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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Inevitably links go out of date.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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Paul Gross on the Mammoth in the Garden
Why the harmonization of science and religion is a strong human need.
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How Best to Stop Female Genital Mutilation
Laws against it ‘can be perceived as discriminatory for targeting particular communities.’
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Mo Plans a Campaign
Women should bear reponsibility for the sexual self-control of men – that’s what hijab is about.
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Hitchens on Irwin on Orientalism
Academic reticence about Islam may be to do with potentially atheistic consequences of unfettered inquiry.
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Johann Hari on the Fence Around Religion
We’re allowed to criticize politicians’ religion.
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Egyptian Blogger Jailed for ‘Insulting Islam’
Abdel Kareem Soliman had used his blog to criticise al-Azhar university and Hosni Mubarak.
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Chimps Observed to Make Spears
They sharpen them with their teeth, use them to jab at smaller animals.
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Minister, HR Commission Condemn Murder
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan termed murder of Zill-e-Huma Usman a terrible tragedy.
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Terry Eagleton Says Strange Things
Basic values are the same, nobody thinks children should be beaten, though customs differ.
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Judge Rejects Challenge to School Niqab Ban
School’s head hopes the student will now return and resume her education.
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School Head Explains Niqab Ban
School promotes equality between men and women; she feared other Muslim girls would come under pressure.
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MCB Attempts to Bridge Cultural Gap
By urging schools to allow Muslim girls to wear headscarves for all lessons. That should do it.
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Pakistani Minister Killed for Refusing to Wear Veil
Killer singled out prominent women’s rights activist in the belief that women should not be in politics.
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Man Kills Wife, Daughters for Westernizing
He threw petrol over them and ignited it.
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LA Zoo Hires Feng Shui ‘Expert’
She has already made some changes to an enclosure to ‘maximise good energy.’
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Stan Persky on Dawkins and Baggini on God
‘Though I don’t agree with believers, I have considerable empathy for their yearnings.’
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Diocese Considers Bankruptcy to Avoid Trial
On more than 140 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by priests.
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Put Turkana Boy in the Back Room
Evangelical bishop demands that Kenya’s national museum post notice saying evolution is not a fact.
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Nigerian Humanist Defends Gay Rights
Islamic law professor said sometimes the minority should be destroyed in order to protect the majority.