A rounded picture of the moral life must take in not only the banality of evil, but human sociality.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Two Phantoms of the Beijing Opera 
Aug 20th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
IOC president Jacques Rogge, and Ji Sizun who applied for a permit to protest.… Read the rest
China Sentences Two Elderly Women
Aug 20th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For applying for permits to protest indequate compensation for demolition of their homes.… Read the rest
Living With India’s Gender Bias
Aug 19th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In Delhi only 821 girls are born for every 1,000 boys. … Read the rest
Debate in Europe on Self-Censorship and Islam
Aug 19th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Salman Rushdie and Kurt Westergaard have protested Random House decision to pull Aisha novel.… Read the rest
Aisha Novel Pulled From Bookstores in Serbia
Aug 19th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Serbia’s Islamic community said the novel offended their feelings.’ The whole community said that?… Read the rest
Religious Beliefs not Grounds for Discrimination
Aug 19th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Doctors may not discriminate against gays and lesbians in medical treatment on religious grounds.… Read the rest
Muslim Rebels Rock Southern Philippines
Aug 19th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rebels stormed several towns in the southern Philippines killing at least 34 people.… Read the rest
Afghan Women in Jail for Being Raped
Aug 18th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘In Afghanistan whether it is forced or not forced it is a crime because the Islamic rules say that it is.’… Read the rest
Imam Wants Religious Laws in Constitution
Aug 18th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Imam made the suggestion at a seminar on ‘Nigerian Constitutional Review: Imams’ Perspective.’… Read the rest
Musharraf Resigns
Aug 18th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Said he had believed it was his destiny to save Pakistan, helped by God (and the army).… Read the rest
Nigeria: Sharia Cops Go After Prostitutes
Aug 18th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sharia reintroduced some of the harsher Islamic penalties which had been removed under colonial rule.… Read the rest
A French ‘Jewel of Medina’ [in French]
Aug 18th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘La France n’étant pas les Etats-Unis, ici on reste bien droit quand là-bas on se couche.’ Ouch.… Read the rest
God Reduces Gas/Petrol Prices by 4%!
Aug 17th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pray at the Pump meetings began in April; since then price has fallen more than 20 cents. Amen.… Read the rest
Blog by MSF Worker in Bangladesh
Aug 17th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Our drivers are aid workers. It’s not ‘2 aid workers and a driver killed’; it’s 3 aid workers killed.… Read the rest
Conservative Imprints Get to Ignore the Truth
Aug 17th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why is a political propagandist running a publishing imprint? Truth is not what she’s about; campaigns are.… Read the rest
Ontario Doctors Required to Practice Medicine
Aug 17th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Will be expected to provide birth control and abortions despite ‘conscience.’… Read the rest
Johann Hari on Watching ‘Islamophobia’
Aug 17th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Watchers argue that Muslims are so sensitive and uncurious that their ideas must be ring-fenced from criticism.… Read the rest
Rushdie Attacks Censorship by Fear
Aug 16th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Random House feared a repeat of the murder of Theo van Gogh.’ Really?… Read the rest
Julie Burchill Has ‘Faith,’ Congratulates Self
Aug 16th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says atheists are immature, surly, self-satisfied killjoys. We love you too, hon.… Read the rest
