El Sol - Spanish Language School in Lima, Peru offers six levels of Spanish lessons, homestay and volunteer opportunities and has a great reputation.

Weave A Real Peace (WARP) - an international networking organization which seeks to improve the lives of textile artisans worldwide through cultural exchange and support.

In Her Hands - Craftswomen Changing the World

Ends of the Earth - You will find some really good videos/DVDs about textiles around the world and textile tours to Asia at Ends of the Earth (UK).

The International Fair Trade Association

Porteadores Inka Ñan - Porters on the Inca Trail and other treks deserve to be treated with respect and paid a fair wage. This website outlines the conditions under which they work and how you might help.

Treenway Silks - visit our colleagues site for fabulous silk yarns and textile tours to Asia.

Ruthe’s Collection of Weaving and Fibre Resources - a wonderful collection of resources and sites.

The Museum for Textiles - Toronto, Canada.

The Textile Society of America - an international forum.

The Australian Forum for Textile Arts (TAFTA) - an unbelievably interesting, funny and colourful quarterly magazine

Edge - Fabulous stitchery and other textile art from Scotland

Selvedge - a beautiful magazine out of the UK.

Wild Fibers - another favourite magazine published in the US

Creative Fibre - Great magazine from New Zealand.

Peruvian Graffiti – - Journalist Michael L. Smith's extraordinary website with great links, fascintating articles and translations of the work of Peruvian poets.

CKDA - Canadian site for knitwear designers and knitters.

At PUCHKA we are very concerned about a number of environmental challenges currently facing Peru. In particular, while the Tambogrande mine, proposed by Canadian mining company Manhattan Minerals, has been rejected in a local referendum the company appears to be ignoring the will of the people and moving ahead with its plans. This mine will seriously impact a pristine area of northern Peru, where lemons and mangos are the primary crop. For further information and to become involved, please go to the following websites:

Oxfam Canada
Web: www.oxfam.ca

Environmental Mining Council of British Columbia (EMCBC)
Contact: Nedjo Rogers
Email: emcbc@miningwatch.org
Web: www.emcbc.miningwatch.org
Supports the Tambogrande Defense Front and Lima-based organizations

In its report Gold and Land: Democratic Development at Stake, Rights & Democracy recommends to the Canadian government that it urge Manhattan Minerals Corp. to recognize the validity of the public consolation/referendum with the local population, which opposed the mining development in their region.

International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development