In the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo, ambulance driver and paramedic Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel has been caring for homeless animals since 2013 in what was rebel-held eastern Aleppo. Aljaleel has become known as the “Cat Man of Aleppo” —a symbol of resilience and compassion amid war and devastation.
When people fled their neighborhoods, Aljaleel says, the cats started to come to his area, as he was already feeding strays. Fleeing families would drop their cats off with him before leaving the city in search of safety. Over time, the number of cats grew from six or seven to more than 170 felines.
Aljaleel said his aim was originally to protect, feed and keep the animals healthy, but then children would come to play with them, too. It was not just cats, either: Aljaleel would also take care of stray dogs, feeding them and providing them basic veterinary care.
Photo: Reuters
照片:路透社
Then, in November, bombs struck the shelter, and most of the cats inside were killed. Aljaleel was forced to flee the city with just a handful of the survivors, and rebuilt the shelter in the countryside west of Aleppo.
His new house is home to about 25 cats. But for Aljaleel and the people who visit it, it is more than just a cat sanctuary. “It seeks to erase the war from children’s minds,” he said. “Caring for the cats is a gateway to bringing goodwill to the country and build it around being more merciful.”
(Liberty Times, translated by Lin Lee-kai)
Photo: Reuters
照片:路透社
敘利亞大城阿勒坡屢遭戰火摧殘,一名救護車司機及護理人員艾力賈里,從二○一三年開始,就在阿勒坡東部照料無家可歸的流浪動物,持續至今餵養過無數貓咪,因此他被譽為「阿勒坡貓男」,在戰爭和破壞中展現出人類的韌性和善良。
艾力賈里說,當烽火連天時,人們陸續逃離社區,但貓咪卻聚集到他的社區來,因為他之前已經在餵食一些流浪貓。要逃離阿勒坡的家庭也會把貓咪託他看顧。接著貓兒數量從六、七隻,增加到驚人的一百七十多隻。
他的目標是保護、飼養和照顧貓咪,小孩們也會來庇護所與貓兒玩耍。除了喵星人之外,艾力賈里也收留了流浪狗,日常餵食之外還幫牠們做了一些基本的獸醫護理。
然而,去年十一月庇護所遭炸彈襲擊,大部分的貓咪都罹難了。艾力賈里被迫離開,跟倖存的幾隻貓搬到阿勒坡西部的一處農村,重建動物庇護所。
艾力賈里現在和貓兒的新家共有二十五隻喵星人,他認為這裡不僅是一個貓的保護區,更可以「讓兒童消除心中的戰爭陰影」他說,「照顧貓咪是一個帶來良善的方式,讓這個國家更充滿慈悲」。
(自由時報)
Rice is an essential ingredient in Taiwanese cuisine. Many foods are made of rice, adding more variety to our cooking, such as rice cake, or “gui.” Wagui is made by steaming rice flour batter in a bowl. The term “gui” refers to a type of food made from rice, while “wa” refers to a bowl. The pronunciation of “gui” in Taiwanese Hokkien is similar to the word for “nobility” in Chinese, so it is common for people to prepare various types of gui, including wagui, as offerings to the gods or ancestors,. 米是台灣重要的主食,用米製成的食品十分多元,豐富我們的飲食,如米做成的「粿」。粿的意思是米做成的糕點,碗粿是將在來米漿倒入碗中蒸熟,因而得名。粿因為音同「貴」,因此碗粿等粿食常用作供品祭拜神明和祖先。 nobility (n.) 高貴,高尚;貴族 offering (n.) 供品 While Taiwan may not be
It’s no secret that Japanese people have a deep affection for noodles. Like in the rest of East Asia, noodles are an important staple food, second only to rice. Japanese people have enjoyed noodles for over 1,000 years. The first noodles came from China and were introduced around 800 CE. As time passed, noodles in Japan not only became widespread but also developed some unique Japanese characteristics. The three most popular types of noodles in Japan are ramen, soba, and udon. Ramen, typically made from wheat flour, is usually thin and firm. The dough is kneaded and left to
On Tuesday last week, the flame for this summer’s Paris Olympics was lit at the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games in southern Greece in a meticulously choreographed ceremony. It will then be carried through Greece for more than 5,000km before being handed over to French organizers at the Athens venue used for the first modern Olympics in 1896. The pageantry at Olympia has been an essential part of every Olympics for nearly 90 years since the Games in Berlin. It’s meant to provide an ineluctable link between the modern event and the ancient Greek original on which it was initially modelled. Once
Continued from yesterday(延續自昨日) https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang As with many aspects of Japanese culture, there is etiquette to follow when you enjoy noodles. To fully experience noodles like a local on your next visit to Japan, consider these simple guidelines. First, be careful where you put your chopsticks. Don’t leave them sticking up in the broth or set them at the side of the bowl. When you have finished eating or if you’re taking a break, place them on the chopstick rest next to the bowl. Also, it is impolite to wave chopsticks around or bring them above mouth-level. Second, don’t take too