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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Father Refuses Life-saving Surgery for Daughter *

Oct 26th, 2006 | Filed by

Father took advice of traditional healers to veto op but law intervened: child will get surgery. … Read the rest



Lords to Debate Annulment of Homeopathy Bill *

Oct 26th, 2006 | Filed by

New regulations permit homeopathic products to make evidence-free medical claims.… Read the rest



Statement and Petition on Homeopathy Regs [pdf] *

Oct 26th, 2006 | Filed by

The new regulations on homeopathic products compromise standards of evidence.… Read the rest



Zanzibar Adopts HIV/AIDS Policy *

Oct 25th, 2006 | Filed by

Parliament rejected conservative Muslim demands to close bars and ban skimpy clothing.… Read the rest



Bradford Council Advises Against Niqab in Schools *

Oct 25th, 2006 | Filed by

Ann Cryer, Trevor Phillips urge Azmi not to take her appeal through courts.… Read the rest



Religion is not a Learning Aid *

Oct 25th, 2006 | Filed by

If we think universities should be spaces of free debate and enquiry, why not schools too?… Read the rest



Books Do Furnish a Room *

Oct 25th, 2006 | Filed by

Scott McLemee on coffee-table books that are not merely decorative.… Read the rest



9/11 Doubter to Leave Post at BYU *

Oct 24th, 2006 | Filed by

Physics instructor belongs to group who believe US orchestrated the 9/11 attacks.… Read the rest



Kenan Malik on What Muslims Want *

Oct 24th, 2006 | Filed by

Politicians prefer to see them as people who can be politically engaged only by other Muslims.… Read the rest



Mark Lilla and Richard Sennett Open Letter *

Oct 24th, 2006 | Filed by

To the Anti-Defamation League, on the cancellation of a talk by Tony Judt at Polish consulate.… Read the rest



Hitchens on Tony Judt’s Persecution Complex *

Oct 24th, 2006 | Filed by

We have a right to express an opinion, but not at a meeting of a private group that disagrees.… Read the rest



In a Sea of Uncertainty, We Grab at Anchors *

Oct 24th, 2006 | Filed by

Like other subtle biases, anchors influence people at an unconscious level.… Read the rest



Jesus and Mo Have a Guest *

Oct 24th, 2006 | Filed by

He made it at last.… Read the rest



On the Right to Give Offence *

Oct 24th, 2006 | Filed by

Believers in absolute truth revealed by God are unlikely to allow pestiferous notions of freedom of speech.… Read the rest



Turkey Struggles to End ‘Honour’ Killings *

Oct 24th, 2006 | Filed by

Issue is complicated by the fact that the murders are associated mainly with the Kurdish minority.… Read the rest



Shazia Mirza Off to India to Joke About Veils *

Oct 23rd, 2006 | Filed by

The British Council is sending her for bridge-building purposes.… Read the rest



Might Secularism be a Good Idea? *

Oct 23rd, 2006 | Filed by

Is it time for Britain, as a state, to turn secular? … Read the rest



Sam Harris on Bad Reasons to be Good *

Oct 23rd, 2006 | Filed by

The link between religion and morality in our public life is almost never questioned.… Read the rest



Deborah Solomon Interviews Harry Frankfurt *

Oct 23rd, 2006 | Filed by

‘People in this country are starved for the truth.’… Read the rest



Free Speech at Columbia *

Oct 23rd, 2006 | Filed by

In the last month Columbia has been embroiled in four separate free-speech controversies.… Read the rest