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Tuesday, 8 May 2012 |
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Scientifically, diamond is a crystalline form of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamonds have been used by humans for millennia, and have often been regarded as the ultimate precious stone. They have given rise to entire industries, conflicts as well as many artistic creations and designs. Today, we offer you a glimpse into the world of diamonds. 1. Although diamonds have been used by humans for over 6,000 years, it was only in 1772 that a well known French chemist proved that it is made entirely of carbon. This scientist used a lens to concentrate the rays of the sun on a diamond in an atmosphere of oxygen, and showed that the only product of the burning was carbon dioxide -- proving that diamond is composed of carbon. Who was this scientist? 2. Diamond is the hardest known natural material on the Earth. There is a scientific scale where hardness of materials is defined as the resistance to scratching and is graded between 1 (softest) and 10 (hardest). Diamond has a hardness of 10 (hardest) on this scale. What is this scale called -- named after the German geologist and mineralogist who created it in 1812? 3. 'Blood Diamond' refers to a diamond mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading army's war efforts, or a warlord's activity. This is mostly in Africa where around two thirds of the world's diamonds are found. During the 1980s, it was estimated that as much as 20 per cent of the world's total diamond production was being sold for illegal purposes - most of it to fund conflicts. In June 1998, United Nation (UN) Security Council resolutions 1173 and 1176 banned the purchase of such diamonds originating from Angola. But an illegal trade continued, so the UN appointed a Canadian diplomat to investigate. In 2000, he produced a report which named countries, organisations and individuals involved in the trade of conflict diamond. Who was this diplomat?
4. The UN-commissioned report on blood diamonds in 2000 led directly to the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1295 in April 2000, which imposed severe penalties on those possessing diamonds originating from conflict ridden Angola. Soon afterwards, the diamond producing countries of southern Africa held a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, to plan how the trade in conflict diamonds could be stopped. They also wanted to assure and buyers of diamonds that their diamonds have not contributed to violence. What name is given to the international process, adopted in 2003, designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources which are free of any conflicts funded by diamond production? 5. A London-based international human rights advocacy group was one of the first organisations to bring the issue of 'conflict diamonds' to international attention. In 1998, they produced a report titled 'A Rough Trade: The Role of Companies and Governments in the Angolan Conflict' in which they exposed the role of the international diamond trade in funding the Angolan Civil War. This triggered an international outcry, UN Security Council Resolutions and the diamond trade itself taking remedial action. The 1998 report was partial inspiration for the film 'Blood Diamond'. What is this non-political advocacy group, which was co-nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for its work on conflict diamonds? 6. Blood Diamond is also the name of a 2006 political thriller film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou. The film was nominated for five Oscar Awards in 2006, but won none. Co-produced and directed by Edward Zwick, the film shows a country torn apart by the struggle between government soldiers and rebel forces. The story unfolds against the backdrop of which real conflict in Africa? 7. May 2012 marks the 70th anniversary of the mutiny by Ceylonese (Lankan) soldiers against their British officers on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. This incident happened on May 8, 1942 during the Second World War when 30 out of 56 personnel of the Ceylon Garrison Artillery on Horsburgh Island in the Cocos Islands mutinied. They tried to seize control of the islands and disable the British garrison. It was claimed that they planned to transfer the islands to the Empire of Japan. But the mutiny was short-lived and quelled within the hour. Many mutineers were punished, and the three leaders were executed. They were the only British Commonwealth servicemen to be executed for mutiny during the Second World War. Who was the leader of the mutiny who was executed in August 1942 after court martial?
8. This Lankan photographer is the best known among those involved in reproducing photographically the rich heritage of Buddhist temple paintings in Sri Lanka. Beginning in 1979, and supported by the Lever Brothers Cultural Conservation Trust (LBCT), he has travelled extensively around the island, photographing murals of dozens of temples, some located in deep jungle. Some of the murals he photographed no longer exist as ancient buildings have since collapsed. Most of his documentation is stored at the National Archives of Sri Lanka while his personal collection exceeds 10,000 colour negatives and transparencies. Who is he? 9. Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer and Sean Young. It depicts a dystopian Los Angeles in the near future of 2019, and has been acclaimed for its production design, depicting a 'retrofitted' future, and has assumed the status of a cult film over the years. The screenplay is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Name the American novelist and short story who wrote that original work, and whose science fiction explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes where monopolistic corporations and authoritarian governments dominate or rule.
10. The Sinhala film Nidhanaya (The Treasure; 108 min, 1972) revolves around a psychotic killer yet is an underlying serious political study on the degradation of a class of society. Its director Lester James Peries feels that Nidhanaya had a near perfect combination of acting, photography, editing and scripting, which is very rare. The movie won the Silver Lion of St Mark (Critics Choice) at the Venice International Film Festival in 1972, and was selected as one of the outstanding films of the year at the London Film Festival. It was also voted as the best film of the first 50 years of Sri Lankan cinema. Tissa Abeysekera wrote the script of this film based on a short story by which well known Lankan fiction writer? 11. As Minister of Education in the State Council of Ceylon, C W W Kannangara (1884 - 1969) introduced extensive reforms to the education system during the 1940s. These benefitted thousands of underprivileged students, especially in rural areas, by making education free for all students. He also began the central schools scheme, which established high quality secondary schools in different parts of the country. What was the first central school established under this scheme, in 1943?
12. A well known Russian writer arrived in Ceylon in November 1890 as part of a wider oceanic trip, and although he stayed only for three days and two nights, what he experienced impressed him deeply. He wrote: "Then there was Ceylon - the place where Paradise was located. Here, in Paradise, I covered more than 100 miles by railway and was sated up to the neck with palm forests and bronze-skinned women." Who was this writer? 13. What is the oldest government department in Sri Lanka, which was Established in August 1800? 14. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, written by John le Carre in 1974, was the first novel of what he called the Karla Trilogy. Its second novel was The Honourable Schoolboy (1977). What was the third novel, published in 1979? 15. This Belarusian gymnast (former Soviet artistic gymnast) was the
last man to impress in a single summer Olympic game before Michael
Phelps did so in 2004 and 2008. He dominated the 1992 Olympics in
Barcelona, winning six gold medals out of eight events: gold in team
event, the all around, pommel horse (tie), rings, vault and parallel
bars. Only Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz have won more gold medals in a
single Games, and only Phelps and Eric Heiden have won as many
individual gold medals (five) at a single Games. Who is this athlete?
Last week’s answers1. King Vattagamini Abhaya, also called King Valagamba |
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