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Welcome to Dark Times Academy!
These are hard times for those of us who love learning for the joy of learning and teaching for the joy of teaching. Dark Times Academy aims to offer a bright spot in all of this darkness–a place for affordable learning of the liberal and useful arts. A place where students can explore the world…
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How to fight Trump’s cyber dystopia with community, self-determination, care and truth
A presentation to the Asia Pacific Media Network by Mandy Henk, co-founder and director of Dark Times Academy. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ When the US Embassy knocked on my door in late 2024, I was both pleased and more than a little suspicious. I’d worked with them before, but the organisation where I did…
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MEDIA RELEASE: New online course from Dark Times Academy set to take on the Tech Bros with an all-star guest speaker line-up
Other new courses to address Christian Nationalism and ‘Decomputing’ AUCKLAND, 16 April 2025 – Community education provider Dark Times Academy has announced some bold new courses for its second term lineup for 2025, with topics covering the threat of Christian Nationalism, ‘decomputing’, and a special course about resisting the Silicon Valley ‘tech bros’ and oligarchs,…
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Decomputing: A Community Exploration
Register here. How this course works Taking inspiration from the long history around the world of folk education, particularly the Scandinavian and Appalachian traditions, this course is designed to offer a fun, affordable and rigorous experience–that serves the needs of working adults. Like all folk education, liberation and movement building is at the core of…
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Unmasking Theocracy: Project 2025 and the Christian Nationalist Agenda
Register here How this course works Taking inspiration from the long history around the world of folk education, particularly the Scandinavian and Appalachian traditions, this course is designed to offer a fun, affordable and rigorous experience–that serves the needs of working adults. Like all folk education, liberation and movement building is at the core of…
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Fighting the Broligarchy
Register here How this course works Taking inspiration from the long history around the world of folk education, particularly the Scandinavian and Appalachian traditions, this course is designed to offer a fun, affordable and rigorous experience–that serves the needs of working adults. Like all folk education, liberation and movement building is at the core of…
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NZ education provider has US Embassy grant terminated after refusing to provide course material for alignment with new US government policies
AUCKLAND, 19 February 2025 – New Zealand-based community education provider Dark Times Academy has had a US Embassy grant it received to deliver a course teaching Pacific Island-based journalists about disinformation terminated after the new US administration requested a list of course participants and to review the programme material. The course, called ‘A Bit Sus’,…
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Media Capture, Control, and Misinformation in the Digital Age
Register here. This course explores the intersection of information science and sociology tounderstand the mechanisms of media capture, control, and the proliferation ofmisinformation. Students will analyze case studies, theoretical frameworks, andtechnological tools used to influence media narratives and public opinion. Exploring the intersection of information science and sociology, this class will empower you to understand…
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Demystifying risk: effective conversations about risks to health, the environment and society
Register here Climate change, artificial intelligence, water and air pollution, gene technology, earthquakes, infectious disease, vaccines… whatever the risk, scientists, regulators, companies and communities are often at odds. Communities are at a disadvantage when it comes to sharing their perspectives on risk, because the information available can be highly technical. But while the science may…
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[POSTPONED] Settling the Battle Between Good and Evil: Moving Beyond a Toxic Story
Register here. This course has been postponed. Check back here in March for new dates. The battle between good and evil is one of the oldest stories there is, like capitalism it takes up our horizon of thought. But what if it’s time to put it to rest? To finally settle this great battle and…
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Facing the Future: Meeting the Challenge of the Post-Growth Transition
Register here. The future isn’t what it used to be. Ecological breakdown and climate impacts are undermining resilience and disrupting communities. But there is so much to learn about how we can chart a path towards a more just future, one where we can all thrive in harmony with the natural world. Join Nathan Surendran…
