November 7, 2005

Our fifth issue of OK is now being distributed.  Over 30,000 issues have been printed and are distributed freely to Estonian youth. Estonia has one of the highest incidences of teen alcoholism in Europe. LifeNets has helped as sponsor--you can see below our listed with other sponsors.  We are pleased that for this issue the Estonian government has paid a much greater portion that previously, helping to fulfil LifeNets mission to help people get started and become self-sufficient. 

September 21, 2005

June 1, 2005

This May the fourth edition of the youth paper OK was released by the Estonian Temperance Union. With circulation of 30,000 the paper brought the temperance subject again to the schools all over Estonia.

Lauri Beekman with son Samuel (future editor) and the latest (May 2005) edition of Ole Kaine

Schools are becoming more more used to the paper that is released every autumn and spring. One of the main concerns for us has been the fact that getting to the small rural schools has been too expensive and difficult. This time we have improved our cooperation with the local social- and health workers who have been a great help to us. The more we work with the Temperance Union the more we see cooperation with different NGO's and local specialists which is vital for success. OK is a brilliant tool to improve that cooperation. It can be used by various organizations that are involved in the youth work.

OK is also still the central project in Temperance Union. For our local organizations it is an important tool to make connections with the schools. One of our members in Kehra area, Kaarel Aruste, took several hundreds papers to small country schools. “The principals of these schools took those papers with gratitude and asked for more,” told Aruste. I have 200 papers for him to take them to some more small schools.

We have many letters from young people. Many of them are writing about their life, how alcohol use has been affected their life and their family. One teenager girl began her letter with following words: “Hi, dear editors of the OK paper! I read the last paper with great interest, because I believe that the subjects that are covered there are very actual for youth these days. So I decided to write to you. I think you can call it my life story….” This is only one of the letters. And I believe that most of the reactions will never reach us.   

Last week the Estonian Institute of Economic Research published data about consumption in 2004. Estonians drink 13.5 liters absolute alcohol per capita. In 2003 the number was 13.1. So it still increases.

In 1996, the year before the government began its alcoholism and drug abuse prevention program, about 1,500 people died as a consequence of drink-related incidents or illnesses. That's three times the European average. The program was planned from 1997-2007. The program was not successful or it seems that alcoholism is no longer a priority for the Estonian government. Last year the program was cancelled. As of January 2005, it has been replaced by the National Drug Prevention Strategy. This year the state budget has no direct funds for alcohol prevention. 

The Fall 2004 edition of OK

In this situation the help that LifeNets has provided for Estonian Temperance Union is especially important and valued.

A couple of months ago a new member stepped into our ranks. He is a professional book designer and with him we plan to improve OK-s layout and design. Also we see that the circulation number should be bigger. Still many-many schools only hear about the paper but will never see it.

Once again, many thanks to LifeNets for its help. Without it OK could not be published.

Lauri Beekmann
Executive director of the Estonian Temperance Union

 
Updated May 10, 2004
Posted March 31, 2004

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Lauri Beekman of Tartu, Estonia is developing a pilot project, a newspaper to youth called  “OK – Ole Kaine!” (Ole - Be Kaine - sober) about alcohol abuse. It will cover all of Estonia. LifeNets is helping sponsor this program.

During the last 10 years the use of alcohol has doubled among young people ages 11-15. Alcohol problems have grown also in Estonia. Every year in Estonia there are about 1500-2500 alcohol related deaths. 60% of injuries are connected with the alcohol use. According to the research conducted in Estonia in 1999, 85% of young people have used alcohol.

The goal of the paper is to inform youth about the dangers and results of alcohol use. Through interviews, feature stories, statistics, OK will show cause and result of alcohol use and will encourage young people to set positive goals for their lives and to do their best to achieve those goals. As an example, Lauri Beekman will present well-known people through interviews who can say that if they would have been using alcohol or drugs they would not have been able to achieve the things they did.

Longterm aim is to advance a healthy lifestyle among young people. Also the program will improve their knowledge about the use of these substances.

First issue of the paper was printed in early November 2003 and was distributed without cost. Lauri himself went from school to school personally delivering the newspaper. The plan is to prepare the periodical with the help of the educational departments of the counties and local sponsors.

The list of people people who Lauri is working with in Estonia is impressive. The front page story is an interview with Indrek Pertelson of Tallinn who won the silver medal in world championships in judo last August in Japan. In the Sidney Olympic Games he won the bronze medal. He is a great example for Estonia's youth. He was glad to help with the OK cause.  

Professor Rein Taagepera is working at Tartu University for half a year and half a year in California . In 1992 ran for president of Estonia. He has written about youth and alcohol and how it affects the future of a young person.

Then there is Dr. Enno Kross. For years he has worked in ER. He has seen how alcohol has ruined the lives of hundreds of people. He write in such a way that no reader can stay indifferent.

Then here is a young student, Elina Raska, who is brilliant artist. She is drawing cartoons for the paper. These funny, but true message pictures that are just impossible to ignore.

Then there is high school student Laura, who gathered her friends who did an interesting forum-interview about what youth think about alcohol.

Then here is Heinrich Lukk. He is professional nature photographer, who won last year nature photo of the year award. He made a very interesting poster, that is on back page of the paper.

Then Lauri found an inmate who is 26 years old and has been imprisoned for eight years more. He is a murderer. He writes how the alcohol has infected him from his days of youth. He committed this crime also when he was drunk.
 inmate.
 
The biggest bank in the Baltic states - Hansapank, asked for a ad space in OK.  Through that we hope to get funding for the next issue.

On December 1, 2003 Lauri reported that OK was doing a fine job with lots of feedback from schools who want more. At the official level OK has been received well, too. The Education Department of Estonia are saying that they are glad that somebody is doing this!

Lauri had submitted the paper to the public health department that is under the social department and asked about help with financing future editions. While they could fund the next six issues as Lauri had hoped, he was able to get funding for one more issue. That news came on March 5, 2004.

Expected results of this program are:

•  to improve the understanding how the alcohol affects one’s life and achieving goals
•  to help to make an independent decision to stay sober
•  to help youngsters have the courage to be different
•  to set good role models (athletes, policemen etc)
•  to become an alternative for the mass media that promotes alcohol use
•  to help a young person understand the link between cause and effect
•  to spread temperance work in Estonia
•  to cooperate with firms and other organizations

•  to make the paper popular among youngsters and through it introduce them the life of temperance
•  launch the OK - Ole Kaine (Be Sober) interactive webpage, where it would be possible to ask questions and help, play online games, read articles etc.
•  to start the OK-groups in schools, churches and youth centers, where young people could spend time without alcohol. These groups should become local support groups.
•  Produce posters and flayers (ads against alcoholism, informative, attractive)
•  Organize camps, where kids could get a memorable experience. Sports, hiking, games, group studies etc.
•  Produce a study book for schools.
•  To start a full-time rehabilitation center.
•  To find support group from the Estonian Parliament.

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On January 7, 2004 Lauri Beekman submitted the following report

Its OK to Be Sober

A small northern country, Estonia has one of the highest alcohol consumption per person in the world. According to the recent research the population of Estonia diminishes fastest in the world. Suicide rate is one of the highest in our beautiful country.

These are the problems that we have to face when we are moving towards the European Union. In northern countrys, like also Finland, Sweden and Denmark people tend to drink not only to have some fun and to ease ones thirst, but out of the lack of meaning of life and to drown the everyday problems. 60% of the injuries in Estonia are connected with alcohol. Nation that has 1,4 million inhabitants, loses 2500 people every year through accidents that are connected with alcohol use. More and more young people are starting to drink very early in their lives. From there they are moving to drugs and also HIV, that is becoming a big issue in our society.

Alcohol policy in Estonia is very liberal. You can buy alcohol in gas stations and almost in every store you are stepping in. Capital of Estonia, Tallinn, has as much liquor stoes as there are in the whole Finland, our neighoring, much bigger, country.

Estonia has been a free country only the past 13 years. For 50 years we were under the Soviet rulership. Although drunkenness was very usual during those times, people tend to think about Soviet regime when they are told about temperance and chastity. But couple of years ago the Temperance Union was reorganised and we decided to do something about the situation our nation is in.

In November, last year, we published the first issue of the paper that is focused for the young people. And in that project the LifeNets is coming in. With the help of LifeNets and namely Lilya Wagner, Victor Kubik and Johnnie Lambert, we were able to print the paper that is called OK (Ole Kaine - Be Sober) with the circulation of 30 000. This is the same number that the second largest newpaper has in Estonia. Our goal was to give the youngsters some good examples and help them to think what does it take to achieve ones lifegoals. Olympic silver in judo Indrek Pertelson, who is a big name for every young boy, said in the front page that if he would have wasted his life on alcohol or drugs, he would have achieved nothing. These are the statements that we hope help the youngsters to start to think.

We shared those papers in the schools, all over the Estonia. They were free for young people. I myself was taking the papers to the schools and I saw the reaction of the teachers and the schoolprincipals. They were very thankful and impressed. They admitted that it was something that our pupils need. From one school I heard that pupils were reading the paper in the hallways and they asked later when the next edition is coming. Well, we hope that soon enough.

Of course we have no illusions that we could solve the drinking problem among our youth just through this paper. Of course not. But we are certain that it makes a difference, helps young people to think better thoughts fot their future and for the future of our nation.

I´am very thankful to LifeNets and to the persons that I mentioned earlier for the help that they provided and I hope that we can continue this most pleasant cooperation.

Lauri Beekmann
Editor of the OK paper

On April 13, 2004 Lauri Beekman writes:

Lauri Beekman produces five nightly radio programs weekly on Pere Raadio, a Christian family radio station in Tartu, Estonia. He also produces the Christian News on this station. Lauri also edits the Adventist Church magazine and church's youth magazine in addition to his work with OK.