The Taliban have blown up more than 100 girls’ schools in Swat in the past 14 months. … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Darwin Commemorations Celebrate Free Inquiry 
Dec 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Darwin’s ideas remain startling in their implications for prescientific modes of thinking.… Read the rest
Taliban Also Forbids Polio Vaccs; Polio on Rise
Dec 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Female education is against Islamic teachings and spreads vulgarity in society,’ says Shah Dauran.… Read the rest
Ahmadinejad Gives ‘Alternative’ Xmas Message
Dec 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Who’s next? Mugabe? Maulana Fazlullah? Laurent Nkunda? Warren Jeffs?… Read the rest
ZLHR on Abductees in Zimbabwe
Dec 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The abductees were removed from the prison to a secret location in a minibus with South African plates.… Read the rest
Mugabe Regime is in Contempt of Court
Dec 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mugabe’s regime has ‘no intention’ of releasing Mukoko and the other opposition figures.… Read the rest
Mukoko Being Held in Notorious Prison
Dec 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa says Mukoko is in Chikurubi prison without access to lawyers.… Read the rest
Islam Online on Taliban Ban on Girls in School
Dec 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says other Taliban groups reject the ban, believe girls have equal rights to education.… Read the rest
Mukoko, Other Activists Remanded to Hospital
Dec 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mukoko is among a list of 32 human rights and MDC activists abducted by state security agents..… Read the rest
Mukoko and Other Activists Missing Again
Dec 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The police have refused to comply with the court order that Mukoko be taken to a hospital.… Read the rest
Fears for Safety of Zimbabwean Activists
Dec 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Judge ordered Mukoko and her co-accused to be sent to hospital but police ignored the order.… Read the rest
Scruton Speaks Up for Midgley
Dec 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is dismayed that she joined ‘the disastrous attack on hunting with hounds’ though.… Read the rest
Pakistan: Taliban Promise to Kill Girls in School
Dec 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘You have until January 15 to stop sending your girls to schools. If you do not pay any heed to this warning, we will kill such girls.’… Read the rest
Taliban ‘Ban’ Female Education in Swat District
Dec 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Teacher says they have also ordered women not to visit markets. They kill anyone who disobeys.… Read the rest
Conservative Anglicans Cheer Pope’s Assertions
Dec 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Catholic church ‘teaches’ this and that, the pope supports Catholic ‘teaching’; all good.… Read the rest
Pope is Partly Right
Dec 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Biology helps to shape gender; what follows from that is another issue.… Read the rest
The Pope Takes the Low Road
Dec 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Much of organised Christianity is powerful only when it is sanctioning the persecution of individuals.… Read the rest
Rick Warren Whines About ‘Christophobia’
Dec 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
People who disagree with him are doing hate speech, people who agree with him are wrongly accused of hate speech.… Read the rest
Jestina Mukoko Alive but not Safe
Dec 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She and other activists appeared in court, charged with trying to overthrow the ‘government.’… Read the rest
Saddleback Website Removes a Certain Item
Dec 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted as a member.’… Read the rest
