Great, four days' holiday for many and an excuse to eat and drink and be merry ...it's the Millennium extravaganza. Visit the limitless events and celebrate in a manner never experienced since the end of the Second World War. Why?

There is still as much unrest in the world as there was 2,000 years ago. There are civil wars all over the globe, poverty and starvation, pollution, the true proportions of which are, as yet, unrealised.

There are leaking nuclear plants, fumes from recently-bombed oil and chemical plants - not forgetting the legacy in conflict with Saddam Hussein - and Argentina, and no real indication that religious or political extremists can contain their emotions!

Rain forests are in decline and their former wild life. Then there's ailments and diseases for which no cure has been found, plus numerous new super viruses.

Not forgetting the computer chaos - and their viruses - and the expense!!And we celebrate!

Just because we can write 2000 rather than 1999. What kind of people are we?

Gordon Ross,

Huntington Road,

York.

...We are nearly halfway through 1999 and it seems that all major cities in Great Britain have the Millennium 'bug'.

I presume, even though there has been no official publication of events, City of York Council is planning a major licensed street party throughout the city. After all, it is the one night when everyone will have the party of their lives.

So, I want to know if the council plans to party, in the same way as the Edinburgh council does, and has done for many years?

Please let us know.

Miss C Swindlehurst,

Amber Street,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.