Gender and Cultural Differences in Communication Essay

Gender and Cultural Differences in Communication - Essay Example Verbal communication is best used to convey particular information and is especially suited for communication via technology and over longer distances. Non-verbal communication, on the other hand, is immediate compared to the former. This causes its meaning to be more ambiguous, despite the fact that various non-verbal communication forms, for example, the use of eyes and hand gestures, have the ability to convey the emotions with more effectiveness than verbal communication can. Various technological communication media such as a film can also convey many forms of non-verbal communication. Verbal Gender and Cultural Differences During verbal communication, men will normally tend to give solutions, whereas women will tend to focus more on empathy. This mirrors the fact that women are more oriented towards solidifying relationships while men in most occasions are more goal-oriented. Differences in communication across the gender divide also extend to non-verbal communication. Various gestures may be decoded one way by a man and differently by a woman. Persons from various cultures also differ in their manner of expression, even when the words and their literal meanings are translated to the listener’s native language. In some cultures, the word â€Å"yes† could really mean â€Å"maybe† while in another culture, â€Å"yes† could be considered a commitment that is binding. Women are usually better at the interpretation of non-verbal means of communication compared to men. Men also tend to be less accomplished when it comes to sending non-verbal and subtle messages.

African American film genre analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

African American film genre analysis - Essay Example Broken Blossoms depicts the villain oppressing the innocent, in this case, his daughter. Her only comfort is the company of a "yellow man" who gives her moments of happiness although they are not romantically involved. The idea of a romantic link between the two characters of Lucy and the yellow man would be too much for the 1919 audience to swallow. The movie was also the last of the films which carried integrationist messages. These relationships were depicted as abnormal, unacceptable and impulsive. An example is Spike Lee's Jungle Fever (1991) sets its premise upon the attraction generated by the sexual mythology of different races. The movie runs the typical storyline wherein the lovers Flipper and Angie were the heroes, and racial prejudice was the villain (Bogle 2002).Interracial relationships have been depicted in film for almost a century. These films may or may not reflect the true temper and sensibilities of the periods when they were filmed. Oftentimes, interracial relati onships in films toe the line on what is socially acceptable. Otherwise, society through channels as the press and government would raise objections, protests and even civil action against the filmmakers and their actors.Interracial relationships in film are considered generally as part of the melodrama genre. Oftentimes, it depicts the battle between good and evil. There is the presence of the protagonist who is repressed by a villain. Those who are innocent are freed from repression and those that are guilty are duly given punishment. Melodrama engages in the discussion of social taboos, among which is interracial relationships. Most of the time, the lovers of different races would conform to the dictates of the period when the film was made. Although interracial relationships become increasingly accepted in societies, it is still not allowed in some U.S. states, notwithstanding the legal approbation to such relationships. It may not also be culturally acceptable to some people or communities. Thus, interracial relationships still encounter varying degrees of objection from various sectors. Thus, a film conforming to the period's norms, would tend to seek conformity from its interracial characters, with the lovers separating. If there is no convenient angle to achieve this conformity to moreses, then the characters may be killed of. In a sense, this also is an application of conformity, with the death of the characters symbolizing punishment for their transgressions (Rhies 2000). The cultural ideology regarding interracial relationships has changed through time. The acceptability of this kind of relationship today is greater than it was three decades ago. Originally, interracial relationships were depicted negatively, emphasizing false perceptions or stereotypes. This was the case with Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) . It is through such negative depictions that the adverse attitude of societies towards interracial relationships is perpetuated (Hodes). III. Film Analysis Guess Who's dealt mainly with the controversy of interracial marriage. At the time the film was made, interracial marriage was still illegal in some U.S. states. The movie broke certain stereotypes. Jack Prentice's being a doctor living in Switzerland may have been deliberate so that he would be suitable for marriage to Joanna, and that his character's only objectionable feature would be his race. John's character, to go against the stereotype image of the African-American of the time, was also a graduate of a top school, became an innovator in African medicine, did not engage in premarital sex even

Bretagne France Essay Example for Free

Bretagne France Essay Bretagne is found along Frances northern shore. Bretagne is also called Brittany and sometimes referred to as little Britain. It is a land of enchantment and wonders. It features rugged coastlines with some of the worlds most breathtaking views. It features more than 4,000 castles and medieval homes. Its an ideal destination for water sports enthusiasts, lovers of fine cuisine and seafood, and anyone fascinated by legends and history. The attractions, weather and scenery, and the festivals are what attract people the most. This region is full of numerous world-class museums and historic attractions. One of the best places to visit while in Brittany is Oceanopolis. It features 50 aquariums from tropical and polar species. The cathedral of St. Pierre and St. Paul is one of the last Gothic French cathedrals. The chateau de Combourg is a beautiful castle surrounded by greenery and water. The Grand Phare or Great Lighthouse is also a great place to visit, being 300 feet high. And finally the musee de la Faience is devoted to the famous pottery. Other fun things to do are outdoor water sports, including sailing, kayaking, surfing and scuba diving. Spa seawater treatments are also available for relaxing purposes. Being close to the ocean, the weather is fairly nice and warm year round. Rain occurs regularly which keeps the countryside green and wooded. Although it rains often, cloudless days are common and sunny in Brittany. In Brittany a common expression and response to people complaining about the rain is En Bretagne, il ne pleut que sur les cons, which literally translates as In Brittany, it only rains on the idiots. This means that if you don’t like Brittany, you should leave. Brittany has many festivals and events. They reflect Brittany’s culture and energetic music and dance. Some cultural festivals include the festival de Cornouaille, which is a festival that displays Brittany’s cultural diversity. Les Filets Bleus celebrates fishing traditions and the Festival du Film Britanniqu previews British films in France. Music festivals are also popular in France. Astropolis is a techno music themed festival celebrated in July. La Route du Rock plays pop and rock music. Les Transmusicales is known for showing brand new acts for undiscovered bands. They also have a festival all about activities dealing with the sea. The Fetes Maritimes de Brest is a sailing event that takes place every four years. The next race happens in July of 2012. La Route du Rhum is a transatlantic yacht race which also takes place every four years. The next race will be in November of 2014. Bretagne is a beautiful, fascinating mix of spectacular coastlines, ancient towns, magical islands and inland woods. With so many attractions and activities you will never get bored. The scenery and weather is unforgettably amazing. The festivals attract many tourists and French people to the area.

Economic Factors And Consumer Durable Goods

Economic Factors And Consumer Durable Goods INTRODUCTION TO CONSUMER DURABLE GOODS In  economics, a  durable good  or a  hard good  is a  good  that does not quickly wear out, or more specifically, one that yields  utility  over time rather than being completely  consumed  in one use. Items like  bricks  could be considered perfectly durable goods, because they should theoretically never wear out. Highly durable goods such as  refrigerators,  cars, or  mobile phones  usually continue to be useful for three or more years of use,[1]  so durable goods are typically characterized by long periods between successive purchases. This industry includes all those goods which are durable i.e. products whose life expectancy is at least 3 years The consumer durables industry can be broadly classified into two segments: Consumer Electronics and Consumer Appliances. Consumer Appliances can be further categorized into Brown Goods and White Goods. The key product lines under each segment are as follows. White Goods Kitchen Appliances Refrigerators Washing Machines Air-conditioners Speakers and Audio Equipme Sewing Machine Watches And Clocks Kitchen Appliances / Brown Goods Consumer Electronics Mixers Grinders Microwave Ovens Iron Electric Fans Cooking Range Chimneys Electronic Fans Consumer Electronics Mobile Phones Televisions MP3 Players DVD Players iPad Personal computers Audio and video system Camcorders Common example of customer durables in the possession of most households is appliances. These items may include ovens, refrigerators, toasters, and gas or electric water heaters. Consumer durables of this type are intended for use on a continuing basis, and often are sold with some type of warranty or service contract that helps to ensure the appliance will continue working for an appreciable period of time. The family car is also understood to be among the various consumer durables owned by many households. Considered a major investment by many consumers, the expectation is that the vehicle will remain operational for at least the amount of time it takes for the consumer to pay off any loans associated with the acquisition. Further, consumers anticipate that the vehicle can be utilized on a regular basis without fear of being destroyed by the frequent usage. ECONOMY ANALYSIS Economic analysis deals with the analysis of forces operating in the overall economy. In the security analysis, the expected course of the economy must be enquired into because overall economic conditions and economic activities affect corporate profits and investors expectations and thereby affect the security prices in the capital market. Economic analysis has an important role in the investment decisions. If the economic analysis shows strong and vibrant economic conditions, investors will buy the shares in expectation of earning capital profits at a later stage. An expectation of sagging economic conditions can lead to lower corporate profits and the security price will fall resulting from the selling pressure. The economic analysis helps to identify whether the economic climate is conducive or not for the growth of the business in general. It is imperative to note that when economy grows, all industries are expected to benefit. In case of weak economies, industries struggle to survive. PORTERS FIVE FORCE MODEL ECONOMIC FORECASTING: An investor is interested in forecasting the expected performance of the economy in general and its effect on the performance of a particular industry or on a particular company. Thus, economic forecasting gains a place of prime relevance in the economy analysis. The outlook for the industries and companies depends on the outlook for the economy. A security analyst may start with the forecast of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is a measure of national income and is defined as the value of total goods and services produced in the economy in one year. An analysis of the components of GDP and how these components are related to the performance of industries and companies is also required. Economic Factors to be Considered before Investing in Consumer Durable Goods GDP (GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT) Gross domestic product  (GDP) is the  market value  of all officially recognized final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP  per capita  is often considered an indicator of a countrys  standard of living The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in India was worth 1847.98 billion US dollars in 2011, according to a report published by the World Bank. The GDP value of India is roughly equivalent to 2.98 percent of the world economy. Historically, from 1960 until 2011, India GDP averaged 368.84 billion USD reaching an all time high of 1847.98 billion USD in December of 2011 and a record low of 36.61 billion USD in December of 1960. The gross domestic product (GDP) measures of national income and output for a given countrys economy. The gross domestic product (GDP) is equal to the total expenditures for all final goods and services produced within the country in a stipulated period of time. Change in GDP results on account of: Change in availability of resources. Change in usage of these resources, and Change in efficiency with which factors of production are used. GDP indicates the performance of the economy during the period. An increasing trend in GDP tells about an expanding economy which provides a lot of opportunities to the firms to increase the level of activities and to increase the earnings. There are two other measures, Gross National Product and Net National Product which are also indicators of economic activity. EMPLOYMENT Employment  is a  contract  between two  parties, one being the  employer  and the other being the  employee. The demand for consumer durables has been rising with the increase in disposable income coupled with more and more consumers falling under the double income families. Also, the growing Indian middle-class plays a major role in increasing the demand. This, along with a fall in the prices of durable goods mainly due to the advancement of technology, easy import of components has led to an increase in the consumption expenditure on durable goods INTEREST RATES Interest rates directly affect the cost of funds to the industry. Higher inters rates increase the cost of funds and thus squeezes the income of companies. On the other hand, a lower interest rate reduces the cost of funds resulting in higher profit. There are several reasons for change in interest rates such as monetary policy, fiscal policy, inflation rate, etc. Irrespective of the reasons for change in interest rates, the investment pattern in the economy is affected by the change in interestrates; the interest rates affect the opportunity cost of the investors also, thus affecting the bond and equity prices. So, the changes in interest rates have repercussion on the profit of the companies as well as on the market prices of securities. There are several indicators of interest rates. These are interest rates in the call money market or the bank rate or the prime lending rate of the lending institutions. Consumer financing has become a major driver in the consumer durables industry . In the case of more expensive consumer goods, such as refrigerators, washing machines, color televisions retailers are marketing their goods more aggressively by providing easy financing options to the consumers by partnering with banks. INFLATION Inflation refers to a general rise in prices measured against a standard level of purchasing power. Inflationary pressure in the economy affects (decreases) the purchasing power of the consumers and thus has a considerable impact on the performance and profitability of companies. High inflation rate can be considered as an indication for slower growth rate and low inflation rate can be taken as a positive sign for an expansionary phase. Inflation has a relationship with capital market as well. During inflation, the nominal required rate of return of investors goes up resulting in the decrease in bond and equity prices. Inflation can be measured in terms of wholesale index or consumer price index. An analysis of these indices will indicate the economic conditions expected to prevail. The most well known measures of Inflation are the CPI which measures consumer prices, and the GDP deflator, which measures inflation in the whole of the domestic economy. BUSINESS CYCLES Business cycles refer to cyclical movement in the economic activity in a country as a whole. An economy marching towards prosperity passes through different phases, each known as a component of a business cycle. These phases are generally designated as depression, recovery, boom and recession. Interest rates and inflation rates are high. Individual companies face different degrees of economic crises. There is a heavy pressure on their profitability resulting in lesser and lesser dividend payout and reinvestment activities. Companies even forced to shut down some of the plants. Some industries Show above-average response and tend to outperform the economy. These include capital goods industries such as consumer durables. The demand for these goods is generally deferred during recession period. But during the recovery, the demand pattern outperforms the general demand level. However, during the same period, industries dealing with essential commodities such as food, are less responsive . On the other hand, these industries would tend to outperform the general level during the recession period MONETARY POLICY, MONEY SUPPLY AND LIQUIDITY The liquidity in the economy depends upon the money supply which is regulated by monetary policy of the government. Reserve Bank of India has been adopting several measures to regulate the money supply and liquidity in the economy. Business firms require funds for expansion projects. The capacity to raise funds from the market is affected by the liquidity position in the economy. The monetary policy is designed with an objective to maintain a balance in liquidity position. Neither the excess liquidity nor the shortage is desirable. The shortage of liquidity will tend to increase the interest rates while the excess will result in inflation. Monetary supply and monetary environment affect share prices through affecting the discounting rate. An easy monetary policy is expected to result in decreasing discount rate. Money supply also affects the real economy through Change in growth in demand level, Change in growth of supply position OTHER FACTORS Besides the factors mentioned, there are cartain other factors which should also kept in mind while economic analysis. Some of these factors are:- Cheap imports from Asian Countries: The cheap imports of consumer durable products from countries like China, Singapore etc is a major concern. Increasing competition: Presence of a large number of players in each segment leads to high rivalry. Also, the unorganized market is yet very strong in the case of many consumer durable goods. The pie of the unorganized sector is relatively large in most of the segments, hence increasing the competition. Fluctuating raw material prices: Rising input costs of raw materials viz. copper, steel, aluminum and plastic the major raw materials required for this industry will severely put pressures on margins. Unfavorable Duty Structure: Top players in the consumer durables industry have been demanding a more favorable import duty on durable components imported by them. Take the case of LCDs which is the fastest growing segment right now the industry has beendemanding a reduction in the import duty. Contrary to this is the case of set top boxes, where 80% of the set top boxes are imported. The industry has been recommending that the custom duty on STB should be increased by 5% to 10% in order to boost domestic manufacturing. Continuously changing technology; a challenge: The consumer durables sector faces the challenge of a continuous change in technology and the inability to cope with it. High-end consumers prefer changing their goods along with the up-gradation of technology and manufacturers have to make sure they cater to this requirement. CONCLUSION The outlook for the industries and companies depends on the outlook for the economy. If the outlook in the economy is bright and upbeat, this may be considered as good indicator of growing profit of the firm. The general optimism is reflected in the security prices. The linkage in economic environment and the security prices is obvious and critical. This analysis helps to decide when to invest and where to invest. The Indian market is fast moving towards high-end products and the importance of media and entertainment is growing among the young market. The consumer durables industry needs to constantly focus on innovation and needs to come out with product variations across categories to meet the different expectations of a varied class of customers. With easy availability of finance, fall in prices due to increased competition, growth of media, growth in consumer base of rural sector, the consumer durables industry is growing at a fast pace. Given these factors, a good growth is proj ected in the future, too.

High School Sports :: essays research papers

Do Students Who Play Sports In School Tend To Be More Successful In The Future?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  High school is a time for young adults to try and find themselves. Some students decide to be the nerds, or join certain clubs but many students venture into the world of sports. I believe that students who play sports are more likely to stay off the streets and not partake in activities that deal with alcohol and drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s society more and more kids find themselves on streets drinking and doing drugs. I feel that young adults who partake in sports are more likely to stay in school and get an education. Sports give students an opportunity to find themselves. One reason why kids should be involved in sports is that it allows the children to stay of trouble. The schools have a strict policy regarding grades for those who play sports. Sports give the children to have an education because the children have to do well in school to get the opportunity to play a sport they love very much. These policies, though many kids do not like them very much, keeps kids off of the streets and in the classroom. Sports not only give an incentive to going to classes and school but also doing well in school. Not only do sports academically help young adults today but also society puts great pressures on kids about how they look with great emphasis on their weight. The sports programs in school provides a great opportunity to stay healthy and in shape. As well as health issues sports also improve your self-esteem. It is hard to accomplish anything if children do not think they have it in them. In result through sports not only do become physically fit but children also feel good about themselves as a person. Another reason sports are important is that sports provide an easier way of making friends. For many making friends is a hard thing to do, but through sports children do not really have a choice but to get to know their teammates. With these friendships, children are able to build some great memories and fun times that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. High School Sports :: essays research papers Do Students Who Play Sports In School Tend To Be More Successful In The Future?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  High school is a time for young adults to try and find themselves. Some students decide to be the nerds, or join certain clubs but many students venture into the world of sports. I believe that students who play sports are more likely to stay off the streets and not partake in activities that deal with alcohol and drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s society more and more kids find themselves on streets drinking and doing drugs. I feel that young adults who partake in sports are more likely to stay in school and get an education. Sports give students an opportunity to find themselves. One reason why kids should be involved in sports is that it allows the children to stay of trouble. The schools have a strict policy regarding grades for those who play sports. Sports give the children to have an education because the children have to do well in school to get the opportunity to play a sport they love very much. These policies, though many kids do not like them very much, keeps kids off of the streets and in the classroom. Sports not only give an incentive to going to classes and school but also doing well in school. Not only do sports academically help young adults today but also society puts great pressures on kids about how they look with great emphasis on their weight. The sports programs in school provides a great opportunity to stay healthy and in shape. As well as health issues sports also improve your self-esteem. It is hard to accomplish anything if children do not think they have it in them. In result through sports not only do become physically fit but children also feel good about themselves as a person. Another reason sports are important is that sports provide an easier way of making friends. For many making friends is a hard thing to do, but through sports children do not really have a choice but to get to know their teammates. With these friendships, children are able to build some great memories and fun times that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Comparing Islam and Christianity Essay -- Religion Compare Contrast Ch

Comparing Islam and Christianity Although they share several basic theological ideas, Christianity and Islam differ on countless key characteristics. The most prominent differences include atonement, the identity of God, heaven, view of Jesus, and the perception of the Christian Bible. It is these not-so-subtle contrasts of thoughts that separate the two most prevalent religions in the world. One of the most important differences in Christianity and Islam is the concept of atonement. In Christianity, Jesus’ death on the cross allows Christians to repent from their sins and gain forgiveness from God. Conversely, in Islam there is no atonement from sins with Allah, though they still repent and confess their sins. While Christians believe that their sincere repentance provides them with a new, clean slate with God, Muslims believe that, despite their repentance, their sins will always be held against them when judged on the final day. These differing views on forgiveness set the tone for each respective religion, with Christianity seen as a forgiving, loving religion, and Islam being viewed as a hard-nosed, action-based religion. Another important difference between Christians and Muslims is their views of God. Despite the fact that Muslims claim Allah is the same as God the Father, Christians deny such claims, citing the fact that they worship the Holy Trinity. Christians follow a triune God, equal parts God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Though each has specific roles and responsibilities, Christians view them as one God. This differs from the Islamic point of view of a singular God, called Allah, holding a similar role as creator and maintainer as God the Father. Interestingly, Muslims apply a similar role ... ...s the Hebrew Messiah, thus finally saving the Jews from their sins. His death on the cross and resurrection provided Christians with the opportunity to be forgiven from their sins and have a chance to live with God for eternity in heaven. While Muslims respect the teachings of Jesus, they view Him only as a great prophet, but not as great as Muhammad. They believe that God replaced Him with Judas on the cross, thus dispelling the Christian belief that His death saved them from their sins. While they are conceptually similar, the major differences between Islamic and Christian theology become obvious upon further inspection. The aforementioned differences, most importantly each religion’s view of Jesus, prevent Muslims and Christians from agreeing on anything theological, and have created a chasm between the two cousin religions currently dominating world theology.

Lobbying in the European Union

The European Commission has four main rules: 1. Proposing new legislations to the Parliament and the Court. It is important that these proposals are aimed to defend the interest of the Union and its citizens, and not only for specific countries or industries. 2. It is responsible for supervising the budget under the watchful eye of the Court. It also has to manage the policies which are adopted by the Parliament and Council. 3. They have to make sure that the law in every European country is properly applied. 4. Representing the EU on the international stage. It makes sure that the member states can speak with one voice (Europa.eu, 2009). Explain why the system of Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) in the Council of Ministers has become more important in the decision-making process Assuming a measure is opposed by Britain, Italy and Ireland, which together wield 23 votes, these have more power than smaller countries. Since a blocking majority consists of 26 votes, the power of Denmark or Finland (each with three votes) to determine the Council's decision on the measure becomes infinitely greater than Luxembourg's (with only two votes). A small country can exert enormous leverage on its larger colleagues when it can use its votes to transform an existing coalition into a qualified majority or blocking majority (Peterson and Bomberg, 1999, p.51-52). Why and how has the role of the European Parliament become more significant in the decision-making process The European Parliament works aside the Council of Ministers to make decisions, therefore Parliament amendments are now influenced by the European Parliament in the decision-making process. It is more involved under two procedures, co-decision and cooperation with the Council of Ministers. This procedure was introduced by the EC Treaty of Maastricht and was largely expanded by the Amsterdam and Nice alteration of the TEC. Now the procedure is applied to practically all important matters (Europedia, 2009). With the cooperation procedure, introduced in the SEA, the Council becomes more influenced. If the EP has different opinions to what the Council proposes in a specific legislation, further discussion and modifications can be undertaken. Today this procedure will only be applied in limited areas of economic and monetary unions. Under the co-decision procedure now fall the vast majority of EU legislations that were introduced by the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice Treaties. In this procedure the EP has more power to veto against some decisions from the Council. If they can not agree with each other, the legislation will fail to exist (Bomberg E. and Stubb A., 2005, p. 59). To what extent will changes to decision making procedures outline in the Lisbon Treaty (2007) improve the legislation process within the EU Firstly, it generalises the qualified majority voting in a normal legislative process. Secondly, the weight of the votes will change in the Council and significantly simplify the system of qualified majority. From the 1st of November 2014, the qualified majority has to be at least 55 % of the members of the Council, including a minimum of fifteen of them and representing Member States involving a minimum of 65 % of the inhabitants of the Union. A blocking majority must have a minimum of four Council members, and the qualified majority will be reached. The new voting system values the fairness of Member States as each one has one vote in respect of the first decisive factor and the second criteria is the population size of a country. The third criteria which must be noted is that 15 Member States in support of the proposal – is unnecessary (Europedia, 2009). Current decisions about roaming fees and the services directive demonstrate how the European Parliament's membership guides take decisions, which are in the interest of the European citizens. Henceforward, the European Parliament will have the same power as the Council of Ministers in many areas. Regarding the agricultural policy, the Parliament will be able to contribute to it. The EP will therefore take part in all aspects of the EU budget. The national Parliament will play a role prior to the acceptance of EU legislation and will be adept to force the Commission to modify draft EU-legislations. It will be a milestone to bringing the EU nearer to its citizens (TheEuros, 2007). In what ways do lobbying groups contribute to the policy process in the EU and why are they significant for business In 2008, there were 15,000 lobbyists and 2,500 lobbying organisations in Brussels. In the EU, the Lobbyist usually drops into one of three major groups: industry associations, regional representations and non-governmental organisations / interest groups. Interest groups and industry associations focus on influencing decision-making processes for the benefit of their members, while also gathering and disseminating useful information. In distinction, regional lobby groups stand for regional and local authorities within EU Member States, they do not focus on direct lobbying, but on networking, informing and marketing their regions all the way through the EU machinery (Stevenson, 2008, p.1). One of the most important issues in front of interests groups is the hanging balance of power between European Institutions. Enlargement of qualified majority voting in the Council take the veto power from Member States in some economic areas, the co-decision process gave the European Parliament a bigger role in decision-making and the power to reject legislation that the Council favours. Interest groups style alliances in order to give the issue a true European dimension and perspective. The EU today manages important policies such as the Common Agriculture Policy, telecommunication, the negotiation in the World Trade Organisation, food safety, public health and transport. Business groups account for almost two-thirds of all Eurogroups (Lehmann, 2003, p.5-21). Lobbying is significant for the business, because the firms can influence on the government's decisions. Levi Strauss & Co. for example, relies on Guatemala for materials such as textiles. In 2001, the U.S. government denied Guatemala duty-free status for its imports due to the Latin America government's decision to adequately implement labor laws. This would have increased Levi Strauss's costs, so it had a clear business interest in dominating, â€Å"Rather than lobby the U.S. government to retain Guatemala's preferential trade status† the author writes, Levi's choose to attack the cause of the problem: the Guatemala's lack of labour laws. The result: Guatemala put into operation stronger labor laws as a result it continues to have protected trade status with the United States (Is ‘Lobbying for Good' CSR's Missing Link?, 2009).