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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Freethinker Offers a Caption Competition *

Feb 14th, 2010 | Filed by

First prize is a copy of Does God Hate Women?Read the rest



Southall Black Sisters: Secularist of the Year *

Feb 14th, 2010 | Filed by

SBS can provide women with some time away from the all-powerful religious patriarchy.… Read the rest



The Case for Human Rights is not Utilitarian *

Feb 14th, 2010 | Filed by

Neither is the case for not torturing people.… Read the rest



Do Humans Have an Innate ‘Moral Grammar’? *

Feb 14th, 2010 | Filed by

Ilkka Pyysiäinen and Marc Hauser discuss the evolution of religion and morality.… Read the rest



A Religious but not Righteous Judge *

Feb 13th, 2010 | Filed by

AC Grayling on special lenience for criminals who are religious.… Read the rest



DR Congo: Girls Less Likely to be Freed *

Feb 13th, 2010 | Filed by

‘Used as combatants, labour and sex slaves, girls are rarely freed by the armed forces and groups.’… Read the rest



Rape in DR Congo, Civilians Attacked in Uganda *

Feb 13th, 2010 | Filed by

Over 8,000 women raped last year by fighters in DR Congo; LRA killed 849 civilians, abducted 1,486.… Read the rest



Muttawa Out Patrolling for Valentine Badness *

Feb 13th, 2010 | Filed by

No roses or chocolates for you!… Read the rest



Spain: Woman Threatened for Removing Hijab *

Feb 13th, 2010 | Filed by

She got a master’s degree and began to live like an adult person. That won’t do.… Read the rest



Pets Left Behind *

Feb 12th, 2010 | Filed by

When the Rapture comes, what happens to Mittens and Spot? They go to live with the atheists.… Read the rest



God and Science Are Too So Compatible! *

Feb 12th, 2010 | Filed by

Dr Capon says atheists mislead the public when they claim science and religion are incompatible.… Read the rest



Jesus and Mo Resort to Kuhnian Paradigms *

Feb 12th, 2010 | Filed by

It’s a question of differing epistemological frameworks, you see.… Read the rest



Kenya: Police Arrest 5 Men for Being ‘Gay’ *

Feb 12th, 2010 | Filed by

Kenyan gay rights organisation condemned the arrests; Christian and Muslim clerics threw usual fit.… Read the rest



Vicar Tells Women to Submit to Husbands *

Feb 12th, 2010 | Filed by

Wives are to submit to husbands in everything cos husbands are head of family as Christ is head of church.… Read the rest



Norway: Dagbladet Refuses to Apologize to Imam *

Feb 11th, 2010 | Filed by

Norwegian flags are already on fire in Pakistan.… Read the rest



UN Appeals for Donations for Haiti’s Schools *

Feb 11th, 2010 | Filed by

Of some 1,500 schools visited in the worst hit areas of Haiti, only 85 had escaped severe damage.… Read the rest



Joan Smith on Amnesty and Moazzam Begg *

Feb 11th, 2010 | Filed by

The Taliban isn’t a little bit misguided about women’s rights. Amnesty should keep its distance. … Read the rest



UNESCO Reports Rise in Attacks on Schools *

Feb 11th, 2010 | Filed by

Motives include preventing the education of girls and silencing human rights defenders.… Read the rest



Iran: Basji Militia Blocking Protesters *

Feb 11th, 2010 | Filed by

Security forces are armed with tear gas, live rounds, and paint balls to mark protesters. … Read the rest



German Commentators See ‘Islamophobia’ *

Feb 10th, 2010 | Filed by

Necla Kelek and Seyran Ates are targets of vitriol for opposing honor killings and forced marriages.… Read the rest