THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE BRAZILIAN SUPREME FEDERAL COURT: ANALYSIS OF REAL CASES

Resumo

The Supreme Federal Court, STF, is the guardian of the Constitution of Brazil (article 102, caput, Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988). Accordingly, we understand it is appropriate to study how the Brazilian Supreme Court has been judging specific subjects regarding constitutional matters, especially the ones inherent to the protection of the environment, analyzing the solutions which were adopted in each highlighted case. Indeed, the current article aims to analyze three relevant real cases in particular, which were all examined by the Supreme Court: the traditional "cockfights", the import of used and remolded tires and the Criminal Responsibility of the Juridical Person in what regards the protection of the environment. To accomplish it, we also bring to light the variety of assertions used when these cases were judged by the Court, allowing, thus, the identification of a Political-Legal view over this very important subject.

Keywords: Environmental Law. Sustainable Development. Precautionary Principle. Social and Environmental Responsibility.