‘This is censorship by fear, and it sets a very bad precedent indeed.’ RH ‘stands by its decision.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Ignorance as a basis for policy
Aug 14th, 2008 12:31 pm | By Ophelia BensonGood; let’s everybody pile on Charles. He needs to be told his status doesn’t substitute for scientific training.
The heir to the throne may wish to use his privileged position to promote his organic produce while denigrating those of us who wish to use science to help feed the world. But he should at least do so from a position of scientific evidence rather than ideological dogma. He shows a common misunderstanding of how agricultural science works. What’s worse, though, is that his comments risk reinforcing the mistrust felt by much of the public about how their food is produced.
Because of who he is – which is exactly why he should be more cautious about mouthing off instead … Read the rest
HRH Incapable of Keeping His Mouth Shut
Aug 14th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHis attacks on further GM experiments expose the ignorance behind Prince Charles’s remarks. … Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Cargo Cult Science
Aug 14th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe Quantum Xrroid Consciousness Interface creates optimal wellness.… Read the rest
Prince Should Consult Evidence not Dogma
Aug 14th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHRH uses his privileged position to denigrate those who use science to help feed the world. … Read the rest
Johann Hari on the Rebellion of the Child Brides
Aug 14th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe conservative mullahs say there is nothing wrong with child-marriage – because Mohammed did it.… Read the rest
Johann Hari on a New Blasphemy Law
Aug 14th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonInsulating a religion from criticism keeps it stunted at its most infantile and fundamentalist stage. … Read the rest
Let them eat profiteroles
Aug 13th, 2008 2:01 pm | By Ophelia BensonCharles is misusing his wealth and status again, taking advantage of his privileged position to lay down the law on subjects he knows nothing about.
Des Turner, a Labour MP and member of the Commons science committee, said: “Prince Charles has got a way of getting things absolutely wrong.
It’s an entirely Luddite attitude to simply reject them out of hand. In some developing countries where for instance there is a problem with drought or salinity, if you can develop salt or drought-resistant crops there are great benefits.”
Oh well you see that would require thinking about specifics, and Charles doesn’t want to do that, he just wants to use his unearned unmerited authority to make sweeping unsupported evidence-free … Read the rest
Gardasil and Both-sideism
Aug 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPresenting a settled scientific issue as a simple dichotomy legitimizes fringe beliefs.… Read the rest
Phil Plait on Countering Antivaxxers
Aug 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIf the antis are successful then many, many children will die of totally preventable diseases. … Read the rest
Chuck’s Claims Long on Bombast, Short on Evidence
Aug 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAn analysis of the Prince’s claims indicates that few of them are founded on data from the real world. … Read the rest
Charles Gets Things Absolutely Wrong
Aug 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPrince’s lack of scientific understanding would condemn millions of people to starvation.… Read the rest
3 Aid Workers, Driver Killed in Afghanistan
Aug 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe women worked for the International Rescue Committee; gunmen shot up their cars in Logar province.… Read the rest
P Charles Talks Evidence-free Nonsense
Aug 13th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Clever genetic engineering…guaranteed to cause the biggest disaster environmentally of all time.’… Read the rest
A wealth of implication
Aug 12th, 2008 6:10 pm | By Ophelia BensonOf course, the novel will be published sooner or later. Writing about Muhammad has become the shortest cut to media attention in the west. And of course semi-employed young men and women from religious Muslim backgrounds will be out on the streets, shouting.
Women? No they won’t. You don’t see them out there much – which is not surprising, since in ‘religious Muslim’ countries they’re not always encouraged to join in, if you get my drift. But they also, quite possibly, have better sense. It tends to be the young men who work themselves into stupid frenzies about this kind of thing. Rage boy, remember? Rage girl not so much.
… Read the rest[E]ven very religious Muslims cannot ignore the
Mick Hume on Pre-emptive Grovelling
Aug 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFearful self-censorship in the name of liberal values is worth intellectual rioting.… Read the rest
Child Starved to Death for not Saying ‘Amen’
Aug 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMembers of ‘Mind Ministries’ viewed the child, age 21 months, as a ‘demon.’… Read the rest
Professor’s Helpful Warning
Aug 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFaegheh Shirazi, of UT’s Department of Middle Eastern Studies, understands decision not to publish.… Read the rest
Missing the Point
Aug 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s not Spellberg’s fault, it’s Random House that made the decision.… Read the rest
Tabish Khair on the Spellberg Affair
Aug 12th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson80% of the people who died in riots over Rushdie or Motoons were Muslim. … Read the rest