THIS Sunday, at churches across Britain, congregations will be asked to dwell on the evil of racism.

For the tenth Racial Justice Sunday, organisers are asking Christians to join together in reflecting on the importance of racial justice, and pray for an end to misunderstanding, racism and injustice.

Last year, York Minster hosted a special service involving different ethnic communities in the diocese. This year the Minster isn't conducting such a service.

That is perhaps a little unfortunate considering the comments of the new Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. In the foreword to a book launched this month, he has repeated his belief that the Church of England is infected with institutional racism and is still a place of "pain" for many black Anglicans.

True, there is an exhibition of photographs on the theme of racial justice in the North Nave of York Minster until September 16.

Unfortunately, it will be long gone by the time Dr Sentamu is officially enthroned there on November 30.

WE have the final word on what Green Party councillor Andy D'Agorne described as "municipal graffiti" in Fulford.

Coloured paint markings appeared "as a result of a survey we commissioned earlier this month to identify the underground services in Fulford Cross and the Pupil Support Centre grounds," a memo from the council's highways department reveals.

"Regarding the markings," it goes on, "I am assured by the survey company that these are bio-degradable and they will fade and disappear after 5-6 weeks."

This has not satisfied Coun D'Agorne.

"As we have a problem with spray paint tagging on New Walk and the path through the allotments, and there are young people attending Danesgate who we are trying to put on the straight and narrow, this sends entirely the wrong message about respect for public property," he says.

He suggests returning to the old fashioned method of making notes on a scale plan.

AMERICAN desecrations of our language, number 917: US homeland security secretary Michael Chertoff told Fox News that New Orleans had to be evacuated while engineers "de-water" the city.

MIND you, there are plenty of annoying uses of the English tongue by English natives. "Phrases like 'at the end of the day...' and 'back to the draw-ring board' get my hackles up," confesses the Diary's friend Dale Minks.

But the worst linguistic crime of all, he says, "'appens to be dropped and additional letter h'aitches. H'if you know what h'I mean?"

THE written word has also taken a pummelling in a flyer being pushed through letterboxes in the Tadcaster Road area of York.

Offering a valet service for cars, caravans and houses, the company promises "exeptional cleaning" with a "reliable proffessional service".

Perhaps they ought to start by brushing up on their spelling.

Updated: 09:03 Thursday, September 08, 2005