Would he expect a Scientologist to be able to avoid questions about L. Ron Hubbard? … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Iranian Hanged Despite Withdrawal of Accusations 
Dec 6th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Capital offences in Iran include serious drug trafficking, apostasy, adultery, homosexual acts between men. … Read the rest
Flabbergasting Mysteries Abound
Dec 6th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Waleed Aly asks: what is so offensive about a teddy bear named Muhammad?… Read the rest
Women’s Rights Activists Stress Secularism
Dec 6th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Maghreb Women’s March Towards Equality seminar addressed the marginalisation of the Maghreb woman.… Read the rest
Egyptian Parliamentarian Shocks Clerics
Dec 6th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Zeinab Radwan said ‘the testimony of a woman is legally equal in weight with a man’s testimony.’… Read the rest
US Tops World in Per Capita Incarcerations
Dec 6th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
US jails 751 per 100,000. UK 148 per 100,000, Canada 107, France 85, China 119, Iran 212.… Read the rest
HRW Condemns Blaming of Saudi Rape Victim
Dec 6th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Ministry of Justice’s response to criticism of its unjust verdict has been appalling,’ said Farida Deif.… Read the rest
Even Girls Can Enjoy Science!
Dec 5th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you dumb it down and frill it up enough, that is.… Read the rest
New Humanist ‘Bad Faith’ Awards
Dec 5th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bishop of Carlisle? Westboro Baptist Church? Archbishop Francisco Chimoio? Your vote counts.… Read the rest
Beware of ‘Christianophobia’
Dec 5th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Christianophobia of the politically correct brigade is – is – oh who knows.… Read the rest
David Zarnett on Edward Said and Kosovo
Dec 5th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rejecting the imperialism-fascism dichotomy, Said replaced it with an imperialism-fascism equation.… Read the rest
Listening to Women in Afghanistan
Dec 5th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Unfortunately, the author listens only to those Afghan women who agree with her.’… Read the rest
Bullying of Taslima Nasreen Continues
Dec 4th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It is for the people to decide but she has written not just one book. There are many books.’… Read the rest
Texas Talibanization
Dec 4th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Let’s hope adherents of a sound science education can save Texas from a retreat into the darker ages. … Read the rest
Austin American-Statesman on Comer Firing
Dec 4th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It looks as if the Texas Education Agency has fallen victim to a smelly little orthodoxy.… Read the rest
34 Unconvincing Arguments for God
Dec 4th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The convincing ones will be along later.… Read the rest
Apologetic Gillian Gibbons Released
Dec 3rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ibrahim Mogra from the MCB said the whole saga had been very damaging for the image of the Muslim faith. … Read the rest
Sudan’s Image Damaged
Dec 3rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
First Darfur, now Gibbons – but no matter, China’s still a fan.… Read the rest
British Women Going to India to Abort Girls
Dec 3rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It is really not a nice feeling when you are really proud of her and they dismiss her as just another mistake.’… Read the rest
FGM Actually Glorious and Empowering
Dec 3rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pesky Western feminists just don’t understand.… Read the rest
