Remember the needy

The last Christmas of the millennium should be a good one for most people in Sussex.

Britain is at peace and there is plenty of prosperity as the streets of every town are full of people buying last-minute presents.

We are fortunate to live in one of the best parts of a stable country where democracy is well established, natural disasters are rare and there is a good welfare system.

But as we prepare to enjoy the celebrations, let's spare a thought for millions of people throughout the world who are suffering.

In Venezuela up to 50,000 people may have died in that country' s worst ever natural disaster, caused by flooding.

Many more people have been dying each day in the bitter battle between Russia and the breakaway republic of Chechnya.

There are scores of countries where civil rights are almost non-existent and dozens in which people starve to death daily.

Even in Sussex there are many pockets of poverty amid the overall prosperity and those suffering from deprivation should not be forgotten, especially at this time.

That's why the Argus Christmas Appeal has been so successful over

the years at raising money for disadvantaged people, from children in Moulsecoomb to pensioners in Eastbourne.

Already this year, more than £36,000 has been collected through a series of events ranging from small jumble sales to glittering parties, and the final total is likely to top £40,000.

Every penny counts and goes straight to the people in need. There are no administration costs.

So a warm thank you to all our readers who made donations, large or small, to the appeal this year.

And a Merry Christmas to everyone. We'll be back with all the holiday news on Monday.

Ship in bad shape

The wreck of the Amsterdam, a Dutch East India Company sailing ship, has been lying on the beach off Hastings ever since it ran aground 250 years ago.

But it won't be there for much longer if action isn't taken quickly to stop a timber-eating seaworm called the toredo from munching its way through the historic remains.

Concerned shipwreck experts will have to persuade the Government in the Netherlands, which owns the Amsterdam, that something should be done.

They'll have to talk to the officials concerned like a Dutch uncle.

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