The current spread of measles is in stark contrast to a decade ago, when there were only a handful of cases. Nice job, Wakefield.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
UK “conman” convicted of selling fake bomb detectors
Apr 24th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHomeopaths next?… Read the rest
Worldwide Protests for Free Expression in Bangladesh
Apr 23rd, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAn international coalition led by CFI, the IHEU, and American Atheists, will protest the persecution of atheist bloggers in Bangladesh with demonstrations on April 25.… Read the rest
Kansas: Brownback signs sweeping antiabortion bill into law
Apr 23rd, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe law violates the accepted definition of fetal viability as defined by Roe v. Wade.… Read the rest
Video: Burmese police stand by as Buddhists attack Muslims
Apr 22nd, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe footage, apparently shot by police officers, shows Buddhist crowds cheering when Muslims are attacked and setting fire to mosques and houses.… Read the rest
Praveen Halappanavar still wants answers
Apr 21st, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe only thing that could have saved Savita was a prompt termination, and by the time it was lawful to perform a termination, she was beyond saving.… Read the rest
Another gender segregated lecture at UK university
Apr 16th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe University of Leicester has launched an investigation into gender segregation at a public lecture held by its student Islamic society.… Read the rest
Fazil Say convicted of blasphemy and inciting hatred
Apr 15th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA Turkish court has convicted pianist and composer Fazil Say of blasphemy and inciting hatred through a series of comments he made on Twitter last year.… Read the rest
ireland: Bethany Home survivors blame State for deaths
Apr 15th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Manslaughter of 63 children occurred’ when the State funded the Protestant institution.… Read the rest
Giving space to Andrew Wakefield on MMR isn’t balance, it’s lunacy
Apr 13th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWakefield’s research was unconvincing at the time and swiftly refuted, yet the ‘controversy’ over MMR has raged for years, fuelled by credulous idiots in the media.… Read the rest
ECHR calls on Ireland to implement abortion law
Apr 11th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe committee said “the general prohibition on abortion in criminal law constitutes a significant chilling factor for women and doctors.”… Read the rest
IHEU Call to action: Defend the bloggers of Bangladesh
Apr 10th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIslamist political parties have provided government with a list of 84 “atheist bloggers” and are demanding the death penalty for “insulting religion”.… Read the rest
PNG: two women suspected of “sorcery” beheaded
Apr 9th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTwo elderly women were beheaded in Papua New Guinea after being tortured for three days. Police were outnumbered by an angry mob and could do nothing to stop the murders.… Read the rest
Kenya: Kakenya Ntaiya swapped her genitals for high school
Apr 8th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhen she was 12, she made a deal with her father: she would undergo the Maasai rite of passage of FGM if he would let her go to high school.… Read the rest
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina rejects new blasphemy law
Apr 8th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIn a BBC interview, she said existing laws were sufficient to punish anyone who attempted to insult religion. Whew, that’s a relief!… Read the rest
Wales measles: 1,200 MMR jabs given at drop-in clinics
Apr 7th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHundreds queued at the four hospitals offering free MMR jabs aimed at curbing the measles epidemic.… Read the rest
Nepal: woman attacked as a “witch”
Apr 7th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe 60-year-old woman was stripped naked and had her head shaved, force-fed excrement and badly beaten.… Read the rest
Obama comments on California AG’s looks
Apr 5th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFirst, he said shrewdly, you have to say she’s brilliant and good at the job. But once that’s out of the way – phwoarrrrrrr, amirite?… Read the rest
Fox News host wants manlier men
Apr 4th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“Are we better off as a nation now with all the P.C. and with all the wimpifying, wussificating and basically making men Chihuahuas?”… Read the rest
Malala will tell her story
Mar 27th, 2013 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“I hope the book will reach people around the world, so they realize how difficult it is for some children to get access to education,” Malala said in a news release. “I want to tell my story, but it will also be the story of 61 million children who can’t get education.”… Read the rest