent evolution of your personal and workplace values There are many values and ethics that go into creating a successful and profitable workplace. Many companies adopt their personal values into the workplace to help aide in the daily task that needs to be completed. Adopting personal values into workplace help set standards that allow for follow-up and future growth of the business. Some examples of good personal values to have in the work place are along the lines of respect, responsibility and holding yourself to a certain standard. Rolling out standards and values such as these will help the organization grow a strong ethical foundation for a successful business. Values, Actions, and Behaviors, and the Alignment Between Your Values and Actions and Behaviors Values provide a basis for perceiving or understanding the world and allowing a person to decipher which action would be most appropriate. Caution needs to be taken since individual values are instilled over a lifetime and may not direct an individual initially to the best course of action or ongoing behavior. The alignment between values and actions or behaviors is strong and positively correlated. When a person makes a rash or split decision, that decision is formulated primarily from the values or previous experiences. Therefore it is important to continually reflect on what the individual sees as important to the job in which he or she is fulfilling. This type of monitoring will allow individuals, managers, and organizations to revise and â€Å"tweak† specific values to properly align to what is expected of individual employees in the workplace. Alignment of Ford’s Stated Values and Actual Plans and Actions The Ford Motor Company abides and thrives on their current mission and vision statement which is â€Å"One Ford, One Team, One Plan, One Goal.† This mission and vision statement is expanded upon emphasizing the importance of working together as a team, accelerating development of new products, aggressively restructuring to operate profitably, improving finances, and to deliver profitable growth for everyone. Their mission and vision is simple, yet profound and collectively motivates and guides Ford to new heights. Ford is an innovative company and is rated at the top of their field. Their hard work, ingenuity, innovations, values, and corporate mission and visions are what continue to take Ford to higher levels of success. The company is rich in history and takes pride in what they do. They value family and community. They are large contributors to many causes including the American Red Cross, feeding the hungry, and supporting local neighborhoods. Their ability to align themselves solely with their stated values and their action plans is impressive. It is what makes them successful and what draws people to purchase a Ford over other vehicles. Bringing teams of top individuals in their respective fields together to create and develop a vehicle like no other is one way that Ford aligns itself with its core values and its action plan. Differences and Degree of Alignment between Personal and Ford’s Values As individuals, identification of the core values governing how we live our lives is vital in our private, working, and social behavior. A corporation as large as Ford Motor Company must identify the organization’s core values before engaging in strategic planning and developing an action plan. Ford clearly aligns their core organizational values with their focus on education by collaborating with communities to develop innovation in education. The Ford College Community Challenge Grant is awarded annually for outstanding school projects. The â€Å"Blue Oval Scholar† scholarships are awarded to high school seniors every year. Ford is also committed to developing safe and affordable vehicles for their domestic and international customers. Teamwork is emphasized in their mission statement because they look at all stakeholders as part of the same team with the same amount of vested interest in the success of the organization. This is demonstrated in every facet of how the Ford Motor Company operates in business processes, humanitarian, and philanthropic endeavors. The only differences between the plans and actions of the Ford Motor Company’s in implementing their core organizational values and the values of learning team A is their ability and responsibility to use their vast resources to make it happen. Learning team A are individuals who value teamwork, honesty, humanity, social responsibility, education, family, and community so our values align with the stated values of the Ford Motor Company. References Ford Motor Company, One Ford Mission and Vision, (2013). Retrieved on February 2, 2013 from http://www.corporate.ford.com/our-company. The Journal of JVBL Values Based Leadership, (2013). Retrieved on February 2, 2013 from http://www.valuesbasedleadershipjournal.com/issues/vol1issue1/dean.php.