All entries by this author

See Gwyneth Paltrow’s Cupping Bruises! *

Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by

Hey, it’s an ancient Chinese practice, so it must be healthy, right?… Read the rest



Washington Post on MMR and Wakefield *

Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by

Media panics create a debate where there isn’t one. … Read the rest



A Cultural Change *

Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by

Bush administration still packing science advisory panels with ideologues.… Read the rest



Some Arguments Against a Religious-Hatred Law *

Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by

From Civitas, the Institute for the Study of Civil Society.… Read the rest



Swami Agnivesh Opposes Hindutva *

Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by

‘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

Create communities where people believe there is no honour in honour killing.… Read the rest



Doubts About Religious Hatred Law *

Jul 10th, 2004 | Filed by

‘…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

Insufficient evidence, cautious speech, interest in the truth.… Read the rest



Surprise! Americans Don’t Read Much *

Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by

From On Native Grounds to Amusing Ourselves to Death.… Read the rest



Surgeon Rebukes Prince over Alternative Therapy *

Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by

Authority via study and research v. authority via accident of birth.… Read the rest



Union of Concerned Scientists *

Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by

Chris Mooney reports on their press conference.… Read the rest



Polly Toynbee Named ‘Islamophobe of Year’ *

Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by

Perhaps it’s time to start naming ‘Secularophobe of the Year’.… Read the rest



Meghnad Desai on Religious Hatred Laws *

Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by

Secular 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

As 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.

A 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

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Study of Environmental Causes of Autism *

Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by

Colin 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

Well but they grow it with ever such nice organic fertilizer.… Read the rest



Campaigns Against Vaccinations Can Do Harm *

Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by

How can doctors be persuaded to comport themselves as scientists? … Read the rest



Hear Blunkett on Today *

Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by

No 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

Pharmacists and doctors are denying patients access to birth control pills.… Read the rest



Blunkett’s Well-meaning Waffle *

Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by

Beyond the remit and power of home secretaries to compel people to be kind.… Read the rest