Aged between 15 and 17 years, the girls were locked up and used to produce babies, said Abia state’s police chief.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
‘Baby Farm’ Girls and the Sale of Children in Nigeria
Jun 4th, 2011 | By Leo IgweThe rescue by the Nigeria Police of 32 pregnant girls allegedly held by a human trafficking ring in Aba in south-eastern Nigeria has literally shocked the world. But to anyone acquainted with the ‘culture’ of women and child rights abuses in the country, it should not come as a surprise. The police raid has brought to global attention and knowledge new layers of horrific abuses and exploitation of women and children in the country.
According to the report, these girls, between the ages of 15 and 17 years, were locked up and used to ‘produce’ babies, who were then allegedly sold for ritual witchcraft purposes or adoption. Unicef estimates that at least 10 children are sold daily across Nigeria.
This … Read the rest
Punjab state tells women what to do 
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says newly-married women should cut down on phone use. Doesn’t say newly-married men should do that.… Read the rest
Giles Fraser finds a new way to snipe at new atheism
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Something about not hating humanism enough, and not caring that Freud said humans are etc.… Read the rest
Obey moar
Jun 4th, 2011 11:22 am | By Ophelia BensonOh good – there are some women in Malaysia who have figured out how to make the world all better. How, you ask, all aflame. By telling wives to be more obedient.
“We just want to ask all the wives to be obedient wives so that there will be fewer problems in our society,” such as infidelity, divorce and domestic violence, she told AFP.
“Obedient wife means they are trying to entertain their husbands, not only taking care of their food and clothes,” Maznah said. “They have to obey their husbands. That’s the way Islam also asks.”
Right. We know. That’s why we hates it, precious.
… Read the restMaznah is already involved in another controversial venture — the Ikhwan Polygamy Club,
Malaysia: women launch ‘The Obedient Wife Club’
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“We just want to ask all the wives to be obedient wives so that there will be fewer problems in our society.”… Read the rest
Nonchurchgoers save a church
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
That’s what I call generous.… Read the rest
Appeals court lifts ban on Texas graduation prayer
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The school’s valedictorian had filed an intervention lawsuit that claimed she was being deprived of her right to pray for her classmates and community during her speech.… Read the rest
Felice Gaer asks pointed questions
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“I think that voluntary means that one is free to leave,” she tells the Irish government.… Read the rest
Women politicians urged to support Magdalenes
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One Department of Justice official said most women entered the laundries voluntarily. Srsly!… Read the rest
Spam spam spam bacon flattery and spam
Jun 3rd, 2011 3:15 pm | By Ophelia BensonI’m getting a hilarious new type of spam which consists of a single sentence complimenting me for all-cognitive reasons – basically “oooh you’re so clever.” One said “sbutle [sic] must be your middle name.” Hahahahahahahahahaha.
Seriously, what do they do, have bots that scan websites and figure out what kind of flattery will go down best?… Read the rest
The real bullies
Jun 3rd, 2011 11:54 am | By Ophelia BensonLet’s take a look at who is really being bullied and shouted into silence. Let’s take a look at a case where in real life
the mob arrives; insults are flung around; the character flaws, motivations, psychological makeup, etc., of the original [dissident] are dissected at length
and a high school kid is disowned and thrown out of the house by his parents for attempting to stop his public high school from having an unconstitutional official prayer at graduation.
… Read the restA student’s public prayer at a pre-graduation “Class Night” event was turned into an opportunity for the school and community to gang up on Fowler and publicly close ranks against him — teachers as well as students. (Here’s video).
High school atheist is bullied and threatened
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wait, isn’t it only new atheists who bully people?… Read the rest
A force beyond, giving our lives meaning
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s not god though, Ronald Aronson notes. It’s the vast web of social processes that make human lives better.… Read the rest
Kids with bombs
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An alarming number of children in Pakistan and Afghanistan believe immortality is at their fingertips – provided they’re detonating the bombs strapped to their bodies.… Read the rest
Jack Kevorkian dies at 83
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The desperation that drove dozens of dying people to travel to Michigan to be hooked up to his “mercy” machines helped convince many of the need for a right-to-die.… Read the rest
The Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Founded to promote atheism, agnosticism, humanism, rational thinking, and education through science, PATAS is growing rapidly.… Read the rest
GP who championed assisted suicide dies
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dr Ann McPherson, who was a strong advocate for assisted suicide, has died after a long battle with cancer, just days after writing of her frustration at not being able to die.… Read the rest
The putative harmony between science and faith
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Look here. Scientists like doing science. That’s faith. See?… Read the rest
Their Feet Don’t Touch The Ground
Jun 2nd, 2011 | By Bruce EverettIn the middle of May, a report, The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010[1], was presented to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops by researchers from John Jay College. Circulated more broadly on the 16th of May, the document has (not without reason) been viewed as flawed to the point of being suspect.
Almost predictably from the usual quarters, the way in which the mere laity have viewed the report has been met with a near pre-reformation style of contempt. Apparently the masses need the clergy to spell it out for them!
In Australia, this high-handed misanthropy finds archetypal expression in Scott Stephens’ Catholic sexual abuse … Read the rest
