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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Forced Marriage Fears in India *

Jan 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Some British Indian parents force their children to marry.… Read the rest



Colonials and Natives *

Jan 13th, 2005 | Filed by

Another proud moment for the ruling class.… Read the rest



Mark Thatcher Gets Suspended Sentence *

Jan 13th, 2005 | Filed by

The younger generation just can’t get it right.… Read the rest



Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti on ‘Behzti’ and the Aftermath *

Jan 13th, 2005 | Filed by

Religion and art have collided for centuries.… Read the rest



Evolution Disclaimer Sticker Must be Removed *

Jan 13th, 2005 | Filed by

Anti-evolution sticker violates the constitution.… Read the rest



Ken Livingstone Defends Yusuf al-Qaradawi *

Jan 12th, 2005 | Filed by

He’s shared a platform with or met various famous people, therefore…… Read the rest



Waterstone’s, Free Speech, the Power of Books *

Jan 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Bookshop fires employee for saying harsh things about boss on blog.… Read the rest



BBC Producer Quits Over ‘Blasphemy’ *

Jan 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Senior producer at Radio 3 resigns in protest at blasphemy in Springer Opera.… Read the rest



People are Capable of Rational Thought *

Jan 12th, 2005 | Filed by

To say the people of Jamaica cannot change values inherited from British colonial era is to infantilise them.… Read the rest



Nick Cohen on the Silence About Hadi Salih *

Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by

“Do you want priests to be able to control ‘their’ people?” No? Get ready for a fight then.… Read the rest



Male Editors Needed to Sexualize Sontag *

Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by

Waspish Sontag might have replied: stiffening of male editors no reason to impute rigor to her.… Read the rest



Germaine Greer Has Her Reasons *

Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by

‘The British university was a club Greer did not want to remain in.’… Read the rest



‘Christian Voice’ Guy Gets Some Attention *

Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by

Admits it was a mistake to publish BBC executives’ home addresses: ‘I’m fallible.’… Read the rest



Kenan Malik on Exaggerated Islamophobia *

Jan 11th, 2005 | Filed by

People struggling to defend basic rights within Muslim communities are called racist.… Read the rest



Sontag v Derrida *

Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by

Hair; obit word-count; celebrity score; president is/is not sad; was/was not silly.… Read the rest



‘The Canon’ Has no Value for the Underprivileged? *

Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by

In fact ‘the canon’ enabled ‘the masses’ to become thinking individuals. … Read the rest



Mary Kenny Gratified to See BBC Cages Rattled *

Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by

And glad to see Christians catch up with Muslims and Sikhs in the cage-rattling game.… Read the rest



New York Times on Guy Davenport *

Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by

‘He talked over everybody’s head, but in a way that made you want to get to where he was.’… Read the rest



Complaints to BBC Escalate to Threats of Violence *

Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by

BBC2 controller, director of television deluged with ‘threatening’ and ‘abusive’ phone calls.… Read the rest



‘Christian Voice’ Published Private Details on Website *

Jan 10th, 2005 | Filed by

Removed information after warnings from BBC lawyers; Keating and others had received threats.… Read the rest