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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Gina Khan Interview Part 4 *

Jan 14th, 2008 | Filed by

Inayat Bunglawala is a good example of what I mean by the extreme version of Islam.… Read the rest



Loudspeaker Plan for Oxford Mosque Not Popular *

Jan 14th, 2008 | Filed by

Neighbours think it might be a tad noisy and intrusive. And theological.… Read the rest



Brian Whitaker on HRW and Honour Killings *

Jan 14th, 2008 | Filed by

Many governments that sign up to treaties such as CEDAW face resistance from conservatives at home.… Read the rest



Brian Whitaker on Human Rights and Universalism *

Jan 14th, 2008 | Filed by

There is no room for selectively excluding some humans on the pretext of local circumstances or cultural norms.… Read the rest



Past Imperfect *

Jan 14th, 2008 | Filed by

Charlie Wilson helped to bring down a project of secular modernisation. Clever.… Read the rest



Children Baptised for Sake of School Place *

Jan 13th, 2008 | Filed by

‘A great compliment from the community at large to the quality of the Catholic school system.’… Read the rest



Blasphemy Laws on the Skids *

Jan 13th, 2008 | Filed by

Archbishop of Canterbury will not oppose abolition.… Read the rest



Ezra Levant to Alberta Human Rights Commission *

Jan 13th, 2008 | Filed by

The commission is acting as a censor. That’s human rights?… Read the rest



Defiant Levant Republishes Motoons *

Jan 13th, 2008 | Filed by

Syed Soharwardy of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada filed a complaint.… Read the rest



The Huckster’s Artful Dodging on Evolution *

Jan 13th, 2008 | Filed by

It is unacceptable for a presidential candidate to advocate a clearly unconstitutional educational policy.… Read the rest



Spate of Executions and Amputations in Iran *

Jan 12th, 2008 | Filed by

Judicial authorities amputated the right hands and left feet of five convicted robbers this week.… Read the rest



Jesus and Mo on How Fallible Humans Know *

Jan 12th, 2008 | Filed by

A moment of infallibility does the trick.… Read the rest



Why Ratzinger is the Pope and Jesus is Not *

Jan 12th, 2008 | Filed by

Ratzinger has such clever ideas.… Read the rest



Ben Goldacre on Clinical Trials *

Jan 12th, 2008 | Filed by

You can’t change your mind about what you’re counting as your main outcome after you’ve finished and the results are in.… Read the rest



The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief *

Jan 12th, 2008 | Filed by

By Tom Flynn (editor), Richard Dawkins (foreword).… Read the rest



Live Murder Inquiry in Shafilea Ahmed Case *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

Coroner believes the concept of arranged marriage was central to the circumstances leading up to her death. … Read the rest



Shafilea Ahmed Feared a Forced Marriage *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

‘My parents are going to send me to Pakistan and I’ll be married to someone and left there.’… Read the rest



God Says Stand Up Straight *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

‘Even many good, godly people have gotten into a bad habit of slumping and looking down.’ Blasphemers.… Read the rest



How Silly is Mormonism? *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

Mormonism is no sillier than other religions, it’s just younger. (Hmm…)… Read the rest



Kenya Isn’t Supposed To Be Like This *

Jan 11th, 2008 | Filed by

The electoral contest exposed an ethnic fissure whose depth was no secret to ordinary Kenyans.… Read the rest