Latest news with #Keneally
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Science
- The Advertiser
'Salty soup': climate threat to vital lagoon ecosystems
Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management. Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management. Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management. Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Science
- West Australian
'Salty soup': climate threat to vital lagoon ecosystems
Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Science
- Perth Now
'Salty soup': climate threat to vital lagoon ecosystems
Healthy, well-balanced coastal lagoons at the intersection of salty seas and fresh waterways make ideal fish nurseries and attractive spots for migratory birds. Yet a warming climate paired with competition for water upstream is degrading these ecological hotspots, ramping up their salt content and putting marine life under stress. Emerging research suggests the potential for lagoon wetlands to act as carbon sinks - when an ecosystems draws down more carbon dioxide than it releases - is hindered when in a degraded state. University of Adelaide microbial ecologist Christopher Keneally said the habitats tend to emit more methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gas emissions, when in poor shape. His post-doctoral research focused on the Ramsar-listed Coorong in South Australia, the traditional lands of the Ngarrindjeri people, underlines the importance of keeping these critical habitats in good health. It's not just an Australian problem, he explained, with brackish wetlands in arid and temperate climate zones worldwide under threat from rising temperatures. Characterised by somewhat choked ocean access, lagoons are already under pressure from human activity as freshwater use by towns, farms and industry leaves less for the environment at the end of river basins. Now higher rates of evaporation under rising temperatures, less rainfall, and sea level rise bringing in more saltwater from the ocean are contributing to higher salt and nutrient concentrations. "A single hot, dry summer, like the one we have recently experienced, can completely shift this important habitat into a salty, green soup," Dr Keneally said. Such conditions upset the invisible and delicate "microbiomes" of lagoon waters, with microbial diversity diminished while salt-tolerant species survive. Unbalanced microbial communities can potentially lead to harmful algae blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones" that kill fish. In addition, microbial species with anaerobic metabolisms favour high salinity environments. These species tend to produce methane, undermining the habitat's role as a productive carbon sink. While an emerging area of research, Dr Keneally said estimations of methane production were "probably underestimated" and should be better integrated into global climate models. Occasional heavy rainfall and floods serve to "freshen up" coastal wetlands, rebalancing salt and other nutrient levels, as occurred in the South Australia's Coorong region in 2022. Yet sporadic downpours cannot be relied upon. "Conditions might improve for a couple of years, but those high rainfall events are not dependable, and in the dry periods, we often see permanent losses of biodiversity, Dr Keneally said. Careful management of freshwater releases to keep salinity and nutrient levels at optimal levels was billed as part of the solution. Listed as an internationally-important wetland under the Ramsar convention for migratory birds in the 1980s, the Coorong has long been a research priority and its condition taken seriously. The Millennium Drought led to the creation of the Murray Darling Basin to better manage water flows in the region, though balancing the needs of irrigators, towns and the environment has long been a fraught issue. Long-time Coorong fisherman Glen Hill believes the limited water reserved for the environment - half the amount recommended by scientists - should be released more strategically. The owner of Coorong Wild Seafood said the north of the lagoon was in great shape as freshwater from the river mouth could be easily released into it, while the more isolated south area was in a "terrible" state. He said better-timed water releases to coincide with favourable winds and weather conditions could help more freshwater enter the troubled southern lagoon. Mr Hill has been fishing the area for the prized Yellow-eye mullet and other commercially-important species for decades. Situated at the end of the Murray Darling Basin, Mr Hill said the Coorong was a highly productive fishery thanks to the high levels of nutrient "building blocks" swept downstream. Yet he was acutely familiar with the "domino effect" of harmfully-high salinity levels, knocking out species low on the food chain and leaving fish with little to eat. "When you get to around two times sea water salinity, things start to really go wrong," he said. A spokesperson from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said the government was committed to protecting the Coorong's ecological character. "This work is achieved by optimising delivery of water for the environment and investing in infrastructure and restoration strategies to improve and protect the health of the system," the spokesperson said. The health of the lagoon vastly improved during the 2022 River Murray floods but the spokesperson said more needed to be done to restore its long-term health. This included refining freshwater flows and working with other basin states to ensure climate science informs its broader management.
WIRED
21-05-2025
- WIRED
IVF Clinic Bombing Suspect Was Linked to ‘Anti-Life' Ideology. Experts Fear Its Growing Influence
May 21, 2025 6:30 AM The 25-year-old died after authorities say he bombed a Palm Springs fertility clinic. Experts warn that online nihilism is fueling similar violence in the US and Europe. The damaged front of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic stands following a bomb blast on May 17, 2025, in Palm Springs, California. Photograph:The man who died after authorities say he bombed a Palm Springs fertility clinic on Saturday was linked to antinatalism—the belief that all life is a form of suffering imposed on people without their consent—according to terrorism experts who have been analyzing his online presence. Authorities say Guy Bartkus, who was 25, set off an explosion in a car outside American Reproductive Centers, injuring five people and killing himself as well as causing extensive damage to the building in an act of terrorism. 'The subject had nihilistic ideations and this was a targeted attack,' Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said in a press conference. Bartkus was attempting to live stream the attack, Davis added. All embryos in the facility were saved. Since the attack, Bartkus' digital footprint has surfaced, including writings and recordings of his views. According to the LAist, Bartkus appeared to describe himself as being promortalist and misandrist on a website that surfaced after the bombing and could be heard in an audio recording saying, 'Basically I'm anti-life. And IVF is like kind of the epitome of pro-life ideology.' He did not use his name on the site, but analysts from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) believe the website was operated by him. WIRED has viewed an archived version of the website. Reddit has also banned the antinatalist subreddit r/Efilism, telling NBC News it was removing 'any instances of the suspect's manifesto or recordings and hashing to prevent reupload.' Efilism, a form of antinatalism also linked to promortalism, gets its name by spelling 'life' backwards. Nihilists believe that life is meaningless. While promortalists and antinatalists also don't value human life, Katherine Keneally, director of threat analysis and prevention US for the ISD, says Bartkus' views were somewhat distinct from nihilism because of his belief he was on a mission. 'Promortalists recognize and seek to minimize suffering rather than embrace misanthropy and amorality,' Keneally says, noting that the writings attributed to Bartkus indicate he rejected the 'sociopath[ic]' tendencies of nihilists' in a May 2025 forum post. Keneally says part of minimizing suffering, in the eyes of an antinatalist, is reducing the human population. In a recording of the aforementioned website, Bartkus reportedly said, ' I am angry that I exist, um, and that, uh, you know, nobody got my consent to bring me here.' Keneally says the suspect's statements and social media posts indicate the bombing was motivated by promortalism, as he may have thought targeting a fertility clinic was preventing new life. ISD analysts don't believe promortalism has been a primary motivator of violence in previous cases it's been linked to, she adds. The bombing comes over a week after ISD released a report about how nihilistic worldviews are fueling violence in the US and Europe. The report found that two prominent nihilistic subcultures, True Crime Community and No Lives Matter, were linked by authorities to nine school shooting plots and two Swedish stabbing attacks in 2024. True Crime Community adherents fawn over school shooters, but rather than focus on their motivations, the fixation is on their personal characteristics, the report says. 'We'll see young girls and young women in these communities online that will create memes and images of shooters with hearts around them, adding their last name to theirs,' Keneally says. Meanwhile, the No Lives Matter camp seeks to replicate violent attacks, often stabbings, to 'supercharge the spread of these ideas through memes, images, clips of music or even color schemes,' the report adds. The No Lives Matter movement also intersects with Satanism, and has ties to the 764 network, which is known for luring children into sextortion. According to the ISD report, the disorganized and ever-changing nature of nihilist ideologies makes it harder to understand and counter. 'Those who carry out nihilistic violence are not seeking to change society or promote a specific ideological outcome,' the report says. 'Instead, perpetrators of these attacks are deeply enmeshed in subcultures that share misanthropic and nihilistic worldviews, promote anti-social behavior and encourage violence as an outlet for their emotions and personal struggles.' The report points to a manifesto left behind by the Madison, Wisconsin school shooter in December, which was called 'War Against Humanity,' as an example of nihilistic-fueled violence. Keneally says people who get wrapped up in these beliefs skew younger; mental illness can also be a predictor. On the website believed to be linked to Bartkus, he said he had borderline personality disorder, a mental health disorder characterized by impulsive behavior and difficulty regulating one's emotions. She said in Bartkus' case, the fact that he posted videos of himself making bombs on YouTube and posted on a pro-suicide forum, suggest that there were warning signs that could have been flagged prior to the bombing. 'There were signals that could have potentially served as a way to disrupt this attack,' she claims.
News.com.au
06-05-2025
- News.com.au
Activist sues state over Keneally arrest after spending three weeks in jail
The strip search activist who was wrongly thrown in jail for three weeks after the police officer son of former NSW premier Kristina Keneally fabricated a statement is suing the state for malicious prosecution. Luke Moore was arrested after Daniel Keneally falsely stated the Goulburn man had threatened that he wanted a regional detective 'dead' and that he was 'as good as gone'. Keneally was subsequently charged and found guilty of falsifying an official report about the February 2021 phone call with Mr Moore, the founder of a website called iSuepolice. The District Court was last year played a 12-minute recording of the phone call to Newtown Police Station in which Mr Moore complained about illegal strip searches. During the call Mr Moore said he was calling every police station in the state to put them 'on notice' that if any officer performed an illegal strip search they would open themselves up to being sued. Mr Moore said during the call that his company was suing NSW Police on behalf of alleged victims and was commanding five-figure sums in exchange for securing compensation for clients. However he made no threats to the officer during the call. Keneally was ordered to serve a 15-month intensive corrections order, pay a $2000 fine and perform 200 hours of community service after he last year lost an attempt to overturn his conviction, unsuccessfully arguing he had not intended to give false evidence. Mr Moore is now suing the state for malicious prosecution and on Tuesday appeared in the NSW Supreme Court where he gave evidence about his three weeks in jail before he was let out and the charges were dropped because he had recorded his phone call with Keneally. Mr Moore told the court on Tuesday morning that following his 2021 arrest, while in his cell his overheard a conversation between officers that police would be opposing his release on bail. He said that from his cell, he called over an officer, who was in the jail complex, and told him that he had a recording of the conversation with Keneally on his phone and denied making any threats. 'I said … that I recorded all the phone calls that I made to the police station and they were all on my phone and if he went and got my phone it would prove I was telling the truth,' Mr Moore said. He said he was told the phone had been taken into evidence and he would have to wait until it was processed. He said he repeatedly pleaded with the detective: 'I didn't say those things' and urged him to check his phone. It wasn't until the brief of evidence was served on him that he was able to listen to the recording which ultimately led to him being released. Under cross examination, he accepted that during his police interview he was asked about any exculpatory evidence, but did not mention the recording, saying he may have misunderstood the question at the time. Mr Moore was also cross examined about his conviction - which was overturned on appeal and quashed - for fraud charges after he overdrew $2.1m from a bank account to fund the purchase of cars, a boat and other luxury items. Mr Moore was in 2015 jailed after being found guilty of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and dealing with the proceeds of crime. The convictions were then quashed and he was released from custody. He was sentenced to a minimum of two years and three months in jail. The court was told Mr Moore was on Centrelink when he opened a St George bank account which allowed him to overdraw and continually take out loans from the account. The court heard he splurged on luxury cars like an Aston Martin, a Maserati and an Alfa Romeo, as well as purchasing art, despite having no prospect of paying back the money. By the time it was frozen, the account had a negative balance of $2.1m. The bank was able to recover over $1m from Mr Moore's other accounts, the court was told on Tuesday. In 2016, the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed his conviction after finding that while he acted dishonestly, he did not deceive the bank because the terms of the account allowed him to borrow money. 'Mr Moore what you did over those three years was dishonest wasn't it?' Barrister Adrian Williams, acting for the State of NSW, asked in court on Tuesday. 'It's been characterised as that,' Mr Moore said. 'Do you not accept that?' Mr Williams asked. 'There's no denying what I did wasn't honest,' Mr Moore said.
