Refusal to understand Hitler meant what he said was thought to be a mark of political sophistication.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Why Self-censorship is Dangerous and Misguided 
Sep 27th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It represents a huge victory for anyone who thinks terror is a legitimate means of political response.… Read the rest
Mehdi Kia on Movements from Below in Iran
Sep 26th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Workers, women, students demand basic rights from Ahmadinejad – and get bloody beatings for it.… Read the rest
Taliban Commander says Amajan was ‘Executed’
Sep 26th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Most marriages in Afghanistan are forced; most forced marriages are of girls under 16.… Read the rest
Women’s Rights not a Priority in Afghanistan
Sep 26th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sam Zarifi of Human Rights Watch: ‘A lot of small rights which women gained are now being wiped out.’… Read the rest
Hundreds of Women Gathered to Mourn Amajan
Sep 26th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘There is no security for anyone now in Kandahar,’ one woman said, sobbing through her veil.… Read the rest
EPA Rejects Scientific Advice on Particulates
Sep 26th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientists say particulates are among the deadliest contaminants people are exposed to.… Read the rest
Rumors Still Impeding Polio Vaccination
Sep 26th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Myths largely responsible for spread of polio into many countries where it was once stamped out.… Read the rest
Afghan Women’s Rights Official Murdered
Sep 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Her requests for secure official transport and bodyguards were not granted by the government.… Read the rest
UN Deplores Murder of Safia Annajan
Sep 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Appalled at murder of leading woman official working for gender equality in Kandahar. … Read the rest
Tasneem Khalil on Homophobia in South Asia
Sep 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Section 377 of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan penal codes criminalizes love and sex between same-sex adults.… Read the rest
Civil War in Iraqi Province of Diyala
Sep 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sunni insurgents have largely taken control; local leaders believe they will establish a ‘Taliban republic.’… Read the rest
Fundamentalism and Devoutness Much the Same
Sep 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Way to change minds is to unpick blind obedience to a faith by replacing it with interrogative reason. … Read the rest
Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan
Sep 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you are freedom-loving and anti-fundamentalist, you are with RAWA. Support and help us. … Read the rest
More Extracts from The God Delusion
Sep 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religious dogma still serves to abuse basic human rights such as those of women and gay people.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on Pontifical Rationality
Sep 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Misunderstood guy was ragging on secularism, not Islam. Whew.… Read the rest
The Super-rich and Competitive Compassion
Sep 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘A lot of poverty is caused by war.’ And a lot of war is caused by religion, so where does Deepak Chopra fit?… Read the rest
Michael Frayn on a World Spun from Stories
Sep 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He sneaks into the territory of physicists, linguists or psychologists to rustle prime intellectual steers.… Read the rest
Why Aren’t Academics Intellectuals?
Sep 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why periodicals written for non-specialists matter.… Read the rest
Chet Raymo on Knowing You Don’t Know
Sep 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wisdom is willingness to say ‘I don’t know.’ Why is there something rather than nothing? ‘I don’t know.’… Read the rest
