‘Reality is irrelevant or reactionary, and in true post-modern style, all that matters is the way we talk about it.’
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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Mario Pisani on Eagleton on Meaning of Life
He borrows most from two thinkers, ancient and contemporary respectively: Aristotle and Julian Baggini.
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Ayaan Hirsi Ali is no Fundamentalist
Hitchens wonders why Garton Ash and Buruma call her that.
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David Thompson on Criticisms of Hirsi Ali
Laila Lalami’s argument is far more tendentious and evasive than those she critiques.
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Women Arrested in Tehran
For solidarity with five women on trial for protest against laws that discriminate against women.
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HRW Protests Trial of Women in Tehran
‘Iran is prosecuting women for peacefully protesting laws that discriminate against them.’
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Iraqi Feminist in London Targeted by Islamists
‘With the permission of Great God, we will kill you,’ the email told Houzan Mahmoud.
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Central Council of Ex-Muslims in Germany
Mina Ahadi, 40 others founded Council to represent Germany’s secular-minded Muslim immigrants.
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Seminar March 8 London on Women’s Rights
And Islamic and religious laws. Maryam Namazie, Taslima Nasrin. Admission free.
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Julian Baggini on Fair Trade
Free trade is neither good nor bad; it all depends on how consumers exercise their freedom.
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Interview with Pia Francesca de Solenni
Winner of Vatican prize points to ‘Christian feminism’ as antidote to secular feminism.
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Support for Lester Bill Against Forced Marriage
Law will enshrine powerful rights for victims who have been compelled to marry against their will.
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Review of Baggini’s Welcome to Everytown
The English feel stronger as a collective, with a philosophy of ‘conservative communitarianism.’
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Sandra Harding Has a New Book Out
‘Harding problematizes the claim to universality that Western science rests upon.’
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Rice Announces 3 Delegates to UN CSW
Lisa Guillermin Gable, Darlene Bramon, Pia Francesca de Solenni.
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Man Sells Daughter to Settle Poker Debt
She has asked authorities to save her from being handed over to a much older relative.
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Woman Sues Husband for Selling her Kidney
He beat her, she miscarried, he took her to hospital and sold her kidney to buy a tractor.
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Japanese PM Questions Coercion of Sex Slaves
Historians believe at least 200,000 young women were forced to serve in army brothels.
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Japanese Govt Angry at US Sex Slave Bill
Many ‘comfort women’ were Korean, but some were Chinese, Philippine and Indonesian.
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South Korea Angry at Japan’s Denial
Foreign Minister said Abe’s remarks were ‘not helpful’ and the truth must be faced.