There are important questions that remain unanswered when all the facts are in.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Curiosity Rover samples the air on Mars 
Sep 8th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The robot sucked the air into its big Sample Analysis at Mars instrument
to reveal the concentration of different gases.… Read the rest
Reform call as madrassa teacher guilty of child cruelty
Sep 8th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They would still have the same curriculum though.… Read the rest
Rimsha Masih released, removed by helicopter
Sep 8th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A Pakistani military helicopter plucked her from a prison yard on Saturday and flew her to a secret location after she was granted bail.… Read the rest
The myth that hijab protects women
Sep 7th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Even if the only part of a woman’s body that shows is her shadow, harassers will sexualize and fetishize it.… Read the rest
Huge ugly cruise ships wrecking Venice
Sep 7th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They are out of scale.… Read the rest
Arctic ice melting fast
Sep 7th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“This is not some short-lived phenomenon – this is an ongoing trend. You lose more and more ice and it is accelerating.”… Read the rest
Canada closes Iranian embassy, kicks out diplomats
Sep 7th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Foreign Minister’s statement said Canada viewed Iran “as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today”.… Read the rest
Pakistan: bail granted in “blasphemy” case
Sep 7th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Blasphemy is not a bailable offence but her lawyers pleaded that she was a juvenile.… Read the rest
India: woman gives away daughters
Sep 5th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Reporter is incredulous to discover poverty so desperate. Where’s he been?… Read the rest
California bans therapy aimed at ‘curing’ homosexuality
Sep 5th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe bill to prohibit children and teenagers from undergoing conversion therapy
was passed by a vote of 51 to 21.… Read the rest
Divorce and sharia
Sep 5th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The husband says a second wife is allowed under sharia.… Read the rest
Hindu protests over McDonald’s near holy sites
Sep 5th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Big Macs v sacred cows.… Read the rest
Tunisia: Salafists raid hotel bar for serving alcohol
Sep 5th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dozens of thugs smashed bottles and chased away customers at the Horchani
hotel, news agencies reported.… Read the rest
New 3-D image from Curiosity Rover
Sep 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Between the rover on the right, and its shadow on the left, looms the rover’s
eventual target: Mount Sharp.… Read the rest
Muslim-majority countries bad on religious freedom
Sep 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Violent religious persecution is present in every country with a Muslim majority with a population of more than 2 million.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre researches the new health secretary
Sep 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In parliament he has been a supporter of homeopathy, against abortion, and against hybrid stem cell research. In 2009 he called for the NHS to be dismantled.… Read the rest
Xians take ‘beliefs’ fight to ECHR
Sep 4th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Andrew Marsh, of Christian Concern, told the BBC the four could have had their beliefs respected by their employers without harming the people they serve.… Read the rest
Speed-dating as new version of arranged marriage
Sep 3rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Chat for three minutes, move on. Better than not meeting at all…… Read the rest
Egypt’s sexual harassment of women is ‘epidemic’
Sep 3rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some women had education, and some men lagged behind; one way to equalise status is to shock women and force a sexual situation on them anywhere.… Read the rest
