Letter: Date lines

IT IS bizarre that the group of worthies appointed to allocate pounds 1.6bn on projects to mark the turn of the century cannot think of anything to spend it on ('Millennium team fail to agree', 18 September). What are we celebrating? The date marks the 2000th anniversary of the birth of a Jewish boy who grew up, and died, under Roman rule. He healed the sick and taught that we should love our enemies and give wealth to the poor (including beggars). What, in a modern secular world, is the significance of this? There are other calendars but this one took over in Europe and spread through the world, far beyond the range of Christianity. The millennium could be marked by something that recognises the continuing need for healing, peace and economic justice.

Sebastian Kraemer

London SW2