History of the research centre

This institute for research and education in ecology, culture and development, registered as Instituto Vida in Peru (founded 1988) traces its roots back to several influences:

1. Culture/development. (See 1927-1939 Little Venice Group etc.;The 'new development' during and after Velasco (1968- . . .); Development and emigre groups in London 1966- . . .)

2. Ecology and development. (See Studley (Dr. Hamilton) and Gregynog and influences on the development of 'human ecology'. The Soil Association. Men (but not women?) of the Trees. Mutual aid and Andean 'ayni'. Little Chequers nurseries. Darringtons Ecology centre.)

3. Andean culture. (Arguedas, Hermenegildo Quispe, post Arguedian influences.)

1927- II World War. The 'Little Venice Group' evolves: includes Piero Zampetti writer and student of George Bernard Shaw at the London Shool of Economics, Mullen - the Canadian painter, Vida Darrington and Quintin Darrington - painter, and John Donne. Victor Haya de la Torre and Jomo Kenyatta are fellow students at LSE. Haya de la Torre in contact with Mariategui recently returned to Peru from Rome and Paris. The review Amauta publishes articles by Shaw. Piero later befriends Luis Bustamente (1940's). Groups base is in Clifton Villas, off Warwick Avenue. No connection with Venice - Little Venice is a local name given to the area surrounding the Grand Union / Regents Canal at a point where a branch leads off to the Paddington Basin. There are a few trendy 'narrow boats' canal barges moored there but no gondolas! {fn. The influence of Shaw and other profs at LSE on independence movements and 'fabian colonial policy' in the interwar period is only partially documented. The failure of socio-political systems/structures in South America and particularly Peru to facilitate the emergence of broad left-liberal reforming governments is mirrored in the lives of Mariategui, Haya de la Torre and Bustamente y Rivero.}