Hey, it’s an ancient Chinese practice, so it must be healthy, right?… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Washington Post on MMR and Wakefield
Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMedia panics create a debate where there isn’t one. … Read the rest
A Cultural Change
Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBush administration still packing science advisory panels with ideologues.… Read the rest
Some Arguments Against a Religious-Hatred Law
Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFrom Civitas, the Institute for the Study of Civil Society.… Read the rest
Swami Agnivesh Opposes Hindutva
Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘If the BJP comes back, it will come back with a vengeance. I fear it will.’… Read the rest
How to End ‘Honour’ Killings
Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCreate communities where people believe there is no honour in honour killing.… Read the rest
Doubts About Religious Hatred Law
Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘…where people feel free to be able to express sensible views and have sensible arguments.’… Read the rest
Yusuf al-Qaradawi Will Not Face Charges
Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonInsufficient evidence, cautious speech, interest in the truth.… Read the rest
Surprise! Americans Don’t Read Much
Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFrom On Native Grounds to Amusing Ourselves to Death.… Read the rest
Surgeon Rebukes Prince over Alternative Therapy
Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAuthority via study and research v. authority via accident of birth.… Read the rest
Union of Concerned Scientists
Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonChris Mooney reports on their press conference.… Read the rest
Polly Toynbee Named ‘Islamophobe of Year’
Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPerhaps it’s time to start naming ‘Secularophobe of the Year’.… Read the rest
Meghnad Desai on Religious Hatred Laws
Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSecular democracy should get away from privileging religion, not give it special status.… Read the rest
How About Religious Mild Dislike?
Jul 9th, 2004 2:41 am | By Ophelia BensonAs I promised or threatened yesterday, more on the ‘attempt by various well meaning people to legislate religious hatred as a ground for prosecution on the same basis as racial hatred,’ as Meghnad Desai put it in The Independent. Desai also thinks it’s a bad idea. Good, that. Let’s hope many people think so and say so.
… Read the restA secular tolerant democracy needs to get away from privileging religion as a mark of citizenship rather than giving it a special status. The Anglican Church needs to be disestablished and its privileges such as the Blasphemy Law removed. Human rights should adhere to one’s humanity regardless of special characteristics. In a truly equal society we will all be citizens protected under
Study of Environmental Causes of Autism
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonColin Blakemore says MRC’s 2001 review of autism research highlighted gaps in knowledge. … Read the rest
Surely Ethical Tobacco is an Oxymoron?
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWell but they grow it with ever such nice organic fertilizer.… Read the rest
Campaigns Against Vaccinations Can Do Harm
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHow can doctors be persuaded to comport themselves as scientists? … Read the rest
Hear Blunkett on Today
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNo worry, we can say what we like about religion, as long as it’s sensible.… Read the rest
Hormonal Birth Control as ‘Silent’ Abortionist
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPharmacists and doctors are denying patients access to birth control pills.… Read the rest
Blunkett’s Well-meaning Waffle
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBeyond the remit and power of home secretaries to compel people to be kind.… Read the rest