This page presents the following:

1) Abstracts of some of my Research Papers I wrote on various issues and topic. Additional works are available upon request.  

2) List of Action Plans I have written of interest to school management bodies and educationists.

3) List of training, writing and research services available for interested parties.  

            A.    NATIONAL SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS & TERRORISM

1. Understanding NBC Weapons in the context of contemporary terrorism (2003) (Thesis Work)

Unconventional weapons: nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC), have always been of utmost concern to the security of states. Alongside the contemporary threat of terrorism, the possibility of terrorist groups obtaining NBC weapons and then employing them for causing mass casualties are only too probable. Post Cold War terrorists have exhibited unpredictability and inconsistency in both their intentions and actions. This factor, combined with the lethality of NBC Weapons means that NBC terrorism pose real unprecedented dangers to states and thus warrants further study. This paper argues that scientific principles provide the basis for the analysis of military impact by NBC weapons. This analysis is relevant and essential for formulating sensible counter NBC strategies. It also seeks to communicate that the NBC terrorist threat is real and that scientific-based military analysis is relevant in emphasis of the magnitude of the contemporary NBC terrorist threat.

2.      The changing role of the Navy in the 21st century

The navy has, more often than not, been accorded less than its deserved place in historical mention and in strategic considerations by politicians. This is because majority of decisive wars and battles dictating political outcomes were fought on land. Naval activities and operations warranting mention usually are tied to combined operations with land-based forces, and later, with the invention of the airplane, air forces. This paper argues that there is a tendency for decline of the naval role in determining international affairs in the post–modern world if seen from the perspective of naval history. This decline stems from the reduction of the navy from its primary function of fighting other naval fleets to playing a supporting role to ground based forces in the waging of modern wars. Other factors, such as the inherent high economic costs in fleet maintenance, help contribute to national decisions in curtailing the navy’s power. However, this paper also argues that the navy still remains vital in the projection of power into overseas theatres of conflict within the international arena. The following sections make regular contrasts and comparisons of strategy, tactics and other characteristics between navies, sea based forces, and armies, land based forces. And lastly, there is a need for re-defining its functional role in order to be still of relevance to national security issues.

3.      An Analysis of Islamic Radicalism – Part (2) – Dissecting A Warrior Culture

In the 2010s, the rise to power of the Islamic State of Iraq & Syria (ISIS) is looked upon with alarm, with good reasons. Its success in establishing a considerable power base, as well as the great difficulty in the public relations war in overturning the high moral ground claimed by its militant Islamic message, may well convince local populations under ISIS control to pragmatically support the new de facto regime, giving support to the former’s deviant Islamic doctrine.

The ISIS advocates restoring an Islamic historical caliphate, where an austere form of strict Islamic rule, will be imposed. It poses a threat to the world not because of terrorism itself, but because of the war-like message it advocates, just as its leader, Abu Nakr al Baghdadi, expressed through the Internet, using metaphorical language, such as “erupting volcanoes of jihad everywhere.”

Barbaric and disturbing crimes against humanity may be dismissed by sympathizers of ISIS as being inevitably tragic consequences of war, and ironically, further ridicules the impotence of ISIS’s enemies in being hapless.

In reality, the ISIS’s ideology is not simply a public defender of Islam, but a means of a new, militarized elite, to gain power through war-like means against all other entities disagreeing with its doctrine because the very legitimacy of the group’s rights to political rule is in waging continuous war against all its enemies, as “enemies of Islam”.

This paper is the second half in analyzing Islamic Radicalism and its links to terrorism. It seeks to provide some suggestions in ending the threat of terrorism but without allocating any blame to Islam itself, as the religion does indeed teach good moral and social values.

The aims of the paper are firstly, to analyze in detail the Islamic warrior ethos and culture through historical and cultural lenses. Secondly, to introduce a conceptualized framework for analyzing military conflicts using six variable interrelated factors. Lastly, to suggest some possible strategies to combat the contemporary threat posed by ISIS.

There is a need to think beyond conventional strategies in combating the threat against ISIS and terrorism, possibly spanning several decades or generations. It is necessary to adopt a two-pronged approach.

Firstly, governments must have the will to impose measures separating the practice of Islam with social and political issues.

Secondly, English-medium, non-religious international education should be implemented widely in place of religious teaching in madrassah schools. This is the key to changing the social mindset in the next generation of Muslim youth from the influences of radical Islam.  

To conclude, much as many non-aligned countries might not like to be involved in the ISIS issue, other nation-states besides USA and the West must also make a concerted effort to support a war against the ISIS, be it through direct or indirect means. 

2. ECONOMIC, BUSINESS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
1. Eric’s Analytical Matrix for Decision Making

Decision making is a major and common aspect in our everyday lives and most importantly, in management. Because one must often decide based on a mental review of information in hand at the point of time, this is often not the best possible solution to coming to a conclusion to make a correct decision.

Eric’s Analytical Matrix of Six Factors is a conceptual framework of reviewing an option for decision making based on six inter-related factors - Technology, Materials, Morale, Training, Strategic Leadership and Organisation. These quantifiable Factors, on a scale of 1 to 10, can be arranged on the six points of a Hexagon, with Factors that are opposing or compensating for the other placed at opposite ends of the Hexagon. Both options can then be placed in a tabular form listing the 6 factors in a comparative manner. Qualitative analysis can then follow if desired.

Originally conceived to analyse the outcomes of conflicts in the study of Warfare, Eric’s Analytical Matrix can also be applied for other issues and problems. The paper presents the Matrix applied to the topics of Warfare and Education to demonstrate clearly illustrated work examples with the optional detailed qualitative analyses that follow, listed in the Appendix section of the paper. Eric’s Matrix provides a more even, organized and structural approach to reaching an informed decision between two or more options based on the consideration of 6 above-mentioned factors. It is a convenient tool for decision making for management and also provides a concise format of presentation and can be used as a tool for Report Writing.

2.      An Analysis of the Energy Scarcity Issue in the 21^st Century

 High level international conferences held in recent years on climate change, drew world attention to a worrying issue – climate change. In fact, global warming, is tied closed to two other pressing issues – dwindling oil stocks and a future food scarcity.

The root of the problem of global warming was not without cause, and is the inevitable consequence of the avarice of humankind. The current debate is never about why there is the phenomenon of climate change, but on the more practical concern of how to prevent it.

Oil, as a convenient form of stored energy means, is consumed at an alarming rate mostly for mass industrialization and security. The former, being productive, quickly became seen and economic progress for emerging nation-states, displacing agriculture as the core means of wealth generation. The latter, as a justification for deterrence against aggression, a means of preventing war, is regarded as no less important by national governments today.

This paper looks at the possible consequences of climate change which will inevitably occur in 21^st century. It also examines the contemporary issue of concern of dwindling oil resources, the argument of un-necessary expenditure for the sake of security, and the likely consequences of food shortage due to global warming. Lastly, it puts forward some alternative ways, such as turning to high tech and fish farming, as some possible means to provide solutions for mankind on how best to adapt to the new geo-political  environment.

The energy scarcity issue, with its links to global warming and declining food production will be here to stay with humanity, and to ignore it and think that the future will take care of itself, is just plain wishful thinking. However, if mankind acts today, it is not too late to adapt and make the best of an adverse situation, that the next generation of humanity can still inherit a still hospitable Earth.  

3. The role of capitalism in modern history: Does capitalism precipitate wars?

Capitalism is a force that is undeniably influential in the contemporary world. An interesting question of concern to mankind today is whether capitalism is ultimately responsible for creating wars in modern history. The argument and the conclusion to this question to ponder is that mankind has been fighting wars long before the concept of capitalism attained its modern, conceptual framework. Instead, contrasting ideologies such as imperialism, fascism, communism and globalization existing alongside capitalism, provide convenient veneers with which to justify man’s actions for initiating armed conflicts. Meanwhile, capitalism and its companion political ideology, democracy, are examined in the framework of 20th century history in a chronological style of writing. Nevertheless, capitalism provides no necessary or concrete answers to all the problems faced by the world today. Indeed, it may well be the root cause of new issues tomorrow. Global recession recurring time and again since the 20th century proved that capitalism as an ideology is far from perfect, and modern wars are nevertheless fought over economic reasons, justified by ideology, religion or political-ethnic reasons

4. The erosion of Chinese culture in the modern context

This paper examines the phenomenon of Chinese culture and traditional values being gradually and irrevocably lost. What only remains is the existence of the vast billions of ethnic Chinese all over the world, the Mandarin language and only other more practical aspects of Chinese culture that could be adapted to modern life, such as cuisine. Traditional arts such as calligraphy, speech patterns, moral values, poetry, opera and traditional costumes are slowly fading away over decades of modernization since 1911. The causes for the gradual and inevitable erosion of things Chinese are discussed. The erosion of Chinese culture in the modern context is not a phenomenon that can be halted easily, even by state governments with national resources at its disposal. However, practical and good aspects of it certainly can still be preserved. Indeed, with the Chinese perchance of adaptability and assimilation, aspects of “Chineseness” are utterly at the free will of the modern Chinese people whether to be retained or discarded.

3. EDUCATIONAL AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

1.      The Rise of English as a Global Language

The true origins of the English Language are obscured in the mists of time. Robert McCrum argued that the English Language debuted, not in England itself, but on Danish soil.  Like an evolving micro-organism, Old English was an amalgam of now-defunct Indo-European languages such as Norse or old Germanic dialects. However, contemporary English is arguably an increasingly important language; a common global tool of interaction and communication in today’s Age of Information.  

The last four centuries played no small part in the rise of the English Language on the world stage for mankind. Better nautical technology prompted increased interactions for trade and commerce during the Renaissance Period. In Britain, cradle of the English Language, the Industrial Revolution spearheaded the world’s first modernization phase and historical turning points.. 

The development of the subsequent British Empire and the Allies’ victories in the two World Wars, helped ensure the survival of English in the 20^th century. Interestingly, had the Axis Powers won World War Two, Japanese, and not English, would likely be the de facto language of South East Asia today. English eventually took hold in most lands that came under the sway of the Union Jack. However, if colonisation motivates the spread of a language, then should not the collapse of empires lead to abrupt extinction of the conquerors’ languages in the subject peoples? Such seemed to be the case for the French, Dutch, Japanese and Chinese Empires. English, however, remained widely spoken in most Commonwealth countries even in post-independence eras. It is a testament of the survivability of this language.

2.      A contrastive analysis between English and Mandarin

The rising demographics of speakers of two languages, English and Mandarin, make the study of their linguistic differences and similarities of interest, in particular, in multi-lingual, English-speaking Singapore, and Mandarin-speaking China. What sort of unique linguistic problems do Chinese ESOL learners face when learning English, and how has the socio-linguistic landscape affected those straddling the two languages?

In making a thorough and informative contrastive analysis, the different origins, characteristics and development of both languages over the ages are firstly examined, so as to yield a better understanding of relevant facts and features when making contrasts.  

Secondly, linguistic characteristics such as specific nuances in grammar, sentence construction, phrasal-wording placements, are compared and contrasted, with some typical examples to illustrate the technicalities in enforcing these points.

Thirdly, modern expressions as well as commonly misrepresented English-Mandarin translations in the use of both languages are highlighted in a typical example of a phrase and sentence in either language, with explanations of the sentence mechanics.

Fourth, an overview of the socio-linguistic landscape in Singapore from the perspective of Chinese ESOL learners is contrasted with that of non-Chinese ESOL learners in a further explanation of why the former may experience certain specific difficulties in learning English.

In identifying the problems of language speakers straddling English and Mandarin, an analysis is made in critiquing Mandarin as a language that has found several disadvantages comparative to English in the modern world of globalization and information technology.   

Lastly, an attempt is made in the conclusion to rationalize the common phenomenon of learning difficulties experienced by Chinese ESOL learners, and some suggestions are made based on realistic appraisal of the current Chinese education system and socio-linguistic environment in China.

3. A reference guide to argumentative essay writing

This is an informative writing designed to be read easily by teachers and students alike and employed for the improvement on essay writing. This is traditionally not an easy subject to teach, as it involves considerable understanding, experience and patience on the part of the teacher. Chapters in this guide include:

• Chapter 1: Planning and creating an essay structure
• Chapter 2: Sourcing for ideas
• Chapter 3: Logistical Preparation and material support
• Chapter 4: The employment and use of the English Language in expression
• Chapter 5: Maturity of thought in writing
• Chapter 6: Flow and style of the essay
• Chapter 7: Factors in deciding one’s stand

D.    ACTION PLANS OF INTEREST FOR TRAINING INSTITUTIONS & SCHOOL MANAGEMENT BODIES

1. Various Syllabi and Training programs for Professional Development Training Courses   
2. Action Plan for implementing a Cambridge GCE “A” Level Program for High School
3. Action Plan for implementing a Cambridge IGCSE Middle School Program
4. School Organisation – Organisation and Structure for a School
5. School Organisation – Non Academic Aspects in Education
6. English Language - Cambridge IGCSE 0500 “First Language English”
7. English Language - Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
8. English Language - International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
9. English Training - Practical Communication Skills for Teachers
10. Humanities - Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
11. Humanities - United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDG)

E.     A list of professional development training courses

As a Trainer and Curriculum Writer, below is a list of Professional Development Training Courses that I am able to provide.

EDUCATIONIST SERIES Modules

ENGLISH TEACHING SERIES Modules

CULTURAL ASSIMILATION SERIES Modules

PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT SERIES Modules  

GENERAL ELECTIVES SERIES Modules 

 
F.     Other Services available for hire

1.  Research & Writing - Conducting of write ups and research on topics specific to the client’s requirements.

2.      Research & Writing – Contribution of the following written works for immediate publishing. 

1. Essays on various topics – 650 – 750 words long, ideal for newspapers
2. Research papers 6000 – 7000 words long
3. Poems
4. Scanned hand-drawn Pictures

3.      Editorial Services - Fast-serviced editing of documents

4.     Translation Services - English-Mandarin translation services for works & documents specific to the              client’s requirements.

5.      Curriculum Development  - Writing of curriculum or teaching materials, exam questions. 

6.      Professional Training Development courses – Conducting of accredited courses with certificates upon      completion. A list of these courses are provided in the Appendix.