Barring Wilders is tantamount to buckling to implicit blackmail by a small gang of contemptibles.
Category: Latest News
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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
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Bunglawala on the Fatwa and Geert Wilders
Calls to ban Rushdie’s book were wrong; could Wilders be another stick to beat Muslims with?
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Kenan Malik Explodes Fatwa Myths
The controversy was political, not all Muslims were offended, a plural society needs free expression.
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Rwanda’s Move Into Congo Fuels Suspicion
Quotes Alison Des Forges, HRW researcher and Rwanda expert, killed in plane crash yesterday.
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Saudi Woman Sentenced for Being Raped
One year prison term, 100 lashes; she ‘confessed’ she had ‘a forced sexual intercourse.’
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Court Rules Autism Not Caused by Vaccines
Decision a severe blow to ‘grass-roots movement’ that claims vacs have caused surge in autism.
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Darwin Day
For those unable to get to an event, Darwin’s complete publications and 20,000 private papers are available online.
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Susan Jacoby on Darwin the Disturber
‘People say natural selection is ok for human bodies but not for brain or behavior,’ says Helena Cronin
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How Casey Luskin Gets Lucy Wrong
Well, it starts with the bones…
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When Policy Makers Listen to AIDS Denialists
Denialism offers a false debate that policy makers can use to evade caring for people affected by AIDS.
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The Indy on the ‘Outrage’ Over Hari’s Article
Sections of central Kolkata have been paralysed by protests for much of the past week.
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Johann Hari Responds to the Riots
He takes it all back. The hell he does; he stands by every word of it.
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Woman Uses New Forced Marriage Law
Police hope this sends a strong message to women that they are not alone, there are people who can help them.
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Devika Bhat Cheers on the Loose Women
A delightfully irreverent response to a po-faced and humourless organisation.
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Calcutta: Two Arrested for ‘Offending Islam’
Charged with ‘hurting the religious feelings’ of Muslims by publishing Johann Hari article on religion.
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Statesman Editor, Publisher Arrested
On the charge of ‘insulting the religious belief of a community’ following street protests.
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Women Resist Sri Ram Sena
The Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women urges Indian women to defy the bullies.
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First Tell a Racist ‘Joke’ Then Unapologize
‘I have been asked to send this apology for my earlier e-mail. I am sorry that it was received in a negative manner.’
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Theocrats Push Parental Rights Amendment
Including the right to deny medical treatment, force marriage, keep out of school?
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‘Start the Week’ on the Fatwa and Free Speech
Kenan Malik talks about liberal self-censorship, Tariq Madood talks about ‘hurt.’