16 APRIL 2005, Page 23

Global perspectives

From Tom Aitken Sir: Charles Moore, in a fit of boyish enthusiasm, proclaims that ‘there is no important organisation based in Western Europe, other than the Catholic Church, which truly has a global perspective’ (The Spectator’s Notes, 9 April). A moment’s reflection throws up a candidate or two: Amnesty International and the World Health Organisation for starters. And, in Moore’s specialist field of interest, what about the Salvation Army? What is the force of ‘important’ and ‘truly’ in his assertion?

Tom Aitken

Richmond, Surrey