Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.

We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.

A note about links

Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.


Katha Pollitt on “when pro-life kills” *

Nov 15th, 2012 | Filed by

If you think it couldn’t happen in the United States, you haven’t been paying attention.… Read the rest



Sarah Ditum on Ireland’s way with abortion *

Nov 14th, 2012 | Filed by

The Irish government has defied public opinion and enforced an ultra-conservative constitution that places the foetus’ life on an equal footing with the woman’s.… Read the rest



Time to put pressure on Irish politicians *

Nov 14th, 2012 | Filed by

Successive governments have steadfastly refused to introduce legislation that would allow women access to life-saving medical abortion.… Read the rest



Ireland: woman denied an abortion dies in hospital *

Nov 14th, 2012 | Filed by

Savita Halappanavar was denied a termination despite asking for one several times following her miscarriage diagnosis because the fetus still had a heartbeat.… Read the rest



Jessica Ahlquist as an atheist hero at Skepticon *

Nov 13th, 2012 | Filed by

It’s tough being an atheist in school. It helps to know there are others.… Read the rest



Shannon Rupp has a modest proposal *

Nov 13th, 2012 | Filed by

The Chilliwack school board should not say no to bible giveaways, they should say yes and charge a fee.… Read the rest



Uganda will pass anti-gay bill this year *

Nov 13th, 2012 | Filed by

Some Christian clerics at a meeting of anti-gay activists asked the speaker of parliament to pass the law as “a Christmas gift.”… Read the rest



Cairo: 2 burqa-wearing women assault Christian woman *

Nov 12th, 2012 | Filed by

They called her an “infidel,” forcibly cut off her hair, and pushed her off the train, breaking her arm.… Read the rest



Vatican rushes to emphasize its hatred of marriage equality *

Nov 12th, 2012 | Filed by

An article in the Vatican newspaper declared that support for same-sex marriage is “an ideology founded on political correctness which is invading every culture of the world.”… Read the rest



ABC on the investigation of institutional child sex abuse *

Nov 12th, 2012 | Filed by

Gillard had been under pressure to act following explosive allegations by DCI Peter Cox that the Catholic Church covered up evidence involving paedophile priests.… Read the rest



Gillard announces royal commission on child sex abuse *

Nov 12th, 2012 | Filed by

The inquiry will not be confined to the Catholic Church, but extend to all religious organisations and to children in state care, and to other institutions including schools.… Read the rest



Malala is grateful for the well-wishers *

Nov 9th, 2012 | Filed by

She has drawn a line with her blood between barbarism and civilization, her father says.… Read the rest



Girl, 16, raped? Lower the age of consent! *

Nov 7th, 2012 | Filed by

“In the past, 
especially in Mughal era, people used to marry their daughters early
 to save them from such atrocities.”… Read the rest



Parents say death by acid was their daughter’s destiny *

Nov 7th, 2012 | Filed by

“There was a boy who came by on a motorcycle. She turned to look at him twice.” So they killed her.… Read the rest



Girl child marriage in Pakistan *

Nov 7th, 2012 | Filed by

A blood feud between two tribes was settled by a Jirga that decided to hand over as many as 13 young girls to settle the dispute.… Read the rest



Violence against women in Pakistan *

Nov 3rd, 2012 | Filed by

As many as 2,713 cases of violence against women have been reported in southern Punjab since January 2012, a research by the Awaz Foundation Centre for Development states.… Read the rest



Neighbors quarrel, girl is decapitated *

Nov 3rd, 2012 | Filed by

3 boys went next door and cut the head off Farkhana, age 17.… Read the rest



Egypt: Salafi thugs assault people for “insulting Islam” *

Nov 2nd, 2012 | Filed by

By which they mean anything they dislike.… Read the rest



Launch of the Council of Muslims Facing Tomorrow *

Nov 2nd, 2012 | Filed by

Journalist and activist Raheel Raza founded MFT to amplify the liberal Muslim voice.… Read the rest



Kashmir: parents kill daughter by dousing her with acid *

Nov 1st, 2012 | Filed by

She was 15. They saw her talking to a boy. The father beat her up, and both parents poured acid over her.… Read the rest