Maryam Namazie calls cultural relativism a prescription for inaction and passivity in the face of oppression.
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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‘Iconoclasts’ on the Philosophy of Peter Singer
Singer, Janet Radcliffe Richards, Kenan Malik, Andrew Linzey debate.
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Signs of Mental Activity in Patient in PVS
Neuroscientists used fMRI to detect signs of awareness; first success with PVS patient.
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Ben Goldacre Asks: How is This Not a Trial?
It’s a trial in the press, but when questions are asked, it’s not.
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AU Criticizes ‘Public Expression of Religion Act’
US H.R. 2679 will make it more difficult to challenge church-state violations in court.
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No Free Transport to ‘Faith’ School for Unbaptized
State pays for ‘faith’ transport provided the transportee is baptized. Seems generous.
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Scott McLemee on Fresh New Ideas in Conspiracy
9/11demands new theoretical approaches to explain the evidence, or even to bring it into existence.
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Jesus Asks Mo a Question
‘What kind of ‘believer’ considers anal rape a suitable punishment for sin?’
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Hitchens on Robert Hughes’s Memoir
‘Anyone found haunting an art gallery or a library would be suspected of being a snob and an elitist.’
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Jerry Coyne Reviews Follies of the Wise
Crews takes on fields of inquiry which have caused rational people to succumb to irrational ideas.
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Life at a ‘Faith’ School
Teacher questioned about her virginity by school’s owner.
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Sad to See Usual Response of Scientists
‘Yet again, certain selfappointed gatekeepers of science are attempting to halt progress.’
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Chomsky and Trivers Discuss Deception
We can see self-deception in others but not in ourselves.
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Seyran Ates Quits Law Practice After Attack
Has handed in her law licence and quit women’s rights organisation Terre de femmes.
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Rupert Sheldrake Claims Evidence of Telepathy
‘The odds against this being a chance effect are 1,000 billion to one,’ he says cautiously.
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Woolly BA Sessions Criticized
Robust challenge was lacking.
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Panels Should Have Been Balanced
It’s reasonable to discuss woolly subjects, but skeptics should be on the panels.
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Boy Born in Japan
Relief, rejoicing: baby not a worthless female.
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Lancashire Hospitals Adopt Green Burqas
Horrifying naked women finally covered up. Whew.
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Peter Tatchell on Death Threats from Fanatics
Anti-gay hatred is free speech, but anti-homophobia is hate crime against religion.