Father took advice of traditional healers to veto op but law intervened: child will get surgery. … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Lords to Debate Annulment of Homeopathy Bill 
Oct 26th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
New regulations permit homeopathic products to make evidence-free medical claims.… Read the rest
Statement and Petition on Homeopathy Regs [pdf]
Oct 26th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The new regulations on homeopathic products compromise standards of evidence.… Read the rest
Religion is not a Learning Aid
Oct 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If we think universities should be spaces of free debate and enquiry, why not schools too?… Read the rest
Books Do Furnish a Room
Oct 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scott McLemee on coffee-table books that are not merely decorative.… Read the rest
Zanzibar Adopts HIV/AIDS Policy
Oct 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Parliament rejected conservative Muslim demands to close bars and ban skimpy clothing.… Read the rest
Bradford Council Advises Against Niqab in Schools
Oct 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ann Cryer, Trevor Phillips urge Azmi not to take her appeal through courts.… Read the rest
Mark Lilla and Richard Sennett Open Letter
Oct 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To the Anti-Defamation League, on the cancellation of a talk by Tony Judt at Polish consulate.… Read the rest
Hitchens on Tony Judt’s Persecution Complex
Oct 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We have a right to express an opinion, but not at a meeting of a private group that disagrees.… Read the rest
In a Sea of Uncertainty, We Grab at Anchors
Oct 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Like other subtle biases, anchors influence people at an unconscious level.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo Have a Guest
Oct 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He made it at last.… Read the rest
On the Right to Give Offence
Oct 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Believers in absolute truth revealed by God are unlikely to allow pestiferous notions of freedom of speech.… Read the rest
Turkey Struggles to End ‘Honour’ Killings
Oct 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Issue is complicated by the fact that the murders are associated mainly with the Kurdish minority.… Read the rest
9/11 Doubter to Leave Post at BYU
Oct 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Physics instructor belongs to group who believe US orchestrated the 9/11 attacks.… Read the rest
Kenan Malik on What Muslims Want
Oct 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Politicians prefer to see them as people who can be politically engaged only by other Muslims.… Read the rest
Free Speech at Columbia
Oct 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In the last month Columbia has been embroiled in four separate free-speech controversies.… Read the rest
Pope Warns Scientists Against Doing an Icarus
Oct 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
By doing research that the Vatican disapproves of. Don’t touch that apple.… Read the rest
Bérubé’s ‘What’s Liberal’ Reviewed
Oct 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘An unrepentant liberal, fond of postmodern culture, but not of Noam Chomsky or Michael Moore.’… Read the rest
Columbia Teachers College and ‘Loyalty Oaths’
Oct 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Does stated ‘respect for diversity and commitment to social justice’ amount to an ideological loyalty oath?… Read the rest
Omer Ismail on Darfur
Oct 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sudanese government denies its role in the genocide, restricting reporters in order to hide the truth. … Read the rest
