Inflating declarations of good intent with religious rhetoric about God being on our side is obscene.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Nancy Sherman on Medical Ethics Then and Now 
Jan 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Psychological mechanisms enable doctors and health care workers to insulate their moral consciences. … Read the rest
Johann Hari on the Question of European Islam
Jan 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Multiculturalism meant all were encouraged to retain their original culture – no matter how reactionary.… Read the rest
Nazanin Fatehi Acquitted
Jan 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Five judges reviewed her case, and all admitted that what Fatehi did was only self defense.… Read the rest
A Victory Against Ignorance and Retribution
Jan 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
International Committee Against Execution congratulates all those who have helped save Nazanin’s life.… Read the rest
Exciting Plans to Criminalize More Speech
Jan 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Must preserve freedom of expression and criminalize concrete incitement, Frattini said opaquely.… Read the rest
Giles Fraser Dons Rosy Specs Again
Jan 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many Christians think homosexuality is a gift of God. Admittedly, some don’t think so very loudly.… Read the rest
George Scialabba on the Work Cut Out for Us
Jan 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The real danger to American democracy is the methodical hollowing out of – nearly everything.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on Government Gambling-addiction
Jan 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Odd that a Labour government promotes an industry where the odds are stacked in management’s favour.… Read the rest
Anyone Can Claim to be a Nutritionist
Jan 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And hire a PR flack to delete criticism from Wikipedia entry. Naughty.… Read the rest
‘Devout’ Schoolgirl in New Crucifix Fuss
Jan 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Tears, shock, right to wear cross, other religions, why, determined, even if, symbol of her faith.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Getting the Details Wrong
Jan 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Also the overall story. Getting pretty much all of it wrong, really.… Read the rest
Harvard and Pope Are Confused
Jan 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Reason must be unfettered by faith if we are to truly educate our children and our students.… Read the rest
Blacks Swans Falsify Again
Jan 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘One-fourth of all black swan families are headed by gay parents.’ Bang goes ‘unnatural’ claim.… Read the rest
Top 10 Underreported Humanitarian Stories 2006
Jan 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
From MSF: Somalia, DRC, Haiti, Colombia, Sri Lanka, CAR, Chechnya, India, Malnutrition, TB.… Read the rest
Why Danes Score High on Happiness
Jan 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Two reasons: football triumph of 1992, and low expectations.… Read the rest
‘Diverse Communities’: Vibrant or Suspicious?
Jan 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Well, kind of vibrantly suspicious.… Read the rest
Grayling on an Obscenity Against Human Rights
Jan 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This effort to halt the fight against the evil of discrimination is a step too far by the religious.… Read the rest
Religion in Britain in Blair Era
Jan 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Secularists dismayed by what they see as the growing influence of religion on government.… Read the rest
Call for ‘Faith-based’ NHS Services
Jan 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Need to avoid ‘porcine and alcohol derived drugs’, access to prayer facilities and Ramadan advice cited.… Read the rest
