There’s this scene with a belly dancer, see, and the music is a song that mentions Fatima. Blasphemy!… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Honda releases a car “for women only”
Oct 31st, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s pink.… Read the rest
Samira Shackle talks to Mukhtar Mai
Oct 31st, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“As long as I live, I will keep fighting for the rights of women. Rape and cruelty happens everywhere, but here there is no justice for women when they fight.”… Read the rest
Poland: bible-tearer may have acquittal overturned
Oct 30th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTearing up a bible at a rock concert is “the crime of offending religious sensibilities.”… Read the rest
Broadcast journalist’s open letter to Dear Mr Misogynist
Oct 30th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia Benson”There’s a reason why you don’t hear women on commercial talkback radio,” he said. ”No one wants to hear the whiny sound of a female voice. Us blokes get enough nagging at home!”… Read the rest
Kunwar Khuldune Shahid on blaming the ideology, part 2
Oct 30th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWomen were ordered to be killed for conspiring against the religion by their ideological predecessors, so is it entirely the Taliban’s fault for following precedent?… Read the rest
Turkish police fire tear gas at secularist march
Oct 30th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThousands of secularists protested at a banned rally in Ankara against what they see as an increasingly authoritarian and Islamist government.… Read the rest
Here comes the hurricane theodicy
Oct 30th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIsrael. Teh gaze. Abortion. Hard Left Fascism. Teh gaze. Don’t forget teh gaze.… Read the rest
Carl Zimmer in praise of the big old mess of science
Oct 29th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhen you find yourself captivated by someone talking to you about science in a way that makes you feel everything’s wonderfully simple, go look for the big old mess.… Read the rest
India: a rape, Dalits, silence, intimidation
Oct 28th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHigher-caste men gang-raped a Dalit girl, took pictures and passed them around. Her father saw them and killed himself.… Read the rest
A fragmented approach to eliminating violence against women
Oct 28th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAs politicians squabble about sexism in modern Australia, action on violence against women must be more visible and better-coordinated.… Read the rest
Church bombed in Kaduna, Nigeria
Oct 28th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAt least seven people have been killed and dozens injured in the suicide bombing in northern Nigeria.… Read the rest
The Savile investigation expands
Oct 28th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonGary Glitter has been arrested on suspicion of sex offences by police investigating Jimmy Savile abuse claims.… Read the rest
Pessimism on Greece and Golden Dawn
Oct 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhat has depressed much of Greek society – from the liberal centre right to the liberal left – is the rapid rise of Golden Dawn.… Read the rest
Malala’s father is optimistic about her future
Oct 27th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDoctors at Queen Elizabeth hospital said she was still weak but stood every chance of making a good recovery.… Read the rest
Malala is making great progress
Oct 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDr Dave Rosser gives a press conference, and so does her father Ziauddin Yousufzai. “Can she sit her exams?” “Yes, probably.”… Read the rest
Malala is speaking; no signs of brain damage
Oct 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHer parents are now in Birmingham to be with her.… Read the rest
Mass. Supreme Court will hear “under God” pledge case
Oct 26th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe plaintiffs claim daily classroom affirmation that the nation is “under God” violates state constitutional prohibitions against religious discrimination.… Read the rest
Shehrbano Taseer on Malala Yousafzai
Oct 25th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA repressive mindset has been allowed to flourish in Pakistan because of the madrassa system set up by power-hungry clerics.… Read the rest
Popehat won’t be taking Mo the Rutabaga to the UK
Oct 24th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDon’t let your home become a place where the petty and the wicked use “blasphemy” and “offense” as an excuse to silence dissent. Fight back.… Read the rest