A blue bundle huddles in the dirt, a man shoots her five times at close range with an automatic rifle, to cheers of jubilation from the 150 or so men watching.… Read the rest
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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Texas Republicans say No to critical thinking in schools 
Jul 7th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Higher Order Thinking Skills focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority.”… Read the rest
Ohio Supreme Court agrees to hear creationist appeal
Jul 6th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A teacher was fired for teaching creationism in science class, has appealed on First Amendment grounds.… Read the rest
Pakistan lynching a reminder of danger in blasphemy laws
Jul 6th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Amnesty International today demanded that members of a mob who lynched a man accused of breaching Pakistan’s blasphemy laws be brought to justice as a matter of urgency.… Read the rest
Helen Lewis on online harassment of women
Jul 6th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is for instance the interactive “game” inviting players to “beat up Anita Sarkeesian.” As you click the screen, her face is turned to pulp.… Read the rest
Protests at South Korea’s plan to hunt whales
Jul 5th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The World Wildlife Fund said there was no evidence for claims by South Korean fishermen that whales were depleting coastal fish stocks.… Read the rest
Jezebel on “guy on the internet”
Jul 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you tell Guy On The Internet you’ve got a cool party going, he’s totally on board. He’s a tool like that. That is what we’re seeing with these newest waves of misogynist mumbling.… Read the rest
Vatican and USCCB get more reactionary every day
Jul 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In April the Vatican accused the Leadership Conference of Women Religious of “radical feminism.” Strange bedfellows.… Read the rest
PNG: women still held back by traditional attitudes
Jul 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s not a level playing field.… Read the rest
Report on women’s rights in Indonesia
Jul 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A report on the implementation of CEDAW in Indonesia, 2007- 2011.… Read the rest
Pakistan: man beaten by mob two days ago
Jul 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He was accused of “blasphemy” so a rage-mob beat him up.… Read the rest
Pakistan: mob burns a man alive for burning a Koran
Jul 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They poured petrol on him and set him on fire.… Read the rest
The barmaid gave up on reading the Koran
Jul 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mo says she can’t tell how crappy it is until she’s read the whole thing.… Read the rest
Ireland: student newspaper examines Youth Defence
Jul 3rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many have questioned how Youth Defence, an organisation that purports to be funded by Irish supporters, can afford to fund large-scale publicity campaigns.… Read the rest
More on the bad science of Ireland’s ‘Youth Defence’
Jul 2nd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There are hundreds of young Irish people outraged at Youth defence, from all walks of life, making their voices heard. There is hope for Ireland.… Read the rest
Iran: programmer sentenced to death for random reason
Jul 2nd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He was sentenced after one of his web programs was used to post pornographic images without his knowledge.… Read the rest
Kenya: 15 people killed in attacks on churches
Jul 2nd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Witnesses told AFP that bodies lay scattered in the blood-spattered churches as scores of wounded were rushed to hospital.… Read the rest
Iraqi women face court-ordered virginity tests
Jul 2nd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Because a woman is required to be a virgin at marriage, and if she’s not her male relatives might kill her.… Read the rest
Khalid Mohd torched wife 1 to make space for wife 2
Jun 30th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rema Jamel asked him to help extend her visa; he said no, and told her she couldn’t take her children back to Jordan, then doused her with lighter fluid and set her on fire.… Read the rest
Deutsche Welle on destruction of Timbuktu sites
Jun 30th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Timbuktu is home to three historic mosques as well as 16 cemeteries and mausoleums recognized by UNESCO, watchdog for some of history’s most threatened cultural exhibits.… Read the rest
