To celebrate the Christmas peace of one born in poverty nearly 2000 years ago, the 1999 countdown to the Millennium has begun and will lead to the biggest spending and drinking spree ever known to the westernised world.

What an obscene gesture to the poorer nations of the world, crying out to be forgiven their debts to avaricious western banks.

An infectious madness from the Dome and more locally, the military spending millions on a recreation park, while closing a hospital and in the same breath, planning a nationwide reduction of churches and chapels for servicemen and their families.

Happy Millennium God, from the MOD!

Not only do the poor need to be forgiven their debts, but what of forgiveness for each and every one of us?

Who has not some ache, regret or sorrow for which the Millennium party can do nothing to forgive, so what is the real point of it all, without us becoming happier in ourselves and at peace, within the family of humankind, born nearly two thousand years ago?

Coun Tony Pelton,

High Green,

Catterick Village,

N Yorks.

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