Eesti in brief - 2011-06-02

Child protection services found four starving small children living in filth together with dogs in a large apartment house in a small Estonian town a half a year ago in a case that shocked even the most hardened officials, writes Eesti Ekspress. The children, aged less than 1 year, 2 years, 4 years and 6 years, were neglected for days without food, they ate from the same bowl as the dogs the family kept, barked at strangers, peed in the corner like dogs and had never seen any toys. They were all suffering from malnutrition and were sick when they were found and were taken to a hospital, and later to an orphanage. The neighbors had repeatedly called the police for domestic disturbances. The mother of the children and her partner claimed that they had done nothing that bad. The children were for them a monthly income via child support and parents benefits which together amounted to 508 euros. A criminal investigation was launched.

The Estonian Riigikogu will start discussing a law amendment with which the European Union directive on cleanness of air in a city environment will be adopted into the Estonian legislation, which should make towns cleaner, reports Postimees Online. The government approved the corresponding draft law at its May 26 session. “There generally are no problems with air quality in Estonian towns, so the ceiling norms to be taken over with European laws will pose no difficulties for us,” Environment Minister Keit Pentus said. She said that the quality of air in central Tallinn requires the most attention. So far the Liivalaia Street area in central Tallinn has been the only one where air surveillance has ascertained that palliative substances have exceeded the required levels. “The more alternatives there will be for traveling through the center of the city, rather than sitting in a traffic jam, the better the air quality will be,” said Pentus.

The Estonian agriculture ministry announced that it supports the bill initiated by the opposition Center Party to ban alcohol advertising on TV, radio and outdoor media starting next year, reports Postimees Online. Pro Patria and Res Publica Union member, Agriculture Minister Helir-Valdor Seeder said in an opinion added to the bill, that the Agriculture Ministry considers it necessary to ban alcohol advertising on TV and radio programs and outdoor media, since despite the falling trend, consumption of alcohol is still very high in Estonia. “Consumption of alcohol in such volumes seriously endangers the health of people, harms our economy and burdens the healthcare and social system,” said Seeder. A study commissioned by the Agriculture Ministry and presented on May 10 indicated that alcohol consumption continues to decrease in Estonia, and last year 9.7 liters of absolute alcohol per inhabitant was consumed, which is 4 percent less than in 2009.