A «corrupção e a fraude» no espaço comunicacional português e europeu: contributo para uma visão interdisciplinar constitucional criminológica e jurídico-penal

As formas de definir «corrupção e fraude» são infinitas, pelo que a aplicação do Direito penal constitucional pode ficar prejudicada. A comunicação e o comentário público e política são por vezes feitos em termos profundamente equivocados. Recentemente, em Portugal, destacados políticos e comentadores chegaram a apelar à «criminalização do enriquecimento ilícito», nem que fosse com o sacrifício da própria Constituição ou do Estado de Direito. É a democracia que passa a estar em perigo. Ao mesmo tempo que se defende com fanatismo quase teológico o sistema económico capitalista, procura-se consagrar na lei a sua destruição. Ou seja, há uma certa demagogia política que quer ter tudo ao mesmo tempo como se isso fosse possível. Perante isto, resta ao cidadão comum agir se for necessário sob as possibilidades das causas de justificação e fazendo uso do direito constitucional de resistência. ABSTRACT Ways to define «corruption and fraud» are endless, so the application of constitutional criminal law may be impaired. The communication and public comment and politics are sometimes done in terms profoundly mistaken. Recently, in Portugal, prominent politicians and commentators have come to call the «criminalization of illicit enrichment» (embezzlement) even if it was at the sacrifice of the Constitution or the rule of law. It is democracy that happens to be in danger. At the same time it defends itself with almost theological fanaticism the capitalist economic system, seeking to enshrine in law its destruction. That is, there is a certain political demagoguery that wants to have everything at the same time as if that were possible. Given this, it remains to ordinary act if necessary under the scope of defenses and making use of the constitutional right of resistance.

Direito Fundamental de Iniciativa Privada, Branqueamento de Capitais e Terrorismo

1-Resumo: A iniciativa privada é um Direito humano fundamental que está consagrado nos ordenamentos jurídicos modernos. No caso português, na Constituição portuguesa. A Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos consagra o Direito à propriedade. E, por conseguinte, também a iniciativa privada. A iniciativa privada é tanto mais eficaz na sociedade, quanto mais democrático e livre for o Estado respectivo. A iniciativa privada está ligada ao financiamento público, mas também ao financiamento privado. Seja o financiamento de pessoas singulares, seja o financiamento de pessoas colectivas, organizações. O terrorismo pode ser financiado por outrem, assim como o terrorismo pode financiar actividades lícitas. Por acção ou por omissão. Assim, a isto tudo, está associado o ilícito de branqueamento de capitais. O crime de branqueamento pode ter por origem o crime de terrorismo e/ou o crime de organização terrorista. O branqueamento de capitais também pode servir para financiar o terrorismo. Neste contexto, se desenham zonas de contraste entre Direitos Humanos e Segurança. Entre crime e paz pública. Assim como se geram zonas de confluência entre Segurança e Direitos Humanos. O Direito Humano Fundamental à iniciativa privada e ao financiamento – passivo ou activo – pode sofrer restrições. As restrições podem existir desde que sejam proporcionais, adequadas, necessárias. Ou seja, as restrições têm que respeitar uma intervenção mínima. Assim, em nome da segurança, a prevenção do crime de terrorismo e do crime de branqueamento provoca novas dificuldades também ao próprio sistema económico capitalista. Provoca novas dificuldades ao Direito fundamental da iniciativa privada. Uma vez que o branqueamento de capitais, ou o próprio financiamento, podem estar associados ao crime de terrorismo.§ 1.1-Abstract: The private sector is a fundamental human right that is enshrined in modern legal systems. In the Portuguese case, in the Portuguese Constitution. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the right to property. And therefore also the private sector. The private sector is much more effective in society, if the state is more democratic and free. Private initiative is linked to the public funding, but also to private funding. It could be the financing of individual persons, but also the financing of legal persons, organizations. Terrorism can be financed by others, as well as terrorism can finance legal activities. By act or omission. Thus, all this is associated with money laundering. Money laundering may have been originated in the crime of terrorism and / or in the crime of terrorist organization. Money laundering may also be used to finance terrorism. In this context, we have conflict zones between human rights and security. Between crime and public peace. As well as generates confluence zones between security and human rights. The Fundamental Human Right to the private sector and its financing - passive or active - can be restricted. Restrictions would be acceptable if are proportionate, appropriate and necessary. In other words, restrictions must comply with minimum intervention. So in the name of security, the prevention of the crime of terrorism and the Money laundering causes new difficulties also to the capitalist economic system. Causes new problems to the fundamental right of private enterprise. Money laundering or the financing itself may be associated with terrorist crime. The question is also: what could do the criminal lawmaker?

Criminalidade Económica e Lavagem de Dinheiro: prevenção pela aprendizagem

1 – Resumo: a criminalidade económica tem uma relação muito próxima com o branqueamento de capitais ou lavagem de dinheiro. O sistema económico capitalista está relacionado de forma próxima com o branqueamento de capitais ou a lavagem de dinheiro. O branqueamento de vantagens – como por exemplo capitais -, é um crime que pode atingir um carácter mundial. Também o financiamento do terrorismo surge aqui com um papel importante. É muito importante punir a ilicitude do crime de branqueamento. Mas mais importante ainda é a prevenção do branqueamento de capitais. Neste sentido, o dever de formação é fundamental. E é um dever fundamental que é importante sobretudo no contexto de determinadas entidades. Entidades financeiras e entidades não financeiras. §1.1 Abstract: economic crime has a close relationship with money laundering. The capitalist economic system is related closely with money laundering. Bleaching of advantages - such as capital - is a crime that can reach a global nature. Also the financing of terrorism comes here with an important role. It is very important to punish the unlawfulness of laundering crime. But more important is the prevention of money laundering. In this sense, the duty of training is critical. It is a fundamental duty that is especially important in the context of certain entities. financial institutions and non-financial entities.

Criminalidade Económica e Lavagem de Dinheiro: prevenção pela aprendizagem

Resumo: a criminalidade económica tem uma relação muito próxima com o branqueamento de capitais ou lavagem de dinheiro. O sistema económico capitalista está relacionado de forma próxima com o branqueamento de capitais ou a lavagem de dinheiro. O branqueamento de vantagens – como por exemplo capitais – é um crime que pode atingir um carácter mundial. Também o financiamento do terrorismo surge aqui com um papel importante. É muito importante punir a ilicitude do crime de branqueamento. Mas mais importante ainda é a prevenção do branqueamento de capitais. Neste sentido, o dever de formação é fundamental. E é um dever fundamental importante sobretudo no contexto de determinadas entidades. Entidades financeiras e entidades não financeiras.§ Abstract: Economic crime has a close relationship with money laundering. The capitalist economic system is related closely with money laundering. Bleaching of advantages – such as capital – is a crime that can reach a global nature. Also the financing of terrorism comes here with an important role. It is very important to punish the unlawfulness of laundering crime. But more important is the prevention of money laundering. In this sense, the duty of training is critical. It is a fundamental duty that is especially important in the context of certain entities. financial institutions and non-financial entities.

Integrating environmental and economic life cycle analysis in product development: a material selection case study

Purpose Achieving sustainability by rethinking products, services and strategies is an enormous challenge currently laid upon the economic sector, in which materials selection plays a critical role. In this context, the present work describes an environmental and economic life cycle analysis of a structural product, comparing two possible material alternatives. The product chosen is a storage tank, presently manufactured in stainless steel (SST) or in a glass fibre reinforced polymer composite (CST). The overall goal of the study is to identify environmental and economic strong and weak points related to the life cycle of the two material alternatives. The consequential win-win or trade-off situations will be identified via a Life Cycle Assessment/Life Cycle Costing (LCA/LCC) integrated model. Methods The LCA/LCC integrated model used consists in applying the LCA methodology to the product system, incorporating, in parallel, its results into the LCC study, namely those of the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) and the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). Results In both the SST and CST systems the most significant life cycle phase is the raw materials production, in which the most significant environmental burdens correspond to the Fossil fuels and Respiratory inorganics categories. The LCA/LCC integrated analysis shows that the CST has globally a preferable environmental and economic profile, as its impacts are lower than those of the SST in all life cycle stages. Both the internal and external costs are lower, the former resulting mainly from the composite material being significantly less expensive than stainless steel. This therefore represents a full win-win situation. As a consequence, the study clearly indicates that using a thermoset composite material to manufacture storage tanks is environmentally and economically desirable. However, it was also evident that the environmental performance of the CST could be improved by altering its End-of-Life stage. Conclusions The results of the present work provide enlightening insights into the synergies between the environmental and the economic performance of a structural product made with alternative materials. Further, they provide conclusive evidence to support the integration of environmental and economic life cycle analysis in the product development processes of a manufacturing company, or in some cases even in its procurement practices.

DEVELOPMENT OF A MECHATRONIC SYSTEM FOR BEDRIDDEN PEOPLE SUPPORT

This work is developed in the context of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) and has, as main purpose, the development of a mechatronic system that allows caring of bedridden patients with ongoing medical care terminal (MCT), by a single person. This system allows higher autonomy in domiciliary care, safety, comfort and hygiene of bedridden patients. It contributes to a large increase in their quality of life as well as the ease of monitoring by providers of continuous care, which, in many cases, may be the family itself. The product includes an embedded processing interface for acquiring physiological data to support online monitoring. The development of this project was focused on improving the quality of life, autonomy, participation in social life and reducing healthcare costs in the area AAL. The developed societies currently face severe demographic changes: the world is aging at an unprecedented rate. In 2000, about 420 million people, or about 7 percent of the world population were over 65 years old. In 2050, that number will be near 1500 million people, about 16 percent of the world population. This demographic trend will be accompanied by the increase of people with physical limitations. This will impose new challenges for traditional health systems, not only for Portugal but also for all European countries. There is an urgent need to find solutions to improve the lives of people in their preferred environment by increasing their autonomy, self-confidence and mobility. Therefore, in the case of household scenarios, the provision of effective health services is of fundamental importance to the welfare and economic development of each country. This ongoing project aims to develop a mechatronic system to meet the diverse needs, namely: improving life, health care, safety, comfort, and remote monitoring of bedridden person.

Economic analysis of occupational risk prevention: a case study in a textile company

Work accidents affect business and society as a whole. Fewer accidents mean fewer sick leaves, which results in lower costs and less disruption in the production process, with clear advantages for the employer. But workers and their households bear also a significant burden following a work accident, only partially compen-sated by insurance systems. Furthermore, the consequences of work accidents to the State and Society need also to be considered. When an organization performs an integrated risk analysis in evaluating its Occupational Health and Safety Management System, several steps are suggested to address the identified risk situations. Namely, to avoid risks, a series of preventive measures are identified. The organization should make a detailed analysis of the monetary impact (positive or negative) for the organization of each of the measures considered. Particularly, it is also important to consider the impact of each measure on society, involving an adequate eco-nomic cost-benefit analysis. In the present paper, a case study in a textile finishing company is presented. The study concentrates on the dyeing and printing sections. For each of the potential risks, several preventive measures have been identified and the corresponding costs and benefits have been estimated. Subsequently, the Benefit/Cost ratio (B/C) of these measures has been calculated, both in financial terms (from the organisa-tion’s perspective) and in economic terms (including the benefits for the worker and for the Society). Results show that, while the financial analysis in terms of the company does not justify the preventive measures, when the externalities are taken into account, the B/C ratio increases significantly and investments are fully justified.

Economic evaluation of occupational safety preventive measures in a hospital

BACKGROUND: When an organization performs an integrated analysis of risks through its Occupational Health and Safety Management System, several steps are suggested to address the implications of the identified risks. Namely, the organization should make a detailed analysis of the monetary impact for the organization of each of the preventive measures considered. However, it is also important to perform an analysis of the impact of each measure on society (externalities). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to present a case study related to the application of the proposed economic evaluation methodology. METHODS: An analysis of the work accidents in a hospital has been made. Three of the major types of accidents have been selected: needle stings, falls and excessive strain. Following the risk assessment, some preventive measures have been designed. Subsequently, the Benefit/Cost ratio (B/C) of these measures has been calculated, both in financial terms (from the organization’s perspective) and in economic terms (including the benefits for the worker and for the Society). RESULTS: While the financial ratio is only advantageous in some cases, when the externalities are taken into account, the B/C ratio increases significantly. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider external benefits to make decisions concerning the implementation of preventive measures in Occupational Health and Safety projects