‘…this does nothing but denigrate women by reducing them to their biological function.’… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Free Speech, Offense, Harm? 
Nov 5th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What do we mean by: safety, comfort, offense, hatred, inappropriate, healthy campus climate?… Read the rest
Poverty and Superstition
Nov 5th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
David Stanway looks at the idiocy of rural life in China.… Read the rest
Neglecting One’s Social Duty
Nov 5th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When was child-bearing made compulsory?… Read the rest
Is it Protest or Trespass?
Nov 4th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘I was protecting the environment’ is not a defence, high court rules.… Read the rest
Department of Jumping to Conclusions
Nov 4th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
White guys at university binge-drink because they’re so ashamed of not being diverse, right?… Read the rest
Dictionary of Life Has Two Billion Entries
Nov 3rd, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The first letter is G, the two billionth is T.… Read the rest
‘Philosophers Have Beards’ – Really? All of Them?
Nov 3rd, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
TV could be an excellent medium for popularizing philosophy, but if it always has to be visually entrancing, well…… Read the rest
Adam Swift Defends Diane Abbott
Nov 2nd, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How political principles and personal choices fit together matters.… Read the rest
Royals are Cross at Their Runaway Slave
Nov 2nd, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What it’s like to work for people who can’t fasten their own seat belts or recognize servants as human.… Read the rest
MMR Debate Turns Nasty
Nov 1st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They were once colleagues. Now they’re bickering.… Read the rest
Romila Thapar
Nov 1st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Campaign against historian by the Hindutva brigade.… Read the rest
Academic Boycott of Israel – Part 2
Oct 31st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Oxford prof suspended for rejecting Israeli student on the grounds of his nationality.… Read the rest
Neurotic Brits Risk Measles Epidemic
Oct 31st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Take-up of MMR jab remains low despite ‘unequivocal evidence’ that it is not a risk factor for autism.… Read the rest
Lemmings Not Lemmings At All
Oct 31st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Apparently it’s not true that they are really depressed.… Read the rest
No Level Playing Field For GM Crops Debate
Oct 31st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientists furious that UK government allowed the GM crops debate to be hijacked by the antis.… Read the rest
Open Letter to HM Government
Oct 31st, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Philip Stott publishes the full letter from scientists on bad media coverage of the GM debate.… Read the rest
Kenan Malik Reads Meera Nanda
Oct 30th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nanda is ‘particularly astute in demonstrating the reactionary consequences of anti-science relativism for the peoples of the Third World.’… Read the rest
Amartya Sen on Being More Than One Thing
Oct 30th, 2003 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We’re not just Western or Hindu or Muslim.… Read the rest
