A fiery radical marches – but only only from the podium to the speaker’s table.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Why Libraries? 
Mar 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Soueif, Pullman, de Botton, A. Geras, Phillips and others say why.… Read the rest
March for Free Expression, Sort Of
Mar 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Initial plans to have Motoons on banners to support cartoonists and free expression were ditched.… Read the rest
Amartya Sen: Democracy Isn’t ‘Western’
Mar 25th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Athens is more ‘Eastern’ than European, for a start.… Read the rest
Amnesty International on Abdul Rahman
Mar 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Freedom of religion and belief entails the right to replace current belief with another or adopt atheist views.… Read the rest
Motoon Imam Threatens to Blow Up a Guy
Mar 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
TV crew secretly filmed Akkari threatening to have founder of Democratic Muslims bombed.… Read the rest
This Thing About Meddling in Domestic Affairs
Mar 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When it’s cartoons, meddling is virtuous; when it’s execution for conversion, meddling is naughty.… Read the rest
Geoffrey Wheatcroft on Peerages for Sale
Mar 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Whither purer than pure?… Read the rest
Lecturer Suspended for IQ Claims
Mar 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Claims about average intelligence among groups.… Read the rest
Bullywatch
Mar 24th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Guardian urges mayor to ‘learn that sometimes the best thing he could do is shut up.’… Read the rest
Atheists Most Distrusted Minority in US
Mar 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No kidding.… Read the rest
The Selfish Gene Event
Mar 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dennett, Ridley, McEwan, Krebs, Dawkins speak.… Read the rest
Blow Up Those Guilty Women
Mar 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The biggest nightclub in central London, no one can put their hands up and say they are innocent – those slags dancing around.’… Read the rest
On Wieseltier on Dennett’s Breaking the Spell
Mar 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The first question…about Wieseltier’s review is why he was asked to submit it in the first place.’… Read the rest
Kenan Malik on ‘Too Much Respect’
Mar 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘There is no reason to treat Muslims—or, indeed, any religious believers—as special cases.’… Read the rest
Ignatieff on Torture
Mar 23rd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Problems begin when we descend into the particular, when we ask what exactly counts as torture. … Read the rest
Excerpts From Rapporteur’s Criticism of Denmark
Mar 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Diéne talks a lot of sinister nonsense.… Read the rest
Eta Declares Permanent Ceasefire
Mar 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The ceasefire will take effect on Friday, the statement said. … Read the rest
Lords Overturn School Jilbab Ruling
Mar 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Law lords verturned a court ruling that Begum’s human rights were violated.… Read the rest
Annual Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fund Meeting
Mar 22nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Maryam Namazie asks how can it be Islamophobic to say people should be able to live a 21st century life?… Read the rest
