CSR and social conflict in the Brazilian extractive sector

ABSTRACT

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an important means to address conflicts, support local development and build trust between businesses and civil society. Yet CSR often fails to live up to its ambitions and can even exacerbate conflicts between companies and communities. In this article we consider how changing CSR strategies over the past four decades between Brazilian company Vale to Norwegian company Hydro have fomented or mitigated company–community conflicts in Northern Brazil. We find that paternalistic and philanthropic approaches of Vale over time led to deep resentment and mistrust due to underdevelopment and environmental damages. Moreover, while Hydro’s more modern CSR strategies sought to deepen community engagement and build legitimacy, the company has struggled in addressing the legacies inherited from Vale and past and current civil society grievances. The case suggests that even forward-thinking CSR approaches are vulnerable to failure where they prioritise business risk over community engagement, neglect to account for past legacies in areas of operation, and fail to create a shared vision of future development. It suggests that EI companies should both understand and engage with their social and environmental impacts in the past, present, and future and create shared economic benefits in the short and long term in order to address social conflicts.     

Forensic Application of Analytical Mechanics in Fatal Fall From a Height

Fatal fall from a height initiated with a swinging motion on the sagittal plane of the victim's body is examined. Method of analytical mechanics is adopted to establish the functional relations between the swinging angle of the body and the force needed to sustain the body until release, and the amount of the horizontal displacement that would occur after release. The analysis is applied to support an expert opinion presented in a criminal court in which two accused were convicted of murder for dropping a female victim from a bridge. The results indicate that it is unlikely for the body to locate as recorded by the police investigation report in the case. This study demonstrates that a straightforward mechanical analysis can be utilized to examine uncommon falling scenarios.     

论国际投资中的国家责任问题

国际投资中的国家责任问题主要涉及国际投资的法律保护问题 ,如对外国投资和投资者的待遇标准、国有化或征收及其补偿问题。另外 ,还涉及特许权协议、拒绝司法、外交保护等问题。就外资待遇而言 ,发展中国家应根据其经济发展的实际情况在双边投资保护条约中慎重承诺。笔者通过对国有化问题的分析 ,认为国家在这个问题上所承担的国家责任不是传统国际法上的国家责任 ,而是一种“合法行为引起的国家责任”。关于特许协议 ,笔者认为它是国内契约。此外 ,在国际投资中 ,还涉及因污染转嫁而产生的国家责任。     

论建立我国非法证据排除规则

在刑事诉讼过程中如何取舍和运用刑事非法证据 ,涉及到非法证据的效力问题。两大法系中很多国家建立了非法证据排除规则。我国立法对于非法证据效力的态度不甚明确 ,因此必须完善有关立法 ,制定配套制度 ,建立我国的非法证据排除规则     

Prosecuting Domestic Violence without Victim Participation

This article explores the evidential challenges victim withdrawal presents in domestic violence cases. More specifically it examines innovative measures taken in the United States to overcome problems of proof typically associated with domestic violence prosecutions. These evidentiary initiatives have facilitated a shift towards so–called 'victimless' prosecution in the context of domestic violence which dispenses with victim participation. Drawing upon a 'freedom model' of criminal justice, this article examines whether recent developments in the United States might be emulated as a means of addressing the high rate of attrition in domestic violence cases in England and Wales.     

加强领导干部任期经济责任审计的思考

领导干部任期经济责任审计对于抑制腐败行为、加强对领导干部的监督管理、正确评价和使用领导干部、保护国家财产的安全完整、促进国有资产的保值增值等具有重要意义     

证据收集制度

我国在强调当事人举证责任的同时 ,对当事人收集证据的权利缺乏充分、有效的保障。本文在分析两大法系证据收集制度差异及其成因的基础上 ,对我国证据收集程序的运作方式、证据提供义务的范围及违反证据提供义务的制裁措施提出了自己的看法     

公务员行政责任追究立法研究

公务员行政责任追究立法是行政法制建设的重要环节。解决当前公务员行政责任追究制度不规范现象,必须加强公务员行政责任追究立法。公务员行政责任追究立法,在立法模式上应采用半统一立法模式,在立法思想上应贯彻宁疏勿密立法思想,在立法原则上应坚持教惩结合立法原则。     

测谎证据在民事诉讼中的应用

测谎技术是一种现代高科技的产物,我们既不能绝对排斥其在民事审判中的应用,使其游离于民事诉讼程序之外,也不能将其“神化”,将其视为冲破民事诉讼僵局的刹手锏。任何对案件事实的判断都要遵循基本的证明规律,如何在民事诉讼程序中理性地规范地运用测谎技术判断证据,不仅需要立法上进一步完善,也需要我们进一步深入地探索。     

行贿罪案件证据实务剖析

行贿罪案因其固有的“无现场”、“单线联系”和涉案主体的“共利共害”等特征 ,一直是司法实务的难点。行贿犯罪对转型期中国危害的严重性 ,使其成为司法工作的重点。从实证分析的角度 ,对该类案件的证据实务进行剖析 ,将为司法实务提供指导。