Penang intends to enroll 75% of durian farms by 2026, as the emergence of varieties tastier than 'Black Thorn' stimulates interest in the durable fruit's cultivation.
On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, the twin bells at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral rang in unison for the first time since 1945. This poignant moment marked a symbol of healing, international cooperation, and a call for peace.
The cathedral, almost completely destroyed in the bombing, was rebuilt in 1959. However, only one of the cathedral's two bells was recovered from the rubble, leaving the northern tower silent for over seven decades.
This year, thanks to the efforts of James Nolan, an American university professor, and the generous contributions of US churchgoers, a new bell was constructed and restored to the tower. The new bell chimed today at 11:02 am, the exact moment the bomb was dropped on August 9, 1945.
The bell restoration was not just a historical event but also a living memorial that connects historical memory with ongoing aspirations for disarmament and coexistence. The participation of nearly 100 countries in the commemoration, including Russia and Israel, underscores the global desire to prevent nuclear war.
Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki urged the world to "stop armed conflicts immediately" during a moment of silence and ceremony. The cathedral's chief priest, Kenichi Yamamura, expressed that the bell's restoration symbolizes the greatness of humanity, embodying the willingness to forgive and rebuild.
Atsuko Higuchi, a Nagasaki resident, expressed happiness that everyone would remember the city's victims, while American Catholics showed compassion and sadness upon learning about the perseverance of Nagasaki's Christians after the atomic bomb, which killed 8,500 of the parish's 12,000 faithful.
Three days before the Nagasaki bombing, a nuclear attack occurred on Hiroshima. On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered, marking the end of World War II. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in the deaths of approximately 214,000 people combined.
Yamamura believes the bell's chimes serve as a message to the world, urging an end to violence and promoting peace. The restoration of the twin bells at Nagasaki’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral thus stands as a testament to the power of reconciliation, peace, and shared remembrance, as depicted in Shusaku Endo's novel Silence and Martin Scorsese's film adaptation in 2016.
The new bell was unveiled in Nagasaki in the spring, eliciting emotional responses from the community. Yamamura's vision for the bell's restoration was to create a symbol of hope and unity, a beacon of peace in a world plagued by conflict and nuclear arms tensions.
[1] Nagasaki Bell Project [2] Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony [3] Silence (novel) [4] Silence (film) [5] Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb
- The Nagasaki Bell Project, initiated by James Nolan, resulted in the restoration of a second bell at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, enhancing the cathedral's twin bells and symbolizing the global desire for peace and disarmament.
- The participation of various nations, including Russia and Israel, in the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony, underscores the universal plea to halt war-and-conflicts and foster general-news related to cooperation and reconciliation, reminiscent of Shusaku Endo's novel, Silence.
