Note the muffled girls in primary school. Note hobbled girls trying to play football.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Islamic schools in the UK 
Nov 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many use a Saudi Arabian government curriculum that contains anti-Semitic and homophobic views, not to mention subordination of women.… Read the rest
A message about same-sex marriage
Nov 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Timothy Scriven notes: “This is not a small issue and we should not be patient.”… Read the rest
Oh noes! Atheists at a skeptic conference!
Nov 22nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Atheism is “harming the cause.”… Read the rest
Nasim Zehra: time to repeal blashphemy law
Nov 22nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is a long list, prepared by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, of unjust punishments handed down to Pakistani citizens.… Read the rest
Ahmadinejad says girls should marry at 16-18
Nov 22nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They stay out of trouble that way.… Read the rest
Asma Jahangir on Pakistan’s blasphemy laws
Nov 22nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When the Lahore High Court has sentenced Aasia Bibi to death for blasphemy, under section 295-C of Pakistan’s Penal Code.… Read the rest
Mary Kenny on the pope’s condom rulings
Nov 22nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Most people will see the pope’s New Idea as “sensible and compassionate.” No they won’t.… Read the rest
Religion a force for good?
Nov 21st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Grayling: “Wherever religiions are on the back foot, they suddenly become very friendly, very concessive and very tolerant.”… Read the rest
Where are you on the Great British Faith Map?
Nov 21st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There’s a Sikh in Devon. There’s a Lutheran in Humberside. There’s a Pentecostal in Norfolk. There’s a Zoroastrian in London.… Read the rest
Interfaith Week starts today
Nov 21st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
So get your interfaith costume on and let the fun begin.… Read the rest
Doctors angry about drug price manipulation
Nov 21st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Consultants claim current regulation allows pharma companies to tweak medicines and patent them as a new drug with a new price.… Read the rest
Vatican plays down pope’s condom remarks
Nov 21st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said it was a big fuss about nothing.… Read the rest
Vatican rushes to clarify pope’s condom remark
Nov 21st, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He didn’t mean that. All he meant was. Fixation. Disordered sex. Courageously, important contribution, clarifying and deepening.… Read the rest
The vote on amendment to UN resolution
Nov 20th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For: China, Russia, most of Africa, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq. Against: Europe, Anglophones, India, most of Latin America.… Read the rest
UN: gays deleted from resolution against arbitrary killings
Nov 20th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In 2008, Uganda attempted a similar amendment that was defeated, so the vote this week was a step backwards.… Read the rest
Mormons say it’s not a sin to be gay
Nov 20th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The church still insists that followers resist having gay sex and they oppose same-sex marriage, but this is a step.… Read the rest
Marc Alan Di Martino reviews Why Truth Matters
Nov 20th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An essential guide to the perplexities of postmodernism.… Read the rest
Barbara Forrest on pro-science Louisianans
Nov 20th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Louisiana has citizens who are trying to stop the damage that the Louisiana Family Forum and their allies are doing to Louisiana science education.… Read the rest
Fickle Politics and the fear of a Hindutva planet
Nov 20th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Gradually Hindutvaism became the cause célèbre of the trendy left liberal intelligentsia in parts of the Guardian and the New Statesman.… Read the rest
